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byjillianmaria · 11 months

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The Songbird's Refrain: A Playlist Breakdown

Listen. Listen. I’m nothing but self-indulgent and a little obsessed with my own books, so I’m breaking down my playlist song choice for The Songbird’s Refrain, similar to how I broke down the playlist for There’s Magic Between Us on Goodreads a while back. Why? Because it’s spooky season, and this semi-spooky supernatural suspense deserves some love. Also? Because I can. So, let’s go!

WARNING!!!! The following contains some pretty big spoilers for The Songbird’s Refrain, my debut novel. Proceed with caution.

Chapter 1: Bittersweet by Myuu

This was on the instrumental playlist I had on repeat while drafting this book, and it felt like the right place to start this playlist. I always pictured it, like, if this was a movie, a song like this would be playing over the opening credits while Elizabeth starts her walk home from school in the first scene.

Chapter 2: All the Rowboats by Regina Spektor

This is a song about a museum with a sinister vibe. The exhibits that Elizabeth finds herself exploring in this chapter aren’t… not that. Especially the exhibit with the paintings call to mind this song. Not to mention, violins are a recurring motif in this book (and in this playlist, for that matter), so having them mentioned in the lyrics is sort of fun.

Relevant lyrics: God, I pity the violins in glass coffins / They will stay there forever and a day

Chapter 3: Danse Macabre by Camille Saint-Saëns

Listen. Is The Mistress literally dancing to Danse Macabre? No, the song is Plot Relevant and doesn’t exist in our world. Do I imagine it with exactly this level of intensity and Extraness? Of course. I mean, this is the Mistress we’re talking about. So, yeah, this song is associated with her dance in chapter 3.

Chapter 4: Circus Monster by CircusP

By now, I think most people know that this book started out as a vocaloid fanfic based off of the song Dark Woods Circus. While that song isn’t really relevant anymore, I knew I couldn’t get out of this playlist without including at least one vocaloid song, and this one called to mind the feathered woman that Elizabeth sees in act 4.

Relevant lyrics: Show must go on, it’s time for our act / I want to see you

Chapter 5: Morbid Fascination by Midnight Syndicate

Another instrumental that was on heavy rotation during drafting. I think this song is really intense, with creeping dread, which I think suits the scene where Elizabeth wakes up in the cage perfectly. This is the chapter where shit gets real, for lack of a better word. I wanted to find a song to match it.

Chapter 6: Body by Mother Mother

Elizabeth finds feathers growing from her skin, and realizes that she’ll end up like the feathered woman she watched die. This chapter is where the body horror starts, and when I think of body horror, I think of this song! Plus, we get those intense violins again. Keeping the playlist on theme with this intense, visceral song.

Relevant lyrics: Take my face / and desecrate arms and legs

Chapter 7: The Swan by Daniel Jung

A noticeable shift in tone here! But still with those thematic violins. This chapter introduces the magic dreams into the mix, so I wanted a song that was soft and romantic to suit that… subplot? Trope? Whatever you want to call it, this song is it. I had it playing a lot while I drafted the dream chapters, especially the ones from the woman’s POV.

Chapter 8: Ethan’s Waltz by Abel Korzeniowski

A late addition: I went searching for this one when I put the chapter-by-chapter playlist together, because I didn’t have any in my drafting playlists that suited this one. I wanted a song that matched Elizabeth’s mood during the first show — hopeless and a little humiliated. But there’s some sweetness in there too, for the dream at the end of the chapter.

Chapter 9: Working for the Knife by Mitski

In this scene, Elizabeth talks a little more with Mark about how he works for the Mistress, and also has a brief connection with Violet. I think this song captures the energy of what those two must feel: they’re not literally trapped like Elizabeth, but that doesnt mean they have an easy way out from under the Mistress’s thumb, either. They both deal with it in their own way.

Relevant lyrics: I start the day high and it ends so low / 'Cause I'm working for the knife

Chapter 10: Lights - Shook Remix by Ellie Goulding

I had this song on my character playlist and assigned it to Madame Selene. It felt right to put it here, where we really see her acting as an ally to Elizabeth. It’s a really lovely scene, because it’s what sets Elizabeth up on the road to hope.

Relevant lyrics: And so I tell myself that I'll be strong / And dreaming when they're gone

Chapter 11: Wolven Storm by Marcin Przybyłowicz

This chapter is a bit unique in that it’s all dream, and it all takes place in the distant past. So this song is sort of wildly different in tone to match that. But its sort of wild how perfectly the lyrics match this bittersweet, tragic love story that we see unfold between Alice and the Woman.

Relevant lyrics: Rend my heart open, then your love profess / A winding, weaving fate to which we both atone

Chapter 12: Drain the Blood by The Distillers

And immediately after that gentle, medival song, we get… hardcore punk? The mood whiplash cracks me up, to be honest. But this is a song I associate heavily with Bridget, and she’s fully on her bullshit this chapter, so it works out. I just really love how rough and edgy it is… like a certain knife enthusiast.

Relevant lyrics: In a city that swells with so much hate / You seem to rise above and take its place

Chapter 13: Moonlight Sonata by Ludwig van Beethovan

In my head, I referred to this as the montage chapter. Over the weeks, Elizabeth struggles to remain hopeful as her body becomes more and more warped. I picked this song because I think it captures that quiet sadness well, and it’s one I associate with Madame Selene, who offers that bit of hope at the end!

Chapter 14: Sweet Dreams by Emily Browning

And in this chapter, we have the Mistress somehow getting even more awful. So of course, we needed a song that captured where she’s at. I picked this cover of Sweet Dreams because I think it’s got the Mistress’s whole vibe down better than the original — it’s more quietly sadistic than the original, and almost coy.

Relevant lyrics: Everybody’s looking for something / Some of them want to use you

Chapter 15: Mountains by Message to Bears

We get a lot of information in this chapter, delivered to us by Mark. And since this chapter is so Mark-heavy, I decided to pair it with a song I associate with him and his backstory with Violet. It seemed especially fitting, since this is the chapter where we learn why they ran away and joined the Mistress in the first place.

Relevant lyrics: And we could run away before the light of day / you know we always could

Chapter 16: Null Moon by Akira Yamaoka

In this chapter, Elizabeth reckons with the magic that’s been all around her since the start, and begins to try and use it for her own ends. I really love how dreamy and surreal this song is, which sort of matches how weird the dream is as Elizabeth works together with the Voice to gain some small power over the Mistress.

Chapter 17: Assembly Line by Mary Lambert

This is a song I heavily associate with Elizabeth’s arc in general — a song about learning to stand up for yourself against impossible, terrifying odds. I decided to put it here, in the scene where Elizabeth does magic for the first time, because it’s such a major turning point for her.

Relevant lyrics: This isn’t love, the world that you have created / I’m standing my ground while the earth shakes

Chapter 18: Uninvited by Alanis Morissette

Coming off of the high of the last chapter, we get even more pushback from Elizabeth as she uses her powers against the Mistress for the first time! This song has such a powerful energy, and I really wanted to capture that same energy in this scene. Elizabeth is fighting back, and it feels good.

Relevant lyrics: Must be strangely exciting to watch the stoic squirm / But you, you’re not allowed

Chapter 19: Control by Halsey

Of course, things can’t be that easy. The Mistress isn’t going to go down without a fight, and in this chapter, we see her asserting control in a very cruel way — not by punishing Elizabeth, but poor Mark instead. I wanted a song that really captured how menacing the Mistress could be, and this one fit the bill.

Relevant lyrics: Goddamn right, you should be scared of me / who is in control?

Chapter 20: Ghost Song by Max Ablitzer

This is a song I associate with the ultimate fate of Alice and the Woman, which we see in a quite violent scene in this chapter. But the tragic, sad tone also fits the scene where Elizabeth learns what’s become of Mark.

Chapter 21: Have a Seat Misery by Shayfer James

Well, Elizabeth is pretty miserable for most of this scene. But there’s a certain energy to this song that I think fits where we end up. This chapter ultimately builds up to Violet’s involvement, and marks a huge shift in tone. I feel like the instrumentals in this song really sell that feeling that something is coming.

Relevant lyrics: It seems your hand’s a bit shaky / we’ve got damage to do

Chapter 22: The Last Bird by Zoe Keating

Elizabeth is out of her cage and she’s doing… not fine, actually! Jokes aside, I like this song for its energy and sort of hopeful vibe. Even the title matches — since this is the chapter where Elizabeth really commits to stoping the Mistress, which would make her the “last bird” captured by her.

Chapter 23: The Piano Duet by Danny Elfman

I had this song on my drafting playlist, and it always reminded me a little of Violet and Mark. It’s melancholy and sweet all at once. Since Violet reminisces about star-gazing with Mark in this chapter, I thought it would fit.

Chapter 24: The Mouse and the Model by The Dresden Dolls

I’ve always thought of this as the Violet song, so I knew I’d pair it with at least one of her big chapters. Since in this one we get her really getting involved with helping Elizabeth beat the Mistress, it made sense to me to put it here.

Relevant lyrics: We’ll risk it, we’re desperate for someone to trust / Let’s start a new heart

Chapter 25: City of Tears by Christopher Larkin

For the dream that Elizabeth has in this chapter, I knew I needed a song that sounded almost magical. The quiet choral elements of this one seemed to fit the bill — it gives the whole thing an ethereal sort of quality that matches the tone of the scene where we see the Mistress, Alice and the Woman all doing magic together.

Chapter 26: Music Box - Silent Hill 2 by Erutan

In this chapter, we go through the exhibits of the show again, but this time with the context of knowing who exactly made those paintings, who wrote those poems, and who stars in those videos. I love the quiet vocalizations in this cover — I can almost picture them as souls of the girls who came before Elizabeth, still trapped in their lanterns.

Chapter 27: Howl by Florence + the Machine

This song is the Mistress’s main theme song, so I put it here, where she seemingly “triumphs” — for now, anyway. It’s easily one of my top 5 F+tM songs, too. I just love how dark and intense it is. A perfect fit for our antagonist!

Relevant lyrics: I hunt for you with bloodied feet / Be careful of the curse that falls on young lovers

Chapter 28: Duet by Omori

This is probably my favorite chapter in the book, and it was really hard for me to pick a song to go with it! But I decided to use this one, because it’s such a moving, emotional piece. I can hardly listen to it without crying! And it really suits this scene, where Elizabeth chooses to live and fight another day.

Chapter 29: A Dark Congregation by The Hush Sound

Here, Elizabeth and Violet have to face the consequences of their actions… with poor Violet being on the receiving end of the worst of it. So, we have this dark, moody song about a funeral, but there’s a hint of defiance in the lyrics, too. The same defiance that Violet shows, and that Elizabeth does her best to cling to.

Relevant lyrics: Save me, I am swallowed by the guilt of this / We will not let time erase us

Chapter 30: Thunder Love by Little Dragon

Here’s another song I associate with Alice and the Woman. I thought it was a sweet song to put with this scene, where we see a moment of real connection and intimacy between them. I just really love how dreamy and ethereal it sounds!

Relevant lyrics: My past erase as we lay in in a daze / I’m gonna love until the bitter end

Chapter 31: Reunited Dreams by Lexie

This was another late addition while making the playlist! This is the chapter where Elizabeth finds herself at the “do-or-die” moment, quite literally. So I wanted a song that captured the mood she finds herself in. And, of course, I wanted violin featured prominently, since that’s such a thematic instrument in the book! And this playlist, for that matter.

Chapter 32: I Will Follow You Into The Dark by Daniela Andrade

You’d think I’d pick a more triumphant song for a big, climactic battle! Instead, we’ve got a sweet acoustic cover of a Death Cab for Cutie song. But it really captures the heart of Elizabeth’s headspace in this moment, which is grounded in a lot of love and compassion. Also, fun fact: I imagine Elizabeth’s singing voice to sound a lot like the singer in this cover!

Chapter 33: My Friends by Oh Wonder

We’re in the final stretch now. Elizabeth ties up some loose ends with those that are left at the show, and says goodbye to some friends and allies. This chapter is so incredibly bittersweet to me, and I wanted to pick a song to match that energy.

Relevant lyrics: Oh my friends, I am heavy / I can’t forget it, all of the love

Chapter 34: I Will by Mitski

And here, at the end of it all, we have Elizabeth and the Girl — finally together, and figuring out exactly what that means for them. This is such a sweet and hopeful beginning for them, and after everything, I wanted to leave them with a song that matched it… so I picked this one, which is probably one of my favorite songs of all time, ever. I really think it captures what they want to be for each other, after everything.

Relevant lyrics: Stay with me, hold my hand / there’s no need to be brave

#project: songbird #i simply cannot be stopped #also?#i WILL not be stopped #mine: playlist

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