Top Ten Tuesday: Songs for Books

Today's Top Ten Tuesday (a meme hosted by the great The Broke and the Bookish) theme is "Top Ten Books I'd Give A Theme Song To." I love this topic because if there's one thing I like discussing almost as much as books, it's movies, and if there's one thing I like discussing almost as much as movies, it's music.

I'm going to have to stick with five songs/books for today, though, because ten is quite a lot and I don't want to cause myself to overthink too intensely. I'm also going to just do songs that remind me of certain books rather than strictly theme songs, because a single theme song is too hard.

1. I'll Be There by Holly Goldberg Sloan and "Down By the Water" by The Drums

I know it's hard to be in this position
If they stop loving, I won't stop loving you
If they stop needing you, I'll still need you, my dear

If you fall asleep down by the water
Baby, I'll carry you all the way home

Sam and Emily from I'll Be There are love interests, but they also have the pure compassion and friendship that remind me of the love in this song.

2. Sorta Like a Rock Star by Matthew Quick and "L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N." by Noah and the Whale

L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N.
What you don't have now will come back again
You've got heart and you go in your own way

Maybe not all of the lyrics apply directly to the life of Sorta Like a Rock Star's Amber Appleton, but its reassuring message is one Amber needs to hear and wishes to impart.

3. Mostly Good Girls by Leila Sales and "Under Pressure" by Queen and David Bowie

Pressure pushing down on me
Pressing down on you no man ask for
Under pressure that burns a building down
Splits a family in two
Puts people on streets

It's the terror of knowing
What this world is about
Watching some good friends
Screaming let me out

It's been a while since I gave a shout-out to this great book and even better heroine, Violet, but I couldn't resist this mention. "Under Pressure" is an anthem of overachieving students everywhere, and thus it fits Violet's life superbly.

4. Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler and "Hiding Tonight" by Alex Turner

I'll probably swim through a few lagoons
I'll have a spring in my step
And I'll get there soon
To sing you a happy tune, tomorrow

And you better bring a change of clothes
So we can sail our laughing pianos along a beam of light
But I'm quite alright
Hiding tonight

Perhaps more of a stretch than the other pairs on this list, but this song does remind me of the time Anna spends away from her best friend, Frankie, feeling heartbroken about the past and knowing that the next day she will have to be alright for her friend.

5. Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma and "Blue Blood" by Foals

You've got the blood on your hands, I think it's my own.
We can go down onto the streets and follow the shores.
Of all the people, we could be two.
Then I bite my nails to the clip, run back home.

Maybe a bit of a stretch too, but I've never quite been able to figure out this song, much like I can't seem to figure out all the complexities of Ruby and Chloe's relationship in Imaginary Girls.