“Fairy tales are more than true; not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.” G.K. Chesterton
Hello everybody!
Many Fairy Tales that we love bring to mind music– largely thanks to Walt Disney! Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Snow White-too many fairy tales to name- make you think of the songs that accompany them. In A Gilded Cage is an adult fairy tale that brings to mind some great song. So I made a playlist to go with my m/m Rapunzel story.
Because In A Gilded Cage is an adult fairy tale, the musical playlist focuses on fairy tale songs and the themes that make fairy tales so addictive–songs that put you in the right mood for reading my M/M Contemporary Dark version of Rapunzel.
- “A Place Called You” Emma Stevens
This song directly references the Rapunzel story. And like Rapunzel, Lucci has been cooped up in tower since he was twelve-years-old.
Long ago and far away
You took me to a place I can’t forget
If you’re my knight in shining armor
Guess you just don’t realize it yet
Been cooped up in a tower
For hours and hours
But the wrong guys all try to rescue me
Why kiss another frog
You’re the only one I want
It’s obvious, Why can’t you see?
Wontcha Take me to the place we used to meet
It’s sunny and funny
And quirky and oh oh oh
A little piece of heaven
And I so wanna go
I know my happy ending
But you don’t have a clue
Cos where I wanna be is a place
A place called you
- “Love Story” Taylor Swift
This is a fairytale tune that refers to the guardian (the father) keeping the lovers apart. Star-crossed lovers…
We were both young when I first saw you.
I close my eyes and the flashback starts,
I’m standing there on a balcony in summer air.
See the lights, see the party, the ball gowns.
See you make your way through the crowd
And say hello
Little did I know
That you were Romeo, you were throwing pebbles,
And my daddy said, “Stay away from Juliet.”
And I was crying on the staircase,
Begging you, Please, don’t go.
And I said,
“Romeo, take me somewhere we can be alone.
I’ll be waiting, all there’s left to do is run.
You’ll be the prince and I’ll be the princess
It’s a love story, baby just say yes.
So I sneak out to the garden to see you.
We keep quiet ’cause we’re dead if they knew.
So close your eyes; escape this town for a little while.
- “Let It Go” Demi Lovato
This fairy tale song references the isolation that Lucci feels in his life where he has to always be secluded from the world and his father’s perfect son.
Let it go, let it go
Can’t hold it back anymore
Let it go, let it go
Turn my back and slam the door
The snow blows white on the mountain tonight
Not a footprint to be seen
A kingdom of isolation and it looks like I’m the queen
The wind is howling like the swirling storm inside
Couldn’t keep it in
Heaven knows I try
Don’t let them in, don’t let them see
Be the good girl you always had to be
Conceal, don’t feel, don’t let them know
Well now they know
Let it go, let it go
Can’t hold you back anymore
Let it go, let it go
Turn my back and slam the door
And here I stand
And here I’ll stay
Let it go, let it go
The cold never bothered me anyway
It’s funny how some distance makes everything seem small
And the fears that once controlled me can’t get to me at all
Up here…
- “Somewhere” West Side Story
Somewhere is another star-crossed lovers song; Lucci and Prin can only dream of a place where they can be someday together.
There’s a place for us,
Somewhere a place for us.
Peace and quiet and open air
Wait for us
Somewhere.
There’s a time for us,
Some day a time for us,
Time together with time to spare,
Time to learn, time to care,
Some day!
Somewhere.
We’ll find a new way of living,
We’ll find a way of forgiving
Somewhere . . .
There’s a place for us,
A time and place for us.
Hold my hand and we’re halfway there.
Hold my hand and I’ll take you there
Somehow,
Some day,
Somewhere!
- “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” Judy Garland
This song reminds me of Lucci, sitting in his tower room and dreaming of the freedom and happiness he could find over the rainbow.
Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high
And the dreams that you dreamed of
Once in a lullaby
Somewhere over the rainbow
Blue birds fly
And the dreams that you dreamed of
Dreams really do come true ooh oh
Someday I’ll wish upon a star
Wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where trouble melts like lemon drops
High above the chimney top
That’s where you’ll find me
Oh, somewhere over the rainbow bluebirds fly
And the dream that you dare to,
Oh why, oh why can’t I?
IN AN ENCHANTED MOOD SONG
- “Tonight’s The Night” Rod Stewart
This song is the ultimate love song and it makes me think of every night when Lucci and Prin show their love.
Stay away from my window
Stay away from my back door too
Disconnect the telephone line
Relax baby and draw that blind
Kick off your shoes and sit right down
Loosen off that pretty French gown
Let me pour you a good long drink
Ooh baby don’t you hesitate ’cause
Tonight’s the night
It’s gonna be alright
‘Cause I love you girl
Ain’t nobody gonna stop us now
Come on angel my heart’s on fire
Don’t deny your man’s desire
You’d be a fool to stop this tide
Spread your wings and let me come inside ’cause
Tonight’s the night
It’s gonna be alright
‘Cause I love you girl
Ain’t nobody…
CONFLICT SONGS- ALL fairy tales have seemingly insurmountable problems…
- “Say Something” A Great Big World
When Lucci disappears from Prin’s life, Prin nearly loses hope.
Say something, I’m giving up on you
I’ll be the one, if you want me to
Anywhere, I would’ve followed you
Say something, I’m giving up on you
And I am feeling so small
It was over my head
I know nothing at all
And I will stumble and fall
I’m still learning to love
Just starting to crawl
Say something, I’m giving up on you
I’m sorry that I couldn’t get to you
Anywhere, I would’ve followed you
Say something, I’m giving up on you
And I will swallow my pride
You’re the one that I love
- “Greensleeves” Loreena McKennitt
You’ve got to listen to the Loreena McKennitt version! It is as magical as a fairy tale and shows the pain of having loved and lost.
Alas, my love, you do me wrong
To cast me off discourteously
And I have loved you oh so long
Delighting in your company
Greensleeves was all my joy
Greensleeves was my delight
Greensleeves was my heart of gold
And who but my lady greensleeves
If you intend to be this way
It does the more enrapture me
And even so I still remain
A lover in captivity
Greensleeves was all my joy
Greensleeves was my delight
Greensleeves was my heart of gold
And who but my lady greensleeves
Greensleeves, now…
Happily Ever After- It’s not a fairy tale without a HEA
- “What a Wonderful World” Louis Armstrong
I see trees of green, red roses too
I see them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself what a wonderful world
I see skies of blue and clouds of white
The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night
And I think to myself what a wonderful world
The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of people going by
I see friends shaking hands saying how do you do
They’re really saying I love you
I hear babies crying, I watch them grow
They’ll learn much more than I’ll never know
And I think to myself what a wonderful world
Yes I think to myself what a wonderful world
I hope you enjoyed my playlist for In A Gilded Cage and I hope you are tempted to read my grown up fairy tale.