This is the Playlist of a Killer, Bella

Image from Twilight (2008)

Unironically, the best aspect of the Twilight films is the aesthetic: the vibes, the foggy Forks woods, and Bella’s rusted red pickup. Stephenie Meyer, if nothing else, set a scene that would define a generation. The second best part of the Twilight series is earnestly the soundtrack. Famously, the New Moon soundtrack was even curated by the genius mind of Mr. Thom Yorke. You can make fun of sparkly vampires, but you cannot look me in the eyes and say no joy spread across your face when “Supermassive Black Hole” by Muse plays during the baseball sequence, or your heart didn’t break when “Possibility” by Lykke Li accompanies Bella’s depressive montage. Music defines the entire tone of these films as the viewers are taken into Bella’s world in the mundane yet mystical town of Forks, Washington. The music also pulls us into Bella’s pain, angst, and love, as she faces horrors such as vampiric wars, teenage love triangles, and CGI babies.

 You may say, “Laurel, Twilight season has passed. There’s no need for such a playlist. It’s hot out; the sun is shining!” And what do I have to say to that? GROW UP. I legitimately couldn't care less. Twilight is a state of mind, and in rural Ohio, all we can do is romanticize the fuck out of this desolate landscape. You may see me happily walking down Middle Path with my headphones on, photosynthesizing in the sun. This is NOT the truth. I am actually in Forks, Washington where it always rains, the forest is a lush green, and I brood while looking out misty windows. You do not know me nor my truth. But I sense you wish you could…

So here I present a playlist of my own creation which I will graciously share with you. I begin with highlights from the franchise: the classics if you will. “Flightless Bird,” “American Mouth,” “Turning Page,” “Hearing Damage,” “Rosyln”…If these song titles don’t instantly conjure memories of iconic scenes from the franchise, get a life and begin your movie marathon. But there is so much more to be explored that could potentially encompass the moody atmosphere of Bella’s love life. So many artists would have perfectly fit the Twilight aesthetic, and there are so many songs released after the films which were simply ‘born in the wrong decade,’ as the millennials like to say. 

Something about the angst found in Blondshell’s work would seamlessly fit into the grunge of the Twilight films: the perfect example is “Olympus,” one of the original songs that inspired the playlist. Additionally, I believe Bella would adore Mazzy Star and listen to “Fade Into You” a mentally ill amount; the track beautifully displays a haunting love that feels unrequited and impossible to encapsulate. Similarly, I believe Thom Yorke himself would present me an award for including “Resurrect Inside” by East Forest and Peter Broderick. Their eerie voices, the sporadic clanging, the overlapping narratives…I can imagine the overly dramatic montage now. Some songs are perhaps a little on the nose: “midnight sun,” “When the Sun Hits,” “A Forest,” “i saw you in a dream,” etc. However, nothing about Twilight screams subtle, and therefore I attempted to match that energy. 

I’ll let the playlist speak for itself –– if you have a drop of imagination (which you must if you enjoy Twilight), you might understand where I was coming from. I tried to capture some of the magic from the original film series and expand on its immersive atmosphere. The soundtrack of Twilight guides the listeners through the emotional beats and themes of this iconic epic, often better than the directors and actors can. It’s the constant, wonderfully expressive element of this bizarre franchise that took over the world. Personally, I’m excited about the anime television reboot coming up (if you didn’t know, now you do: you’re welcome, again). Hopefully, they take some hints from my expert playlist.