Welcome back to our Prythian Court series! Today, we're going to be checking out the playlist I made for The Summer Court, neighbor to the Spring & Autumn Courts and ruled over by High Lord Tarquin.
We don't spend a huge amount of time in the Summer Court in the books, but in the few chapters Sarah J. Maas has our characters there in A Court of Mist & Fury we know that it's basically one big beautiful beach land, particularly in their capital city of Adriata. It's always pretty warm and balmy, as one would expect from a land of perpetual summertime, so this playlist was pretty fun to build.
Like last time, I've done my best to capture the essence of the Summer Court here, not necessarily adding a bunch of songs that remind me of Tarquin or any other Summer-aligned characters. 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 Summer Court Playlist, which of course is too long to be compressed into a single 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.
ocean eyes by Billie Eilish (written by F. O'Connell)
Featured on Eilish's 2017 EP dont smile at me, there's a reason we use the ocean as imagery when talking about getting lost in something. The vastness of their depths is something humans have been entranced by for as long as we've been aware of them, with most of their mysteries still unanswered. This is another relaxing number perfect for taking in some sun near whichever body of water you prefer.
I've been watching you for some time/Can't stop staring at those ocean eyes/Burning cities and napalm skies/Fifteen flares inside those ocean eyes/Your ocean eyes/No fair/You really know how to make me cry when you gimme those ocean eyes/I'm scared/I've never fallen from quite this high, falling into your ocean eyes/Those ocean eyes
Havana by Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug (written by C. Cabello, A. Feeney, P. Williams, B. Hazzard, A. Tamposi, B. Lee, K. Gunesberk, A. Wotman, L. Bell, J. Williams)
Featured on Cabello's 2017 album Camila, this was very literally a song of the summer the year it released on the radio. There's not a lot of questioning why, either; hypnotic beat, catchy lyrics, solid melody, and good production. Havana is the capital city of the Caribbean island nation of Cuba, with its tropical climate that keeps its citizens in a perpetual summer in terms of weather.
He didn’t walk up with that how you doing when he came in the room/He said, "There’s a lot of girls I can do with, but I can’t do without you"/I’m doing forever in a minute that summer night in June/And Papa says he got malo in him, he got me feeling like/Ooh, ooh, ooh, I knew it when I met him, I loved him when I left him/Got me feeling like ooh, ooh, ooh, and then I had to tell him I had to go, oh na na na na na/Havana, ooh na na/Half of my heart is in Havana, ooh na na/He took me back to East Atlanta, na na na/All of my heart is in Havana, my heart is in Havana, Havana, ooh na na
Pirates by Caravan Palace (written by A. Vial, A. Toustou, C. Delaporte, S. Fernandez Velasco, A. de Bosredon Combrailles, H. de la Garanderie)
Featured on Caravan Palace's 2012 album Panic, this fun song is so versatile with its electronic swing sound creating a simultaneous retro and modern sound as you listen. Pirates are usually found on or near the ocean, making this song fit right in with the rest of our summer court picks. The lyrics are a little difficult to understand just based on the speed they're sung at and the production over the vocals, but this is still a great song to turn on and chill to.
Whatever the girl I do/Inside you are/You are walking, you are still walking/But if the early light has it tonight and I’m/I’m like one earring if you steal one earring/Whatever’s in light I need you inside you are/You are walking, you are still walking/But if the early light has it tonight and I’m/I’m like one earring if you steal one earring/Lady can’t wear no hat, can’t wear no coat/Never her coat in the summer/Wear no hat, can’t wear no coat in/Lady can’t wear no hat, can’t wear no coat/Never her coat in the summer/Wear no hat, can’t wear no coat in coat
Hurricane by Halsey (written by A. Frangipane, T. Anderson)
Featured on Halsey's 2015 album BADLANDS, the title of this song refers to the natural disaster most associated with the Summer Court's primary element of water: the hurricane. A lot of people find water very calming, picturing an easygoing sea near a beach with tranquil blue skies and a gentle breeze, all of which are accurate representations of water to be sure. However, we can't forget that water can also rage and destroy, and just how powerful it can be when agitated; it's not one to be underestimated.
There’s a place way down in Bed Stuy where a boy lives behind bricks/He’s got an eye for girls of eighteen and he turns them out like tricks/I went down to a place in Bed Stuy, a little liquor on my lips/I let him climb inside my body and held him captive in my kiss/And there’s a storm you’re starting now/And there’s a storm you’re starting now/And there’s a storm you’re starting/I’m a wanderess, I’m a one-night stand/Don’t belong to no city, don’t belong to no man/I’m the violence in the pouring rain/I’m a hurricane/I’m a hurricane/I’m a hurricane
Under the Sea by Kupla & Disney Lofi (written by A. Menken, H. Ashman)
Featured on Disney's 2022 album Lofi Minnie: Focus, this is a great instrumental reimagining of one of the most iconic songs in animation history, first featured in 1989's The Little Mermaid. I've talked about how much I love this album before, and my opinion definitely still stands. Whether you're relaxing at the pool or just getting things done around the house, this is a great song to have on to just soak in the fact that, as Sebastian so wisely sings, "life is the bubbles."
California by Lorde (written by E. Yelich-O'Connor, J. Antonoff)
Featured on Lorde's 2021 album Solar Power, what place is a better stereotypical representation of a land of perpetual summer than the state of California? Now the lyrics do talk more about leaving their California lifestyle behind, but the feeling is still there. The entire Solar Power album works perfectly for the Summer Court, from the beachy vibes on the album art to the super laid back and relaxed attitude on every track.
Once upon a time in Hollywood when Carole called my name/I stood up, the room exploded and I knew that’s it, I’ll never be the same/That’s when a door swung open and a voice said, "We’re glad you came"/Now I’ve spent thousands on you darling, all the hotels and the jets/And I’d pay it all again to have your golden body back in my bed/But I don’t miss the poison arrows aimed directly at my head/Goodbye to all the bottles, all the models/Bye to the clouds in the skies that all hold no rain/Don’t want that California love/Don’t want that California love/Don’t want that California love
July by Noah Cyrus & Leon Bridges (written by N. Cyrus, M. Sonier, P. Harding)
Released as a single in 2019, this was I think the first Noah Cyrus song I ever listened to and I totally fell in love with it. July, of course, is the pinnacle summer month, conjuring mental images for many of sunshine, swimming, picnics, and fireworks. The lyrics of this song do admittedly paint a darker picture than that, but the entire arrangement is hauntingly stunning.
I’ve been holding my breath/I’ve been counting to ten over something you said/I’ve been holding back tears/While you’re throwing back beers, I’m alone in bed/You know I, I’m afraid of change/Guess that’s why I stay the same/So tell me to leave, I’ll pack my bags, get on the road/Find someone that loves you better than I do, darling, I know/‘Cause you remind me every day/I’m not enough, but I still stay
Eyes Blue Like the Atlantic by Sista Prod ft. Subvrbs (written by A. Benjamin, A. Bagnasco, O. McKendrick-Ness, A. Tubbs, I. Faber, J. Fedryk)
Released as a single in 2019, this is such a chill song that's perfect for either a day sitting on the beach or hanging out at home. The repetitive lyrics work just fine over the lowfi beat, making it super easy to know exactly where you are in the song at all time. The Atlantic Ocean, of course, has a number of lovely beaches that people love to frequent in the summer months.
Eyes blue like the Atlantic/And I’m going down like the Titanic/Eyes blue like the Atlantic/And I’m going down like the Titanic/Eyes blue like the Atlantic/And I’m going down like the Titanic/Eyes blue like the Atlantic/And I’m going down like the Titanic
Wave of You by Surfaces (written by F. Frank, C. Padalecki)
Featured on Surfaces's 2021 album Pacifico, this entire album just screams summer at me whenever I listen to it. The relaxed vibe was practically made for being out on the water, maybe catching a beach sunset after a day of play. This song could definitely be heard on a Summer Court pleasure barge out for an evening of merriment.
Where am I supposed to be/Washed up, pushed out, or on my feet/Tell me this is a dream/Or am I stuck in a movie scene/Daily, lately, I’m spinning away so crazy/So baby, just take me/I think I’m caught up in the way I feel ‘bout you/I don’t know how I can be so drawn into you/I think I’m fallin’ in deep/I think I’m caught up in the wave of you, of you
betty by Taylor Swift (written by T. Swift, W. Bowery)
Featured on Swift's 2020 album folklore, this is a favorite of mine from her catalogue and tends to give off end-of-summer vibes. The story Swift crafts about teens Betty & James has a small town feel of trouble starting near the end of the school year, escalating in the summer, and attempting to be resolved around the start of the next school year. Warm nights, skateboarding outside, and house parties spilling out into the garden all add to that subtle summer feeling.
Betty, I won’t make assumptions about why you switched your homeroom/But I think it’s ‘cause of me/Betty, one time I was riding on my skateboard when I passed your house/It’s like I couldn’t breathe/You heard the rumors from Inez, you can’t believe a word she says/Most times, but this time it was true/The worst thing that I ever did/Was what I did to you/But if I showed up at your party, would you have me, would you want me/Would you tell me to go fuck myself or lead me to the garden/In the garden, would you trust me if I told you it was just a summer thing/I’m only seventeen, I don’t know anything but I know I miss you
I hope these sunny summertime songs bring you some brightness on this cloudy autumn day (at least that's what's going on here). Happy listening, and see ya'll next week!
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