A Court of Music (An ACOTAR Series Playlist)

The connection between writing/reading and music is something very special- two of my favorite things in the world that work together so well. I love that so many writers use music to help their writing and I love when a reader finds a piece of music that reminds them of a book.

Sarah J. Maas is a writer who talks a lot about the music she uses when writing. She makes her Spotify playlists public and, in her newsletter, she shares many of the specific pieces of music that go with certain scenes. I may have cried a little when she revealed that it was Beethoven's 7th she imagined being played for Feyre while Under the Mountain. I cry every time I hear that 2nd movement..including when I played it in orchestra. (Awkward. Like, I legit was tearing up while on stage.)

So, it was inevitable that I would create a playlist for A COURT OF MIST AND FURY, my new favorite book. Sooo many songs were reminding me of the book because Sarah is so good at writing words that convey a ton of emotion- just like good music!

So, check out what I came up with in my Spotify playlist below. I started out just picking songs that reminded me of ACOMAF, but I wanted to encompass the entire story from Feyre first entering Prythian to Under the Mountain, to her depression and coping, and of course, to what happens after that. There are some spoilers below, so be warned. And please- let me know what songs you would include!

A COURT OF THORNS AND ROSES

A COURT OF MIST AND FURY

ACOTAR-

• “I love you,’ he whispered, and kissed my brow. ‘Thorns and all.”  (Tamlin)

• “I threw myself into that fire, threw myself into it, into him, and let myself burn.”
• Rhysand stared at me for long enough that I faced him. "Be glad of your human heart, Feyre. Pity those who don't feel anything at all.”
• "Because I'm tired and lonely, and you're the only person I can talk to without putting myself at risk." (Rhysand)
• As I lifted the ash dagger, something inside me fractured so completely that there would be no hope of ever repairing it.

1. Fell On Black Days- Soundgarden
1. “Sunspots have faded and now I'm doing time Now I'm doing time 'Cause I fell on black days
2. Wolf- First Aid Kit
1. “Wolf father, at the door You don't smile anymore”
3. Satellite- Dave Matthews Band
1. “Winter's cold spring erases”
4. Sacrilege- Yeah Yeah Yeahs
1. “Fallen for a guy, fell down from the sky Halo round his head Feathers in a bed In our bed, in our bed”
5. Yellow Flicker Beat- Lorde
1. “This is the start of how it all ends They used to shout my name, now they whisper it I’m speeding up and this is the red, orange, yellow flicker beat sparking up my heart”
6. The Blackest Day- Lana Del Rey
1. “Because I'm going deeper and deeper Harder and harder Getting darker and darker Looking for love In all the wrong places”
7. Truth Doesn’t Make a Noise- The White Stripes
1. “My baby's got a heart of stone”
8. Black Tangled Heart- Silverchair
1. “Take the rope to my heart and fall”
9. Stars- The Brian Jonestown Massacre
1. “And every moment I'm not with you Well it seems like years.”
10. Ink- Coldplay
1. “Got a tattoo said 'together thru life'”
11. Lykke Li- Hold On, We’re Going Home
1. “I can't get over you, You left your mark on me.I want your high love and emotion, endlessly”
12. Better Love- Hozier
1. “But you were mine Staring in the blackness at some distant star”
13. All I Want- Kodaline
1. “But If you loved me. Why'd you leave me?”
14. Symphony 7, II- Beethoven
15. Hurt- Nine Inch Nails
1. “I focus on the pain. The only thing that's real.”
16. Night Sky- Chvrches
1. “I'm the night-sky I'm the fire in your eyes And I want you Now and for all time”
17. Wandering Stars- Portishead
1. “doubled up inside Take awhile to shed my grief”
18. In This Twilight- Nine Inch Nails
1. “Night descends Could I have been a better person? If I could only Do it all again”
19. The Words- Christina Perri
1. “And all of the steps that led me to you And all of the hell I had you walk through But I wouldn't trade a day for the chance to say My love, I'm in love with you”
   
   

TRANSITION- Can’t Deal

• “When you spend so long trapped in darkness, Lucien, you find that the darkness begins to stare back.”
• “Hello, Feyre darling,” he purred.
• “You sent that music into my cell. Why?” Rhysand’s voice was hoarse. “Because you were breaking. And I couldn’t find another way to save you.”

1. It Was There That I Saw You- ...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead
1. “You were fair and fey as a sun that evil day We were bold and life was great But as time went on I wondered what was wrong I wondered what became of you”
2. Black Star- Radiohead
1. “What are we coming to?I just don't know anymore”
3. Without You- For King & Country
1. “This thorn in my side, though it cuts and stings me Has opened these eyes, I've never seen so clearly”
4. Broken Crown- Mumford & Sons
1. “But oh my heart, was flawed I knew my weakness So hold my hand consign me not to darkness”
5. Identikit- Radiohead
1. “Broken hearts make it rain”
6. Hold On, Hold On- Neko Case
1. “That echo chorus lied to me with its "Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on"”
7. Fall In Love- Phantogram
1. “Love, it wasn't love to recognize To see of was the reason you feel sick inside”
8. Crown of Love- Arcade Fire
1. “If you still want me, please forgive me, The crown of love has fallen from me.”
9. In the Arms of Sleep- Smashing Pumpkins
1. “Sleep will not come to this tired body now. Peace will not come to this lonely heart”
10. Breathe Me- Sia
1. “Lost myself and I am nowhere to be found Yeah, I think that I might break”
11. Better Love- Foxes
1. “I cried myself to sleep again You lie right there, but I've learned nothing”
12. Skinny Love- Birdy
1. “I told you to be patient.I told you to be fine.I told you to be balanced.I told you to be kind”
13. Plug In Baby- Muse
1. “I’ve exposed your lies…”
14. In The Night- The Weeknd
1. “”All alone she was livin In a world without an end or beginning
15. Spectrum- Florence + the Machine
1. “Say my name And every color illuminates”

ACOMAF- Depression, Recovery, Fighting, Loving

• “There are different kinds of darkness,” Rhys said.
• “There are good days and hard days for me—even now. Don’t let the hard days win.”
• “No one was my master— but I might be master of everything, if I wished. If I dared.”
• “To the people who look at the stars and wish, Rhys." Rhys clinked his glass against mine. “To the stars who listen— and the dreams that are answered.”
• My friend through many dangers. My lover who had healed my broken and weary soul. My mate who had waited for me against all hope, despite all odds

1. Unsteady- X_Ambassadors
1. “If you love me, don't let go”
2. Stars- Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
1. “I can't look at the stars. They make me wonder where you are”
3. Between the Bars- Elliott Smith
1. “Drink up baby, look at the stars. I'll kiss you again between the bars. Where I'm seeing you there with your hands in the air. Waiting to finally be caught”
4. Yellow- Coldplay
1. “Oh yeah your skin and bones, Turn into Something beautiful”
5. You Should Know Where I’m Coming From- Banks
1. “You ought to know where I'm coming from How I was alone when I burnt my home”
6. Planet Caravan- Pantera
1. “We sail through endless skies stars shine like eyes the black night sighs”
7. Shadows of the Night- Pat Benatar
1. “We're running with the shadows of the night So baby take my hand, you'll be all right”
8. Reflektor- Arcade Fire
1. “Trapped in a prism, in a prism of light. Alone in the darkness, darkness of white”
9. Galaxies- Laura Veirs
1. “When you sing, stars fill up my eyes”
10. Everlong- Foo Fighters
1. “Breathe out So I can breathe you in”
11. A Sky Full of Stars- Coldplay
1. “'Cause you're a sky, 'cause you're a sky full of stars I'm gonna give you my heart
12. Gun- Chvrches
1. “You had better run from me With everything you own 'Cause I am gonna come for you With all that I have”
13. Cosmic Love- Florence and the Machine
1. “Then I heard your heart beating, you were in the darkness too. So I stayed in the darkness with you”

• And so Tamlin unwittingly led the High Lady of the Night Court into the heart of his territory.
  
  
  
  
  XO,
  SVR

"Creep" Vs "Paperbag Writer"

Radiohead Bracket Time!

You know the drill: I'm working through a list of Radiohead songs to see which one comes out as the winner...which one is my favorite!

Creep



When you were here before
Couldn't look you in the eye
You're just like an angel
Your skin makes me cry
You float like a feather
In a beautiful world
And I wish I was special
You're so fuckin' special
But I'm a creep, I'm a weirdo
What the hell am I doing here?
I don't belong here
I don't care if it hurts
I want to have control
I want a perfect body
I want a perfect soul
I want you to notice
When I'm not around
You're so fuckin' special
I wish I was special
But I'm a creep, I'm a weirdo.
What the hell am I doing here?
I don't belong here
She's running out again,
She's running out
She's run run run run
Whatever makes you happy
Whatever you want
You're so fuckin' special
I wish I was special
But I'm a creep, I'm a weirdo,
What the hell am I doing here?
I don't belong here
I don't belong here

(Pablo Honey. 1993)

Maybe Radiohead's most well-known song? Says something about it that it's over 20 years old and still can feel fresh. Soft-Loud-Soft magical formula and Thom Yorke sings some of those words just so perfectly. It might also be that I've been hearing this song for 20+ years and know what to listen for. 

Paperbag Writer

Blow into this paperbag,
Go home, stop grinning at everyone.
Blow into this paperbag,
Go home, stop grinning at everyone.
It was nice when it lasted,
But now it's gone.
It was nice when it lasted,
But now it's gone.
Blow into this paperbag.
Take your armor off,
You're not under attack.
Take your armor off,
You're not under attack.
Come on, come on.
Blow into this paperbag,
Go home, stop grinning at everyone.
Blow into this paperbag,
Go home, stop grinning at everyone.
And they were honeybees
On a blade of grass.
Take your armor off,
You're not under attack.
Blow into this paperbag.
Blow into this paperbag.

(Com Lag. 2003)

Dang, comparing songs released 10 years apart. "Paperbag Writer" is a weird one, too. It sounds like Thom Yorke took over a microphone as an orchestra was having a strings sectional. There isn't a lot of movement to this one and I find myself just waiting for something to happen. Like, where's the climax?

And the winner is...

Creep!

"Hunting Bears" vs "Lozenge of Love"

"Hunting Bears"

Instrumental



(2001. Amnesiac) 

This song is like an arrow into my heart and soul. I can't even explain why. There is something about it that I am obsessed with. I think it's the fingers moving on the strings, the added synth (?) halfway through that adds an eerie accompaniment,  the fact that I create a short film in my mind every time I hear it. It just sounds so simple and precise, yet at the same time it comes across with so much depth.

"Codex" vs "You"

All right, you remember the drill- it's Radiohead bracket time!

"Codex"

"Pulk/Pull Revolving Doors" vs "Fake Plastic Trees"

"Pulk/Pull Revolving Doors"




There are barn doors
And there are revolving doors

Doors on the rudders of big ships
We are revolving doors

There are doors that open by themselves
There are sliding doors
And there are secret doors

There are doors that lock
And doors that don't

There are doors that let you in
And out
But never open
But they are trapdoors
That you can't come back from

(2001. Amnesiac)

This is a total robot song. No melody, no real singing. It's just kind of there.  

Fake Plastic Trees



Her green plastic watering can for
her fake Chinese rubber plant
In the fake plastic earth

What she bought from a rubber man
In a town full of rubber bands
to get rid of itself

It wears her out, it wears her out
It wears her out, it wears her out

She lives with a broken man
A cracked polystyreneman
Who just crumbles and burns

He used to do surgery
For girls in the eighties
But gravity always wins

And it wears him out, it wears him out
It wears him out, it wears him

She Looks like the real thing
She tastes like the real thing
My fake plastic love

But I can't help the feeling
I could blow through the ceiling
If I just turn and run

And it wears me out, it wears me out
It wears me out, it wears me out

If i could be who you wanted
If i could be who you wanted all the time, all the time

(1994. The Bends)

Is this really from 1994? It has held up so well! I've probably said it before, but my favorite songs almost always have a huge crescendo at the end with a softer resolution. With a lot of Radiohead songs, I love that they sound like they're being sung in an empty bathroom. It's an echo or something or maybe it's just that Thom Yorke is that good and it's not over-produced. I also love songs that get me tapping my foot to a beat that I'm not aware of. Whether it be the bass line or drums that I can't pinpoint- I love it! I think it's a sign of a well-constructed song. Anyway....I didn't really need to write so much about this song. It's great!

And the winner is...

Fake Plastic Trees.

"Reckoner" vs "You Never Wash Up After Yourself"

It's been awhile, but I haven't forgotten about my Radiohead bracket to figure out my favorite song. Check it out: HERE.

"Reckoner"



Reckoner
You can't take it with you
Dancing for your pleasure

You are not to blame for
Bittersweet distractors
Dare not speak its name
Dedicated to all human beings

Because we separate
Like ripples on a blank shore
In rainbows
Because we separate
The ripples on a black shore

Reckoner, take me with you

Dedicated to all human beings

(2007. In Rainbows)

This is a delicate song, but with movement. This song reminds me of being up too late. It's weird because when I listen to it, I think "This is kind of a dull song" but then I never change it and by the time it's over, I realize I've been singing along. That's got to say something, eh?

"You Never Wash Up After Yourself"



I must get out once in a while
Everything is starting to die
The dust settles, the worms dig
Spiders crawl over the bed

I must get out once in a while
I eat all day and now I'm fat
Yesterday's meal is hugging the plate
You never wash up after yourself

(1994. My Iron Lung)


I am a sucker for arpeggios. Does "Reckoner" even have a chance? I'm so torn because I think "Reckoner" is a betteng, but there's something about "You Never Wash Up After Yourself" that I love. I love how the voice rises and sounds like he gets too close to the microphone and it sounds very...raw. BUT I don't like how the song just ends. It feels a bit unfinished to me.

And the winner is...

I have no idea. I'm listening to them again to be sure. OKAY OKAY OKAY....I'm going with....

Reckoner!

Imitation Is The Sincerest Form Of Flattery: Landslide

Just my second cover comparison, but what a fun series! Go back and check out my "Wonderwall" discussion if interested.

So, the original:



And the Smashing Pumpkins cover:




I am not a Stevie Nicks fan. I guess full disclosure on that is pretty important. I also happen to be a huge Smashing Pumpkins fan. I can't say for sure that my first introduction to this song wasn't the Smashing Pumpkin's version, but I can definitely say that their version is what I love. The Fleetwood Mac version just sounds a little too without feeling for me. The guitar playing is quite nice, of course, but it's her voice that totally turns me off. And I know a lot of people say the same thing about Billy Corgan's voice, but man, I love it. I feel SO much more feeling in the Smashing Pumpkin's version and I like that it's a little bit more messy- the guitar playing doesn't sound perfect and it's not always balanced, but it works. Oh, how it works.

I love the cover WAY more....what about you???

XO,
SVR

Hold On To What You Believe

My friend Serena recently wrote about completing the first draft of her novel. CONGRATS! It's a huge accomplishment and great feeling. One which I guess I sort of know. A year or two ago I wrote a complete story: beginning, middle, end. It has characters, plot, conflict, resolution, and kissing scenes. I'm super proud of myself for completing the project, but once I was at the editing stage, I realized that I had another, more complex story I really wanted to tell. That is the story I am working on right now. And I'm super excited about it!

But, the point of this blog post is to talk about musical inspirations. Serena mentioned a couple of the works she listened to while writing, which happen to be some of my favorite compositions out there! Holst's "The Planets" and Lalo's "Symphonie Espagnole". There is no one song inspiring me for my current project, but I did want to share what I was focused on while working on my first story. Mumford & Son's "Hold on to What You Believe". It's amazing:



XO,
SVR

"Like Spinning Plates" vs "Everything In Its Right Place"

Guys, this pairing makes me nervous. I love both songs SO much! This is going to be tough.

"Like Spinning Plates"

While you make pretty speeches
I'm being cut to shreds
You feed me to the lions
A delicate balance

And this just feels like spinning plates
I'm living in cloud cuckoo land
And this just feels like spinning plates
My body's floating down the muddy river

(2001. Amnesiac. I Might Be Wrong.)

This song is an absolute favorite. It's simple and without a lot of lyrics, but man, those words that are there are just perfect. I've always loved the phrase "like spinning plates" and it just evokes such a desperate feeling. I also love the line "While you make pretty speeches, I'm being cut to shreds". I've always felt like this song would be very fitting in a dystopian movie. The music sounds kind of futuristic, and the lyrics definitely leave a feeling of hopelessness.

"Everything In Its Right Place"

Everything
Everything
Everything
Everything

In its right place
In its right place
In its right place
In its right place

Yesterday I woke up sucking on a lemon
Yesterday I woke up sucking on a lemon
Yesterday I woke up sucking on a lemon
Yesterday I woke up sucking on a lemon

Everything
Everything
Everything

In its right place
In its right place
In its right place
Right place

There are two colors in my head
There are two colors in my head
What is that you tried to say
What is that you tried to say

Tried to say
Tried to say
Tried to say
Tried to say
Tried to say

Everything
Everything
Everything

(2000. Kid A. I Might Be Wrong.)

Clearly another song without a ton of lyrics. Not that it affects the greatness of any of their songs. Radiohead excels at creating a feeling with each and every song and they don't need versechoruseverse to do so. I love how this song has multiple layers of sounds throughout and it builds throughout. It's very classical in it's structure. If Beethoven had been a rock musician, he would've written stuff like this.


And the winner is...

Another incredibly tough call, but for a different reason because I do love both of these songs, but I've gotta go with the words from the one so...

Like Spinning Plates!

"Faust Arp" vs "Meeting In The Aisle"

Check out the bracket before we get started.

"Faust Arp"



One two three four

Wakey wakey
Rise and shine
It's on again, off again, on again
Watch me fall
Like domino's
In pretty patterns
Fingers in the blackbird pie
I'm tingling tingling tingling
It's what you feel now
What you ought to, what you ought to
Reasonable and sensible
Dead from the neck up
Because I'm stuffed, stuffed, stuffed
We thought you had it in you
But no, no, no
For no real reason

Squeeze the tubes and empty bottles
Take a bow take a bow take a bow
It's what you feel now
What you ought to
What you ought to
An elephant thats in the room is
Tumbling tumbling tumbling
In duplicate and duplicate
Plastic bags and
Duplicate and triplicate
Dead from the neck up
Guess I'm stuffed, stuffed, stuffed
We thought you had it in you
But no, no, no
Exactly where do you get off
Is enough is enough is enough
I love you but enough is enough, enough
A last stop
There's no real reason

(2007. In Rainbows)

This is an interesting arrangement of acoustic guitar, strings, and lyrics that fill the track. It sounds like Thom Yorke is standing very close to the microphone or something in a way that, as a listener, I don't always hear the accompaniment.  Unlike a lot of Radiohead songs, the lyrics are front and center for this one and there are a lot of them! Radiohead lyrics aren't always so lengthy. All in all a good song, but not my favorite type of Radiohead song.

"Meeting In The Aisle"



Instrumental.

(1997. Karma Police. Airbag/How Am I Driving. No Surprises/Running From Demons.)

My first thought on listening to this song is that it would have been a great fit for the movie The Beach. Not that there are many aisles in that movie, but it has that trippy feel to it that the movie exudes. I always love a Radiohead instrumental because usually I am so enamored by Thom Yorke's voice that it's special to love one of their songs solely for the instruments.

And the winner is...

Wow, this is a tough one! Honestly, I don't LOVE either one, but I like both. Aweajdksljdklas! Which one wins!? Okay let's see: I like "Faust Arp" because of the lyrics, but I like "Meeting In The Aisles" because of the driving instruments. However, "Faust Arp" has great accompaniment, too, so I think the winner will be...

Fasut Arp!

Imitation Is The Sincerest Form Of Flattery: Wonderwall

I can't explain why a cover of a song is so special, but so often I end up loving another artist's rendition of the same words and music more than the original. I guess sometimes it's because I've heard the original so much that a new fresh take on it makes it fresh again. And other times, another artist is able to show a different side of the lyrics and music. That's definitely the case with Ryan Adam's cover of "Wonderwall" by Oasis.

First, listen to the original:



Now, check out Ryan Adam's haunting cover:




So, what do you think? I have to admit that Ryan Adam's version has been on heavy rotation in my world since I rediscovered it a few years ago. I think the biggest difference is that the Oasis version has both Liam Gallagher's distinct voice and a much more produced sound than Ryan Adam's version. Supposedly, when the song first came out, Noel Gallagher (the writer of the song) said it was about his then girlfriend, but after they broke up he said it was "about an imaginary friend who's gonna come and save you from yourself." To me, Ryan Adam's version has way more emotion in it and it just oozes with feeling. It's just a fact in my world that an acoustic, slowed down version is almost always going to resonate more with me. In this battle, I would definitely pick Ryan Adam's "Wonderwall" as the superior.

That said, I have to include Oasis' cover of their own song (Noel singing now!), which apparently was inspired by Ryan Adam's cover! Love this...check it out, it's quite good:



So, which do you prefer??

XO,
SVR

"Where Bluebirds Fly" vs "Planet Telex"

"Where Bluebirds Fly"



Instrumental

( 2003. There There. Com Lag.)

Even though this is listed as being instrumental, there is some singing that goes along with it. This song would fit in perfectly on an Atoms for Peace album with it's weird synthesizers and beats. I can't remember which songs came before and after it on the Radiohead EP so I don't know if it sticks out on there or not.

 "Planet Telex"



You can force it but it will not come
You can taste it but it will not form
You can crush it but it's always here
You can crush it but it's always near
Chasing you home

Saying, everything is broken
Everyone is broken

You can force it but it will stay stung
You can crush it as dry as a bone
You can walk it home straight from school
You can kiss you can break all the rules

But still, everything is broken
Everyone is broken
Everyone is, everyone is broken
Everyone is, everything is broken

Why can't you forget
Why can't you forget
Why can't you forget

(1995. The Bends.)

What a classic! I love how this song sounds like we're in a whirlwind of sound. Everything reverberates and, at times, you can't even tell from where the sound is coming. Guitar? Synth? Voice? Huh? I also like the simple guitar melody that is played over all of the sound towards the end. Love things like that. It reminds me of classical music when things are getting so crazy and then you get to hear the main melody again.

And the winner is...

Planet Telex!

Lushness wins. Probably doesn't hurt that I know this song from the first note I hear.

"Million Dollar Question" vs "The Bends"

Continuing on...

"Million Dollar Question"




Was always waiting for the crush
The car to drive right through the shops
To call in sick and late at work
And take a holiday
Was always tangled up in knots
To keep myself from speaking up
But no-one's listening anyway
Just trying to bribe me..
And if it's alright, then what am I doing here?
And if it's alright, this place is gassed by fear
And if it's alright, I'll tell you, 'cause you never understand
And if it's alright, I'll beg you, 'cause I'm a begging kind of man
Today I wrote a bad cheque
Packed a bag and took a jet
But no-one's looking anyway
I hope they miss me
I just think maybe I'm making a mistake. 

This song is fine. Good, even, but something about it feels dated now. It reminds me of the stuff I heard all the time at house shows and cheap concerts when I was in college. Although, I guess they were ahead of their time since I went to college 10 years after this was released. The song has a heavier rock feel (with guitar and drums) than my usual favorite Radiohead songs, but it does use an inverted soft-loud-soft formula, of which I am so fond.

"The Bends"

 


Where do we go from here
The words are coming out all weird
Where are you now when I need you
Alone on an airplane
Falling asleep against the window pain
My blood will thicken

I need to wash myself again
To hide all the dirt and pain
'Cause I'd be scared that there's nothing underneath
And who are my real friends
Have they all got the bends
Am I really sinking, this slow

My baby's got the bends, oh no
We don't have any real friends, no no no

I'm just lying in a bar with my drip feed on
Talking to my girlfriend
Waiting for something to happen
And I wish it was the 60s,
I wish I could be happy, I wish, I wish, I wish
That something would happen

Where do we go from here
The planet is all gummed up in a sea of fear
And where are you

They brought in the C.I.A
The tanks and the whole marines to blow me away
To blow me sky high

Baby's got the bends
We don't have any real friends

I'm just lying in a bar with my drip feed on
Talking to my girlfriend
Waiting for something to happen
And I wish it was the 60s,
I wish I could be happy, I wish, I wish, I wish
That something would

I want to live and breathe
I want to be part of the human race
I want to live and breathe
I want to be part of the human race, race, race

Where do we go from here
The words are coming out all weird
Where are you now, when I need you 

The album this song is on is probably my favorite Radiohead song and this, the title track is a great piece of it. Everything just sounds so much tighter and the great sounds of the guitar and voice are given room to be appreciated. I also love how Thom Yorke enunciates certain words in the song. I'm not always a lyrics person, but in this song I am because of how they're presented.


And the winner is...

The Bends!


The way the words are sung totally gets me!