Spoken Nerd is an artist that’s willing to take risks. He’s done it time and time again. This time he’s released a new track inspired by Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining. He has much to say in regards to the new single “Write This Now.”
“I’ve never had the pleasure of being snowed in with my family for an entire winter but I imagine it would be quite the cathartic experience. In Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining, Jack Torrance lands a position as the caretaker of the iconic Overlook Hotel for an opportunity to enjoy some peace and quiet and to take a stab at his dream of writing the great American novel. In a world of so many moving parts, we all seem to long for the solitary experience to emphasize our creativity but as the winds of life blow, we find snags like bad weather or the revelation that the hotel that we booked was built on a Native American burial site.
If I were to compile a list of the best horror films ever made, The Shining would definitely make the list. It is undoubtedly one of the greatest ghost stories that has ever graced the big screen and Jack Nicholson’s performance serves as a preface to his uncanny ability to portray villains like the joker and the Whitey Bulger inspired mob boss in The Departed. All of that being acknowledged, the thing that impresses me the most about The Shining is its rewatchability. There isn’t a dull moment in this flick, from the opening credits scene that showcases a sky view of a beautiful mountain drive serenaded by the eeriest tuba score ever played to moments like the camera stalking Danny as he rides his big wheel across the halls of the Overlook Hotel, to discover that his new peers are the twin ghosts of the victims of his father’s predecessor.
“Write This Now” was inspired by two conversations between Jack and Wendy. One is the conversation where Jack’s writing session is interrupted by his chipper and curious wife. Of course, this intermission is unwelcome by Jack. This scene occurs early enough in the film where there is still a question of whether Jack is under the influence of the hotel’s dark powers. We are really just getting to know him at this point but it is clear that he is not a very nice man. The other scene that inspired this song is the rant given by Jack just before Wendy backs up the stairs and begins swinging a bat at him. These are the words of a man who is under a false sense of pressure, whether blown out of proportion in his own mind or by supernatural forces.
When I was struck with the idea to produce a monthly film inspired song release I began mulling over what film I wanted to cover first. It was as if I had the telepathic gift that the 1980 psychological thriller was named after when I began entertaining the idea of writing about this film. As soon as the thought entered my mind my wife turned to me from the passenger seat of our car and said, ‘What about The Shining.’ I knew that this was the move I wanted to make so I turned to her and replied, ‘Write this now’.”
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