"It's Hip to be Square!"

OK, a fun movie needs a fun soundtrack. These are the tracks I've been listening to as I've been writing and drawing. They are "temp tracks" which have inspired me, and I'd love to hear them all in Rubik's Movie. They're a mix of styles, eras and artists, and each song serves a purpose to push the story along or complete a feeling.

Click the blue PLAY button on Rubik's Radio to sample some tunes! To get to the next song press the yellow SKIP button. Read below for my thoughts on each one.

Phil Collins "Find a Way to My Heart" - in an open title sequence that tells the story of Rubik's journey from Hungary to the USA, after a difficult "good-bye." This is a heartfelt song which I have thought for years should be in a movie.

Switchfoot "Adding to the Noise" - in a sequence where Rubik and his friends clean the house in record time - thanks to Rubik - to the customary loud music that young people love when they do their housework. My brothers have cleaned house to Switchfoot for years!

Relient K "Chapstick and Chapped Lips and Things Like Chemistry" - A positive, punk/pop song about a school trip to a theme park during - what else? - a sequence where Rubik tags along on a school trip to a theme park!

Glenn Miller "Little Brown Jug" - Rubik learns to dance. And you can't beat classic swing for dancing.

Tobymac "Diverse City" - The lyrics "this freak show is leavin' the ground " and "Up-up and away!" say it all in a scene where Rubik gives his friends the gift of flight, at least for a little while. It also brings to light the diverse tone I want to set in the story. Anyone can have dreams and adventures! Plus I just love funky music!

Relient K "Pressing On" - This is fun speedcubing music for when Carlos and Rubik and their friends need something motivational to get them through those high-pressure cubing contests.

Phil Collins "True Colors" - Rubik is colorful and, as the story unfolds, we get to see the true colors on his inside too, as well as the true colors of is friends. This is my favorite version of Cyndi Lauper's song, which I imagine hearing during the sweet, gentle wind-up to a happy ending, and oh, those Irish bagpipes!

Huey Lewis and the News "Hip to be Square" - End credits begin with an 80s tribute about being what all Rubik's Cubes are - squares, lots of squares! I also think Rubik oughtta come out on screen and do funny stuff next to the credit roll.

Rubik the Amazing Cube theme song - I'd love hear this one - originally recorded by Menudo for the ABC cartoon series in 1983 - adapted, elaborated on, and re-recorded by Relient K. Among this band's most notable songs are references and homage to the 80s, including a version of the theme song from the Scott Bao sitcom "Charles in Charge"; "I'm Lion-O", a song about the Thundercats cartoon; In Love with the 80s, no explanation needed; and Hello McFly, a reference to Back to the Future. A Rubik's Movie-specific song by a group featured earlier in the soundtrack would also add a nifty bit of continuity.

Now some may look at this list and say, "How can Phil Collins and Tobymac be on the same soundtrack?" I don't know! Lawyers handle all that stuff!

Then there's the matter of the musical score for Rubik's Movie. I'm a great lover of the full orchestral sound, and there are so many talented composers whose music could really bring this story to life. Each character needs a theme. Each scene needs a mood. All I have to say here is rich, adventurous, whimsical, heartwarming, traditional. How big of a string section can we get?