I love making my own little fanmixes and playlists, and listening to music while I write helps me set a mood. So I decided to make my private playlist into an official one! To listen, simply look up my username on Spotify (it's the same as it is here!) or follow the direct link in the conversations section of my profile. Enjoy! I've listed the tracks and the relevant lyrics below. ...And had a bit too much fun with formatting.
SONG 1: Say You Won't Let Go (James Arthur)
—Mondo's perspective
—The first verse/chorus fits disturbingly well
with how they met for the first time!
It's also very honest about the feelings
that Mondo knew he was developing
even that early in the story.
then you looked over your shoulder / and for a minute i was stone-cold sober
i held you closer to my chest
then you asked me to stay over / i said i already told ya
"i think that you should get some rest."
i knew i loved you then / but you'll never know
'cuz i played it cool and i was scared of letting go
i knew i needed you / but i'll never show
that i wanna stay with you until we're grey and old
just say you won't let go
just say you won't let go
SONG 2: What's Love Got to do With It? (Tina Turner)
—Taka's perspective
—This one's about how hard Taka tried
to convince himself that his attraction to
Mondo was a fleeting thing and only a
matter of lust, refusing to admit that it
could become something more than that.
it may seem to you that i'm acting confused when you're close to me
if i tend to look dazed, i read it someplace i've got cause to be
there's a name for it. there's a phrase that fits.
but whatever the reason, you do it for me, oh
what's love got to do / got to do with it?
what's love but a secondhand emotion?
what's love got to do / got to do with it?
who needs a heart when a heart can be broken?
SONG 3: Stay (Zedd and Alessia Cara)
—shared perspective
—A song about how badly both Taka
and Mondo wanted to stay together
longer, even if neither one voiced those
feelings at first. The lyrics really fit the
feeling of comfort that Taka has
around Mondo.
won't admit what i already know / i've never been the best at letting go.
i don't wanna spend the night alone
yes, i need you, and i need to
make it on my own, but, i don't wanna grow up / we could stay forever young
living on my sofa, drinking rum and cola / underneath the rising sun
i could give a million reasons why
but you're going, and you know that
all you have to do is stay a minute / just take your time
the clock is ticking / so stay
all you have to do is wait a second / your hands on mine
the clock is ticking / so stay
SONG 4: Let Me Love You (Ne-Yo)
—Mondo's perspective
—All about Mondo's desire to love
Taka in a healthy way and be there to
support him in everything, even if it's
something that Taka has never really
had and doesn't believe he deserves.
Would be perfect if every other word
wasn't "girl", lol!
much as you blame yourself, you can't be blamed for the way that you feel
had no example of a love that was even remotely real
how can you understand something that you've never had?
well, baby, if you let me, i can help you out with all of that.
girl, let me love you / and i will love you until you learn / to love yourself
girl, let me love you / i know you're troubled, don't be afraid / girl, let me help
SONG 5: Happier (Marshmello and Bastille)
—Mondo's perspective
—About Mondo's willingness to step aside
and swallow his feelings if it means that
Taka is happy.
lately i've been, i've been thinking
i want you to be happier / i want you to be happier
even though i might not like this, i think that you'll be happier
i want you to be happier
then, only for a minute / i want to change my mind
'cause this just don't feel right to me
i wanna raise your spirits. i want to see you smile.
know that means I'll have to leave.
SONG 6: Just a Friend to You (Meghan Trainor)
—Mondo's perspective
—Obviously enough, this one describes
Mondo's sadness and confusion when
Taka insists that they can't be together,
especially since Taka has already
admitted he has feelings for him.
i loved you from the start, so it breaks my heart
when you say i'm just a friend to you
'cause friends don't do the things we do
everybody knows you love me too
tryin' to be careful with the words i use
i say it cause i'm dying to
i'm so much more than "just a friend" to you.
SONG 7: Need You Now (Lady Antebellum)
—Shared Perspective
—A song about the period of almost no contact
between Taka and Mondo and how painful
it was for both of them to realize how much
they had truly grown to love one another.
picture-perfect memories, scattered all around the floor
reaching for the phone 'cause i can't fight it anymore
and i wonder if i ever cross your mind? for me, it happens all the time
it's a quarter after one, i'm all alone and i need you now
said i wouldn't call but i've lost all control and i need you now
and i don't know how i can do without / i just need you now
SONG 8: Dead and Gone (T.I. and Justin Timberlake)
—Mondo's perspective
—This one's about Mondo's history and his
victory over the past.
no more stress, now i'm straight, now i get and now i take
time to think before I make mistakes just for my family's sake
no regrets, i'm blessed to say the old me's dead and gone away.
oh, i've been traveling down this road too long (too long)
just trying to find my way back home (back home)
the old me's dead and gone / dead and gone
SONG 9: Give Your Heart a Break (Demi Lovato)
—Mondo's perspective
—Fits in during the phone call chapter.
It's about Mondo's feelings being genuine
and about the fact that he has no intention
of hurting Taka.
sunday, you went home alone / there were tears in your eyes
i called your cell phone with my love / but you did not reply
the world is ours if you want it, we can take it if you'd just take my hand
There's no turning back now— baby, try to understand!
don't wanna break your heart, wanna give your heart a break
i know you're scared it's wrong / like you might make a mistake
there's just one life to live and there's no time to wait, to waste,
so let me give your heart a break.
SONG 10: The Great Escape (Boys Like Girls)
—Shared perspective
—Pretty self-explanatory! About Taka saying "fuck it"
and ditching mom and dad during the family dinner
after telling them both off.
tonight will change our lives— it's so good to be by your side
but we'll cry / we won't give up the fight
we'll scream loud at the top of our lungs
and they'll think it's just 'cause we're young
and we'll feel so alive.
throw it away! forget yesterday! we'll make the great escape
we won't hear a word they say— they don't know us anyway
watch it burn / let it die
'cause we are finally free tonight!
SONG 11: There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back (Shawn Mendez)
—Taka's perspective
—Taka quits his job and formally runs away
with Mondo! The sex scene would also fit
right around here, probably.
oh, i've been shaking— i love it when you go crazy
you take all my inhibitions, baby, there's nothing holding me back
you take me places that tear up my reputation
manipulate my decisions, baby, there's nothing holding me back
there's nothing holding me back
SONG 12: The Only Exception (Paramore)
—Taka's perspective
—The first verse is about how heartbroken
Taka's family was after Toranosuke's betrayal
and how it affected his ability to trust in others,
while the chorus is about how he learned to
trust whole-heartedly in Mondo. <3
when i was younger i saw my daddy cry and curse at the wind
he broke his own heart and i watched as he tried to reassemble it
and my mama swore that she would never let herself forget
and that was the day that i promised i would never sing of love if it does not exist.
but, darling — you are the only exception
you are the only exception
you are the only exception
you are the only exception.