For nerds of a certain age, Kyle Rayner is their Green Lantern. Created by Ron Marz and Darryl Banks in 1994, Kyle was the last member of the Green Lantern Corps, and spent nearly a decade as the only, and (after John Stewart was granted another ring) most prominent, Lantern in comics. He is an artist, and brought with him a totally different set of traits and skills than any Green Lantern before. He’s my favorite superhero.
Here is a playlist of songs that I think Kyle might dig, and that reveal various pieces of his history and personality. I hope you enjoy it.
“Los Angeles” by Frank Black
Kyle is a native Angelino, and there are a ton of great songs about the City of Angels – “Los Angeles” by X, “Comin’ into Los Angeles” by Arlo Guthrie, “L.A.” by the Fall, etc. However, Frank Black’s “Los Angeles” is about wanting to live in L.A. – but not the L.A. that we know and love. He yearns for a different Los Angeles – one full of more mystery and wonder.
This sounds like something a poor child raised by a single mother with an artistic bend might relate to – he doesn’t want to abandon his mother or his hometown, but he wants a more exciting, happier, more fulfilling Los Angeles. For now, he’ll wait in Los Angeles – he’ll wait in the pouring sun.
Bonus Fact: The song pronounces the city’s name in the way that characters in old noir films from the ’40s did – Los Angle-Ess – and even features a grammatical lesson as to why it should, in fact, be pronounced that way.
“Artist’s Statement” by Unsung
Especially in his early days as a Lantern, Kyle’s career as an artist was a plot point that was brought up frequently – it helped him to create constructs that were far more creative and unusual than anything other Lanterns could come up with. Hal’s boxing glove paled in comparison to the intricate, weird creations Kyle would whip up.
This song, by West Virginia by way of Pittsburgh rapper Unsung [real name: Steve Miller], is a really beautiful description of the artistic process, and takes the listener through Miller’s process of creating (Miller is a University of the Arts trained fine artist). The artistic process for Rayner doesn’t end when he put on his ring, it continues, and so this song would still be a fitting soundtrack to Kyle’s creations, whether with pencils and ink or with his ring.
Bonus Fact: Miller is a friend of mine from my days living in Pittsburgh, and is one of the most talented people I’ve ever met. Check out his Bandcamp site for lots of great music (I especially recommend the album this track is culled from, I Looked Back at my House, White as a Washing Stone)
“Learning to Fly” by Pink Floyd
Getting the power ring, in an alley no less, must have been an insane experience for Kyle. No one to guide him or teach him how to use it. He was thrown into a situation that, in the past, had been reserved for a galaxy’s most gifted specimen, after a long and grueling training. But no, Kyle was simply given the ring and said “you are the protector of the universe now. Peace!”
Continued belowSure, this song is from the least artistically fulfilling Floyd era. Sure, the drum sound is so dated that the snare is practically saying “80’s!” to you. I get that. But this song was selected for two reasons: it is about being thrust into a new situation and overcoming your fears and doubts (literally the thing a Green Lantern needs to do), but it is also a song that a young man of Kyle’s age would have heard a lot on the radio, and would have a certain nostalgic aspect to it. I could totally see him quasi-ironically being a fan of this tune.
Bonus Fact: This song is about guitarist/vocalist David Gilmour both learning to fly an airplane and learning to be the de facto leader of Pink Floyd after Roger Waters departed. Both situations seem pretty apt for Kyle’s role as the last Lantern.
“(Drawing) Rings Around the World” by Super Furry Animals
Once he got a handle on the ring, Kyle was able to full integrate his artistic nature with his new power set, and set about having a blast figuring out exactly what his ring could do, and must have been just having a blast testing the limits of his new found skills.
This song’s lyrics are pretty perfect for this point in Kyle’s life:
You expose the film in me
We’re drawing rings around the world
Sooner or later we will melt together
And draw rings around the world
With all those meteoric stones
And all those sheep they never cloned
Okay!
I am glowing radioactive
We draw beams around the world
Wish you could see us when we’re at our best now
We draw rings around the world
With cans of Post Water in tow
We’re gonna vaporize your soul
Ha-ha!
Earth will become Saturn II
With all those rings around the world
Tetsuo II became me and you
With all those rings around the world
And all those body hammer blows
We’re drawing rings around the world
Ha-ha!
Ring! Ring!
(Hello?)
Ring! Ring!
(Hello?)
Rings around the world
Bonus Fact: Alexandra DeWitt, Kyle’s girlfriend, only appeared in 6 issues, but made an impact on the character that is still felt today. Mainly because of…well, keep reading.
“Meu Refrigerador Nao Funciona” by Os Mutantes
This song’s title is translated to “my refrigerator doesn’t work,” and this is the closest to a joke you’ll find in here. If you don’t get the reference, well, here is some further reading on the subject.
Bonus Fact: This band, Os Mutantes (translation: the mutants), is a Brazilian band that, in the late 60s/early 70s, made some incredible music together, fusing psychedelia, traditional Brazilian music, and the blues into a style commonly called Tropicalia. They are the best, you guys. I once flew to Chicago to see them play at a festival. Given the current state of affairs in Brazil, these one-time revolutionaries seem like an especially apt choice.
“Intergalactic” by the Beastie Boys
After the loss of his girlfriend, Kyle split for New York City, where he joined the newly reconstituted (and no longer Teen) Titans, alongside Arsenal, Donna Troy, Terra, Impulse, and Damage, among others. For a young, single dude, mid-to-late 90’s Manhattan was the place to be. The Knicks were good, the downtown music scene was thriving, and rent was quasi-affordable. And when you’re a young white dude in New York, could there be any other soundtrack than the Beastie Boys?
Continued belowBonus Fact: R.I.P. MCA.
“Ray of Light” by Madonna
It was after his move to New York that Kyle really hit his stride as a Lantern. He joined the JLA, gained the respect of Batman, of all people, and started to prove that he was, indeed, worthy of the Lantern title. It was at this time that Kyle was such a breath of fresh air in comics; he was a positive, happy guy, who had fun while saving the world.
This song, to me, radiates pure joy, and is a great song to get pumped up listening to. I have a deep love for good pop music, and this is quite good. Plus, if you remember the video’s breakneck pace, it simulates the feeling of flying. I can totally see Kyle rocking out to this while soaring around after kicking some Nero or Mongul ass.
Plus, you know, he creates objects from rays of light. Just sayin’.
Bonus Fact: The video is set, at least partially, in New York City, to boot.
“Love in Outer Space” by Sun Ra and His Arkestra
For a dude whose first romantic encounter in comics ended up cold (ba doom ching!), Kyle has been a bit of a lothario as a Lantern, and he certainly has a type: those who can fly. From Donna Troy in her Darkstars gear, to Jade, to Soranik Natu, Kyle has always seemed to be attracted to ladies who could join him on a trip through the galaxy.
Now, this is tied for the biggest stretch, musically, of any of the choices on this playlist. Do I think Kyle would own some Sun Ra records? Perhaps – dude is an artist, and perhaps overheard some Arkestra stuff in a gallery once. But I do think that this track emphasizes both the serenity of space and the innocent bliss of falling in love. If he heard this, given the right context, I think he’d dig it.
Bonus Fact: Nuclear war is a motherfucker.
“Ionization” by Edgar Varèse
When Kyle became Ion, basically an all-powerful Green Lantern who could bend time and space, appear in multiple places at once and have almost limitless power, he wouldn’t do things like sleep or turn off his powers for even a second. The world, to him, must have been similar to the world we see a young Clark Kent encounter in Man of Steel, where every little noise or movement is registered, and the world could appear suffocating.
In addition to having “ion” in the title, this piece, to me, sounds exactly like that scenario. It sounds like chaos at times, and at others, it aligns together and seems to make sense. While the piece is somewhat beautiful and breathtaking in parts, it doesn’t much sound like a place you’d want to spend much time. Which was probably one of the reasons that Kyle’s status as Ion was short lived (both times he had that title).
Bonus Fact: Varèse was one of the major inspirations on Frank Zappa, who composed the first song I thought of for this piece, if only for the word “green” appearing in the title, “Son of Mr. Green Genes.”
Continued below“Another Green World” by Brian Eno
You may think that this is a reference to Oa, literally a green world. However, you forgot that first word, you dingus!
Post-“Rebirth,” Earth had 4 Lanterns calling it home – Rayner, Hal Jordan, Guy Gardner and John Stewart. Now, Rayner was rarely on planet, and all spent a good amount of time on Oa, but I’d still say that, more than any other planet in the universe, Earth was certainly a “green” planet.
Bonus Fact: Ambient music must be a part of any Lantern’s playlist – you gonna tell me that Music for Airports wouldn’t sound awesome while in orbit?
“Fear is a Man’s Best Friend” by John Cale
During the Sinestro Corps War, Kyle became infected by Parallax – the living embodiment of fear, and the entity of the Sinestro Corps. This was an especially interesting development, as Kyle, since he was the first Green Lantern chosen who, by his own account, wasn’t necessarily great at overcoming great fear at the point of his becoming a Lantern.
It was due to the fear that he felt that he was able to forge his own path, and become a Lantern like no-other. While fear might not be his best friend, it is certainly an important element to Kyle’s game.
Bonus Fact: Every art school kid listens to John Cale. All of them. Don’t doubt me on this.
“Brothers in Arms” by Dire Straits
After the Sinestro Corps War, after Blackest Night, after Brightest Day, after all of the epic battles that they waged together, the four Earth-based Lanterns, along with Killowog, have really become a formidable leadership presence in the Corps. And while calling them brothers is a bit cheesy, I doubt any of them would really debate it.
This is another song that a guy of Rayner’s age would be familiar with, and would probably have positive associations with. This was a record his mom would’ve owned and, perhaps, played around the house. Another lyrical fit, too:
Through these fields of destruction
Baptisms of fire
I’ve witnessed your suffering
As the battle raged higher
And though they did hurt me so bad
In the fear and alarm
You did not desert me
My brothers in arms
There’s so many different worlds
So many different suns
And we have just one world
But we live in different ones
Bonus Fact: In my mind, this is the last song played at ‘Warriors’ on Oa every night.
“White Light/White Heat” by the Velvet Underground
At the tail end of Tony Bedard’s run on “Green Lantern New Guardians,” Kyle was bestowed the White Lantern ring, and cemented himself as something entirely new in the universe. He was granted this ring after mastering all 7 rings of the emotional spectrum and is still learning just how powerful this ring can be, but knows he can heal others with it, as well as create constructs.
Continued belowThis song is the only logical choice for this point in Rayner’s life.
Bonus Fact: This song is the best, you guys.
“Traveling Lighty” by the Fireman
One of the nicest parts of “Green Lantern” #20, aka the Geoff Johns farewell spectacular, was the glimpse at the future of all of the Lanterns. Kyle’s was especially touching, as it shows him dedicating his life to healing others until his light, eventually, burns out.
This song by Paul McCartney’s “The Fireman” side project, again, perfectly fits Kyle:
I ride on the white wind
High over the sand
I follow the bluebird
I follow the wise
I glide on the green leaf
Not asking for more
I follow the white wind
I glide on the green leaf
I swim in the blue sea
I walk on the sand
I fly through the blue sky
To wherever you land
I ride on the white wind
To a far away shore
I follow the bluebird
To wherever she lands
I’ll be traveling tonight
Oh across the sea
Where she waits, she waits for me
Across the broken sea
From the sea
From the sea
From across the endless sea
I’ll be traveling tonight
Bonus Fact: Paul McCartney, at 70, put on the best concert I’ve ever seen.
“The Story of an Artist” by Daniel Johnston
Our final entry is an elegy to the life of an artist. Kyle has been through his share of heartache, his share of misunderstanding, his share of triumphs. While this song takes a melancholy outlook on an artist’s life, I feel that Kyle’s mood about his life rarely stays this low forever.
Each failure has led to something amazing, and his life has truly been a gifted one. I’d like to amend the final lyric to fit Kyle:
Some would try for fame and glory
Others just like to save the world.
Bonus Fact: Daniel Johnston, though known for drawing superheroes has never, to my searches, ever drawn a Green Lantern.
The Full Playlist:
