City of Lost Yellow Children
Intro:
The idea of a Grizzly Bear/City of Lost Children Sync first came to mind while listening to the Grizzly Bear song: Deep Sea Diver. It vividly reminded me of a scene from The City of lost Children where a mysterious diver saves Miette at the bottom of the sea. I attempted syncing the song to that particular scene and it worked, but I became puzzled when I realized that Deep Sea Diver is only the first track off the CD Horn of Plenty, while the "deep sea diver" scene takes place much later on in the movie. A sync between these two would be impossible. I then discovered that a track off there latest effort, Yellow House, contains a song called Little Brother! This was a huge clue! The protagonist in the movie, "One", refers to his little kidnapped friend as "little brother" throughout the movie. Another clue was the barely audible voice that precedes Lullaby: "and i've had this idea if I create this sort of love community". This could be a reference to the "community" the inventor creates in the movie, which consisted of: Krank, the six clones, and a wife for himself.
After these discoveries I attempted the sync and it worked wonderfully! Still, I thought, what's with the Deep Sea Diver song? Why would they just sync one song to that particular scene? Why not the whole album? Well, since Yellow House came after Horn of Plenty, my conclusion is that while they were recording that song they probably got the idea, finished the cd, and planned a full album sync for their next CD! If this wasn't done on purpose and is merely coincidence, I don't care. It's a beautiful sync regardless, enjoy.
Instructions:
Start cd as you see the yellow letters in french appear, right after the blue Sony screen disappears. Don't make the mistake of trying to anticipate it! If you time it so that the music starts as the yellow letters appear, your sync will be off a bit. Instead, just hit the play button once you can actually see the letters. It might only seem like a seconds difference, but if you're off on your starting point, even by a little bit, the sync will gradually get worse as the movie progresses.
Start cd as you see the yellow letters in french appear, right after the blue Sony screen disappears. Don't make the mistake of trying to anticipate it! If you time it so that the music starts as the yellow letters appear, your sync will be off a bit. Instead, just hit the play button once you can actually see the letters. It might only seem like a seconds difference, but if you're off on your starting point, even by a little bit, the sync will gradually get worse as the movie progresses.
-Gabe
Things to look for:
Track 1: Easier"Because I still can't find you" as Krank santas search for little boy in the opening dream sequence
Music fits the intro perfectly, very dreamy surreal feel to the intro and scene.
Banjo interlude kicks in as reindeer shits and dream begins turning into nightmare.
"Argue with me i've got plenty of dishes and time, cords in a bind, knots that we make, fatal mistakes, let's recreate an easier time. Because I still can't find you" fits well with theme of a desperate Krank dressed as Santa Clause attempting to get the little boy to dream. He needs his dreams in order to stop aging so rapidly.
Track 2: Lullaby:
Song begins right as scene changes. The mood of the music compliments the dreamy moonlit water.
"Sitting by the wading pool, chlorine blue" as we see a shot of two people sitting by the port.
Melodic guitar riff syncs with meter rising towards the "La Cite Des Enfants Perdus" sign.
Music syncs along with the sideshow scene. Here we're introduced to One, our protagonist and sideshow strong man, as he's about break free from some chains in front of a crowd.
Distorted guitar chord comes in as we see close up of a shocked women's face in the crowd gasping.
"Cheer up cheer up!" as a worried and frantic One breaks out of the chains and sees to the wounded man.
Eerie music syncs with the "optacon" vision of they Cyclops.Silence as we enter scene of One with his hand over little brother's mouth as they try to stay silent and avoid
detection.
Track 3: Knife
Again, new song begins on cue with new scene, this time to Cyclops turning around.
"Can't you feel the love" as Cyclops thanks the children.
Music takes a turn for the dramatic as we enter shot of One walking away.
Track 4: Central and Remote
Song begins as clone tries to make Krank cry with laughter.
Upbeat, comical mood of song syncs with clone's failed attempt at comedy.
"Pressing matters bear, enable wear and tear on you, tear on you." fits well with Irvin's account of Krank's life. His inability to dream is causing lots of "wear and tear" on him, as it causes him to age rapidly.
"Remiiiiiiiiind, remiiiiiind" as Krank breaks down and cries as Irvin reminds him of his past.
Heavy drums kick in as we see the "Octopus" for the first time.
Track 5: Little Brother
As One appears, track 4 ends and Little Brother begins.
"Wide eyed and up in arms, my little brother was a solemn one, he always had his quiet corner" describes Denree well. Denree is susceptible to fear and never speaks during the entire film.
"Go back to the other side, I'll go back to the place where you started" as One walks away from Miette and the orphans. Miette follows leaving the orphans behind.
Music slows down as One says: "Miette and One together"
One tells Miette about how "He lost little brother". The song title is (duh) little brother.
Track 6: Plans
Song starts right as Miette places a camera in One's hand.
"All I have to give seems to be all over you", maybe a reference to their conjoined leg?
Track 7: Marla
Track begins as Clone gets up to connect himself to boy.
"Greenhouse" could be a reference to Irvin. His "home" is a tank full of green water.
Creaking sounds as cyclops cross wooden bridge
Track 8: On a Neck, On a Spit
"My messenger in disguise makes up for such short goodbyes" as Cyclops walks in trough door with fresh batch
of children."All my time, spend it with me now, but each day spend it with you now" as Irvin and Krank argue. Fits the situation well, the only people Krank spends time with are his clones and Irvin.
Track 9: Reprise
Banjos come in as we enter scene with drugged Marcello talking to the Octopus.
"First morning light" as movie switches over to a scene of a distant lighthouse shining its light over the city.
Noises that sound like birds as pelicans eat fish.
Track 10: Colorado
Music syncs well to Marcello casting the Cyclops under the spell of his barrel organ.
Silence as a bounded Miette plunges towards the bottom of the sea.
2nd go around:
Easier intro begins as we see shot of mysterious diver for the first time.
Easier vocals come in as diver takes of helmet.
Vocals to Lullaby kick in as we see Miette's view of the surface trough the lense.
Melodic guitar riff syncs with women's movements.
Distorted guitar comes in as we see close up of Miette's scared face.
"Chin up, cheer up!" as a drunken One dances and drinks more.
Knife begins as Miette runs and hides from the Cyclops.
Music becomes dramatic as orphan walks away from Miette
"Can't you feel the love" as we see shot of Miette and One sitting together by the port.
"One night, hear whale sing" as drums and music get more dramatic. Syncs with the changing mood of One's story.
"In The wind" as wind rustles trough diver's things.
"Pressing matters bear" as diver begins having dream/vision.
"Pressing matters bear, enable wear and tear on you, tear on you" as we enter scene from the past of Krank attacking one of his clones (the diver). The bloodied clone is thrown out into the sea to die.
"Remiiiind, remiiiind" as we enter shot of "diver" finally remembering who he is. He is in fact, the inventor of the clones!
Little brother begins on cue as we enter scene of the Octopus attempting to have Marcello killed. Music syncs well with the events that unfold.
"Wide eyed and up in arms, my little brother was a solemn one" as we enter scene with little brother.
"He always had his quiet corner" as we see a shot of little brother sitting in the food chute.
Music turns eerie as Krank tries to frighten child
Music changes as we enter scene of One and Miette walking down the alley.
'Bleeping' sounds can be heard at the end of Little Brother as clones detect One and Miette on the radar.
Plans begins as Irvin says: "It's the messiah", to the clones after they've detected One. Song fits especially well with this part of the movie. The inventor is on his way with his "plans".
Marla beings as we enter the scene with all the people running out of the bar screaming.
Sounds that are reminiscent of dark barking as dogs appear.
Percussion in sync with running of the dogs.
"My messenger in disguise" right on cue as Marcello comes to rescue One and Miette.
Distorted guitars and heavy drums come in as we enter scene of One and Miette navigating trough the the mines.
Music fits mood as clones realize that the visitors have arrived
Reprise intro syncs well with One's sweater getting pulled apart by Miette.
"First morning light" as we see close up of a ceiling light.
Music syncs with Miette entering little brother's dream.
Distorted guitars come in as Miette realizes it's Krank on her shoulders
3rd go around:
"I've had this idea if I create this kind of love community" as explosions start going off in the lab. Krank and the clones could be the community that's being refered too.
"Sitting by the wading pool, chlorine blue" as we enter shot of inventor outside, bounded to the building overlooking water.
Music syncs well with ending and credits
