We Will Never Be The Same

Any budding pro songwriters out there are encouraged to consider these guidelines, drawn up by a major Hollywood studio, for a theme song intended for some big would-be blockbuster later this year. I, for one, am flummoxed:

"The ballad plays twice in the film. Once during the New Year's even celebration on board the ship and at the end of the film.

We first hear the ballad during the New Year's party when everyone is happy and having a great time. When we hear the ballad the second time, we see our small group is safely in the lifeboat, the ship has sunk, and thousands of lives have been lost. There is an undeniable sadness but as we look in the faces of the survivors there is also hope. Bonds have been formed which will remain forever. Dylan, the reluctant leader of the group, a devout loner at the beginning of the trip, is now forever bonded to his new “family”: Maggie and her young son Connor, who's life was saved by Dylan and in a way, they both have saved Dylan's from a lonely and meaningless life. There's our young engaged couple, Jennifer and Christian who now start their life together taking with them the knowledge that the bravery of Jennifer's dad who risked his life for the daughter he loved, has made their life together possible. As we pull back from this little boat onto the huge ocean, the sun is coming up and we see the rescue helicopters in the distance and the ballad plays once more, now with added meaning.

The director does not want not the song to foreshadow the events of the film when it plays in the New Year's party. The song does not have to reflect the story line of any of the characters specifically. This is an ensemble film where the specifics of the individual can differ but the general experience of loss and hope is something we can all relate to.

The song reflects the bittersweet experience of anyone that survives a disaster (whatever that disaster is) The loss can only have meaning if we are not overwhelmed by it and give into despair. Whenever it strikes, it's a life-altering event. We will never be the same. As in the bittersweet song of New Year's, Auld Lang Syne, we stand between the past and say good-bye to those we loved and we bring that love and experience with us and look into the future with strength and hope."