I'm actually glad that this new series is starting now when so many people are discovering the literary awesomeness that is Sarah J. Maas. I first read her series A Court of Thorns and Roses back in 2018 and it became an instant favorite for me, earning its place on the top shelf of my bookcase (a high honor indeed). After I started this blog in late 2019 as I was thinking through ideas for the future, I thought to myself, "You know what would be a perfect aesthetic playlist to make? The courts of Prythian." Now here we are, starting with the first court we're introduced to in the books and the court farthest to the south in this mystical land: The Spring Court.
If you've read the books, you may be wondering how this is going to work. These are NOT ACOTAR themed playlists as of right now (I do have one, believe me, just be patient). The court playlists will try their hardest to capture the essence of each court. In the case of Spring, for example, there's not going to be songs that remind me of Tamlin necessarily but more than invoke a feeling of Spring or of the beautiful landscape and wildlife that live in that territory. If you haven't read the books, this series may be a little confusing for you, but my remedy for that is obviously to read them or to just enjoy the playlists for what they are.
Below is a sampling of my Spring Court Playlist, which to no one's surprise is way longer than would be able to comfortably fit in one post. You can check out the full list by following me on Apple Music @audioaesthetics. Disclaimer: I do not own any character or property listed below, I'm just a huge fan and love to make playlists for my favorite fandoms.
Daffodil by Florence + The Machine (written by D. Bayley, F. Welch)
Featured on Florence's 2022 album Dance Fever, this song has her classic ethereal, borderline haunting tone throughout the instrumentation and the lyricism. Daffodils are absolutely spring flowers, and their beautiful yellow petals keep them constantly clothed in sunshine. The narrator sings of being just about out of hope before being encouraged by the coming spring season and how it basically brought her back to life.
I couldn't help it, yes, I let it get in/The helpless optimism of spring/Worn out and tired, and my heart near retired/And the world bent double from weeping/And yet, the birds begin to sing, ooh, oh/Daffodil/Daffodil
On a Turquoise Cloud by Kristin Chenoweth, Robert Fisher, The Coffee Club Orchestra, & Jack Gale (written by E. Ellington)
Featured on Chenoweth's 2001 album Let Yourself Go, this cover of a classic Duke Ellington piece is absolutely gorgeous and perfect for Chenoweth's vocals. Turquoise is another very spring (and somewhat summer and winter) color, and the lyricless vocals paired with the sweeping smooth jazz instrumental create the feeling of truly floating. It's a great song for enjoying a beautiful, calm spring day.
Still by Luke Combs (written by D. Isbell, D. Nunley, J. Davis, L. Combs, R. Fulcher, R. Isbell)
Featured on Combs's 2023 album Gettin' Old, Combs comes out strong singing about the beauties of the spring season. Yes, ok, he sings about autumn as well, but spring got first dibs so it's fine. The narrator sings about wanting to basically freeze the beauty of this moment in time so he can feel the way this love feels forever.
Sure as the North Star shinin’/Sure as in spring, the Dogwoods bloom/Sure as the sunset sinkin' West before it falls/Like the leaves in Autumn trees were made to do/I’m still fallin' for you, girl, from the second that I saw you/My whole world stood still, after all this time/I’m just as in love as the day I made you mine/I ain't stopped flying high and never will/I’m fallin' for you, still
FAERIE SOIREÉE by Melanie Martinez (written by G. Garth, J. Hoskins, M. Martinez, P. Garth)
Featured on Martinez's 2023 album PORTALS, this song brings to mind a pivotal Spring Court holiday: Calanmai (dun dun DUN - if you know, you definitely know). Also known as Fire Night, Maas allegedly based the celebration on the Welsh holiday Calan Mai, also known as May Day which marks the beginning of summer. The written and fictionalized Prythian version is bonkers bananas, and this song definitely fits the vibe.
The blue stars running on my forehead, cold wings fluttering and moving/Mushrooms everywhere I'm turning, laced with love, intensive grooving/They said, they said, "I know how to make you go crazy every day"/Tease your mind and trick you, you really wanna stay/I know the way to make you lose your pace/Your trace, your trace/If you wanna ride with the magic, lose sight of the gravity of weight/Lips of sugar, I'm breathing the pheromones again/Hands are tied and Miranda Rights don't mean nothing/Led me astray to the faerie soirée/Alone, alone/Now I wanna ride with the magic/Lose sight of the gravity of home
Rose Colored Lenses by Miley Cyrus (written by T. Hull, M. Cyrus, T. Johnson)
Featured on Cyrus's 2023 album Endless Summer Vacation, this song could easily be another Spring/Summer crossover. Now I know I get mad allergies in real world Spring, and while I hope magic Spring Court spring would be kinder to my body I would definitely appreciate some pink-tinted sunglasses to hide those red, puffy eyes that I get because they're so hecking itchy. All jokes aside, this song's a vibe.
Sunrise got us up early, so we put on our shade/Somehow the bedsheets are dirty, like sticky sweet lemonade/Never wanna leave this room, daydream, déjà vu/If I had control over you/We could stay like this forever, lost in wonderland/With our head above the clouds, fallin' stupid like we're kids/Wearin' rose colored lenses, let's just play pretend/Wearin' rose colored lenses, pretend we'll never end
Fireflies by Owl City (written by A. Young)
Featured on Owl City's 2009 album Ocean Eyes, this song has been a favorite of mine and my husband's since high school. While there is a convincing argument to include this song on the Night Court playlist, I like it for Spring because it's so easy for me to picture fireflies darting about the territory. Yes, I know this song is actually about insomnia, but I still think it works and the song is an absolute vibe.
You would not believe your eyes if ten million fireflies/Lit up the world as I fell asleep/‘Cause they fill the open air and leave teardrops everywhere/You'd think me rude, but I would just stand and stare/I’d like to make myself believe/That planet Earth turns slowly/It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep/‘Cause everything is never as it seems
Lemon Drop by Pistol Annies (written by A. Presley)
Featured on Pistol Annies' 2011 album Hell On Heels, this song was a toss up for me between Spring and Summer, but I went Spring just because this song doesn't have the beachy feel I associate with Summer (you'll see later on). This fun little song is one I often listen to to encourage myself on days where life just isn't quite going my way. Lemon yellow is such a happy, sunny, springy color, and I do love lemon drop candies.
My muffler's tied on with a guitar string, I owe seven thousand dollars to a bank machine/Before this car is ever really mine/And some fine day I'll drive her downtown, get a burger, fries and a royal crown/Thankin' God that I'll never have to pay another dime/My life is like a lemon drop/I’m suckin' on the bitter to get to the sweet part/I know there are better days ahead
City Grown Willow by Radio Company (written by J. Ackles, S. Carlson)
Featured on Radio Company's 2021 album Vol. 2, this is one of my favorite tracks from this musical duo. The Spring Court is well known for its ties to nature, so it's not hard to picture beautiful, graceful willow trees gracing the land. The lyrics, which tell us the story of a rural man and a metropolitan woman learning to be together, also can remind you of the feeling of losing yourself in nature after spending so long away.
She wants to know the names of the games he plays/He wants the names of the players in the game to change/He's young in years, but wise in wonderful ways/Her faith in love is better on sunny days/City grown willow, unchain your pillow/Let the man from the mountains run away with your heart/Let the man from the mountains run away with your heart
Lavender Haze by Taylor Swift (written by J. Antonoff, J. Sweet, M. Spears, S. Dew, T. Swift, Z. Kravitz)
Featured on Swift's 2022 album Midnights, this song is, of course, not the only Taylor Swift song on this playlist but I forced myself to only choose one at random to highlight. Lavender is a beautiful plant and color that are both associated with the spring season, and the hazy feeling of new love the narrator sings about are so easy to see playing out in this beautiful court. Shoutout to the other Swift songs that are currently on the list: Ivy, The Lakes, and Willow.
Starin' at the ceilin' with you/Oh, you don't ever say too much/And you don't really read into/My melancholia/I’ve been under scrutiny/You handle it beautifully/All this shit is new to me/I feel the lavender haze creepin' up on me/Surreal, I'm damned if I do give a damn what people say/No deal, the 1950s shit they want from me/I just wanna stay in that lavender haze
Mother Nature by The Hu (written by B. Dashdondog)
Featured on The Hu's 2022 album Rumble of Thunder, this song was a beautiful surprise on this metal album from this band that I'm happy I was introduced to every day. This group of guys from Mongolia is so talented, and the music is so interesting to listen to. An English translation of the original Mongolian lyrics is below.
A raven arrives from the east and lands at the gate, calls, "Caw, caw"/Does it say, "Be aware of the culprits from far and near, fear not"/A black-billed magpie hops and waggles its tail, chatters, "Wock, wock"/Do you beseech and say to stay away from disputes, fear not/Dear mother, are you worried about your child/Did you offer milk in the early sunrise/Dear mother, is your soul troubled/Did you fly your words to your child with no hesitation
I'm so excited about this new series, and I know it's going to be so much fun. I hope you found some great new music to listen to here. Happy listening, and see ya'll next week!
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