Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Sountrack of Pain



I just left the dentist's office and for the first time in my life, I am still laughing about it.

To me, the worst part of getting a filling is the sound of the drill. So I had the forethought to bring along the iPod and a set of good headphones, hoping that a little loud music would take care of it.

One of my favorite albums at the moment is Joris de Man's soundtrack to Killzone 3, a first-person shooter video game. In fact, go right now and start playing the first track, "And Ever We Fight On". It is a truly beautiful piece of music.

There's something invigorating about working to such purposeful music. The intense pieces make everything I do seem like a super-important covert mission for the government. If I'm posting on Facebook, it feels more like I'm communicating from my safehouse, sending out coded warnings about the impending alien invasion.

But the opening tracks aren't intense. They are sweepingly beautiful. While I was waiting for the shot to numb my mouth so the drilling could begin, I chilled out with the majestic flow, feeling like I was surfing the stars in my spaceship.

Unfortunately, just as the dentist lowered the light into my face, the tracks took a more sinister turn, and my imaginary spaceship was suddenly hijacked by savage aliens intent on drilling holes into my skull.

If I ever picked a sountrack of pain, this was it! This is music specifically written to make an imaginary life-threatening situation feel real. And the dentist is plenty threatening as it is. I realized I did not need the torture-chamber soundtrack to help it along.

I sat up, laughing like crazy. In fact, the dentist probably thought I was, especially since I was not on any happy gas to induce the giggles. I explained that I had to change tracks and switched to my next choice, Metallica's black album. It turns out that at extreme volume "Enter Sandman" drowns out the drill completely. In fact it sort of harmonized at times in a weird way.

The whole ordeal was over in the time it took the track to play and I was left with a numb mouth and a headache. But thanks to the quick intervention of James Hetfield and crew, at least maybe I won't have nightmares about alien abduction set to the Killzone 3 soundtrack.

21 comments:

  1. Oh, that's hilarious. Though it wouldn't have felt like it at the time. And yes, i think metal would definitely drown out the sounds. Good idea taking the iPod along. Must remember that for next dentist visit!

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    1. If you can get them to hook you up with the happy gas as well, you can have your very own Comfortably Numb experience. It all just . . . goes away somehow!! Thanks for the feedback!

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  2. I don't know anything about Killzone 3 but I was not expecting such beautiful music. And the whole scenario is funny with you in the dentist's chair. I HATE going to the dentist and I bet I'd feel better if I listened to music. Next time.

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    1. I sometimes play the game just to hear that opening theme. I am glad you took a second to listen. BTW, it is downloadable at iTunes too. And the composer Joris de Man is super nice. I sent him an email telling him how much I loved this soundtrack and he wrote me a personal note back. (And he's cute.)

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  3. I honestly never pegged you for a Metal-head music lover! Not me! I'm more a hit list kind of gal! I'm going to the dentist the end of the month, so now I've got your post stunk in my head listening to the sound of Metallica - too funny! Cheers for a fun post, Arley, you head-banger, you!

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    1. I am a serious metalhead!! My eighteen year old daughter says my music is too hard for her. Yep. Headbanger!

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  4. Arley, I'd rather be embalmed than go to the dentist. You've saved my life! Next visit it's headphones and, hell, I can do Metallica.

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    1. My dentist said don't do earbuds though. They actually make the drill sound worse. Over the ear headphones are the way to go!

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  5. This seriously made me laugh! And yet made my jaw hurt... It reminds me I should probably go to the dentist soon. :/ Anyway, maybe I should bring music along, even if I'm not getting a filling.

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    1. yes, you do need to go to the dentist. And the music helps with whatever it is. It at least makes the time go faster!!

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  6. Aww. I can't say I hate the dentist, but I've never had a cavity either. Definitely one way to deal with the ordeal, though. I use earbuds and music when I have to do grocery shopping at Walmart...same pain, really.

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    1. LOL!!! I absolutely need to remember that tip on making the shopping go easier. And if you listen to the sountrack to Killzone 3, you can dodge enemy bullets while you navigate the frozen foods.

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