Another old blog post from a blog tour. If you ever wanted an Ardulum soundtrack, here you go!
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Playlist for the Ardulum series
J.S. Fields
I can’t listen to music as I write, but I do often ‘songfic’ my characters in my head when listening to music while exercising (yes yes, I once wrote fanfic and maybe….maybe a songfic or two. Don’t you dare google). Below are the ‘soundtracks’ to each book (in rough order within the book, if applicable), with a short bit of explanation.
First Don
Alice [Extended Version] by Avril Lavigne: This is Neek’s theme. It doesn’t hold to one particular part of the book, but rather I feel like it walks the reader through the entire story. Neek starts out disoriented with the arrival of Emn but gradually gains confidence and courage, and finally finds herself in a place she never imagined.
Me and the Majorby Belle & Sebastian: This song is first act Nicholas to a T. He’s joined the crew of the Pledgebut they are nothinglike he expected. Yorden is grumpy and overbearing and Neek is crass. Nicholas feels a huge generational divide but he remains spunky and upbeat… and he can still get his hits in, too.
Innocence by Avril Lavigne: This is child Emn’s theme, and the song reminds me of the scene in the docking bay when Neek and Emn are playing ‘duck,’ with Emn in that twirly yellow dress. It’s a very sweet scene that really shows Emn’s youth and Neek’s conflict between her terror at what Emn represents, and her desire to slide back into the mythos of her own youth.
A Rush of Blood to the Headby Coldplay: Disenfranchised and looking for a way to find purpose, this is Yorden’s theme. He’s seen too many wars, too many utopian governments, to buy into the Risalian bullshit peace, but he knows better than to just start a war. But, if the opportunity to flip the establishment presented itself…
When You’re Goneby Avril Lavigne: everything about this song is the first book. In particular though, I often think of Neek visiting Emn’s cocoon in the docking bay of the Pledge, missing her and wondering just what’s on the other side of the sticky material. I think on some level Neek knows what to expect when Emn emerges, and that terrifies her, because feeling protective of a kid is one thing, but adult Emn will be an entirely different, and terrifying, affair.
Second Don
Armsby Christina Perri: if someone were going to make a music video of Second Don, this would be the song. It encompasses the whole feeling of book two on both sides, as Atalant and Emn run towards each other, just to fall away again. They come together in the end (and finally kiss), and the end of this song brings that feeling of YESSS to the forefront.
Some Nightsby Fun.: oh first act Neek. So much denial. So many holy books to read. Every times she goes into that cockpit she might as well be going to war. Neek is at her lowest point in these first few chapters, and even though she has two people who deeply care for her, she can’t reconcile the Ardulum of her childhood with the Ardulan woman who wants nothing more than to be with her
Walking With A Ghostby Tegan & Sara: Yorden and Atalant have had a long and sometimes complicated friendship. As Yorden comes to grips first with Atalant’s death and then the possibility that she might be alive, he has to do some interesting mental gymnastics. This song reminds me when he finally goes into Atalant’s old room on the Mmnnuggl pod and realizes who used to occupy it.
Citizen of the Planet by Alanis Morissette: this song always makes me think of Emn when she arrives to Ardulum. She’s disoriented but sohopeful that she’s finally found her home. She finally gets to see people that look like her, makes ‘friends,’ and really blossoms into an independent person. For this one, perfect moment she has solid confidence and the tone of this song really brings forth that ‘head held high, this is my planet,’ attitude.
Radioactiveby Imagine Dragons: Third act Nicholas is pretty badass, and I always hear this song when he bursts through the crowd of Ardulans to make a path for Atalant so she can get to the dais, and save Emn. Nicholas probably makes the biggest evolution in terms of character during the trilogy, though he’s often in the background. He deserves a very I DID A THING! song
Viva La Vidaby Coldplay: I really have no rationale for this, but every time I hear this song, I think of Arik and his big aspirations that just crumbled along with the Eld Palace.
Third Don
Distance by Christina Perri: this Emn’s theme for the first act of book three. Emn and Atalant are together, but there’s just no time for romance. Emn feels at a distance, too, from all of Atalant’s commitments and their reversed roles. There’s so much building under the surface for Emn in this book. She so desperately wants Atalant to just say she loves her, to reaffirm that there is a place for Emn on Ardulum, but is too afraid to say those big words, too.
Running Scared (Radio Edit)by Eldar Nigar: if the sex scene had a music track, this would be it
Sons and Daughters by The Decemberists: this is Yorden’s theme for book three. He’s not going to let a little Nugel kidnapping stop him. With Salice in tow, he’s perfectly capable of starting over, through violence or otherwise.
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