i heard this on a windwaker playlist probably ten years ago, and i always liked it. it's emery's overture because despite everything he does, and everything that happens, this is the energy of who he is. the sea, the love, "i know together we'll all come back home" which is in itself his whole tragedy because no, they won't. home's not there.
"Hip to Be Square" - Huey Lewis & The News
emery is a square. he's a follower. he does not want to stick out or rock the boat and he's obedient to authority. weenie boy. we love him but he's a weenie boy.
"Birdhouse in Your Soul" - They Might Be Giants
i'm honestly not super sure why i included this one other than vibe and the references to lighthouses? it feels right. this is a song for emery just bein a Boy who whittles wooden ships and runs around with his friend. theme of childhood.
i mean. c'mon. i don't need to explain this do i. boat boy.
"Wouldn't It Be Nice" - The Beach Boys
and thus we begin our descent into The Part Of The Playlist About His Relationship With Neeta. this is innocent, idealized love. wouldn't it be nice? wouldn't it just be so nice?
"I Don't Want To Miss A Thing" - Aerosmith (Postmodern Jukebox Cover)
i love postmodern jukebox for making covers in the time period of the story for songs that fit the characters. anyway i know this song is sweet but the whole 'i'll watch you while you're sleeping' thing has a particular Vibe to me. which, hey, emery does! but we're not quite into the bad part of the relationship yet. just attachment.
this is another instance of nothing is actually wrong or scary about the song, but this one has a sort of 'quietly heard through a door' quality. a veneer of everything being fine, but not fine at all just under the surface. it's dreamlike, just a wrong turn from turning to a nightmare. there is absolutely nothing wrong or weird about the song but you see my vision, right. you hear it.
"Love Me" - The Dudley Moore Trio (from Bedazzled)
another pull from bedazzled! this is the part where emery starts losing it. dudley moore screaming LOVE ME at the beginning, the desperation as the song goes on. he's LOSING it. DON'T RUN AWAY! LOVE ME!
"Psycho Killer" - Talking Heads
song for slowly losing your mind as the girl you like starts hanging out with an older boy who is OBVIOUSLY dangerous and OBVIOUSLY spouting bullshit but she keeps swallowing it and YOU'RE NOT THE CRAZY ONE, YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE THAT KNOWS WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON AND WHAT MATTERS!!
by the way have you seen the new video they made with saorise ronan? it rules.
emery's allegiance to honeycutt is motivated by love. love for the ship, love for his (largely unavailable) father, love for neeta, and honeycutt provides an angle to keep and hold those things. this is the song for that.
i think this was one of the first songs i Ever pulled for the book playlists, other than oingo boingo's capitalism. neeta and emery both have autoheart songs to connect their playlists together and represent their points of view on their relationship. this is emery! you'll never meet another me, it's not hard, love me! love me, love me, love me, love me Love me, love me, love me, love me
the original title of the playlist actually came from this song: you'll never meet another me. it was convenient when i had to change the playlist titles away from song lyrics that emery almost literally Says that in the book itself.
"Blood and Sword" - jung jaeil (from Parasite)
song for mindlessly peeling and carving an apple while you stand outside your object of obsession's door listening to her talk to the boy who took her away from you and how afraid she is of you and your head is against the door and the boy who took her away is right in front of it and you want to go inside you want to see her you can't stand it why doesn't she love you
"The Longest Night" - Tin Hat Trio
we skip a bit ahead in his arc with this one, but this is for the scene on the top of the ship. when he finally catches up to her, drops to his knees, and weeps into her skirt with longing to please, please don't leave me behind. and it's also when he jumps into the sea behind her, because life isn't worth living without her, because he did everything for her.
watching the ship sink, watching her leave on a train. a lot's happened to this boy. his heart's all twisted up, he's done and allowed terrible things to happen. kind of like an end credits song for his arc.
"Beneath the Brine" - The Family Crest
just kidding about fishermans' friend being emery's overture, this is the real overture, but it only works as the last song, after he's gone through all of that and watched the ship sink. he was prepared to give up everything for the lark, except for neeta. and a part of him went down with the ship. all of my love, all of my life, given to you!