Songs for The Peacemaker

Well ya'll, we have finally come to the end of our Enneagram Series. It's been so much fun putting together these playlists for the last few months, and I doubt this will be the last time I write about the enneagram on here, but this week is all about our final type - Type 9. One final disclaimer: educating myself about the enneagram and reading about my personality type has genuinely helped me be more conscious about making healthier choices as well as paying closer attention to how I interact with other people based off their type as well if I happen to know it. The enneagram is not how I dictate every single moment of my life, but it is a handy and interesting tool to use.

Enneagram Nines are usually referred to as Peacemakers or Mediators. A few key personality traits of theirs include being receptive, easygoing, self-effacing, complacent, reassuring, and agreeable. A Nine's basic fear is that of experiencing loss or separation from their loved ones, and their basic desire is that of having inner stability or peace of mind. A happy, healthy Nine can be seen as indomitable, with the ability to bring people together in trying or troublesome times, while a miserable, unhealthy Nine can become so severely disoriented that they can lose their entire sense of self. They're motivated by creating harmony in their environment and resisting anything that could upset or disturb their inner peace. While they can be very stable and supportive, Nines can occasionally become overly complacent attempt to minimize anything they deem "upsetting" which, according to the Enneagram Institute, can cause issues with getting "stuck" and being extremely stubborn. A Nine with an Eight wing, or 9w8, is usually referred to as a Referee or an Advisor and maintains the core feelings of a Nine while leaning on Eight traits like a driving need to be assertive. A Nine with a One wing, or 9w1, is usually referred to as a Dreamer or a Negotiator and maintains that core Nineness while leaning on One traits like making their ideal world into an actual reality. A healthy Nine can exhibit positive traits of a Type Three due to their Growth Path causing them to act more energetic and self-developing, while a super stressed Nine can exhibit negative traits of a Type Six due to their Stress Path causing them to act more anxious and worried.

Here are some more pop culture examples of Type Nine that I've "typed" over the last year or two. DISCLAIMER #2: I obviously don't own/didn't create any of these characters and secondly, it's again impossible to truly type another person, especially when they aren't real, but this its a lot of fun and I've enjoyed doing it. These are just my personal opinion, so please don't @ me.

-Aaron Samuels from Mean Girls

-Appa (9w8) & Uncle Iroh (9w1) from Avatar: The Last Airbender

-Arthur Weasley (9w8) & Remus Lupin (9w1) from Harry Potter

-Princess Aurora (9w1) from Sleeping Beauty

-BB-8, D-0, & Yoda from Star Wars

-Bonnie McMurray & Gail from Letterkenny

-Detectives Charles Boyle (9w8), Michael Hitchcock (9w1), & Norm Scully (9w1) from Brooklyn Nine-Nine

-Charlie Kelly from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

-Cinderella (9w8) from Cinderella

-Dara (9w1) & Mousesack (9w8) from The Witcher

-Elain Archeron from A Court of Thorns and Roses

-Garth Fitzgerald IV (9w1) from Supernatural

-Gregory Bridgerton & Sophie Beckett from Bridgerton

-Jerry Grgich from Parks & Recreation

-Juniper Andromeda (9w8) from Crescent City

-Lion & Sadie Miller from Steven Universe

-Luisa Madrigal (9w1) from Encanto

-Nesryn Faliq (9w1) from Throne of Glass

-Stuart Bloom from The Big Bang Theory

-Toby Flenderson from The Office

-Twyla Sands from Schitt's Creek

-Vander from Arcane: League of Legends

-Viktor Hargreeves/Number Seven/The White Violin from The Umbrella Academy

-Will Byers from Stranger Things

The following is a small sample of my Peacemaker playlist - as always, the full playlist can be found by following me on Apple Music @audioaesthetics. Let's get to it!

Chasing Pavements by Adele (written by A. Adkins, F. White)

Featured on Adele's 2008 album 19, I think the lyrics to Chasing Pavements show a good example of a 9w8. The narrator is trying to decide if they should just let this relationship go and move on or if they should keep fighting for it, showing that need to be assertive while not wanting to rock the boat.

I've made up my mind, don't need to think it over/If I'm wrong, I am right, don't need to look no further/This ain't lust, I know/This is love, but/If I tell the world, I’ll never say enough/‘Cause it was not said to you and that's exactly what I need to do/If I end up with you/Should I give up, or should I just keep chasing pavements/Even if it leads nowhere/Or would it be a waste even If I knew my place/Should I leave it there/Should I give up, or should I just keep chasing pavements/Even if it leads nowhere

GOLDWING by Billie Eilish (written by F. O'Connell, B. O'Connell)

Featured on Eilish's 2021 album Happier Than Ever, the lyrics to GOLDWING show a "gold-winged angel" trying to keep their head down and not attract a lot of attention to themselves in a negative environment. Like a Nine, they're faced with unpleasant circumstances and are trying to wall themselves away from it to keep themselves at peace.

Gold-winged angel/Go home, don't tell/Anyone what you are/You're sacred and they're starved/And their art is gettin' dark/And there you are to tear apart/Tear apart, tear apart, tear apart/You better keep your head down-down/Da-da-down-down, da-da-down-down/Better keep your head down-down/Da-da-down-down, da-da-down-down

A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes by Ilene Woods (written by M. David, A. Hoffman, J. Livingston)

Cinderella, voice acted in the classic 1950 film by Ilene Woods, is a great example of a 9w8. She does her best to do her part so that she keeps her place to live and minimize the abuse she suffers from her stepmother and stepsisters, but she has that little defiant streak that rears its head when she's had just about enough and isn't afraid to speak out when she feels very strongly about something. Cinderella's whole MO is being kind to others and treating them the way she wants to be treated, and at the end of the day all Cindy wants is a break to clear her mind and be left alone.

A dream is a wish your heart makes/When you're fast asleep/In dreams, you will lose your heartaches/Whatever you wish for, you keep/Have faith in your dreams and someday/Your rainbow will come smiling through/No matter how your heart is grieving/If you keep on believing/The dream that you wish will come true

Surface Pressure by Jessica Darrow (written by L. Miranda)

Luisa, unconfirmed Princess of Encanto and absolute icon voiced in the hit 2021 film by Jessica Darrow, is another great example of a Nine, this time leaning more on her One Wing. Luisa's job in town as the Madrigal blessed with super strength is not only dealing with the obvious physical burdens of the town and the Casita but also with keeping everyone around her happy because she feels like she isn't worth anything without her gift (which is obviously not true). She gets into unhealthy levels during her musical number with how much anxiety she's holding inside, but clearly longs for peace and quiet to be able to finally relax and take care of herself instead of everyone else.

Under the surface/I hide my nerves, and it worsens, I worry something is gonna hurt us/Under the surface/The ship doesn't swerve as it heard how big the iceberg is/Under the surface/I think about my purpose, can I somehow preserve this/Line up the dominoes, a light wind blows/You try to stop it tumbling but on and on it goes/But wait, if I could shake the crushing weight of expectations/Would that free some room up for joy or relaxation/Or simple pleasure/Instead, we measure this growing pressure/Keeps growing, keep going/‘Cause all we know is

Don't Speak by Jonas Brothers (written by J. Fields, N. Jonas, J. Jonas, P. Jonas)

Featured on JB's 2009 album Lines, Vines and Trying Times, this power ballad shows how the narrator's complacency actually ended up costing him a relationship that he really cared about. Later on in the lyrics Nick sings "There's a lot that you don't notice when you read between the lines," and I think that shows a very Nine trait of being so focused on what you want (peace and harmony) that you lose sight of the big picture and what your loved one's needs might be in that moment.

I thought I was cool/But I just looked a fool/For so long/Now you're gone/Now you're gone/Yeah/Don't speak to me/Don't speak to me

Merry Go 'Round by Kacey Musgraves (written by J. Osborne, K. Musgraves, S. McAnally)

Featured on Musgraves's 2013 album Same Trailer Different Park, these lyrics show a narrator feeling stuck in a pattern of blandness, being afraid to push for something so that they don't disrupt the status quo. Just because a cycle continues for multiple iterations doesn't always mean the cycle is a positive thing, so if you're feeling stuck and miserable it may be time to be bold and make a change.

If you ain't got two kids by 21, you're probably gonna die alone/At least that's what tradition told you/And it don't matter if you don't believe, come Sunday mornin'/You best be there in the front row like you're supposed to/Same hurt in every heart/Same trailer, different park/Mama's hooked on Mary Kay, Brother's hooked on Mary Jane/And Daddy's hooked on Mary two doors down/Merry, merry quite contrary, we get bored, so we get married/Just like dust, we settle in this town/On this broken merry go 'round and 'round and 'round we go/Where it stops nobody knows/And it ain't slowin' down/This merry go 'round

G-G-G-Ghost by Kate Micucci (written by A. Tran, S. Velema, R. Sugar)

Steven Universe's Sadie is a character I really like in the series, and her growth arc makes me smile. She starts off the series trying so hard not to draw attention to herself but always being kind and friendly to everyone. She gets burned one too many times by her crush Lars and finally decides to be her own person and find her own peace by doing what she wants, which funnily enough is being the lead singer in a horror-themed ska band. Plus, she's voiced by the hilarious Kate Micucci who I love. G-G-G-Ghost is featured in S5E14 The Big Show.

I used to be sick, sick and tired/Delirious, dizzy, terrified/But I’m suddenly up and out of bed/You’ll never believe I was almost/Why can’t you see me/Why can’t you see me/I think I might be/A g-g-g-ghost

Where Is Your Heart by Kelly Clarkson (written by C. Kreviazuk, K. DioGuardi, K. Clarkson)

Featured on Clarkson's 2004 album Breakaway, this angsty ballad could also work really well for a Type 2. In Nine terms, they want their partner to let them have the peace they want and just be in their feelings for a little while without being judged.

I don't believe in the smile that you leave/When you walk away and say goodbye/Well, I don't expect the world to move underneath me/But for God's sake, could you try/I know that you're true to me/You're always there, you say you care/I know that you want to be mine/Where is your heart, cause I don't really feel you/Where is your heart, what I really want is to believe you/Is it so hard to give me what I need/I want your heart to bleed, that's all I'm asking for, oh/Where is your heart

Big Star by Lorde (written by J. Antonoff, E. Yelich-O'Connor)

Featured on Lorde's 2021 album Solar Power, I feel like this narrator is an introverted Nine talking to their partner who's probably an extroverted Seven. They're not entirely sure they hate the changes they see in themself as their partner shows them new experiences and occasionally eclipses them, but they know they're out of their comfort zone.

Everyone knows that you're too good for me, don't they/I’m a cheater, I lie, and I'm shy/But you like to say hello to total strangers/Shivering pines and walls of colour/I can't believe I used to stay inside/But every perfect summer's gotta say goodnight/Now I watch you run through the amber light/I used to love the party, now I'm not alright/Drinking in the dark, take me home tonight/Baby, you're a big star/You're a big star/Wanna take your picture

Do You Hear That/I Wonder by Mary Costa (written by G. Bruns, T. Sears, W. Hibler)

Aurora, or Briar Rose at this point in the movie, is another great example of a 9w1 and voice acted in the 1959 film by Mary Costa. Like Luisa, Aurora enjoys a good daydream, but instead of dreaming about peace and quiet she's dreaming up her ideal world far away from her humdrum life in the forests of medieval England. She feels that if she were to find and experience true love, all her dreams would come true and she could live happily ever after.

I wonder, I wonder/I wonder why each little bird has a someone/To sing to, sweet things to/A gay little love melody/I wonder, I wonder/If my heart keeps singing will my song go winging/To someone who'll find me/And bring back a love song to me

Hymn Of The Ages by Maverick City Music ft. Maryanne J. George (written by B. Cowart, S. Carswell, J. Otenbriet, M. George)

Featured on Maverick City's 2020 live album Maverick City Music, Vol. 3: Pt. 2 with vocals from worship leader (and vocal role model for me) Maryanne J. George, this worship song does a good job showcasing a Nine's default Fruit of the Spirit: Peace (shocking, I know). As children of God, we can rest and have true peace in the fact that Jesus is faithful, loving, and preparing a place for us to join Him in Heaven.

Precious Lord Jesus, Treasure of mine/Oh, what a privilege to be Your delight/Morning by morning, new glories I see/Oh, what a wonder You are to me/And all of the promises, all of the praise/All of Your people have sung through the ages/No matter the season, the song is the same/Great is Your faithfulness, great is Your name/Great is Your faithfulness, great is Your name/Great is Your name

II Thessalonians 3:16 NLT Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all.

enough for you by Olivia Rodrigo (written by O. Rodrigo)

Featured on Rodrigo's 2021 album SOUR, this emotional ballad shows our narrator bending over backwards to try and make her partner happy, making herself miserable at the same time. I'm a fan of the later lyric "Now I don't want your sympathy, I just want myself back," showing that Nine borrow some fighting spirit from her Eight wing to get back her peace of mind.

I wore makeup when we dated 'cause I thought you'd like me more/If I looked like the other prom queens I know that you loved before/Tried so hard to be everything that you liked/Just for you to say you're not the compliment type/And I knew how you took your coffee and your favorite songs by heart/I read all of your self-help books so you'd think that I was smart/Stupid, emotional, obsessive little me/I knew from the start this is exactly how you'd leave/You found someone more exciting, the next second you were gone/And you left me there cryin', wonderin' what I did wrong/And you always say I'm never satisfied, but I don't think that's true/‘Cause all I ever wanted was to be enough for you/And all I ever wanted was to be enough for you

cowboy like me by Taylor Swift (written by A. Dessner, T. Swift)

Featured on Swift's 2020 album evermore, I like to think the narrator and her partner are two Nines who discovered they were soulmates and built their peaceful, quiet little life together once they found each other. I wish this song (and this whole album, honestly) got a little more attention because, as usual, her songwriting is really next level here telling this story.

And the tennis court was covered up with some tent-like thing/And you asked me to dance, but I said, "Dancing is a dangerous game”/"Oh," I thought, "This is gonna be one of those things"/Now I know I’m never gonna love again/I’ve got some tricks up my sleeve/Takes one to know one/You're a cowboy like me

I hope you found some new music to enjoy from this post whether you're a Nine, not a Nine, or genuinely don't care about numbered personality types. Happy listening, and see ya'll next week!