Hugh and Olivia Hit the Open Road (The Playlist)
Much like general pop culture, music has always played an incredibly important role in my writing. I find music tastes to be a critical part of a character profile and honestly find it hard for a character I like to not have an opinion on it in one way or another. Music also plays a big part in my writing process - when I’m writing, I think of the scene I’m working on as a movie with a real setting, characters (usually played by popular actors or actresses) and, many times, a soundtrack.
That’s what this playlist is here. Not necessarily what Hugh and Olivia would be listening to while on the road to New York City, but what I imagine playing in the background - the soundtrack to their adventures. The energy of the music helps give me a vibe of the energy in the scene, so much so that when I hear these songs again, I find it hard not to let it bring me back to the scene itself. They work themselves into the fabric of the story, almost as important as the words on the pages themselves. Yeah, yeah, I know, super lame.
Because I quite like behind-the-scenes windows into other people’s work, I thought it might be interesting to share what songs are part of the THIS IS NOT THE END soundtrack, as well as what scenes they correlate with and why. If you haven’t read the book yet, please be advised the following post does contain spoilers, so reader beware.
Hugh and Olivia Hit the Open Road:
Wichita Lineman by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles - This song actually comes from an earlier draft of the book, but once I’ve attached a song to something I’ve written, I find it hard to then cut it out, even when the scene is long gone. There’s a part in the book where Olivia says Clark stole her mom’s crate of things as retribution for the fact that she beat his car up with a lamp. In an earlier draft, the book actually opened with this scene, with Olivia walking calmly down the street with the lamp trailing behind her as Hugh and a group of concerned neighbours watched in horror. This song was perfect for this scene because it not only falls under the Motown umbrella, but it’s about the loneliness of a man working on the phone lines on a deserted stretch of highway in Kansas as he longs for his love. Olivia is one of the loneliest characters I’ve ever written, so this song was and always will be the perfect embodiment of her.
Hard to Handle by Otis Redding - I love the groove of this song and how playful it is. It’s in the background when Hugh and Razz first go into downtown DC in the Killer van just after Hugh has seen what Olivia can do. It’s a song that pulls him out of his slump and allows him to goof around with Razz while serving ice cream to people. I have this vision of Razz with whipped cream on his eyes and M&Ms for pupils making Hugh laugh as the piano and horns beat in the background. It’s pure fun.
1979 by the Smashing Pumpkins - Hugh mentions in passing that one of Ellen’s favourite bands is the Smashing Pumpkins, so this is their brother-sister anthem, plain and simple.
Renee by SALES - This song is, on the surface, so simple and sweet, but for whatever reason I find it so sexy. For that reason, it’s Hugh’s song with Becky. I know, I know, Becky is the worst, and I agree. But I can’t help but think of this song when Becky sneaks over to Hugh’s house. I imagine them easing into things, playing coy with each other as though they don’t actually know what they’re there for. Just hanging out at first, Becky making fun of Hugh, Hugh making fun of her. It’s all part of the dance.
Baby Don’t You Do It by Marvin Gaye - I love Marvin Gaye. Where details are concerned, I find it hard to write things that I myself am not passionate about, so combine this with Marvin Gaye’s tragic ending and it was a no-brainer about who was going to be Hugh’s favourite musical artist of all time (more in a later post about all the other lame and narcissistic ways I write myself into my characters). This song plays for me as Hugh’s stealing Ellen’s truck. The opening clacks thrum as he’s debating internally whether or not to leave, then Marvin comes in acting as Ellen’s voice: “Oh, baby don’t you do it. Don’t do it, babe. Don’t break my heart.” But of course, he does. We wouldn’t have a story if he didn’t.
(Druun) by DIIV - I know this song is just instrumental (is that the right word?), which is why it’s the perfect roadtrip song. It’s for the quiet moments, like when Olivia is sleeping and Hugh is looking at her, trying to figure her out. I imagine this song blasting as the wind rushes in through the truck’s open windows and the relatively woodsy scenery around them makes way for the buildings of New Jersey. It’s just so good.
Sorry by Justin Bieber - I know what you’re thinking. How in the hell is this song, of all things, on this playlist? First of all, calm down. This song is amazing, as is much of Justin Bieber’s back catalogue. But is it Hugh’s type of music? No. Which is why it’s on this playlist. There’s a part where Hugh and Olivia set into the thick of the Jersey Shore, just as the rest of Hugh’s life starts to crash down around him. Olivia is trying to put him in a better mood by pushing him to test his boundaries and do something a little dangerous, a little out of character. As they drive into town, Hugh is incredibly nervous, and I’ve always imagined Olivia breaking him out of his shell by hearing this song on the radio and blasting it, then singing along until Hugh eventually smiles. It’s cute and sweet and cool and SEE I TOLD YOU THE BIEBS ISN’T THAT BAD.
I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch) by the Four Tops - If you’ve read the book, you know why this song is on here 😊
Fever by Roosevelt - When Hugh and Olivia set off into New York City, everything between them finally feels right. Even though it probably makes no logical sense in terms of the fastest route into Brooklyn, I always picture them driving past Times Square, through the bustle of the city with a blur of lights passing over them, and this song representing that feverish, giddy feeling they both have experiencing it together. The first time I heard this song was in an Outback Steakhouse in South Dakota, and I don’t know why that anecdote feels relevant right now, but there you have it.
Still Want to Be Here by Frightened Rabbit - This song was also from an earlier draft, when Olivia’s ending was much darker than the one that went to print. It still works though, because to me, it (very obviously) represents Olivia wanting to be there with Hugh, after everything they’ve been through. It’s the perfect somber song whose steady drum reminds me of a heartbeat, and I always imagine it playing behind Olivia and Hugh as they sit on the bench outside of the hospital with her head on his shoulder and him for the first time in a long time knowing that it’s exactly where he’s meant to be.
Under the Sun by DIIV - Yes, okay, this is the second DIIV song on here, but they make amazing music, so sue me. It might be because I’ve always pictured Olivia Moon being played by Sky Ferreira, who used to date the lead singer of DIIV, so maybe it’s a kind of Yoko Ono type thing where they sort of permeate everything by association. Anyway, this is the song that plays just before the credits come up, as Hugh crosses the hill towards Ellen after saying hello to his parents for the first time in years. It’s not even so much that the words in this song are particularly relevant to this scene, just that the beat and the melody are so good. So moody and yet upbeat and catchy, and it just represents hope to me and energy and this new life Hugh is finally determined to have. It’s the perfect song with which to end his story.
There you have it folks - the (unofficial) soundtrack to THIS IS NOT THE END. Apologies if I’ve messed anything up for you, or ruined these songs in any way. But just as Hugh and Olivia will always mean something to me, so too will these songs. I hope they can mean something to you too.