in which a song gem is found in one of the many versions of P&P

so, i am a jane austen junkie. like, a HARDCORE one. it's an illness, really. i've read all of her major (and some minor) books of hers multiple times (in case you're wondering, my favorite is persuasion...gah...anne and captain wentworth...swoon!), plus, i must watch any and all versions of any movie adaptations that hit the airwaves or theatres.

some are brilliant (oh, colin firth, you are a most excellent darcy), some are wretched (kate beckinsale, you may've been beyond fabulous in cold comfort farm, but you are a terrible emma). some are boring (that billie piper chick from doctor who as fanny, YAWN), some adorable (i don't care what any of you say - i like northanger abbey, and the recent adaptation of it was lovely).

the point here, is that if it's a jane austen movie, i've seen it. small or large, miniseries or stand alone, if it comes on the telly, i will be forced to sit and watch it because i simply can't help myself.

a couple years back, i stumbled across a modern version of pride and prejudice set in utah. yes, utah. and it was actually entertaining. it's frothy, irreverent, and fun, and while it'll never usurp jennifer ehle and colin firth's stellar mini-series as the be-it-all go-to P&P, it certainly doesn't stink up the field.



plus, it introduced me to condition of desperation by randy porter.

this song took me AGES to find. the cd was out of print at the time and nobody was selling the album digitally. i despaired for quite awhile before finally, FINALLY stumbling across it.

and man, am i ever glad i did. because i love this song.



i don't know much about randy porter other than he's a jazz pianist (if this is even, in fact, the randy porter i think he is). but i can tell you about the song - it's sad (being called condition of desperation and all) and beautiful. it encapsulates the anxiety a person feels when they can feel their chances with another slipping away from them.

time stands still
pictures fade to black
feeling the chill
the wind tearing up my back
running scared
the pavement moves so quickly
that i know you must agree
the remote possibility
of you and me
is slipping through my fingers

so i sing this song for you
my heart's like a clown in the circus
forever i'll be
trapped in this crazy condition of desperation
you're oh, such a sweet sensation

song undone
forecast not yet known
there is the sun
it's sinking like a stone
one last cry
the pain it can't escape me
'cause i hope you might concede
that somewhere in eternity
you and me
we're growing old together

and now i sing this song for you
my heart's like a clown in a circus
forever i'll be
trapped in this crazy condition
of desperation
oh, you're such a sweet sensation

(mp3) condition of desperation by randy porter

here's a video somebody made with the song set to scenes from the movie:



the soundtrack to pride and prejudice (a latter day comedy) is available for sale right now at amazon (one left, if you hurry!). go HERE to check it out.