Songs for the Badger

Disclaimer: I do not own any characters, names, or titles from the Wizarding World. I'm just an enormous fan who loves this universe and wanted to share my thoughts with everyone.

Today we explore music for probably the most underrated House there is: Hufflepuff. Featuring alumni like Nymphadora Tonks, Pomona Sprout, Newt Scamander, and Cedric Diggory, this House honestly gets and unfair reputation for being pushovers and, for some insane reason, less than intelligent, which makes no sense when you remember Tonks was on the Wizarding STEM path to be an Auror and Cedric was constantly being heralded as valedictorian of his class across all four Houses. Represented by a badger on their crest along with the colors yellow and black, these students are sorted based on traits such as justice, loyalty, hard work, kindness, fairness, patience, morality, and modesty. They can also occasionally be accused of naivety, avoidant tendencies, and being seen as pushovers due to their dislike of conflict and firm belief that everyone should be treated equally. I am blessed to have some top notch people in my life who claim Hufflepuff for themselves, and know firsthand that there's so much more to them than meets the eye.

Today's post includes a small portion of my Hufflepuff Playlist, which can be viewed in full on Apple Music @audioaesthetics. I chose songs that had themes of the House's core traits as well as more obvious indicators such as badger symbolism or mention of the colors yellow and black. Let's get started!

All-American Girl by Carrie Underwood (written by A. Gorley, C. Underwood, K. Lovelace)

Featured on Underwood's 2007 album Carnival Ride, this song embodies the essence of what a true Hufflepuff can be. The girl at the center of the song is consistently praised with lyrics calling her sweet, and she's clearly so charming and pleasant that pretty much everyone who meets her can't help but love her. Hufflepuffs know that being lovable isn't just about your looks or your accomplishments, but it's about your demeanor and the way that you treat those around you that help make you shine.

Since the day they got married, he'd been praying for a little baby boy/Someone he could take fishing, throw the football and be his pride and joy/He could already see him holding that trophy, taking his team to State/But when the nurse came in with a little pink blanket, all those big dreams changed/And now he's wrapped around her finger, she's the center of his whole world/And his heart belongs to that sweet little beautiful, wonderful, perfect, all-American girl

Rose Tattoo by Dropkick Murphys (written by A. Barr, J. Lynch, J. Dares, K. Casey, M. Kelly, T. Brennan)

Featured on Dropkick Murphys' 2012 album Signed and Sealed In Blood, this song has a much harder edge to it but still shows off that classic Hufflepuff loyalty. This narrator is someone who gets literal permanent marks showing his loyalty to the different people in his life, and even says in the lyrics that he'll die for his loved ones and take his love for them to the grave. Plus, Hufflepuffs are well known for excelling at Herbology and having strong ties to the earth, so songs with plants or land are fair game here as well.

The pictures tell the story, this life has many shades/I’d wake up every morning and before I'd start each day/I’d take a drag from last night's cigarette that smoldered in its tray/Down a little something and then be on my way/I traveled far and wide and laid this head in many ports/I was guided by a compass, I saw beauty to the north/I drew the tales of many lives and wore the faces of my own/I had these memories all around me so I wouldn't be alone/Some may be from showing up, others are from growing up/Sometimes I was so messed up and didn't have a clue/I ain't winning no one over, I wear it just for you/I’ve got your name written here in a rose tattoo/In a rose tattoo, in a rose tattoo/I’ve got your name written here in a rose tattoo

New Rules by Dua Lipa (written by I. Kirkpatrick, C. Ailin, E. Warren)

Featured on Lipa's 2017 self-titled album, this is a song showing the flip side to when undying loyalty can be taken too far. The narrator has been burned by this specific partner so many times and, try as she might, struggles hard to follow her own strict rules to stay away from him even though it's for her own good. That "loyal to a fault" mentality isn't always healthy, and I definitely wanted to show those multiple sides to this complicated group.

Talkin' in my sleep at night, makin' myself crazy/Out of my mind, out of my mind/Wrote it down and read it out, hopin' it would save me/Too many times, too many times/My love, he makes me feel like nobody else, nobody else/But my love, he doesn't love me, so I tell myself, I tell myself/One: Don't pick up the phone, you know he's only callin' 'cause he's drunk and alone/Two: Don't let him in, you'll have to kick him out again/Three: Don't be his friend, you know you're gonna wake up in his bed in the mornin’/And if you're under him, you ain't gettin' over him/I got new rules, I count 'em/I got new rules, I count 'em/I gotta tell them to myself/I got new rules, I count 'em/I gotta tell them to myself

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by Elton John (written by B. Taupin, E. John)

Featured on John's 1973 album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, this song got automatic acceptance to the playlist for having yellow in the title, it's true. When you look at the lyrics, though, you can see a Hufflepuff who's spent too much time out of their comfort zone and is ready to get back into a routine. While of course there are members of this House that yearn for adventure, there are others (like Ernie MacMillan for example) who'd rather stay right where they are.

When are you gonna come down, when are you going to land/I should have stayed on the farm, I should have listened to my old man/You know you can't hold me forever, I didn't sign up with you/I’m not a present for your friends to open, this boy's too young to be singing/The blues, ah, ah/So goodbye yellow brick road where the dogs of society howl/You can't plant me in your penthouse, I’m going back to my plough/Back to the howling old owl in the woods, hunting the horny back toad/Oh, I've finally decided my future lies beyond the yellow brick road

Daisies by Katy Perry (written by K. Perry, J. Handling, J. Bellion, S. Johnson, J. Johnson, M. Pollack)

Featured on Perry's 2020 album Smile, this song has that plant motif present again in the title. Alongside that, you also have lyrics that show someone dreaming to break free and be more than those around them give them credit for, like Cedric getting to be Triwizard Champion or Tonks showing that just because she's unrecognized by her mom's side due to who her father is of the family doesn't mean she's unworthy of respect. These people are strong, confident, and take the hand they've been dealt to create something beautiful while staying humble and kind.

Told them your dreams and they all started laughing/I guess you're out of your mind 'til it actually happens/I’m the small town, one in seven billion/Why can't it be me/They told me I was out there, tried to knock me down/Took those sticks and stones, showed 'em I could build a house/They tell me that I'm crazy, but I'll never let 'em change me/’Til they cover me in daisies, daisies, daisies/They said I'm going nowhere, tried to count me out/Took those sticks and stones, showed 'em I could build a house/They tell me that I'm crazy, but I'll never let 'em change me/’Til they cover me in daisies, daisies, daisies

Tumbleweed by Keith Urban (written by J. Johnston, N. Mason, J. McNair)

Featured on Urban's 2020 album THE SPEED OF NOW, Pt. 1, this is another song with a plant reference and also makes this playlist have more country music on it than I expected it would, which was a pleasant surprise. This song particularly reminds me of Tonks and her free spirit. It's fun, carefree, and easygoing, all of which are traits that make Hufflepuffs great friends.

Hotter than a two dollar shot of whiskey, looking pretty sitting at the bar/Looking 'round the room with the devil on your shoulder like you're 'bout to steal a cowboy's heart/I’m your Billy the Kid, so baby, let's giddy-up, gone/I ain't even sure just a-where you're headed, but I'd sure like to tag along/Hey, Miss Tumbleweed, well, I believe/Two tumbleweeds is better than one, everybody needs a buddy when they're on the run/Hey, Miss Tumbleweed, let's ride the breeze/Town to town, just a-kicking up dust, make a little trouble, might make a little love

Boondocks by Little Big Town (written by J. Westbrook, K. Fairchild, K. Roads, P. Sweet, W. Kirkpatrick)

Featured on Little Big Town's 2005 album The Road to Here, here's another song with that fierce loyalty, this particular time in reference to the narrator's hometown. A strong sense of community and belonging has always been a pillar of this House, and that theme is found all throughout the lyrics of this song. And again, lots and lots of plants.

I feel no shame, I’m proud of where I came from/I was born and raised in the boondocks/One thing I know, no matter where I go/I keep my heart and soul in the boondocks/And I can feel that muddy water running through my veins/And I can hear that lullaby of a midnight train/It sings to me and it sounds familiar

Baggage Claim by Miranda Lambert (written by L. Laird, M. Lambert, N. Hemby)

Featured on Lambert's 2011 album Four the Record, this song, like New Rules, shows a narrator who's been so loyal and loving but has finally reached their breaking point. They have simply had enough of being pushed around and taken advantage of, and they're at long last doing something about it. Push even your kindest, most gentle companions too far, and they'll eventually break, and then you're going to have a bad time.

I have been draggin' around your sensitive ego/Making sure that your bags arrive on time for the dog and pony show/A little suitcase like a brick, it kinda makes it hard to get a good grip/I drop your troubles off at the conveyor belt, I’ll hand you a ticket to go get it yourself/At the baggage claim, you got a lot of luggage in your name/When you hit the ground, check the lost and found, 'cause it ain't my problem now/I can't carry it on, I've got a lot of troubles on my own/It's all over the yard, in the trunk of the car, I’m packin' it in, so come and get it

I Hope You're the End of My Story by Pistol Annies (written by A. Presley)

Featured on the Pistol Annies' 2013 album Annie Up, we're back to that gentle, loving side of our 'Puffs again. These lyrics are a good example of someone who takes their word very seriously, and wants you to know just how important you are to them by giving that word to you. This is a beautiful, sweet, simple song that goes a long way with getting its point across.

I hope you're the end of my story/I hope you're as far as it goes/I hope you're the last word I ever utter/And it's never your time to go/I’ll keep on turning the pages/Oh, what a story to tell/You'll still be my sweetheart when everything ages/You'll be the last book on the shelf

Innocent by Taylor Swift (written by T. Swift)

Featured on Swift's 2010 album Speak Now, I believe this can be seen as a Hufflepuff tune through two different lenses. On the one hand, the narrator could be from this House reassuring a friend that they aren't a lost cause and they are loved and cared for no matter what. It could also be someone from this House having quite the time of it being reminded that just because they've made mistakes, it doesn't mean that they're condemned to a life without love.

I guess you really did it this time, left yourself in your warpath/Lost your balance on a tightrope, lost your mind tryin' to get it back/Wasn't it easier in your lunchbox days/Always a bigger bed to crawl into/Wasn't it beautiful when you believed in everything/And everybody believed in you/It's alright, just wait and see/Your string of lights is still bright to me, oh/Who you are is not where you've been/You're still an innocent/You're still an innocent

Whether you proudly don the Yellow & Black or the colors of another House (or simply have no idea or don't care), I hope you found some great music to check out today. Happy listening, and see ya'll next week!