Help me compile a mix of songs for my scavenger hunt.

August 12, 2005 10:57 AM

Help me compile a mix of songs for my scavenger hunt.

I am running a scavenger hunt this weekend where teams of contestants will be given a list of items to retrieve. They will either have to bring back a physical object (maybe an old Atari 2600 game cartridge), take a digital picture of an object (say, a landmark), or take a picture of themselves performing some feat (like giving a complete stranger a therapeutic backrub). I would like to give the teams a CD to play in their car while out on the hunt. I'd like all the songs to relate to the scavenger hunt theme. Maybe some songs having to do with taking pictures, some with collecting, etc. Normally, I'm the go-to guy in our group when it comes to song titles, but with all the other planning details going on today I am drawing a blank musically. I can think of Def Leppard's "Photograph", but that's about it.

Mainstream pop/rock is preferred, but a few worthy off-the-beaten-path songs could be included. Bonus points for songs available on iTunes since I need to get this done today. Super bonus points if I can work a grouping of songs into an item on the list. Something like three songs by different groups that all shared the same musician. I can ask what the three songs have in common. I would still want these songs to fall into the greater scavenger theme.

posted by JJtheJetPlane to Media & Arts (19 answers total)

My Valuable Hunting Knife- Guided by Voices
The Hunter- Blue Cheer
This is not a Photograph- Mission of Burma
(For the Atari, I recommend Dark by Paza, which is available on the web for Creative Commons use?)

If you give me more items, I can give you more songs...
posted by klangklangston at 11:04 AM on August 12, 2005

"Race for the Prize," the Flaming Lips
posted by COBRA! at 11:40 AM on August 12, 2005

Soft Cell - Memorabilia
A-Ha - Hunting High and Low
posted by p3t3 at 11:53 AM on August 12, 2005

Another photo song:
Depeche Mode - Photographic from the Speak & Spell album

apparently my brain is stuck in 80s british synth pop today
posted by p3t3 at 12:05 PM on August 12, 2005

The Who--"The Seeker"
U2--"I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For"
posted by Skot at 12:07 PM on August 12, 2005

David Hasselhoff - Looking for Freedom

so bad its good. or maybe just bad.
posted by p3t3 at 12:07 PM on August 12, 2005

Response by poster: Good stuff so far, although a few may be a little too obscure for my audience. Keep them coming.

klangklang: I'm not looking to aim the songs at any items in particular. The atari item was just a "for example" and is not actually on this year's list (it was from last year). But thanks for the ideas.
posted by JJtheJetPlane at 12:36 PM on August 12, 2005

I'm kinda reaching here, but...

The Cure - Pictures of You
Duran Duran - Hungry Like a Wolf ("I'm on the hunt, I'm after you"?)
Barenaked Ladies - Humor of the Situation
posted by geeky at 12:36 PM on August 12, 2005

Bjork - Hunter
posted by box at 12:51 PM on August 12, 2005

Flock of Seagulls--"Wishing (If I Had A Photograph of You)"
Siouxsie and the Banshees--"Peek-A-Boo"
Beck--"Where It's At"
posted by Skot at 1:03 PM on August 12, 2005

Stooges - Search and Destroy
posted by p3t3 at 1:04 PM on August 12, 2005

The Marvelettes: The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game
The Coasters: Searchin'
U2: I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
posted by hilker at 1:08 PM on August 12, 2005

Also hunting a bit but here are some potential classic rock ones:

Don't let me be Misunderstood - The Animals (you know, misunderstood about the clues)
You're lost little girl - The Doors
Over the hills and far away - Led Zeppelin
I Know You're Out There Somewhere - The Moody Blues
Kodachrome - Paul Simon
You cant always get what you want - The Rolling Stones
Finding My Way - Rush
Search and Destroy - Iggy and the Stooges
Searching with my Good Eye Closed - Soundgarden
Hidden Treasure - Traffic
Wherever I May Roam - Metallica
posted by freshgroundpepper at 1:16 PM on August 12, 2005

Wilco's "I'm a Wheel" doesn't really work for literal lyric interpretation, but it's a great song for being in motion. "Outtasite Outtamind" also sort of relates.
posted by COBRA! at 1:22 PM on August 12, 2005

Aww, hell. "Kamera," also by Wilco.
posted by COBRA! at 1:26 PM on August 12, 2005

Off-the-beaten-path, might I suggest something from Pee-Wee's Big Adventure. Lot's of good "MUST FIND IT" music.

Also, I'd include that classic score that's travelling music for every other cartoon short in existence. Forgive me for not knowing what it is or who did it, but it's like this:
dodle-ot-dotdotdotdotdotdot
dodle-ot-dotdotdotdotdotdot
dodle-ot-dotdotdotdotdotdot
duh-n duh-n duh-n duh-n duh-nnnn
waaa-un...waaa-un
dodle-ot-dotdotdotdotdotdot
dodle-ot-dotdotdotdotdotdot
dodle-ot-dotdotdotdotdotdot
...on and on...

maybe someone else knows?

also: Devo - Peek-a-Boo
Hank Williams - Hey Good Lookin' (get it?)
Journey - Don't Stop Believin'
Negativland - Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
"Land of the Lost" theme song
posted by hellbient at 3:37 PM on August 12, 2005

There's that song that was on the HP printer commercials a couple months back, that went something like "picture book of pictures of your mother, taken by your father a long time ago".
posted by matildaben at 4:04 PM on August 12, 2005

The Kinks - Picture Book (what matildaben was trying to say)
Barenaked Ladies - Shoebox, Go Home, and In The Car
posted by lambchop1 at 6:38 PM on August 12, 2005

The Who - Pictures of Lily (or 'I Can See For Miles')
posted by box at 6:47 PM on August 12, 2005