Tuning The Tale #2

This is a weekly feature I have started to share my love of music while combining it with the amazing stories I read on the daily. I'll be sharing either a playlist with you all each week! Along with this, I'll be analyzing the lyrics and pointing out parallels between the books and the songs. I hope you enjoy!

Throne of Glass (series)
*warning for mildish spoilers*

Castle by Halsey
Yellow Flicker Beat by Lorde
Like Real People Do by Hozier
This Side of Paradise by Hayley Kiyoko
One Last Night by Vaults
Let It All Go by Birdy
Seven Devils by Florence + The Machines
Whisky Lullabies by Janet Devlin
Heal by Ellie Goulding

Castle by Halsey is literally Celaena Sardothien and the Throne of Glass series in a nutshell. This song is practically the unofficial theme song of the entire series.

• "I'm headed straight for the castle. They wanna make me their queen and there's an old man sitting on the throne that's saying that I probably shouldn't be so mean." 

If this doesn't sum up the relationship between Celaena and the King of Ardalan, I don't know what can. 

• "Now my neck is open wide, begging for a fist around it. Already choking on my pride, so there's no use crying about it."

This reminded me so much of when Celaena was competing to become the King's champion. She was so confident in herself, yet in some ways still doubting her abilities and her chances of winning. 

I remember hearing Yellow Flicker Beat by Lorde for the first time and immediately dropped everything I was doing to listen to how mesmerizing this song is. There's something about how the song is composed that puts you in a trance and the lyrics are even better. 

• "I'm a princess cut from marble, smoother than a storm. And the scars that mark my body, they're silver and gold." 

With the above line, I would like to take this moment to reference Heir of Fire. Then,

• "I move through town, I'm quiet like a fire ... This is the start of how it all ends; they used to shout my name now they whisper it." 

This reminds me so much of when Celaena would prowl the streets and literally be the heir of fire, man - people were are scared of her.

Like Real People Do by Hozier just gives off a vibe that reminds me of Chaolaena back in the golden days.

• "Honey just put your sweet lips on my lips, we should just kiss like real people do." 

Chaolaena was my light, my love, my happiness. 

Celaena post Crown of Midnight and in the early stages of Heir of Fire is represented by This Side of Paradise by Hayley Kiyoko. She spends a lot of this time trying to gather and rebuild herself. 

• "I am paperweight - I fantasize a secret life and place where we hide. It feels right, I'll settle on the dust." 

One Last Night by Vaults, for some reason, reminded me of Dorian and Celaena when they rekindle their friendship at the end of CoM and when Celaena was saying goodbye to him.

• "And if one last night is all we've been given, let's live it like we care for one last night." 

Let It All Go by Birdy is totally Celaena in Heir of Fire. It's pretty self explanatory when you read the lyrics:

• "I don't know why we break so hard, but if we're strong enough to let it in, we're strong enough to let it go." 

I made this comparison to Celaena and how much crap she went through throughout her entire life, but how strong she was to finally let some parts of it go in Heir of Fire. Also, let's throw some shade:

• "There's still a fire in my heart, my darling, but I'm not burning for you." 

There is literally a fire in your heart, Celaena, but luckily you aren't really a fan of that guard fellow anymore. 

I think Seven Devils by Florence + The Machines is the perfect anthem for Queen of Shadows. QoS is all about going after what is rightfully hers and what is just for the people, and Celaena is not backing down.

• "Holy water cannot help you now. A thousand armies couldn't keep me out. I don't want your money, I don't want your crown - see I have to burn your kingdom down." 

Whisky Lullabies by Janet Devlin brings me back to when we learned about Celaena's upbringing and what happened to her family. 

• "When I was a child they'd ask me where it hurt and wipe tears from my eyes. Short embraces, gentle forehead kisses, making sure that I was alright. As I grew older and the nights grew shorter, I no longer cared where it hurt." 

I don't exactly know why I associate Heal by Ellie Goulding to the Throne of Glass series, but somehow I made it work.

• "It's in your eyes, I can see that you're broken. I know you're lost, because I am too. It's in your voice, I can hear you choking - when did the illusion take the truth." 

I hope you enjoyed this post! You all said over on my Twitter that you wanted to hear my Throne of Glass playlist, so here it is. Another music related post that I think you'd enjoy is over on Erin's blog at The Hardcover Lover!