While a book is created and enjoyed through written text, music can have a powerful interaction with it. Songs can inspire the writer, change a mood, capture a moment, crystalize a character, or deepen the experience of the read. There is science behind the way music affects your brain, but it is something any writer and reader instinctually knows.
Below are some of the various songs that did so for us, as we built the world of Burn-in. If you enjoy them, please check out more by these great artists.
Or listen on our Spotify playlist.
Page 1: Smiths | “How Soon is Now” (2008 remaster)
I am human and I need to be loved
Just like everybody else does
Page 12: Health | “Blue Monday”
I thought I was mistaken
I thought I heard your wordsTell me how do I feel?
Tell me now, how do I feel?
Page 26: Live | “Pain Lies on the Riverside”
I have never taken Life
Yet I have often paid the price
And you, you are a victim of this age
Page 36: Depeche Mode | “Policy of Truth”
It’s too late to change events
It’s time to face the consequence
Page 51: Pearl Jam | “Who Ever Said”
“Home is where the broken heart is
Home is where every scar is”
Page 89: Level 42 | “Something About You”
But making mistakes is a part of life’s imperfection
Born of the years
Is it so wrong to be human after all?
Page 99: Silversun Pickups | “Lazy Eye”
I’ve been waiting
I’ve been waiting for this moment all my life
But it’s not quite right
Page 104: Mazzy Star | “Fade into you”
I want to hold the hand inside you
I want to take the breath that’s true
I look to you and I see nothing
I look to you to see the truth
Page 108: Moby Ft. Gwen Stefani | “Southside”
I pick up my friends and we hope we won’t die
Ride at night, ride through heaven and hell
Page 121: Muse | “Madness”
I, I can’t get these memories out of my mind
And some kind of madness has started to evolve
I, I tried so hard to let you go
But some kind of madness is swallowing me whole, yeah
Page 126: Justin Timberlake | “Can’t Stop the Feeling”
And under the lights when everything goes
Nowhere to hide when I’m gettin’ you close
When we move, well, you already know
So just imagine, just imagine, just imagine
Page 137: Sneaker Pimps | “Six Underground”
Don’t think ‘cos I understand
I care,
Don’t think ‘cos I’m talking
We’re friends
Overground, watch this space
I’m open to falling from grace
Page 148: No Doubt | “Just a Girl”
Oh I’m just a girl
Take a good look at me
Just your typical prototype
Oh, I’ve had it up to here!
Page 163: Big Data | “Dangerous”
You understand, I got a plan for us
I bet you didn’t know that I was dangerous
Page 180: The Flys | “Got You Where I Want You”
“I think you’re smart
You sweet thing
Tell me your name
I’m dying here”
Page 187: The XX | “Islands”
Where would I be
If this were to go under
Page 193: Til Tuesday, Voices Carry
Hush, hush
Keep it down now, voices carry
Page 201: Shiny Toy Guns | “Major Tom“
Drifting, falling
Floating weightless, calling, calling home
Page 237: Nine Inch Nails | “The Fragile”
She shines in a world full of ugliness.
She matters when everything is meaningless
Page 249: The Cure| “Pictures of You”
“I’ve been looking so long at these pictures of you
That I almost believe that they’re real”
Page 264: Sponge | “Plowed”
Will I wake up
Is it a dream I made up
No I guess it’s reality
What will change us
Or will we mess up
Our only chance to connect
With a dream
Page 287: Tears for Fears cover | “Mad World”
“All around me are familiar faces
Worn out places, worn out faces”
Page 317: “With or Without You,” Originally by U-2, performed by 2 Cellos
Page 323: Phil Collins | “Mama”
Now I can’t see you, mama
But I know you’re always there
You taunt, you tease me, mama
But I never, never, never can keep away
Page 335: Rhianna | “Disturbia”
Throw on your break lights
We’re in the city of wonder
Ain’t gonna play nice
Watch out, you might just go under
Better think twice
Page 356: Fleetwood Mac | “The Chain”
“Listen to the wind blow, down comes the night”
Page 366: Real Life | “Send Me an Angel”
Send me an angel
Right now
Empty dreams can only disappoint
In a room behind your smile
But don’t give up, don’t give up
Page 374: Johnny Cash | “You Are My Sunshine” (Cover)
You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are grey
You’ll never know, dear, how much I love you
Please don’t take my sunshine away
Page 382: Florence and the Machine | “Shake it Off”
I tried to dance with the devil on your back
And given half the chance would I take any of it back
It’s a final mess but it’s left me so empty
It’s always darkest before the dawn