Midnight Sun

I never thought I'd have the opportunity to update this blog again - but I am so happy that I can! I am beyond ecstatic that Midnight Sun has finally, finally, FINALLY been completed and published!!! And, of course, Stephenie shared the accompanying inspiration playlist with all of us on her website. 

Since the book is brand new and sharing the corresponding quotes to go with it would be mega-spoilery, all we were given was the list. You can listen to the playlist via Spotify directly on her website but, if you're like me and Spotify doesn't work for you - and because YouTube is much better than it used to be and most artists will share their music there for you to enjoy, here are the links for all the songs on the list. (Please support the artists by purchasing their songs and albums on iTunes or directly, if you enjoy them.)

I hadn't realized until a couple years ago that there even was a Midnight Sun playlist. It was posted on her blog to go along with the partially leaked draft. I had somehow missed it (?!), I guess because it wasn't included in the Illustrated Guide since Midnight Sun wasn't a book (yet). Although I immediately obtained and added all of those to my personal collection, I didn't update the blog with that list. Oops. I had been meaning to get to that... I'm going to include the songs that were on that original list and not included in the new official version.

I will create the individual posts for each song, as with the other books, (*already completed and listed in the next post below this one*) but listed here are just the titles and artists with the YouTube links. 

If the playlist is eventually expanded by Stephenie to include the matching quotes at some point, I will update with those on the individual pages as well.

You may recognize some of these songs as duplicates from the other book playlists or the movie the soundtracks.

The Midnight Sun Playlist

Official Midnight Sun Theme Song: Motion City Soundtrack - Crooked Ways

1. Placebo - One of a Kind
2. Queens of the Stone Age - Sick, Sick, Sick
3. Nine Inch Nails - Down In It
4. Muse - Map of the Problematique
5. Kaiser Chiefs - Na Na Na Na Naaa
6. Collective Soul - Not the One
7. Gomez - Notice
8. Debussy - Clair de Lune
9. Linkin Park - With You
10. Dry the River - Demons
11. Arcade Fire - Ocean of Noise
12. Danny Elfman - Ice Dance (from Edward Scissorhands)
13. Bright Eyes - First Day of My Life
14. Johnny Ace - Pledging My Love
15. Sleeping At Last - Turning Page
16. Beck - Saw Lightning
17. Aphex Twin - Digeridoo
18. Portishead - Machine Gun
19. Le Castle Vania - Incarnation
20. Royal Blood - Blood Hands
21. Sergei Rachmaninov - Piano Concerto No.2 in C Minor, Op.18
22. Mercury Rev - The Dark Is Rising
23. Spiritualized - Ladies and Gentlemen, We Are Floating in Space
24. Lord Huron - The Night We Met
25. Radiohead - How to Disappear Completely

Bonus Song: Cherish Danae - Silence

Songs from the Original Partial Draft Midnight Sun Playlist That Didn’t Make the Official Cut:

Matchbook Romance - Monsters
Three Days Grace - Animal I Have Become
Linkin Park - Hit the Floor
Editors - Bullets
Bush - Glycerine
Blue October - Ugly Side
Muse - Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want
Taking Back Sunday - MakeDamnSure
Blue October - You Make Me Smile
Anberlin - Paperthin Hymn
Linkin Park - Pts.OF.Athrty
Fuel - Hemorrhage (In My Hands)

Crooked Ways

playlist position: 118 - Midnight Sun (1.5) #0 - Official Midnight Sun Theme Song
artist: Motion City Soundtrack
album: single
year: 2020
listen on YouTube

Read what Stephenie wrote about this song on her blog.

You came and washed the night away

I haven't felt this way in ages

Are you haunting me or have I finally gone to sleep?

I course electric through these veins

Whose evil plan has made you smell like poison ivy

How I like the taste of IV

I can't explain myself today

I'll have to scare you into hating me with every breath

And wishing me an early death

You flood this empty heart of mine

I haven't felt this way in ages

I'll be surely sick if push to shove comes clearly to this

I'm married to the dark

All echoes of an ancient heart

I am daggers and knives

And when the seasons change

I creep back to my crooked ways

Run if you think you can

I feel the worst is yet to come

I'll suffocate these pangs of hunger

For your pretty head

And blanket red of pure regret

You plea to learn the awful truth

I wouldn't wish this waking life upon my enemies

All thoughts are black and actions blacker

I'm married to the dark

All echoes of an ancient heart

I am daggers and knives

And when the seasons change

I creep back to my crooked ways

Run if you think you can

I believe we can both get what we need

And if they're not with us they're against us

You came and washed the night away

I haven't felt this way in ages

Are you haunting me or have I finally gone to sleep?

I course electric through these veins

Whose evil plan has made you smell like poison ivy

How I like the taste of IV

We're married to the dark

All echoes of these ancient hearts

We are daggers and knives

And when the seasons change

We creep back to our crooked ways

Run if you think you can

I believe we can both get what we need

If they decide we are darkness worse than evil

Then they're not with us, they're against us

One of a Kind

playlist position: 119 - Midnight Sun (1.5) #1 (Draft Version #2)
artist: Placebo
album: Meds
track: 11/13
year: 2006
listen on YouTube

On top of the world you get nothing done

Talk is cold and burns like the sun

Can't you see these skies are breaking?

'Cause on top of the world is where I'm from

The back of the class is where I was

Keeping quiet, playing dumb

Can't you see these skies are breaking?

'Cause the back of the class is where I'm from

And I am one

I am

I am one

I am, I am, I am, I am, I am

I'm in a race and it's killing time

I don't need yours I'll keep it with mine

Can't you see these skies are breaking?

'Cause I'm in a race and I'm doing fine

Thank you

Two of a kind and no one home

I'm in a crowd and I'm still alone

Can't you see these skies are breaking?

'Cause one of a kind is all I own

I am one

I am

I am one

I am, I am, I am, I am, I am

Out of the womb and into the void

I wanna try but I get annoyed

Can't you see these skies are breaking?

So out of the womb and into the void

I am one

I am

I am one

I am, I am, I am, I am

I am one

I am

I am one

I am, I am, I am, I am, I am

On top of the world you get nothing done

Map of the Problematique

playlist position: 122 - Midnight Sun (1.5) #4 (Draft Version #12)
artist: Muse
album: Black Holes and Revelations
track: 4/12
year: 2006
listen on YouTube

Fear and panic in the air
I want to be free from desolation and despair
And I feel like everything I sow
Is being swept away, well I refuse to let you go

I can't get it right
Get it right since I met you
Loneliness be over
When will loneliness be over?

Life will flash before my eyes
So scattered and lost, I want to touch the other side
And no one thinks they are to blame
Why can't we see that when we bleed we bleed the same?

I can't get it right
Get it right since I met you
Loneliness be over
When will loneliness be over?
Loneliness be over
When will loneliness be over?

Na Na Na Na Naaa

playlist position: 123 - Midnight Sun (1.5) #5 (Draft Version #4)
artist: Kaiser Chiefs
album: Employment
track: 4/12
year: 2005
watch on YouTube

Na na na na naa
Na na na na naa
Na na na na naa
Na na na na naa
It does not move me
It does not get me going at all

Na na na na naa
Na na na na naa
It does not shift me
It's not the kind of thing that I like

Na na na na naa
Na na na na naa
It does not move me
It's not the kind of thing that I like

Na na na na naa
Na na na na naa
She does not listen
She's too wrapped up with all of her things

Na na na na naa
Na na na na naa
This does not get to me
'Cause she's not the kind of girl that I like

Na na na na naa
Na na na na naa
She does not move me
She's not the kind of girl that I like

Na na na na naa
Na na na na naa
It does not move me
It's not the kind of thing that I like

Na na na na naa
Na na na na naa
Na na na na naa
Na na na na naa
It does not move me (it does not move me)
It does not get me going at all
It does not shift me (it does not shift me)
It's not the kind of thing that I like

It does not move me
It's not the kind of thing that I like
Na na na na naa
Na na na na naa
Na na na na naa
Na na na na naa

Notice

playlist position: 125 - Midnight Sun (1.5) #7 (Draft Version #6)
artist: Gomez
album: How We Operate
track: 1/12
year: 2006
listen on YouTube

I stopped trying to write the things I don't like
And I started going back to where I'd been before
She said, "I don't blame you, I'd do the same"
Opportunity knocks, knocks, knocks
Open the door
But I think she saw through it
I see through myself
Another chance gone
Won't get many more

But I'm not the only guy I know that
I'm not the only guy I know that you never notice
The only guy I know
Well, I'm not the only guy I know that you never notice

I stopped trying to write the things I don't like
And I started going back to where I'd been before
She said, "I don't blame you, I'd do the same"
Opportunity knocks, knocks, knocks
Open the door
But I think she saw through it
I see through myself
Another chance gone
Won't get many more

But that's not the only lie I told you
That's not the only lie I told you
You never notice
The only lie I told you
That's not the only lie I told you
You never notice
The only lie I told you
That's not the only lie I told you
You never notice

I can tell you're in denial
Get over it
I can tell you're in denial
Get over it
I can tell you're in denial
Get over it
I can tell you're in denial

I'm not the only guy I know that you never notice

With You

playlist position: 127 - Midnight Sun (1.5) #9
artist: Linkin Park
album: Hybrid Theory
track: 3/14
year: 2000
listen on YouTube

I woke up in a dream today to the cold of the static
And put my cold feet on the floor
Forgot all about yesterday
Remembering I'm pretending to be where I'm not anymore

A little taste of hypocrisy
And I'm left in the wake of the mistake, slow to react
And though you're so close to me
You're still so distant and I can't bring you back

It's true, the way I feel
Was promised by your face
The sound of your voice
Painted on my memories
Even if you're not with me

I'm with you
You, now I see, keeping everything inside
With you
You, now I see, even when I close my eyes

I hit you and you hit me back
We fall to the floor, the rest of the day stands still
Fine line between this and that
When things go wrong, I pretend the past isn't real

Now I'm trapped in this memory
And I'm left in the wake of the mistake, slow to react
So even though you're close to me
You're still so distant and I can't bring you back

It's true the way I feel
Was promised by your face
The sound of your voice
Painted on my memories
Even if you're not with me

I'm with you
You, now I see, keeping everything inside
With you
You, now I see, even when I close my eyes

With you
You, now I see, keeping everything inside
With you
You, now I see, even when I close my eyes

No, no matter how far we've come
I can't wait to see tomorrow
No matter how far we've come
I, I can't wait to see tomorrow

With you
You, now I see, keeping everything inside
With you
You, now I see, even when I close my eyes

With you
You, now I see, keeping everything inside
With you
You, now I see, even when I close my eyes

Demons

playlist position: 128 - Midnight Sun (1.5) #10
artist: Dry the River
album: Shallow Bed
track: 6/12
year: 2012
listen on YouTube

You are the string in my bow
Biblical Mary to Joe
The North isn’t true ‘til it’s leading me to you
You are the way that I know

Under the weight of belief
You shiver and shake like a leaf
But death is a force, not a man on a horse
I’ll keep you safe while you sleep

We fight those demons day in and day out
Day in and day out, day in and day out
And fight those demons day in and day out
Day in and day out, day in and day out
And fight those demons day in and day out
Day in and day out, day in and day out
Day in and day out, day in and day out

Ocean of Noise

playlist position: 129 - Midnight Sun (1.5) #11
artist: Arcade Fire
album: Neon Bible
track: 6/11
year: 2011
listen on YouTube

In an ocean of noise

I first heard your voice

Ringing like a bell

As if I had a choice

Oh well

Left in the morning

While you were fast asleep

Into an ocean of violence

A world of empty streets

You've got your reasons

And me, I've got mine

But all the reasons I gave

Were just lies to buy myself some time

In an ocean of noise

I first heard your voice

Now who here among us

Still believes in choice?

Not I!

No way of knowing

What any man will do

An ocean of violence

Between me and you

You've got your reasons

And me, I've got mine

But all the reasons I gave

Were just lies to buy myself some time

I'm gonna work it out

'Cause time won’t work it out

I'm gonna work it out

'Cause time won’t work it out for you

I'm gonna work it on out

Ice Dance

playlist position: 130 - Midnight Sun (1.5) #12
artist: Danny Elfman
album: Edward Scissorhands OST
track: 7/12
year: 1990
listen on YouTube

♫ instrumental ♫ 

First Day of My Life

playlist position: 131 - Midnight Sun (1.5) #13
artist: Bright Eyes
album: I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
track: 6/10
year: 2005
listen on YouTube

This is the first day of my life

I swear I was born right in the doorway

I went out in the rain; suddenly, everything changed

They're spreading blankets on the beach

Yours is the first face that I saw

I think I was blind before I met you

Now I don’t know where I am

I don’t know where I’ve been

But I know where I want to go

And so, I thought I’d let you know

That these things take forever

I especially am slow

But I realize that I need you

And I wondered if I could come home

Mhm mhm

Remember the time you drove all night

Just to meet me in the morning?

And I thought it was strange, you said everything changed

You felt as if you'd just woke up

And you said “This is the first day of my life

I’m glad I didn’t die before I met you

But now, I don’t care; I could go anywhere with you

And I’d probably be happy”

So if you wanna be with me

With these things, there’s no telling

We just have to wait and see

But I’d rather be working for a paycheck

Than waiting to win the lottery

Aha mmm

Besides, maybe this time is different?

I mean, I really think you like me

Me

Me

Pledging My Love

playlist position: 132 - Midnight Sun (1.5) #14
artist: Johnny Ace
album: single
year: 1954
listen on YouTube

Forever, my darling, our love will be true
Always and forever, I'll love only you
Just promise me, darling, your love in return
May this fire in my soul, dear, forever burn

My heart's at your command, dear
To keep love and to hold
Making you happy is my desire d,ear
Keeping you is my goal

I'll forever love you
For the rest of my days
I'll never part from you
Or your loving ways
Just promise me, darling, your love in return
May this fire in my soul, dear, forever burn

My heart's at your command, dear
To keep love and to hold
Making you happy is my desire, dear
Loving you is my goal

I'll forever love you
For the rest of my days
I'll never part from you
Or your loving ways
Just promise me, darling, your love in return
May this fire in my soul, dear, forever burn

Saw Lightning

playlist position: 134 - Midnight Sun (1.5) #16
artist: Beck
album: Hyperspace
track: 3/11
year: 2019
listen on YouTube

Ooh, ooh

Ooh, ooh

There was a day I saw lightning

There was a day I saw lightning (I saw lightning)

Hey, hey, hey, I saw lightning

Ho-ho-ho, I saw lightning

He-he-he, I saw lightning

Ha-ha-ha

I saw wind and rain

Saw mountains fall

Saw temples burn

And prison walls

I saw floods a-comin'

Saw children run

Got no more shelter

No more sun

Then it came to me in a flash of light

By the sycamore tree in the dead of night

The bottom bell in the longest day

In the hottest wind, I'm in the falling rain

I saw lightning, saw lightning, saw lightning

Held my head up and it struck me down

Down to the ground

It struck me down, struck me down

Struck me down to the ground

There was a day, saw lightning

There was a day, saw lightning

Hey, hey, hey, I saw lightning

Ho-ho-ho, I saw lightning

He-he-he, I saw lightning

Ha-ha-ha

When it ain't up, wonder where it go

Hold the sea as somewhere to row

Over did then dead heroes

Make it easy and sunny and go

We hold the sea and know the unknown

Old Man Dan, 'cause some of them are low

Wondering 'bout where do we go

Until then, we boat

Then it came to me in a flash of light

By the sycamore tree in the dead of night

The bottom bell in the longest day

In the hottest wind, I'm in the falling rain

I saw lightning, saw lightning, saw lightning

I held my head up (Yeah, yeah, yeah)

And it struck me down (Ooh)

Down to the ground (Ooh)

And it struck me down, struck me down

Struck me down on the ground (Ooh)

Hey, hey, hey, I saw lightning

Ho-ho-ho, I saw lightning

He-he-he, I saw lightning

Ha-ha-ha, I saw lightning

Saw lightning, saw lightning, saw lightning

Lord, won't you take me and lead me to the light? (Ooh)

Lord, won't you take me and lead me to the light? (Ooh)

The Lord's gonna take me and leave me in the light (Ooh)

The Lord's gonna take me and leave me in the light (Ooh)

Then it came to me in a flash of light (Ooh)

By the sycamore tree in the dead of night (Ooh)

The bottom bell in the longest day (Ooh)

In the hottest wind, I'm in the falling rain (Ooh)

I saw lightning, saw lightning, saw lightning (Ooh ooh ooh)

I held my head up (Ooh)

And it struck me down (Ooh)

Down to the ground (Ooh)

And it struck me down, struck me down

Struck me down on the ground (Ooh)

I saw lightning

I saw lightning

I saw lightning

I saw lightning

Digeridoo

playlist position: 135 - Midnight Sun (1.5) #17
artist: The Aphex Twin
album: Digeridoo
track: 1/4
year: 1992
listen on YouTube

♫ instrumental ♫

Machine Gun

playlist position: 136 - Midnight Sun (1.5) #18
artist: Portishead
album: Third
track: 8/11
year: 2008
listen on YouTube

I saw a savior, a savior come my way
I thought I'd see it at the cold light of day
But now, I realize that I'm only for me

If only I could see
You turn myself to me
And recognize the poison in my heart
There is no other place
No one else I face
The remedy to agree
With how I feel

Here in my reflecting, what more can I say?
For I am guilty for the voice that I obey
Too scared to sacrifice a choice chosen for me

If only I could see
You turn myself to me
And recognize the poison in my heart
There is no other place
No one else I face
The remedy to agree
With how I feel

Incarnation

playlist position: 137 - Midnight Sun (1.5) #19
artist: Le Castle Vania
album: Prophication
track: 4/4
year: 2013
listen on YouTube

♫ instrumental ♫

Blood Hands

playlist position: 138 - Midnight Sun (1.5) #20
artist: Royal Blood
album: Royal Blood
track: 5/10
year: 2014
listen on YouTube

Took a lonely feeling

Just to let the meaning

Sink like the sun goes down

Never close to heaven

Felt my feet were burning from the same red hot ground

There's blood on my hands

There's blood on my hands

Yeah, there's blood

It's getting hard to listen

When the clock is ticking

Counting down the days gone by

Praying for an answer to another question

That will only leave you dry

You won't understand

With your head in the sand

No, you won't

But I'll curse the ground where you kneel

'Til I grow my hair to my heels

Spike your water your wine

While you waste my precious time

Every time I drink and try to stop my thinking

Bout the things I've said and done

Stop the world from turning faster

Then I'm learning not to just hide and run

You won't understand

With your head in the sand

No, you won't

Yeah

Love came and went

Faster than a penny spent

In a slot machine

Nowhere near the devil, just somewhere in between you and me

Sworn to secrecy

And I'll curse the ground where you kneel

'Til I grow my hair to my heels

Spike your water your wine

There's blood on my hands

There's blood on my hands

There's blood on my hands

There's blood on my hands

Yeah, there's blood

There's blood on my hands

Yeah, there's blood

Took a lonely feeling

Just to let the meaning

Sink like the sun goes down

Never close to heaven

Felt my feet were burning from the same red hot ground

Piano Concerto No.2 in C Minor, Op.18

playlist position: 139 - Midnight Sun (1.5) #21
composer: Sergei Rachmaninov
year: 1900
listen on YouTube

♫ instrumental ♫

The Dark Is Rising

playlist position: 140 - Midnight Sun (1.5) #22
artist: Mercury Rev
album: All Is Dream
track: 1/10
year: 2001
listen on YouTube

I dreamed of you on my farm
I dreamed of you in my arms
But dreams are always wrong
I never dreamed I'd hurt you
I never dreamed I'd lose you
In my dreams I'm always strong

But now the creek is rising
And all my bridges burned
I always dreamed of big crowds
Plumes of smoke and high clouds
But dreams don't last for long

I have my suspicions
When the stars are in position
All will be revealed
But I know that until then
Unless the stars surrender
All will be concealed

And now the snow is falling
And all my fences torn
I know you need someone
And I can hear someone
Somewhere in this song

I dreamed that I was walking
And the two of us were talking
Of all life's mystery
The words that flow between friends
Winding streams without end
I wanted you to see

But it can seem surprising
When you find yourself alone
And now the dark is rising
And a brand new moon is born

I always dreamed I'd love you
I never dreamed I'd lose you
In my dreams I'm always strong

Ladies and Gentlemen, We Are Floating in Space

playlist position: 141 - Midnight Sun (1.5) #23
artist: Spiritualized
album: Ladies and Gentlemen, We Are Floating in Space
track: 1/12
year: 1997
listen on YouTube

Stephenie said in a recent Q&A that this is the prom dance song.

_________________________

(Ladies and gentlemen we are floating in space)

All I want in life's a little bit of love to take the pain away
Getting strong today
A giant step each day

Wise men say
Only fools rush in
Only fools rush in
But I
I can't help
I can't help falling
Falling in love with you

I will love you 'til I die
And I will love you all the time
So please put your sweet hand in mine
And float in space and drift in time
All the time until I die
We'll float in space, just you and I

Baby, I love you today
I guess that's what you want
And I don't know where we are all going
Life don't get stranger than this
It is what it is
And I don't know where we are all going to
Everything happens today
And we're out here in space
And I don't know where we are all going

Baby, I love you today
I guess that's what you want
And I don't know where we are all going to