A Deep Dive into FIREREND’s Playlist
If you know me you know that I LOVE a good playlist. I had a fantastic time creating one for Golden Ruin based on vibes and characters, but for FIREREND I wanted to craft something that really mirrored the narrative arc the story follows. So, I thought I’d break down my thinking on how the songs ended up on the playlist and in the order they did. Read on for the annotated playlist.
Caesar – The Oh Hellos
I wanted to start off the playlist with a song that sets the tone of where the story will take us. To me, this song sounds like an ending—maybe a goodbye, and there’s a melancholy to it that I love. It also just has the folksy, medieval vibe I was aiming for.
Willow Tree March – The Paper Kites
Next, I wanted a song that sounded like you were going on an adventure, one that could kind of evoke the feeling of exploring the streets of Oberon like we do in chapter 1 with Allara. The lyrics are also so relevant, which I kind of love putting a bunch of spoilers at the very beginning that might go unnoticed.
notre dame – Paris Paloma
This is Nymm’s song, who has so few people left in her life and has seen the absolute worst of humanity. She has decided that (despite her faith in both the Saints and the Gods) she is the only one in charge of her destiny, because she herself is all she has left. Even through her bond with Auren and the rest of the Fools she’s detached, and I think this song really feels like how I imagine she’d feel.
The Seed – AURORA
This song is like an undercurrent to the first three chapters, through the introductions of all of our main characters and their motivations. Money is the source of all their problems, and—what they think—will be their solution. But that is rarely ever the way these things work out.
The Hand That Feeds – The Crane Wives
If there were ever just one song to explain the ethos of FIREREND, it would be this one. I feel like this speaks for itself.
Persephone in the Garden – Aidoneus
Listen, ignoring the romantic themes of both the song and the myth it is based on, this is entirely Auren & Cyrie’s song. He had to watch her grow up from afar for most of her childhood because of the choices he made. There is such a sad longing to this song that stuck with me. It also worked out that he goes through their garden to see her, which I thought was a fun tie-in.
CHIHIRO – Billie Eilish & Into the Woods – PHILDEL
To me, both of these are slow tonal shifts from the first half of the playlist into something a little bit uncertain, sad, maybe even disturbing, just like the rest of the story.
The Forbidden Fruits of Eden – AURORA
I searched for WEEKS for a song like this—haunting, instrumental, and a bit melancholy. This song represents the break between “Part 1” and “Part 2” where everything starts to change.
pirate song – mehro & Haunted – Shawn James
These songs both give the feeling of starting off on a heist, they’re upbeat and a bit edgy. I imagine a montage of all the Fools getting geared up and ready to hit the streets.
Who Are You, Really?
This song fits a lot of characters (cough, cough Taran) but in essence, I also feel like this song echoes all of Allara’s doubts as she realizes the job has been compromised and she wonders who’s betrayed or targeted them.
Howl – Florence + The Machine
This song might be unexpected, but to me the energy of it really felt right for when things in the job start to go wrong. I could just see Auren sprinting through the chaotic festival streets against the chorus.
“Beautiful Crime” – Tamer
This is Taran’s song entirely, his betrayal of Allara and The Fools is so bittersweet. You obviously want to root for what he’s fighting for, but the how he’s fighting for it is definitely divisive.
My favorite line:
“We fight every night for something
When the sun sets, we’re both the same
Half in the shadows
Half burned in flames”
“Cold, Cold, Cold” – The Family Crest
I mean, hello? This is one of the most cinematic songs I’ve ever heard and I knew it had to end the playlist. It is also very fitting for how we leave Oberon and our main characters. It’s kind of devastating to think about, and I’m evil like that so I love it.
And there we have it. Do you have a favorite song? Did you pick up on the parallels between the story and the playlist?
