Clexa Family AU: Music | Part ½
I’ve gotten quite a few asks about the fic regarding music and about 2-3 weeks ago I got this particular one:
Okay so I’m listening to We’re Just Friends as I’m reading a post-Jake chapter and feeling really damn emotional. Can you recommend any other songs to go as a reading companion?
That inquiry prompted this soundtrack masterpost. Sorry it has taken me forever to get back to you on this nonny, but I never had the time to finish the whole thing in one sitting so I’ve just been working on it on and off since you sent it. For the record, I answered something similar two months ago and gave five songs. Here’s that link. I also answered one about all the Paramore songs from AL that fit the fic after the album came out. Here’s the link.
Now, when I’m working on character development one of the first things I do is make a playlist for each character/relationships because for me music is such a vital piece of who a person is that knowing what these people listen to on a daily basis or would identify with helps me know them better. As a writer, it’s one of the early steps I take to make them multidimensional and to educate myself on their inner workings. I then give these playlists to my actors once anyone is cast to help them understand who I see these people as. I offered glimpses of the playlists on this social media post where I created profiles for everyone, but here are a few pickings of random songs for each character from all the ones I have for this story. I’m giving you a playlist for every individual and the major relationships. I’m also giving you at least one song that I think fit each chapter published so far. It may be for the whole chapter or simply for a particular scene.
I had to split the masterpost up in two because of the tumblr link limit, so the chapter by chapter breakdown is on a separate post. Link to that at the bottom of this one. I might update that post as the final nine chapters are released.
{Note #1: The playlists are meant to give glimpses into their personality outside of what we see in the fic. There should be a clear pattern of what everyone listens to. They all have a genre/style/parameter because most of us do when it comes to music. I tried to do a “mixtape” with at least 10-12 songs for everybody/every category. The character playlists will include things they can relate to at different points in their lives, but for reference let me say that this is primarily stemming from a particular moment in time. If everyone made a playlist for the drive up to The Hamptons/Boston when they were going to drop Costia off to college these songs would be what they listened to. Jake, for obvious reasons, is on another timeline. This would be stuff he was listening to the week he died. The “categories” outside of the individual characters are what I feel relate to each storyline and/or relationship.
Note #2: These all have links attached because there are sometimes more than one version of the same song and I’m putting the one I think fits best. Yes, I did look up and link exactly 250 FRICKING SONGS. I didn’t even plan that, I only figured it out when I counted at the end. Whoops! Apparently I’m just naturally Extra AF. You’re welcome. By the way, please let me know if I skipped any links.
Note #3: I put most of this under the cut because the layout of it made it long.}
2028-2031: A.K.A The Shitty Years™
“Poison & Wine” - The Civil Wars [2012] (This is them at their worst. Imagine the month leading up to the ultimatum including when Clarke threatens Lexa that if she leaves she shouldn’t come back.)
“Doesn’t Mean Goodbye” - Jon McLaughlin [2013] (Think of Clarke listening to this after she kicked Lexa out of the house :])
“Maybe It’s Over” (Ft. Xenia) - Jon McLaughlin [2011] (Same as before)
“Come Over” [Between The Pines Acoustic Version] - Sam Hunt [2013] (Imagine all the times Clarke almost called Lexa during those months she was living with Gustus)
“She Used To Be Mine” - Sara Bareilles [2015]
“All I Ask” - Adele [2015]
“Dearly Departed” (Ft. Esme Patterson) [Live from the Pandora House @ SXSW] - Shakey Graves [2014]
“Rush” [Live @ SXSW] - Ferras [2007]
“Bumper Cars” - Alex & Sierra [2014]
“Heartbreak Warfare” - John Mayer [2009]
“Come Home” - OneRepublic [2007]
“Six Degrees Of Separation” - The Script [2012]
“It’s Not Over” - Daughtry [2006]
“I’m Coming Over” - Chris Young [2015] (Clarke is weak af)
“Everything But Me” - Daughtry [2011] (Lexa when she got kicked out)
“Breakeven” - The Script [2009] (Same as before)
“Life Without You” (Ft. Esmee Denters) - Stanfour [2009] (Lexa RIGHT when she got kicked out. Like the first few weeks)
“Vindicated” - Dashboard Confessional [2004] (This is when Lexa’s starting to really come out of her funk)
“Battleships” [Acoustic] - Daughtry [2013]
“Wildest Moments” - Jessie Ware [2012]
“That’s What’s Up” - Lennon & Maisy [2014] (So one of my biggest headcanons has always been that on their last wedding anniversary before Jake died Costia and Roa surprised their moms with this performance. I don’t need to tell you that Lexa sobbed like a newborn baby)
“I Was Made For Loving You” (Ft. Ed Sheeran) - Tori Kelly [2015]
“When The Right One Comes Along” [Live & Acoustic] - Striking Matches [2012]
“Hurricanes” - The Script [2012]
“Fade Into You” (Ft. Clare Bowen) - Sam Palladio [2013]
“Collide” - Howie Day [2003]
“Who You Love” - John Mayer [2013]
“Clarity” (Ft. Clara C) - Madilyn Bailey [2013]
“My Heart Is Open” (Ft. Gwen Stefani) - Maroon 5 [2014]
“The Beginning” - John Legend [2013]
“Everything” - Lifehouse [2002] (Lexa would play this at home once they’re alone after the wedding)
“My Girl Tonight” - Jon McLaughlin [2011]
“Fallingforyou” - The 1975 [2013]
“Staplegunned” - The Spill Canvas [2005] (Clarke’s POV)
“Himerus & Eros” - The Spill Canvas [2005] - (Lexa’s POV is everything before the first chorus. They’re both the chorus. Clarke is the third and fourth verses. Fifth is both of them the first night they have sex.)
“Secret Oath” - The Spill Canvas [2005] (Basically I adore this band and this entire album is College!Clexa. The chorus is Clarke AF. But the overall song is both of them being insecure, broody buttheads. Then the third verse spills a little into Post-Jake but for like…a brief second)
“For You From Me” - Jon McLaughlin [2006]
“Somebody To You” [Acoustic] - The Vamps [2014] (Clarke’s POV)
“Reasons To Love You” - Meiko [2012] (Clarke’s POV)
“If It Kills Me” [The Casanova Sessions] - Jason Mraz [2009] (Clarke’s POV)
“Start Of Something Good” - Daughtry [2011]
“Mixtape” - Butch Walker [2004] (Lexa’s POV)
“Nicest Thing” - Kate Nash [2007] (Lexa’s POV)
“Manhattan From The Sky” - Kate Voegele [2009] (Clarke’s POV)
“Most Of Me” - Mandy Moore [2007]
“I’m Scared” - Duffy [2008]
“When We Were On Fire” - James Bay [2013]
“Hotel Ceiling” - Rixton [2014]
“Can I Be Him?” - James Arthur [2016] (You’ll understand why Clarke would relate to a song like this one once I publish the next chapter)
“I’ll Be Your Breeze” - Andrew Belle [2009]
“Icarus” - Bastille [2012]
“Birds & Bees” - Ben Lee [2007]
“Fire Meet Gasoline” - Sia [2014]
“Dark Matter” - Andrew Belle [2013]
“Explosions” - Ellie Goulding [2012]
“Pillowtalk” - Sebazti [2016]
“Rough Water” (Ft. Jason Mraz) - Travie McCoy [2013]
“Stay The Night” (Ft. Hayley Williams) [iTunes Session Acoustic] - Zedd [2012]
“All We Are” - OneRepublic [2007] (If Clarke could write songs she would’ve written this one)
“It Ain’t Yours To Throw Away” (Ft. Clare Bowen) - Sam Palladio [2014] (Clarke thinks Lexa doesn’t get the right to arbitrarily decide what they have is worthless)
“I Won’t Give Up” [Acoustic & Live] - Lennon & Maisy [2012] (Clarke sometimes asks the girls to make covers of songs she likes and then she listens to them on repeat because she’s a loser parent lol)
“Evaporate” - Gabrielle Aplin [2013]
“Walk You Home” - Karmina [2009]
“Gone Gone Gone” (Ft. Jake Coco) - Savannah Outen [2013]
“A Perfect Day” - Matt Hires [2009]
“You & I” - Rhodes [2015]
“Trade Mistakes” - Panic! At The Disco [2011]
“One More Night” [Acoustic & Live] - Boyce Avenue [2012]
“I Hate U, I Love U” (Ft. Madilyn Bailey) - Sam Tsui [2016]
“Look After You” - The Fray [2005]
“Liability” - Lorde [2017]
“Unwell” - Matchbox Twenty [2002]
“Collide” - Dishwalla [2005]
“Trouble Sleeping” - The Perishers [2004]
“How To Forget” - Jason Isbell [2015] (Totally about Lexa’s trauma)
“Angels Or Devils” - Dishwalla [2002]
“Unknown Soldier” - Breaking Benjamin [2006]
“Weapon” - Matthew Good [2003]
“All Of Us” - Blindside [2003]
“You” - Switchfoot [2000]
“Polaris” - Jimmy Eat World [2004]
“Withered” - Atomship [2004]
“Show Me How To Live” - Audioslave [2002]
“Before You” - Jon McLaughlin [2015]
“Let Go Of Me” - Karmina [2011]
“Brand New Day” - Forty Foot Echo [2003]
“Joshua” - Lifehouse [2005]
“(Another Song) All Over Again” - Justin Timberlake (2006)
“Crazy” - Daughtry [2011]
“Life Support” - Sam Smith [2014]
“Cold” - Crossfade [2004]
“Only Hope” - Switchfoot [2000]
“The World We Knew” - Daughtry [2013]
“Breathing” - Lifehouse [2001]
“Better Than Me” - Hinder [2007] (Also for the kids. That’s definitely where her head is at during those 2.5 years)
“Come On Get Higher” - Matt Nathanson [2007]
“Better With You” - Five Times August [2004]
“Lullaby” - Daughtry [2011]
“I’ll Fight” - Daughtry [2013]
“Dare You To Move” - Switchfoot [2003]
{Note: Someone asked a few weeks ago about the music Costia writes/makes. Link to that ask here. There is some of that here, but this is more about what she listens to. Obviously this definitely influences her music as well.}
“Do Not Resuscitate” - Tall Heights [2011]
“Sunday Afternoon” [Unreleased Version] - Rachael Yamagata [2005]
“Bruised” - Jack’s Mannequin [2005]
NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert - PHOX [2015] (This may be Cos’s favorite band)
“Rainbow” [Live @ Big Ugly Yellow Couch] - Oh Land [2010] (She’s one of Cos’s idols)
“Sanctuary” (Ft. Maisy Stella & Charles Esten) - Lennon Stella [2017] (Costia deadass wrote this for her sisters and Clarke)
“Army” - Ellie Goulding [2015] (Imagine Costia writing this for Anya and Roa)
“Gimme Sympathy” - Metric [2009]
“Daniel” - Bat For Lashes [2009]
“Broken” - Lovelytheband [2017]
“Lost On You” [Live Session] - LP [2016]
“90210″ (Ft. G-Easy) - Blackbear [2015]
“Lost Realist” - Trapt [2005] (This song screams Costia to me)
“Black Horse & Cherry Tree” - KT Tunstall [2004]
“This Is Your Life” - Low Vs. Diamond [2008]
“On Fire” - Switchfoot [2003] (There’s a lot of Costia/Lexa/Jake going on here from Costia’s POV)
{Note: This is primarily from Costia’s POV.}
“Light Years Away” - Mozella [2005] (Imagine College!Costia wrote this with Lexa in mind then try not to die inside)
“Waiting For Superman” - Daughtry [2013] (If you listen to this song as Costia think the analogy is clear as to who Superman is in this context)
“Holy” - PVRIS [2014] (This is such a Costia/Lexa song to me. I feel like Costia could’ve written this while sitting by Agnes’s grave)
“Gravity” - Sara Bareilles [2007] (On the other end of the emotion spectrum imagine her writing this while thinking of Lexa and craving what they had back)
“Wild Heart” - Daughtry [2013] (Lexa about Costia)
“Leave” - Glen Hansard [2006]
“Truce” [Unreleased Demo] - Frank Ocean [2011] (Imagine how many times Costia hears this song and almost wants to do this…but she won’t)
“The Good Kind” - The Wreckers [2006]
“Love For A Child” [The Casanova Session] - Jason Mraz [2009] (Costia really identifies with the story in this song. Like…a lot)
“Blue Suitcase” - Erin McCarley [2009] (Slight Lexa diss track lol)
