Music is integral to the plot of Eleanor and Park, as without it, Eleanor and Park would have never met. A few months ago, I made a playlist for Eleanor; I though it was high time that I made one for Park as well! Without further ado, a playlist inspired by Park, one that I think would suit his musical tastes.
“Love on a Farmboy’s Wages” by XTC: According to Rainbow Rowell, this is the song Park is listening to when we’re first introduced to him. As he says, “XTC was no good for drowning out the morons at the back of the bus.”
“The Night We Met” by Lord Huron: To me, this song is fitting for tragic love affairs, and it works for Park and Eleanor on so many levels. Plus, it is a beautiful song.
“Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want” by The Smiths: I imagine Park thought this at some point when he first sees Eleanor, and he uses music and comics to try to connect to her. And it works magnificently.
“The Cave” by Mumford & Sons: Rowell said that she played this countless times when writing the scene when Park decides to help Eleanor escape. And it couldn’t be more fitting.
“Holocene” by Bon Iver: I don’t know if I can explain why this fits Park for me, but it just does. And he definitely would listen to Bon Iver. Definitely.
“Helter Skelter” by The Beatles: Park falls for Eleanor pretty quickly, and this song describes this feeling perfectly.
“When Your Mind’s Made Up” by Glen Hansard: Once Park’s mind is made up about Eleanor, he knows that he’ll do anything in order to help her.
“I Found” by Amber Run: Park found love where he wasn’t looking, using Eleanor as a point to focus his life.
“Something Good” by Alt-J: When Park and Eleanor are finally together, they have found something good. Plus, Alt-J is just the type of quirky music that Park would like.
“Love Will Tear Us Apart” by Joy Division: This song is on Eleanor’s list too, but it is too important to their relationship to not include it here as well. Park put it on a tape for her, and they discuss it at length.