FanGirl's Dilemma (Torchwood Soundtrack)

[mrwubbles]

This only happens to a fan. Truly. Well, maybe it just happens to me. Who knows. I can always claim the chicken wire the brain surgeon filled my brain with was sending me signals from Amazon.co.uk  and not enhancing my cellphone reception as originally thought.

Dilemma:

Torchwood. Lovely show. Loves. Can't get enough. They have finally, at long last, come out with a soundtrack.

Like most fans out there, the thought of your favorite show on CD so you can relive your favorite episodes can make your toes curl and squee like it was still 1999. -lol- And before the day of IPods, Samsungs, and the occasional portable media drive with mp3 capability, getting the CD meant ordering from the mammoth Amazon, battle it out for that one copy on Ebay or scour over CD stores in hopes someone at inventory got sick of ordering BB Mak and Spears and sensibly ordered that Sentinel/Kung Fu TLC/Stargate/Due South/Boston Public/21 JumpStreet (don't ask 'cause I ain't gonna tell)  soundtrack you've been pining for.

That was then.

This is now.

Now, Torchwood will be available from Amazon UK in a lovely CD. -insert squee here-

iTunes just now offer it in their e.music store.

...

Okay, subject my PC through a massive download now for $9.99 or wait until Sept 22, 2008 to buy the CD with potential yummy pics for £11.99?

Bad enough I had contemplated buying Barrowman's Broadway soundtrack or that I had debated getting the third season of Doctor Who just for disk five where Barrowmen guest starred. But to find myself torn between enjoying the notes of Ben Foster and Murray Gold's 'Jack's Love Theme'  in bytes and binary or in a hot-pressed CD is like asking me to choose behind in hiding in Michael Shanks' trailer or Jared Padelecki's closet. It. Can't. Be. Done.

The practical side of a non-fan would be to choose the cheaper one. Save the planet! Save mankind from chopping down yet another plastic tree to make CD jewel cases that will take up far too much space next to your 8 volume Inu Yasha OST soundtracks! But that tiny seed of darkness, that wee strand of genome that makes us become fangirls and fanguys? It's screaming for the tangible, solid presence of cheap plastic and slick glossy CD booklets in your hands. it's wailing that there might be in that CD booklet the one picture you haven't found when you were cutting up TV Zone, Starburst, TV Guide, and all those UK magazines from Titan that you could scan, photoshop into an LJ icon that will be mimicked, imitated, and copied into comms within minutes! 

Seriously, what's a fangirl to do? Instant gratification? Or the materialistic satisfaction of having it, like having the bigger snowblower than your neighbor from across the street?

Never mind the third option whispering to you like Senator Palpatine to get both. -shudder- Yeah, we'll ignore him. No, no, pay no mind to him. Really.

Now excuse me while I go listening to the 30sec previews of the soundtrack's 'Jack's Love Theme' over and over again on iTunes and resist the urge to offer to bear Barrowman's children. -lol-

Comments

[sg1jb]

Lol. Quite the dilemma indeed ;-).

Me? Well, I know you didn't ask, but I'd go for the CD.

I'd also go for Shanks' trailer.

[mrwubbles.livejournal.com]

I'd also go for Shanks' trailer.

I need a really good excuse.

"Er, yes, Mr. Shanks, I'm here as a bodyguard from the fans, yes, sir...that drool puddle over there? I have no idea how it got there, sir..."

:)

[morbid-sparks.livejournal.com]

I have (ahem) downloaded it - BUT I will also be buying it, for two reasons. One - pretty pictures (hopefully). Two, possibly more importantly - it's worth it to hopefully persuade them to release another soundtrack in the future! I think about it like dl'ing eps - I have them instantly, can rewatch them, iconise, vid, blah blah blah...but it doesn't stop me going out and buying the dvds.

There's nothing wrong with instant gratification, but personally I do think it's worth buying the dvds/cds even if it's just to let the Beeb know that there's fans out there that really do want this stuff.

[mrwubbles.livejournal.com]

to let the Beeb know that there's fans out there that really do want this stuff.

Oooh, I like that reasoning! Very world economical of you. Yes, yes, in order to support the global economy and to raise the awareness of the feasibility of releasing OST of television drama, we should support by means of purchase. Oh, far better than my old reasoning: listen to the soundtracks to inspire fanfic. Has that worked? Noooo.

[x-pixel-x.livejournal.com]

I was not 5 minutes ago, pondering this exact dilemma. Then you had to mention the potential, possible, maybe, hypothetical picture and that scale that was tipping towards the 3-year-old-need-RIGHT-NOW, iTunes purchase, has swung back to the oh-but-I-get-to-TOUCH-IT CD side. Normal people do not have these problems do they?

(Also, you've reminded me that I need to go and retrieve my Sentinel/Due South/X-Files soundtracks, in an immediate fashion from where they are being held hostage by my ex. Thanks...I think.)

[mrwubbles.livejournal.com]

oh-but-I-get-to-TOUCH-IT CD side. Normal people do not have these problems do they?

Not unless they face the same concerns I do? How to stop myself from licking JB's portrait on the CD like a happy retriever. -LOL-

[redpimpernel.livejournal.com]

Download the album from the iTunes store. If you feel the need for a physical CD to reside next to Inu Yasha then burn your own copy. If, when the CD actually comes out, one of your Brit friends verifies that some fabulous photo is in the CD (and it might not have a booklet at all, might just have a simple cover photo) THEN either buy the CD or put it on your birthday/christmas wish list.

At the very list you can buy a few individual tracks from iTunes if you are going to hold out for the Brit CD.

[mrwubbles.livejournal.com]

At the very list you can buy a few individual tracks from iTunes if you are going to hold out for the Brit CD.

That is plausible. The delightful thing about fandom is that I do have Brit friends. :)

[aelfgyfu_mead]

When A Dog's Breakfast came out, we bought it on Amazon Unbox to get it right away; then we bought the DVD, which came out some time later, for the extras. And to signal that we were really interested in it!

[mrwubbles.livejournal.com]

we bought the DVD

Haha! You know, when Supernatural came out. I had Tivo recorded it, BitTorrent it, bought the DVDs, then bought my favorite eps on iTunes, just to show I was interested.

Now Torchwood episodes is on iTunes too! Greeeeat. :)

[fissijo.livejournal.com]

CD wins anytime for me!

Of course I am in the UK and therefore pouting beyond pouting that you guys have it on iTunes and we don't!

But even if I had the choice, CD wins!!

(and now I want to listen to my Due South soundtrack... all your fault!!)

[mrwubbles.livejournal.com]

now I want to listen to my Due South soundtrack

Hey, it's a great CD! You can keep Winehouse and Backstreet Boys and all those anorexic, half-starved, "hi, be like me", drug sniffing ungrateful music idols! Sometimes, TV soundtracks are the best! I still love my Magnificant 7 and Due South soundtracks! :)

[aresnz.livejournal.com]

I have to admit I purchased the complete download from itunes. However, I also preordered the soundtrack CD. I like covering all bases and, as previously mentioned, purchasing the CD will hopefully lead to another TW soundtrack. I haven't downloaded TW eps from itunes, but I do have all the DVD'S. Even if I did the itunes downloads, it wouldn't stop me from purchasing the DVD sets.

[mrwubbles.livejournal.com]

Even if I did the itunes downloads, it wouldn't stop me from purchasing the DVD sets.

Agreed. It took forever for iTunes to realize people would want Supernatural, Bones, and Torchwood on iTunes for download. And as for the Torchwood soundtrack? Wow, two years. Almost as long as it took to get the Sentinel soundtrack. When are they going to listen to the fans?

[superbadgirl]

Random vote for Padalecki's closet this week, and Shanks' trailer next...

[mrwubbles.livejournal.com]

Random vote for Padalecki's closet this week, and Shanks' trailer next...

Judging by your icon, I'm not surprised. -LOL- But that's cheating! Keep in mind, whichever I go for first would probably get me arrested so I'm detained from doing the second!

[flawed-karma.livejournal.com]

Well.

I have a two phase approach to the problem. When my budget is tight, I download the music for free, or beg it from friends. Then when I have the money, I purchase the CD.

This allows me to enjoy the music, and eventually support the artist/franchise.

[mrwubbles.livejournal.com]

This allows me to enjoy the music, and eventually support the artist/franchise.


Ooh, I like that approach! I do dl episodes, but always made it point to buy the DVD set when I can! :)

PS: -points to flawed_karma's icon- LOL. Love it!

[scifichicx.livejournal.com]

At risk of getting mobbed....

If you download it by some means that doesn't require paying (*cough*) for now and buy the hard copy when it comes out your problems are solved. Seeing as you plan on dishing out the cash anyway, I think the moral dilemma drops a few levels. And the torrent sites are world wide so the Brits can have it now as well.

[mrwubbles.livejournal.com]

And the torrent sites are world wide so the Brits can have it now as well.

At the risk of being mobbed back, :) I do BitTorrent Torchwood, the pre-watersged version because here in the US, it's edited like mad as well as Doctor Who. It's the only way I get caught up. But as you said, I planned to dish out the cash anyway and give my support and did buy the Torchwood DVD set.

[knitchick1979.livejournal.com]

Well since I'm kinda broke at the moment, I just downloaded the thing from iTunes last night the second my iTunes finally decided to let me in the store again! :D But when I can afford it, I'll be buying the physical CD too, just to have and also for a possible autograph surface if I meet any of the actors (I hope I hope!)

It's already been played through twice today, once I finished syncing the iPod :D and it's EXCELLENT!

[mrwubbles.livejournal.com]

It's already been played through twice today, once I finished syncing the iPod :D and it's EXCELLENT!

-mock glares knitchick1979-

I was hoping for more scolding than squee. Thanks. I might have to do that!

[eveshka.livejournal.com]

Ah, see... I have purchased it from iTunes, and when a physical copy is to be found, I will be buying that too. $10 US for a full CD to be able to hear the tracks? Yeah, that's worth it. It tells the Beeb that one little US fan likes her Torchwood.

[mrwubbles.livejournal.com]

It tells the Beeb that one little US fan likes her Torchwood.

A darn good point. I mean two years to come out with a soundtrack and it's both seasons combined? Come on!

I'll get it regardless shape, flavor or form, but come oome! :)

[nikki-holly.livejournal.com]

so i really didn't think that i'd be able to get this on iTunes considering the States always seem to be a bit behind when it comes to releasing stuff from the BBC. but it seems that it's getting better as this was actually released at the same time! And i totally didn't know about it! so thanks for the update on that.

my idea: pick your two most favorite songs and download them individually while praying that it'll hold you over till you can get the soundtrack with the pretty pictures. that's my suggestion.

[mrwubbles.livejournal.com]

And i totally didn't know about it! so thanks for the update on that.

It was pure accident! I was browsing for an episode to download :).

[jo02]

Being a fan of various shows for over 30 years I understand your dilemma completely. Back in the 80s, when books were cheap, I bought my Star Trek novels in both UK and US editions for the different covers.

I had your problem of should I buy the whole season of DW3 just because Jack was in the last 3 eps, or just buy the miniset of the last 3 eps (and it had a beautiful cover!) I ended up buying the whole season box set just to get the commentary that JB did.

With the TW soundtrack it's my age that will decide what I get. For me, if it's something I really love, I have to have a real CD, in a real CD case, with a real cover, notes, and pics, from a real shop (yes, Amazon counts as a real shop). iTunes is so great, but I would never buy any John Barrowman CDs from them - for him, it has to be a real CD too.

[mrwubbles.livejournal.com]

For me, if it's something I really love, I have to have a real CD, in a real CD case, with a real cover, notes, and pics, from a real shop (yes, Amazon counts as a real shop). iTunes is so great, but I would never buy any John Barrowman CDs from them - for him, it has to be a real CD too.

I think I would probably get the CD because I get a tactile sense of pleasure. I still like reading with printed books. Fanfic still gets printed, bound if I want to keep, so I can have the enjoyment of turning a page. I know there are factions against fanzines, but that tactile sensation is really something that keeps me coming back to that.

Same thing with CDs, I guess. I kept all my imports, mu TV CDS even thought I could probably save space and sanity by ripping them into my iPod. But back then, the booklets were nice, well worth the cd price alone sometimes...