WARNING: As if you can't tell from it being about the Dave Matthew's Band and all, this essay involves a lot of implied drug use. I'm not going to be dishonest about my college adventures. If, however, any of you are going to be big babies about this, stop reading now!
For the rest of you, sit back and enjoy...

Little Davey in Slumberland

Kids, this one's for the Dave Matthew's Band fans. I've mentioned this discovery enough times at Y-L to sound like a broken record, but I am convinced that, while this isn't going to be the next "Dark Side of OZ", it might at least be the next "Siamese Fantasia".

That is to say, we're gonna talk movie/CD syncs.

Now, before we go any further, I should have a disclaimer here. Movie/CD syncs (from now on, we'll just call them Syncs so I don't go insane) are pretty synonymous with drug use. The Dave Matthew's Band is probably second only to the Greatful Dead as far as Bands People Love to Sit Around and Get High to. I don't know if "Little Nemo" (whether the classic comic strip, the video game, or the movie we're going to talk about here) is wildly associated with drugs, but I've seen Windsor McCay's illustrations and they sure do make me wonder.
Basically, what I'm trying to say here is that you don't have to partake in Ye Olde Wacky Weed to enjoy this Sync. My conscience is telling me to warn all the little kids out there that DRUGS ARE BAD and that YOU SHOULDN'T DO DRUGS! On the other hand, I also feel the need to be honest. Basically, kids, all pot makes you do is stare with intense interest at individual motes of dust. Also, it prevents you from remembering key events during your college years.
Furthermore, if your personality is anything like mine, you might as well never do drugs at all. Who's going to tell the difference? I sure couldn't.

Now that we have that out of the way, I have to say that while I've only done this Sync while on nothing stronger than caffeine, this could very well be the best Sync for Stoners ever. Trust me here, it involves DMB and tripped-out animé. It don't get better than that.

What You Need: The CD "Before These Crowded Streets"; the movie "Little Nemo in Slumberland" (most video stores will have a copy); a CD player that lets you repeat a CD without screwing up.

Plot Summary: (well, you aren't going to be able to hear the dialogue) I'm afraid I have no idea how to make screen caps, and there don't appear to be any websites with any pictures from "Little Nemo" aside from the VHS box art. This stinks, cause there really are some fantastic visuals in this; the animators managed to get the look of McCay's illustrations dead on. I'll have to describe the onscreen action as best as possible when we get to the List of Coincidences.

Nemo is a perfectly normal kid by day, but every night he has very strange dreams. After the circus arrives in his hometown, his dreams become more intense until finally the people in his dreams invite him to visit their world, Slumberland. There, Nemo must aid King Morpheus in protecting Slumberland from the Nightmare Demons.
Goaded by a nasty little green gnome thing, Flip, Nemo learns that Morpheus has a demon imprisoned beneath Slumberland. They accidentally allow it to get loose and kidnap the King. Now Nemo and his friends must journey to Nightmare and save him.

How to Do the Sync: Set the CD to repeat and pause it. Start the video. The Tokyo Movie Shin... Shaw... Somethingorother title card will appear. Un-pause the CD when the red "V" part of the "M" in the studio logo starts to fly offscreen. Enjoy.

The List of Coincidences: Some people like to see something to this effect on web pages about Syncs. Personally, I think it takes some of the fun out of actually seeing the Sync for yourself. But I went through all the trouble hunting for my list among the clutter in my room, so I might as well go ahead.

TRACK
"Pantala Naga Pampa"
MOVIE ACTION
I absolutely love how this Sync begins. This very short song fits the very beginning of the movie perfectly. Nemo's room fades into focus when Dave begins to sing.

TRACK
"Rapunzel"
MOVIE ACTION
Nemo's first dream begins when the band begins to jam. The bed flies around to the music and Nemo appears to be lip-syncing the song throughout. The song turns darker when Nemo enters the abandoned city. He FALLS OUT OF BED when Dave says "OOF!!!" The circus parade follows the final jam part of the song.

TRACK
"the Last Stop" (I love this song now :)
MOVIE ACTION
King Morpheus (disguised as the ringmaster) mouths Dave's phone call at the beginning of the song. The Slumberlanders arrive through Nemo's window on the first "this is the last stop!" Nemo jumps up and salutes on "Go ahead, believe that you are the chosen one!" Professor Genius (nee Dr. Pill as in the comic strip) shouts "Hey!!!" throughout. The scene plays out in dull colors until the Princess' cookies are revealed on "till it's not so black and white", and something similar happens with the colored lights on the airship. The sax solo matches Nemo's attempt at steering the blimp. After the nightmare demons attack, the song goes from very violent to quiet and pretty as they sail into Slumberland.

TRACK
"Don't Drink the Water"
MOVIE ACTION
The flying vehicles in Slumberland float to the opening music. Flip dances to the song throughout. Morpheus' empty throne is revealed on the first falsetto chorus. Nemo is left alone when the Professor and clowns run off to find the king as Dave sings "Away! Away! You have been banished!" Flip points into a secret passageway and mouths, "What's that you say? Your father's spirit still lives in this place?" The song gets seriously trippy when Flip and Nemo visit the different strange rooms in the castle (ie the upside-down one). Morpheus and Nemo ride around the castle during Alanis' part.

TRACK
"Wasting Time (Stay)" (I think this song's my favorite on the album)
MOVIE ACTION
Morpheus mouths the lyrics as he gives Nemo the key to the Nightmare Demon's prison. The rest of the song is in perfect sync when Nemo meets the Princess. Nemo lifts his pant leg up on "We were splashin'!" He and the Princess argue as the song gets more intense, then it quiets down on "He-e-e-e-ey love" as they laugh and make up. Nemo chases that stupid squirrel around and they tour Slumberland during the rocking finale.

TRACK
"Halloween"
MOVIE ACTION
Dave sings "HEY little dreamers!" (dammit, do I have to spell it out to you people :) when Nemo and company pop out of those trippy balloon things. Professor mouths "Why don't you come inside" as he herds the poor kid inside to meet the teachers. All the teachers dance to the music, but the kicker is when Nemo's fencing actions match the violins perfectly. Nemo mouths Dave's rapping (if you want to call it that) as he reads the titles of the books. The final "boom" matches the curtain falling down.

TRACK
"Stone"
MOVIE ACTION
Flip shows up during the eerie opening violins. He and Nemo go around making mischief to the music. Nemo discovers a secret escape route when Dave sings "Get away". Nemo slides down to the demon's prison to the music, and Dave sings "the same" when he points out the dragon carvings on both his key and the door. They unlock the door and it opens with agonizing slowness as the music turns darker. Dave sings "as heavy as stone and as bone chilling" as Flip pulls the door further open. The violins sound eerie again as they look in at the demon. There is some absolutely gorgeous music as the Slumberlanders fly in for the celebration.

TRACK
"Crush"
MOVIE ACTION
The interlude music matches Flip and Nemo's disastrous landing. The newly dressed Nemo is revealed when Dave sings "Crazy. How it. Feels tonight." Morpheus mouths the words during his speech about his magic wand. He uses his magic to create a sort of laser show during "watch the sunrise". The demon charges the door on "Oh, YESSSSS!!!!!" It rages through the castle while the partygoers dance during the interlude. The music turns sad when the demon kidnaps Morpheus.

TRACK
"the Dreaming Tree" (Again, do I have to spell it out?)
MOVIE ACTION
Opening music matches the flood/sea imagery of Nemo's dream. Nemo and the Professor appear to sing the song throughout. Professor shakes his head sadly as Dave sings "the Dreaming Tree has died." He jumps up excitedly, but sinks back down despairing on "Oh, have you no pity?" They mouth "If I had the strength" as they row to the coral castle. The guard diffuses the cannon on the cymbal crashes. During an interlude of pretty music, the Princess punches Flip! Dave sings "Take me back" as they sail into the Nightmare.

TRACK
"Pig"
MOVIE ACTION
Interlude music matches the water monster attack. When they run off, the Professor snaps his fingers on "Hey, yeah!" Flip mouths "Isn't it strange" and the characters haul their bags off on "how we move our lives away?" The Tree Goblins dance to the song, and the Professor eerily mouths "dead and gone in a few short years." There is a fake fade-out in the song as the scene ends, then it becomes very dark when the little flying demons attack.

TRACK
"Spoon"
MOVIE ACTION
The gibberish in the interlude matches the attacking demons. Nemo falls out of bed and loses the King's wand on the opening notes of the song. He and the Tree Goblins mouth the lyrics. They fly off in the bed during the acoustic guitars. Alanis starts singing when they see the entrance to the King Nightmare Demon's domain (all Morissette detractors are welcome to make whatever they want of this :). The music turns very dark as they explore Nightmare Castle. Then there is dead silence when they enter the Demon's hall.

TRACK
Secret Song
MOVIE ACTION
The King Demon appears to be singing it as he traps Nemo's missing friends in ice. Creepy s**t!

TRACK
"Pantala Naga Pampa"
MOVIE ACTION
Nemo attempts to rescue Morpheus, but he only succeeds in revealing where he and the goblins were hiding.

TRACK
"Rapunzel"
MOVIE ACTION
Nemo's final battle with the King Demon and his minions. The music becomes particularly intense when he finally destroys the Demon. It becomes sad when Nemo's friends see that he has passed out. Morpheus wakes Nemo up and he comes to on the very same "OOF!!!" he fell out of bed in back in the beginning! The rest of the song (which played during the circus parade at the beginning) matches the party in Slumberland. Flip makes his memorable exit during the cymbal crashes.

TRACK
"Last Stop"
MOVIE ACTION
Remember that Nemo entered Slumberland during this song, and now he gets to return home. His mom and dad gesture to the song. His father mouths "Go ahead, believe that you are the chosen one." The song matches the end credits, which doesn't count for much, but take a look at some of the people they had working on this. Why more people don't know about this movie baffles me.

And there you have it. You definitely have to try this one out yourself.

Yet Another Reiteration: Any movies, cartoons, songs and such mentioned herein are © their respective owners, and no endorsement (or it's opposite for that matter) is intended by the webmistress; with the possible exception of such cases in which she says that said material either "Rules" or "Sucks". Even so, she is NOT getting paid for it. >:P
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