Graphic by John Leahy | Special to The Leader
MARISSA BURR
Opinion Editor
If there was a way to do it safely, I know I would be reading while driving.
I’ve never been able to get into audio books either, especially with stories I’m unfamiliar with.
Luckily, there are a few good songwriters out there who can create the perfect tale and set it to music.
Put these all together on a playlist and you’ve brought the term “musical library” to a whole other level.
And what’s the best way to get people interested in a new book without spoiling it?
You give them a little blurb.
“Drivers License” by Olivia Rodrigo
To start this playlist, we’ve got a song that has the exact same opening that your road trip may have: A car starting.
As this transforms into piano, we start hearing the story of a young girl freshly able to drive. But instead of being overwhelmed with excitement, she’s taking one of her first solo rides while mourning a relationship.
As the verses continue, the theme of young love rings true as Rodrigo grapples with the fact that her ex seems so much better off after ending the relationship than she is.
She felt as though she was lied to and the feelings of betrayal haunt her on this ride.
“Must Have Been The Wind” by Alec Benjamin
This is a heart-wrenching story told from the perspective of a bystander to an abusive relationship.
Benjamin sings about how he lives in the apartment under a woman, and one night a glass shatters and she seems to be in trouble.
When he goes to check on her, she’s shaken up, apologetic and denies that anything bad has happened. But, the young man can’t forget the interaction and feels the need to protect his neighbor.
It isn’t easy, but something leads him back up to that apartment.
“Singing in the Rain” by Jeremy Shada
To align with his “Vintage” album, Shada gave his song the same title as Gene Kelly’s version in the movie from the 1952 classic.
While that tone was jovial and optimistic, this adaptation is the opposite. Instead, we’re met with a love story that didn’t have a happy ending.
It isn’t like its classic predecessors, and doesn’t end with true love’s kiss before fading to black. For Shada and the listener, life without true love is darker.
“Young Love and Old Money” by Elizabeth Gerardi
Everybody loves the classic forbidden lovers trope, and what story fits that more than a girl from a rich family falling in love with a commoner?
They both know their relationship is wrong, but the passion is so strong that they can’t bring themselves to stop.
While this secret love affair is going on, the girl faces pressure from her family to marry for fame and wealth.
Which will win: young love or old money?
“The Last Great American Dynasty” by Taylor Swift
Every Swiftie knew at least one of her songs had to be on this list. She is the master of lyricists.
So what better than to pull a song from the album she wrote based on a world she imagined in which the house she bought had a rich history?
Newcomer Rebekah meets Bill and they fall in love and live their lives to the fullest. But when Bill’s weak heart once again leaves Rebekah alone, she becomes an outcast in the world she married into.
With all of the money left to her, she goes wild and it makes us question whether she had acted out of love or greed.
“Friends to Lovers” by Melina KB
A good ending always ties back to the beginning, which is why once again the listener is sent to high school amidst a rocky love affair.
This time, our protagonist is still in her relationship, but she’s playing second fiddle to the girl’s best friend.
A fast pace song means a quick succession of events including unknown hickeys, prom and claims that nothing is going on.
However, most high schoolers find themselves going from friends to lovers, so why couldn’t it happen twice?
For a full list of the songs that inspired the series “A Playlist for Every Mood,” follow @gummymnb’s playlist of the same name on Spotify!