Songs for The Lion

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.

It is very important to know that I am an enormous Potterhead and have been since I was eight years old. I've read every book over ten times, seen every movie even more times than that, and take great pride in telling people what House I belong to. Therefore, I thought it would be a lot of fun to make playlists for each House similar to the astrology and enneagram playlists I've made in the past.

This week, we're starting with the House that pops up first in most peoples' minds due to its prominence in the series: Gryffindor. The House of main man Harry himself, as well as almost every single main character in the series (Ron, Hermione, Dumbledore, the entire Weasley family, Sirius, Hagrid, McGonagall, etc). Represented by a Lion on their crest as well as the colors scarlet and gold, these students are sorted based on traits such as courage, chivalry, determination, kindness, altruism, cooperation, compassion, soft-heartedness, and trust. They can also occasionally (ok, more than occasionally) be accused of falling into a hero complex, diving recklessly into danger in order to save a loved one and feeling as though they are the only ones capable of saving the day. Nevertheless, I have a soft spot for Gryffindors, seeing as my grandfather, my cousin, and one of my best friends in the world can all call this House "home."

We'll be looking at a small portion of my Gryffindor Playlist this week - the full playlist can be viewed on Apple Music @audioaesthetics. I chose songs that had themes of the House's core traits as well as more "on the nose" indicators such as lion symbolism or mention of the colors red and gold. Let's get started!

Perfect by Ed Sheeran (written by E. Sheeran)

Featured on Sheeran's 2017 album Divide, this song has become a leader in first dances at weddings and is widely seen as one of the most romantic songs out there right now. You can see hints of chivalry, determination, soft-heartedness, and kindness all throughout this song, and bravery is an essential in love. Life is hard, and having trust that your partner will be with you through thick and thin is so important.

I found a love for me/Darling, just dive right in and follow my lead/Well, I found a girl, beautiful and sweet/Oh, I never knew you were the someone waiting for me/‘Cause we were just kids when we fell in love, not knowing what it was/I will not give you up this time/But darling, just kiss me slow, your heart is all I own/And in your eyes, you're holding mine/Baby, I'm dancing in the dark with you between my arms/Barefoot on the grass, listening to our favorite song/When you said you looked a mess, I whispered underneath my breath/But you heard it, "Darling, you look perfect tonight"

Don't Stop Believin' by Journey (written by J. Cain, J. Friga)

Featured on Journey's 1981 album Escape, this is one of the most well-known songs in rock music history. Characteristics like courage, kindness, cooperation, compassion, and trust can be felt throughout the song, and what better track to listen to when you need a confidence boost? Over four decades later and this song still makes you feel like you can do anything.

Workin' hard to get my fill/Everybody wants a thrill/Payin' anything to roll the dice just one more time/Some'll win, some will lose/Some are born to sing the blues/Oh, the movie never ends, it goes on and on and on and on/Strangers waitin’/Up and down the boulevard/Their shadows searchin' in the night/Streetlights, people/Livin' just to find emotion/Hidin', somewhere in the night

Little Lion Man by Mumford & Sons (written by E. Dwane, W. Marshall, B. Lovett, M. Mumford)

Featured on Mumford & Sons' 2009 album Sigh No More, this song initially got onto the playlist due to the direct lion shoutout. Once you take a look at the lyrics, though, being brave is the overarching theme of the song. It's hard to be brave all the time, and even when you feel small, you have to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and keep going.

Weep for yourself, my man, you'll never be what is in your heart/Weep, little lion man, you're not as brave as you were at the start/Rate yourself and rake yourself, take all the courage you have left/And waste it on fixing all the problems that you made in your own head/But it was not your fault but mine/And it was your heart on the line/I really fucked it up this time/Didn't I, my dear/Didn't I, my

Hey Look Ma, I Made It by Panic! At the Disco (written by B. Urie, D. Francis, J. Sinclair, M. Angelakos, M. Kibby, S. Hollander)

Featured on Panic's 2018 album Pray for the Wicked, I love a song that shows off Brendan Urie's vocals like this one does. This is another song with a chorus that makes you feel like you're at the top of the world and lyrics that drip with determination. It's definitely a go-getter type of tune.

All my life, been hustling and tonight is my appraisal/‘Cause I'm a hooker sellin' songs and my pimp's a record label/This world is full of demons, stocks and bonds and bible traders/So I do the deed, get up and leave, a climber and a sadist, yeah/Are you ready for the sequel, ain't you ready for the latest/In the garden of evil, I’m gonna be the greatest/In a golden cathedral, I’ll be praying for the faithless/And if you lose, boo-hoo/Hey look ma, I made it/Hey look ma, I made it/Everything's comin' up aces, aces/If it's a dream, don't wake me, don't wake me/I said hey look ma, I made it

We Are the Champions by Queen (written by F. Mercury)

Featured on Queen's 1977 album News of the World, this is known as another of the great rock songs in music history with very little contest. If anyone knows anything about Gryffindors, it's that they love the feeling of victory and being, well, the champions. You can see why even if you align with a different house: victory is the payoff for determination and courage.

I've paid my dues time after time/I’ve done my sentence but committed no crime/And bad mistakes, I’ve made a few/I’ve had my share of sand kicked in my face, but I've come through/And we mean to go on and on and on and on/We are the champions, my friends/And we'll keep on fighting till the end/We are the champions, we are the champions/No time for losers, 'cause we are the champions of the world

Come Back...Be Here (Taylor's Version) by Taylor Swift (written by T. Swift, D. Wilson)

Featured on Swift's 2021 album Red (Taylor's Version), our first (yes, first) Taylor entry of the playlist is another example of diving headfirst into love even when it's a little scary. It takes courage to start a new relationship as well as copious amounts of trust in both yourself and the other party. You find yourself rooting for the narrator here to take that leap of faith and fall for this person, and somehow you know it'll work out for the best.

You said it in a simple way, 4:00 a.m. the second day/How strange that I don't know you at all/Stumbled through the long goodbye, one last kiss, then catch your flight/Right when I was just about to fall/I told myself, "Don't get attached," but in my mind, I play it back/Spinning faster than the plane that took you/And this is when the feeling sinks in, I don't wanna miss you like this/Come back, be here, come back, be here/I guess you're in New York today, I don't wanna need you this way/Come back, be here, come back, be here

I Know Places by Taylor Swift (written by T. Swift, R. Tedder)

Featured on Swift's 2014 album 1989, our second Taylor entry shows a lot of trust throughout its lyrics. In addition to trust, we can see determination, cooperation, and compassion as the narrator and their partner navigate a relationship that seems to be under a lot of scrutiny. Being brave for and with someone else is just as difficult as being brave for yourself, but it's every bit as rewarding.

You stand with your hand on my waistline/It's a scene, and we're out here in plain sight/I can hear them whisper as we pass by/It's a bad sign, bad sign/Something happens when everybody finds out/See the vultures circling, dark clouds/Love's a fragile little flame, it could burn out/It could burn out/‘Cause they got the cages, they got the boxes and guns/They are the hunters, we are the foxes and we run/Baby, I know places we won't be found and/They'll be chasing their tails trying to track us down/‘Cause I, I know places we can hide/I know places, I know places

The Archer by Taylor Swift (written by J. Antonoff, T. Swift)

Featured on Swift's 2019 album Lover, our third and final Taylor contribution shows a little more of a serious side of our Gryffindors. They can put up walls to try and protect themselves from harm so that others don't see their vulnerabilities, and it can be hard for them to open up. Once they do, though, their loyalty is a valuable gift that their loved was are entrusted with, which is not something to take lightly.

Combat, I'm ready for combat/I say I don't want that, but what if I do/‘Cause cruelty wins in the movies/I’ve got a hundred thrown-out speeches I almost said to you/Easy they come, easy they go/I jump from the train, I ride off alone/I never grew up, it's getting so old/Help me hold onto you/I’ve been the archer/I’ve been the prey/Who could ever leave me, darling/But who could stay

Formidable by twenty one pilots (written by T. Joseph)

Featured on twenty one pilots' 2021 album Scaled and Icy, our final song this week shows how someone on the outside might initially view a Gryffindor: a little intimidating. Their courage and determination, and sometimes even the levels of compassion and trust they can exhibit, can seem really intense for some people before they really get to know the person underneath. Once that happens, though, they're some of the best people to experience life with.

You are formidable to me/‘Cause you seem to know it, where you wanna go/Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'll follow you/But you should know/I might be cynical towards you/But I just can't believe that I'm for you/Yeah, yeah, yeah, I can die with you/Just let me know/And I know that we just met/But could you take me everywhere you've ever been/I wanna see it all, no surprises, yeah

Whether you know you're a Gryffindor or not, I hope you found some encouraging, exciting music to listen to on this post. Happy listening, and see you next week!