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| Stephen Chbosky, Perks of Being a Wallflower |
I missed posting a playlist last week, mostly because things were a little hectic here and I’m participating in NaNoWriMo this year, so I’ve been focusing mostly on that. But as I’m waiting for the election results to roll in, I thought making a playlist would be the perfect distraction!
The Perks of Being a Wallflower will forever be on the list of my top favorite books because it had so much meaning for me the first time that I read it. Given that music runs through the plot of this story and is a large part of how Charlie deals with his depression, anxiety, and trauma, I thought I’d pay homage to my favorite series by creating an updated playlist for Charlie, with some of his favorites.
“Asleep” by The Smiths
Charlie loved this song so much that he put it on a mixtape. Twice.
“Come On Eileen” by Dexy’s Midnight Runners
In the movie, this song is what draws Charlie to Patrick and Sam and begins their friendship. And it’s just a really, really good song.
“Us” by Regina Spektor
This song discusses (in my opinion) the glorification of mental illness, of becoming a spectacle. Charlie hides because he’s afraid of that, afraid of just being defined by that.
“Give Me Something” by Seafret
Charlie is so afraid of ruining things with Sam that he never goes after what he wants. When Sam leaves, he feels like he has nothing to hold on to and he spirals out of control.
“How Soon Is Now?” by The Smiths
“I am the son / and the heir / of a shyness that is criminally vulgar.”
“Pearly Dewdrops’ Drops” by The Cocteau Twins
Sam says that this is the song that introduced her to good music, and she shares it with Charlie.
“Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac
One of the songs that Charlie puts on his playlist, it’s clear why he would be attracted to this particular song.
“We Are Young” by Fun.
I think this song would be something that Charlie and Sam and Patrick would play in the tunnel as well.
“Car Radio” by Twenty One Pilots
If Charlie had been written in this decade instead of the 90s, I have a feeling he’d be a fan of Twenty One Pilots. They cover a lot of topics that he’d relate to.
“Heroes” by David Bowie
I’m not sure they ever say what the tunnel song is in the book (a reason to re-read it, perhaps?), but this song just fits so well for the movie, and it’s David Bowie so you really can’t go wrong with that.
A mix of modern and early 90s grunge, something I hope Charlie himself would enjoy listening to.
I like this playlist! But especially I like "Us" by Regina Spektor and "Car Radio" by Twenty One Pilots! To my mind these songs are wonderful! I can listen them over again and again! By the way, I have bought tickets to the Twenty Onr Pilots https://ticketcrab.com/twenty-one-pilots-tickets