OMG This Song Book Tag {Tag Thursday}

Post header background: Designed by Freepik

Hi guys, and welcome to a new Tag Thursday!

This tag is a little different, as it focuses on both music AND books. I was thinking about putting it in my Something Different Sunday feature since the music focus is so prominent, but then again, I’m also still talking books and it’s a tag, so in the end I decided to do this here.

As you may know from reading my blog, I LOVE music. Music means the world to me. And, as you may also find out from this tag, my musical tastes are pretty much… all over the place. My playlist features so many completely different genres it’s a little crazy, but that’s also the way I love it and I wouldn’t have it any other way!

So first of all, thank you to Lauren at Wonderless Reviews for tagging me in this post. It’s always so fun to talk music with you! Also, this tag was originally created by Kate @ Katesbookdate and you can see her original video here!

Let’s get into the tag!

MY JAM – a song you MUST listen to every time it comes on, no matter how old or how many times you’ve listened to it / a book you’ll never get sick of

Pierce The Veil – King For A Day (ft Kellin Quinn)

This first question was already quite a difficult one to answer, because I have so many jams! In the end, I chose to go with THE jam that got me through 2016: King for a Day by Pierce The Veil ft. Kellin Quinn. Though the song has already been out for a few years, I only discovered it last year and it introduced me to not one, but two amazing bands: Pierce The Veil and Sleeping With Sirens. I must have listened to this song especially on repeat for MONTHS. Love, love, love it.

Other possibilities: well, any of these:

Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Obviously this question was also pretty difficult when it comes to books.

I decided to go with Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda because it’s my go-to feel-good book. I can re-read this one endlessly and I still love it just as much every single time.

And I plan on re-reading it a lot more, especially in preparation of the movie coming out next year (which BTW, how amazingly perfect is the cast so far?)

---

THROWBACK – a song that reminds you of the cringiest time of your life / a book that also reminds you of this time (or just something you wouldn’t like as much if you picked it up for the first time now)

Evanescence – Bring Me To Life

When this song came out, I was in high school. Isn’t this the cringiest time for most people? Not that high school was so terrible for me, but it was also a difficult time at home and this song takes me back to that exact time period because I must have played this entire CD non-stop. It also inspired me to make some cringey fashion choices and to dye my hair black, which took forever to grow out…

Other possibilities: Linkin Park – Crawling;  Papa Roach – Between Angels and Insects

A Walk To Remember by Nicholas Sparks

Also in high school, I was OBSESSED with Nicholas Sparks. I read all his books and watched all movies based on his books.

Though I love most of them, my all-time favorite was A Walk To Remember. Both book and movie. The movie is quite different from the book and still I loved both versions so, so much. I watched the movie hundreds of times and have re-read the book multiple times as well.

Though I’m not as big a Nicholas Sparks fan anymore, this book (and movie) will always have a place in my heart.

---

REPLAY – a recent song you have on repeat right now / a recent favorite book

BTS – Blood Sweat & Tears

Well, this is not really a surprise now is it? Recently I’ve really been getting into Kpop, and though I love a lot of songs and I’m also such a big BIG BANG fan, I must admit that BTS is the band I’ve been playing on repeat the most lately. As in, I’m listening to them right now even. I could have chosen a lot of songs, but I chose Blood, Sweat and Tears just because I find it one of the most visually pleasing music videos.

Other possibilities: Any BIG BANG, Monsta X or the latest G-Dragon album.

Red Winter by Annette Marie

Also not really a surprise, but just in case it is: Hi, my name is Lindsey and I’ve recently fallen in love with the Red Winter trilogy by Annette Marie.

It’s gorgeous and beautiful and a must-read if you’re interested in Japanese mythology, intricate worldbuilding, action-filled plots, amazing characters and romance that’ll make you swoon. This series is way too underrated and I will never stop screaming about my love for it!

Please check this one out, I highly recommend it!

---

GETS ME – this song IS ME / this book is me in book form

All Time Low – Weightless

I find a lot of myself in songs and obviously different songs speak to a different part of me so this was another tricky question, BUT I ended up going with Weightless by All Time Low. The band themselves explained this song as both “being stuck in a negative space and wanting to get out” and also “not wanting to grow up and just wanting to be a kid”. And to me, this song just speaks to me on so many levels. I’m a very nostalgic person, always thinking back on the great times I had and fun memories I made. I also don’t really want time to continue because I feel like a lot of magic from being young gets lost when we grow up. People spend too much time trying to impress others and we lose a lot of really deep, meaningful connections. Also, when I was young I was such a dreamer and there was so much I wanted to do and see and then you grow up and find out it doesn’t really always works out the way you thought it would. Adulting is not all it’s cracked up to be and this song nails my feelings to a tee, better than I could ever describe it myself.

“I make believe that I impress
That every word, by design, turns a head
I wanna feel reckless, wanna live it up just because
I wanna feel weightless ’cause that would be enough

If I could just find the time
Then I would never let another day go by
I’m over getting old

Maybe it’s not my weekend but it’s gonna be my year
And I’m so sick of watching while the minutes pass as I go nowhere
And this is my reaction to everything I fear
‘Cause I’ve been going crazy, I don’t wanna waste another minute here”

Other possibilities:  Andy Black – We Don’t Have To Dance; The Ataris – In This Diary

Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde

For a book this was another difficult question because again I find lots of little things about myself in lots of different characters in lots of different books. I haven’t found a ‘perfect match’ for me just yet, but I think a book I recently read came really close and that was Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde. Not only did I really relate to the character of Taylor in terms of anxiety, the book in general just spoke to me. From the fandom aspects (hi, I’m a fangirl), to the important messages that I really believe in, to the friendship and relationship aspects that knew exactly the right buttons to push in order to get me all mushy.

---

WUT – weird but I like it? – a unique book that stuck out to you for whatever reason

Hamilton OST

Okay, okay, I know this is an award-winning Broadway musical so there are obviously a lot of people out there who won’t find this weird at all. But if you’d ask the people around me, they’d definitely consider this to be the weirdest music on my playlist (though to be fair they’d be pretty weirded out by all the Korean songs as well). In real life, I don’t know anyone who has even heard of Hamilton. And I would never in a million years have guessed that I would some day become obsessed by a rap and hip-hop musical about the life of American Founding Father, Alexander Hamilton. But here I am. I adore this musical to bits and I’m still determined to learn all the words by heart. Well, at least I already know the title song!

The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater

At first I was gonna go with Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff, which is definitely a super unique book in terms of formatting that I really loved. But in the end I decided to go with a series that felt super unique and original to me in terms of content and that’s The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater. I’m not all that familiar with magical realism, but this series was just so whimsical and original and just… wow. It took me a bit to get into it, but pretty soon I was hooked on these characters and their journeys, from boys looking for long-dead Welsh kings and boys who take things out of their dreams to ghosts and magical forests.

---

LET’S GO – best pump up song (for workouts or just life) – a book that inspired you

BTS – Not Today

Oh hey, BTS again. Yes, and I’m sorry for the repetition, but the truth is that this song in particular has been my ‘fighting’ song during the past few months. Whenever I need a boost, a reminder to keep fighting and keep going, I’ll listen to this song. It also helps that it makes me want to dance, which is always good!

Other possibilities: Walk The Moon – Anna Sun; Fall Out Boy – Centuries; Beyoncé – Run The World (Girls); Lady Gaga – Born This Way

The Harry Potter series by J.K Rowling

I may be repeating myself yet again here, but many books inspire me in lots of different, small ways. Whether it inspires me to consider things from another point of view, or it inspires me to try something new or look into the history of something, almost every book is inspiring. It why I love books!

But of course, I need to pick one and I decided to go with the classic, Harry Potter. Because even though I’ve always been a reader, Harry Potter is the first series to introduce me to the wonderful world of fantasy and YA and what really inspired me to keep picking up new books in this genre.

---

CHILL – fav chill, relaxing song / a book you’d curl up with and read on a rainy day

Editors – No Sound But The Wind

I love Editors and though No Sound But The Wind has been a bit overplayed on the radio, I still really love it. Bonus points, because I was actually there at Rock Werchter during this performance when this video was made and it was a real goosebump moment live. Most of Editors’ other songs could fit as rainy day songs for me as well.

Other possibilities: Elliott Smith – Waltz #2; Jamie Woon – Night Air; any Snow Patrol

Six of Crows – Leigh Bardugo

While on summery days I tend to go more towards contemporary, rainy days scream fantasy for me.

And I think a nice rainy, gloomy day would really fit the atmosphere of Six of Crows well. For some reason, whenever I picture these scenes in my head, it’s always a gray and rainy day, even if it’s described differently in the book itself.

Also, I’d love to spend the whole day revisiting my favorite characters ever. And of course, I could follow it up with Crooked Kingdom after.

---

ADDICTING – guilty pleasure song – one that’s catchy and addicting but not a whole lot of substance / guilty pleasure/trashy/fast/light read

Hilary Duff – Why Not

Ok, I hate the term guilty pleasure.  You shouldn’t have to feel guilty for liking something just because some random people deemed it ‘of lesser quality’. It’s snobbish. And I like a lot of songs that perhaps people will look at me funny for. I also don’t care. I will sing my heart out to so-called guilty pleasure songs, like Hilary Duff’s Why Not. It’s my jam and you can’t stop me!

Other possibilities: DJ Bobo – Vampires Are Alive; The Pokémon Theme Song

P.S. I Like You by Kasie West

I love Kasie West’s books because they’re cute, fluffy and adorable feel-good romances that I can easily read in one sitting. So really, any Kasie West book could fit this category for me.

But I chose to go with P.S. I Like You, because it may just be my favorite by her. It’s got penpal romances, lots of music love, big families and a quirky, fun main character. Sure, it’s a bit predictable and has its’ tropes, but I also really don’t mind! This is the kind of book that I’ll read anytime I just want a quick little pick-me-up!

---

NOSTALGIA – throwback you look back on fondly / a book you read forever ago that you look back on fondly or reminds you of a happy childhood time

Fall Out Boy – Dance, Dance

I chose Dance, Dance by Fall Out Boy because first of all Dance, Dance is the first song I ever fell in love with by Fall Out Boy. It started my love for one of my all-time favorite bands, and this band introduced me to so many other great bands and basically really jump-started my love for music and opened up my tastes to so many other genres. I will always fondly remember listening to all these songs at night on my mp-3 player.

Other possibilities: Panic! At The Disco – The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide Is Press Coverage; Taking Back Sunday – MakeDamnSure; Paramore – Misery Business; The Academy Is – Black Mamba

The Animorphs series by K.A. Applegate

This book series is definitely not from the same time as FOB, but it was one of my favorite childhood books. I loved these so much and was always super excited to find the next book in stores. I always wanted to be able to turn into animals as well (minus the threat of the alien invasion, of course).

Unfortunately the series was never completed in Dutch (the only language I read when I was young), so I never finished it. Perhaps I should pick them up again now, in English?

Also, does anyone remember the TV series based on these books?

I tag anyone who loves music and just would love to do this tag as well!

Or talk to me in the comments! What’s your jam? What’s your most recent favorite song? Your pump-up song? And what’s your favorite rainy-day read? Or your favorite childhood book?