Finding Lyrics That Inspire Photo Stories

Picture This July monthly challenge

All photos by the author

It’s close to midnight, and something evil’s lurking in the dark…

— Michael Jackson, “Thriller”

Twice in the last few weeks, “Thriller” came on the radio while I was driving. I will always let this song play, even in the bright heat of June. The music video terrified me as a child, and I loved it. My family has always leaned into spooky season. My childhood memories are filled with delightfully frightening October moments, often featuring my big brother who was born the night before Halloween.

I’m a millennial. While every generation has its own special relationship with music, I’m from the generation of mix CDs, mp3 downloads, music on your MySpace profile, and emo lyrics as AIM away messages. I’m sure “Thriller” featured on at least one Halloween themed playlist, probably along with “This is Halloween” from The Nightmare Before Christmas, “Monster Mash,” and Tom Waits’ “What’s He Building?”

In college, I included another Tom Waits song on a mix CD made for a studio art assignment. We were to choose a famous painting and make a playlist inspired by it, then bring that playlist to class so that everyone could listen while painting. I chose Degas’ “Four Dancers,” and the Waits song I paired with it was “All the World is Green.” It’s one of my favorites.

The moon is yellow silver Oh the things that summer brings It’s a love you’d kill for And all the world is green

— Tom Waits, “All the World is Green”

I had a lot of fun with this assignment. The Degas painting seemed unsettled to me, and I found my way to dissonant composers like Schoenberg and Mahler. They were new to me.

Later, in another art class, a peer and I worked together to create microfilms based on Russian short stories. One of them had “Lola Stars and Stripes” by The Stills as its soundtrack, and showed a collection of origami stars set on fire on a bed of broken mirror shards in an old basement. Our teacher loved it.

Can you take me back to that place where stars glow Comets swarm like fireflies outside your window

— The Stills, “Lola Stars and Stripes”

For July, I want to adapt my college art teacher’s assignment to this publication.

Instead of making a playlist for a famous painting, let some of your favorite lyrics inspire new photographs, or find reminders of beloved lyrics in your photo library.

• Use the tag “monthly challenge” and submit by July 29th if you’d like to be included in the wrap-up.
• Please follow the general submission guidelines.

Let’s share our favorite tunes, our most evocative photographs, and the stories that bring them together. As Taylor Swift once asked her audience, “Are you ready for it?”

Many thanks to everyone who participated in the June monthly challenge. You helped kick off summer in a dazzling array of colors.

James Hesketh started with a uniquely shaped rainbow.

[embed]A Rainbow Sail A rainbow sailmedium.com

LaShell Tinder brought us rainbows from across the globe.

[embed]Rainbows From Around the World Natural wonders and emblems of solidarity.medium.com

I shared a collection of still life photos in all colors.

[embed]Still Life in All Colors Inspired by art, light, and the June monthly challengemedium.com

Genka Shapkarova pondered how color impacts our lives and moods.

[embed]Finding Meaning in Colors A rainbow of abundancemedium.com

Joe Guay began with Bing Bong and ended with songs about rainbows.

[embed]Rainbows Shooting Out of Our Ears! A love for rainbows isn’t only tied to LGBTQ lifemedium.com

David Webster kindly let us in on the vibrant joys of a growing family.

[embed]My Son’s Rainbow Family Black and white and tan, it came to bemedium.com

Lani (Myk) Domaloy curated a collection of flowers, art, and celebration.

[embed]Chasing Rainbows, Finding Myself, and Every Rainbow Was a Rehearsal June monthly challenge: Appreciation of rainbowsmedium.com

Carol Labuzzetta, MS reminded readers of the acronym ROY G. BIV.

[embed]Recent Rainbows Recognized While Relaxing Rainbows are a favorite natural phenomenon of mine, so I’m always on the lookout for themmedium.com

Zarmeen Khan shared her top five rainbow photographs.

[embed]Rainbows! June Monthly Challengemedium.com

Lauri Novak took us through an eye-catching airport tunnel.

[embed]Rainbows There are always rainbows if you pay attentionmedium.com

JoAnn Ryan saw the sky bloom with color at sunset on the beach.

[embed]Chasing Rainbows in Tampa Bay, Florida And the philosophical dilemma of being part of the most invasive species on the planetmedium.com

And finally, Melissa Rock spotlighted flowers of every color in her gorgeous garden.

[embed]Amateur Gardening Cultivating my own rainbowmedium.com