Muses, Music, Muse, and More

So, if you’re anything like me, you love books, you love music, but you don’t love the two of them together. I much prefer reading in silence, or at least as silent as it can be in this world that we live in. I like putting all my concentrating on the book that I’m reading, and so music can be distracting. Music I’m content to listen to whenever I’m not reading, so it works out. But sometimes, I’m in that strange mood where I need to read, but I also need to listen to Spotify. So in honor of this feeling, I’ve compiled a list of songs that fit the general mood of each of the following five genres. This is less of an informative guide than a bookish game, so feel free to play along in the comments and list your own suggestions.

1. Dystopian 

• Eyes on Fire – Zeds Dead RMX by the Blue Foundation
• Uprising by Muse
• Prelude 12/21 by AFI
• Don’t Stop Dancing by Kaskade, EDX, and Haley
• I Am Not a Robot by Marina and the Diamonds

Since I equate the future with electronic influences, anti-authoritarian themes, and just general music that you would listen to while walking down a dark street at night while angry, I picked out these songs. Well…all but the last. I Am Not a Robot I included solely because of the name. Robots! The Future! Yeah!

2. Humor 

• Just the Two of Us – Dr. Evil Mix by Dr. Evil
• Goofy Goober Rock by Spongebob SquarePants
• YOLO by the Lonely Island
• Nice Guys by Chester See, Kevjumba, and Ryan Higa
• Bananaphone by Raffi

These songs will either enhance your comedy reading experience, or drive you crazy (especially the last song). In any case, they’re all either funny, silly, or so annoying that it’s actually a good song.

3. YA Contemporary 

• Human by Jon McLaughlin
• Maybe by Sick Puppies
• This Ain’t Goodbye by Train
• The Mixed Tape by Jack’s Mannequin
• Stacy’s Mom by Fountains of Wayne

I feel these songs encompass a few of the themes that YA Contemporary books explore. How people change over time, for good or for bad, first loves and the way they end (or don’t). How, in the end, we’re all just human. (Really. You know, since YA Contemporary isn’t about werewolves and warlocks and death deities. Hehe.) I had to include The Mixed Tape because Mixed Tapes were such an iconic part of the teenage life, back a few years ago (and I’m looking right at you Eleanor and Park, as I include this song). And finally, I included Stacy’s Mom because it was the song of my teenage years, and it just captures that fun essence that a lot of YA Contemporary books include (except for the ones who don’t have any fun, and just proceed to break your heart, time and time again.)

4. Paranormal

• Bring Me to Life by Evanescence
• Dark Doo Wop by MS MR
• Bloodstream by Stateless
• In Fear and Faith by Circa Survive
• Demons by Imagine Dragons

Vampires, Zombies, Immortals, oh my! The paranormal category features all kinds of different creatures, and more often than not an angsty love pairing. Some of these songs have great titles that match up to certain creatures (Bring Me to Life = Zombies, Demons = Duh). But Bring Me to Life also has that creepy, supernatural feel to it. In Fear and Faith brings that much needed angst to this category, and Dark Doo Wop is a haunting song that would pair perfectly with a number of paranormal books. I was biased to Bloodstream because I heard it on the Vampire Diaries soundtrack, and it’s title is perfect for all those Vampires out there, but the general feel of it is also very paranormal. Give it a try. You’ll be hooked.

For the fifth genre, I’m switching it up a little. (I know, I’m such a liar). Instead of picking a genre to coordinate with songs, I’m picking a single book. I’m just going to wonder over to my ‘favorites’  shelf and pick a book at random.

5. Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

• I Will Follow You Into the Dark by Death Cab for Cutie
• Oblivion by Bastille
• Slow Dancing in a Burning Room by John Mayer
• Look What You’ve Done by Jet
• Dark Paradise by Lana Del Rey

I think all these songs exactly describe the relationship between Catherine and Heathcliff, or the way their relationship affects others. Slow Dancing in a Burning Room is basically what they do. Even when everything is crashing down around them, they cling onto each other, shutting out the outside world. Catherine is inherently selfish, and Look What You’ve Done is dedicated to her. Why, Catherine? Why didn’t you just marry Heathcliff and contain all of these events?! The other songs are mainly from Heathcliff’s point of view, as he is haunted by the need to join Catherine. To end, let me quote Dark Paradise. For all of those who have read Wuthering Heights, it’s pretty accurate, right?

“Loving you forever, can’t be wrong.                                                                                                          

 Even though you’re not here, won’t move on.” 

and

“Your soul is haunting me, and telling me

That everything is fine, but I wish I was dead.

Every time I close my eyes

It’s like a dark paradise

No one compares to you, I’m scared that you

Won’t be waiting on the other side.” 

So, thanks for reading. What are some songs that you would match up to certain genres or books? Let me know in the comments below! Also, as an important side note, thank you guys so much! I recently hit 100 followers, and I’m both so honored and so humbled by everyone who has taken the time to follow and comment on my blog posts. Thank you, all. If there was a way to send out virtual cookies to you, then I would take that opportunity. But since I cannot, I offer my gratitude instead. Thanks, again!