Bandersnatch

Bandersnatch.

What do you think of when I say that?

A couple of days ago that word wouldn’t have meant anything to me but then Netflix changed the game.

Peter Newell’s Illustration of the Jubjub and Bandersnatch

Here’s a little bit of background knowledge for you:

The word Bandersnatch was created by the genius that is Lewis Carroll in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, so it’s no surprise that Black Mirror writer Charlie Brooker clocked onto that. It describes a creature that has a long neck, think giraffe, and ferocious jaws, think lion. Peter Newell illustrated the Bandersnatch and here's a clue - it’s the one without the Trilby hat.

The episode is the latest of the psychological Netflix thriller, Black Mirror. It has caused a scene recently as it is one of the first Netflix interactive films.

The story is based on a fictional book, Bandersnatch. The book is like a game in that you make choices which lead you to different paths in the storyline. This is the same for the interactive film; you watch as if you are controlling the main character and make choices for him. Very, very clever concept. Some choices are trivial and some a game-changers (pardon the pun).

That is all I will say on that. I don’t want to be the one to ruin the story - nothing worse! All I will say is that I highly recommend it for the experience alone, just make sure you’ve got something funny lined up to watch after!

What the hell has any of this got to do with music you ask?

Well, it had me thinking…

Imagine if our lives were determined simply by what song we listened to next. In many ways music can determine our mood and in some ways actions but what if we took the lyrics literally?

Here’s a few songs I wouldn’t mind playing Bandersnatch with:

Chandelier - Sia

‘I wanna swing from the chandelier, from the chandelier’

I don’t know about you but I have always wanted to swing from a chandelier, a big, diamond encrusted one - so rock and roll.

Dancing on the Ceiling - Lionel Richie

‘Oh what a feeling, when we’re dancing on the ceiling’

Lionel’s got the right idea. Why dance on the floor when you could be on the ceiling?! Game changer.

Spinning Around - Kylie Minogue

‘I’m spinning around, move outta my way’

This is very literal but it would be very convenient in a Boxing Day sales scenario. Imagine everyone whirling around in harmony, no elbows to the face and ribs. It would be a very efficient way of travelling. Have I taken it too far?

These are just a few examples but I’m going to be listening to songs from a different angle in future. I am guilty of listening to the music more than the lyrics but they both deserve equal attention which I will make part of my New Year’s resolution.

Anyway, let me know your thoughts and feelings and what songs you would like to take literally.

HAPPY NEW YEAR