Hello bookworms and welcome back! I know, I know, you’re probably wondering: Josie, why have you been so inactive for this past week or so? The truth? I’ve been busy with my new job, with spending quality time with people and basically with just living life. It’s a hard thing to balance I tell you! BUT, I’m here and that’s the main thing, right? Right?
I digress. Today is Tuesday and that means it’s time for a Top Ten Tuesday post! Woo! I love Top Ten Tuesdays, which are hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. They come up with awesome topics for bookish lists every week and this week, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to write about this topic:
“This week is all about music & books. We previously did books we’d give theme songs to so feel free to do that! Or 10 songs I wish that were books (check out my love songs I wish were books for an example of what I mean) — Thanks to the couple people who suggested making this one an official topic. I don’t know why I hadn’t…I think I thought my post WAS for TTT in my head when I thought back to it.”
Music is an essential part of my life. I’m constantly playing music, listening to music, learning how to play piano, singing songs wherever and whenever – music is life. Music grips my mind and soul and pulls me in. The sounds, the beats, the atmosphere, the lyrics; everything about a song makes me feel something and every song is different. For some books, songs can inspire the creative writing alien within me to write books, based solely on the sound, the lyrics of a song. And so, I’m going to share with you the top songs that make me want to WRITE ALL THE STORIES; ALL THE BOOKS. (DISCLAIMER: I may not reach ten songs because, well, just ‘cause.)
1. Warriors by Imagine Dragons
THIS SONG. It’s so intense and badass, it makes me want to write an action-packed fantasy novel with tons of war and battle scenes. I’d probably write in the perspective of a male protagonist who has the traits of a leader, a hero. I imagine a Lord of the Rings type of setting – old. Villages, towns, empires, warring against one another – you get the gist!
“As a child you would wait
And watch from far away.
But you always knew that you’d be the one that work while they all playIn youth, you’d lay awake at night and scheme
Of all the things that you would change, but it was just a dream!Here we are, don’t turn away now (don’t turn away)
We are the warriors that built this town.
Here we are, don’t turn away now (don’t turn away)
We are the warriors that built this town.
From Dust.”
2. Castle by Halsey
Another intense song. To be honest though, all of Halsey’s songs make me want to write stories upon stories, but this one is a special one. It makes me think of overthrowing kings and badass female characters. The lyrics, in the first verse and the chorus are fantastic – you could weave an entire fantasy story from that!
“Sick of all these people talking, sick of all this noise
Tired of all these cameras flashing, sick of being poised
Now my neck is open wide, begging for a fist around it
Already choking on my pride, so there’s no use crying about itI’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
I’m headed straight for the castle
They’ve got the kingdom locked up
And there’s an old man sitting on the throne that’s saying I should probably keep my pretty mouth shut”
3. Youth by Troye Sivan
I love the lyrics to this song. Not only that, but the entire atmosphere of it – it’s so uplifting and whimsical and it makes me want to write a story about two people, ditching everything and running away together. When I hear this song, I think of road trips and getting away from normal life and friendship – even romance! I don’t usually like to write contemporary, but this song makes me want to do so!
“What if
What if we run away
What if
What if we left today
What if
We said goodbye to safe and sound
What if
What if we’re hard to find
What if
What if we lost our minds
What if
We let them fall behind, and they’re never foundAnd when the lights start flashing like a photo booth
And the stars exploding
We’ll be fireproofMy youth
My youth is yours
Trippin’ on skies, sippin’ waterfalls
My youth
My youth is yours
Run away now and forevermore
My youth
My youth is yours
The truth so loud you can’t ignore
My youth, my youth, my youth
My youth is yours”
4. Writings on the Wall by Sam Smith
Ooh, this song is lovely. LOVELY I TELL YOU. It makes me think of secret agents, spies and risks and romance. I kind of feel like writing a story from the perspective on a villain when I listen to this song – a villain, yet, his moral compass is conflicted and shifts throughout the story. Ooh, I feel a real story coming along! CAN YOU FEEL IT?!
“I’ve been here before
But always hit the floor
I’ve spent a lifetime running
And I always get away
But with you I’m feeling something
That makes me want to stayI’m prepared for this
I never shoot to miss
But I feel like a storm is coming
If I’m gonna make it through the day
Then there’s no more use in running
This is something I gotta faceIf I risk it all
Could you break my fall?”
5. Radioactive by Imagine Dragons
This song makes me want to write in the dystopian genre. It makes me want to write about revolutions and apocalypses and the world falling apart. A nuclear apocalypse, possibly? YAS. Characters with superhuman abilities? YAAS.
“I’m waking up to ash and dust
I wipe my brow and I sweat my rust
I’m breathing in the chemicalsI’m breaking in, shaping up, then checking out on the prison bus
This is it, the apocalypse
WhoaI’m waking up, I feel it in my bones
Enough to make my system blow
Welcome to the new age, to the new age
Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, whoa, oh, oh, oh, I’m radioactive, radioactive”
33 responses to “Songs That Make Me Want To Write ALL THE BOOKS // Top Ten Tuesday”
[…] I participated in Top Ten Tuesday, mentioning some songs that inspire me to write […]
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[…] Josie talks about songs that make her want to write all the books […]
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I’m absolutely going to listen to all of these. In the meantime, I recommend “What the Water Gave Me” by Florence + the Machine; it makes you think of a character drowning, dying, or just losing themselves. Also: “Your Bones” by Of Monsters And Men. A beautiful, echoey song.
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Oooh, and I will definitely check out those songs you shared too. I used to listen to Florence and the Machine quite a lot, but for some reason I stopped.
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I gasped and grabbed my face when I saw Warriors because I love that song so much haha 😂I always imagine scenes from my wip when I listen. I love this prompt so much- I always think up stories or just scenes when I listen to music (unless I’m actually writing or studying). And Josie write those stories!! Because I want to read them 😀
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Warriors is such a getting-into-writing type of song, right?!
Eek, Michelle, I will TOTALLY write these stories, eventually!
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It is! It just gets me all pumped up. Yay! 😀
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YES PLEASE. Castle is just so badass, like all I imagine is soldiers and wariors all marching to a castle and just slay the king and have a big war (oops.. too gory?) I agree with everything for Radioactive. But somehow when I hear The Writing’s on the Wall, I always imagined like yes, villains and heroes, and just too high stake risk and its ended up with the love interest dies. If I am an author it seems like I would be a really cruel author to my characters and readers…
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Not too gory at all, Taysa! You go girl!
I totally see what you mean with Writings on the Wall, I can imagine that too, actually. Taysa, you are going to be a very cruel author to your characters, hehe! I like it!
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I love Sam Smith! I’m glad you picked him 🙂 Nice list!
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Me too! He’s such a great artist, with a beautiful voice. Thank you!
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I LOVE ALL THE SONGS!!! I was about to put Warriors or Castle on my list as well, but then I already had too many songs. Glad it got onto yours though 😀
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Ah, you shoul’ve just done it! As honorable mentions at least. Thank you Kat! 🙂
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It is hard to find ten – finding five is perfectly okay! 🙂
Amazing selection though – these would be amazing to read as a book! 😀
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I know, I had such a tough time! Plus, I was very sleepy when I wrote this, hehe.
Thank you very much! 😀
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Love your top five Josie ❤ I would love to read all of these books 🙂
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Thank you! 🙂
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Hahahaha I did the exact same topic as you (Songs That Inspire Me To Write) I don’t know why but when I saw the theme was book and music I just jumped to writing! Radioactive is a great song and I think it really gets me in the mood to not procrastinate.
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We’re Top Ten Tuesday topic twins, YAY! Yes, same with me, I jumped straight to this topic immediately.
Oh yes, it’s a pretty motivating song. For me, Warriors is the song that motivates me not to procrastinate.
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Hahaha yes, TTT Twins! That’s a lot of ts!
Anyway, I love Warriors, it’s a song that could of made it on my list!
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Warrior’s is such a shout it from the rooftop, loud and proud anthem. I absolutely love that song and can definitely see it being played at the height of a huge battle or something.
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Yes! I’m glad you see it too.
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Any Imagine Dragons songs would be epic but I LOVE Youth by Troye Sivan! It’s amazing how he linked his 3 songs into a wonderful Blue Neighbourhood series.
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Yes! Troye did a wonderful job with his songs, I adore them all so much.
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You just mentioned all my favourite songs here!!! I love Imagine Dragons there music is awesome! I remember you telling me about Castle and you got me addicted to listening to it (It kind of reminded me of QOS) Love love loved post Josie!
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Really?! 😄
Imagine Dragons are so awesome, I love all their songs and I love them as a band.
Castle definitely reminds me of the Throne of Glass series, you’re right on that one.
THANK YOU NISHA. ❤️
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WRITERLY WRITING! I love songs that inspire me to write, ergo, this list is my life. I LOVE IT. Everything by Billy Joel is phrased so beautifully, it makes me want burst out words. Especially She’s Always a Woman and Piano Man❤️❤️
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Yaaasss!
I haven’t heard of Billy Joel. Who is this man you speak of and let me hear his music! Any music that makes you feel like pouring out words is music worth listening to. 😍
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Radioactive always made me want to write an apocalyptic story too, can’t believe I forgot to put it on my own list!
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It’s just the entire sound of that song that makes you want to write an apocalyptic story, hey? Oh, there’s always that one song we forget about!
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Wow, I love all of your ideas, Josie…and you should write them ALL! 😀
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Eek, I promise you, one day I will! Hmm, maybe I should start my brainstorming now… 😄
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Ahah yes, you should, I’ll be your coach haha :p
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