Making the Most Out of Your Time - Kathryn
They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera follows Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio, two strangers who have both been told they’re going to die sometime in the next 24 hours by a company called Death-Cast. Without knowing when or how they’ll die, Mateo and Rufus attempt to spend their last day doing all the things they never got a chance to do. For my blog post, I chose to make a playlist of songs that I feel best describe this book.
I Know The End - Phoebe Bridgers
“I Know The End” is about making the most out of your time if the world was ending. The chorus, “But you had to go, I know, I know, I know,” is very similar to Mateo and Rufus’ feelings about only having a day left. A few chapters in, they’ve both accepted their fate and decide to make the most out of it. This also relates to the verse, “When the sirens sound you’ll hide under the floor, but I’m not gonna go down with my hometown in a tornado, I’m gonna chase it, I know, I know, I know.”
Rose Parade - Elliott Smith
This song is about going to a parade and remembering every moment of the day. It’s similar to Mateo and Rufus’ desire to make meaningful memories on their last day.
the lakes - Taylor Swift
“the lakes” is about wanting to die having made an impact on the world, just like the main characters. The lines, “I don’t belong, and my beloved, neither do you,” also describe their relationship and how they become friends throughout the book.
Gotta Get Up - Kali Uchis
At the beginning of the book, Mateo spends a lot of time debating whether he should go out and live his last day or stay inside where it’s safer to try to delay his death. This is similar to the lines, “The clock is counting down...I wanna spend the day in bed, but I gotta get up.”
Kyoto - Phoebe Bridgers
Similar to “Rose Parade,” “Kyoto” is about spending a day in Kyoto and trying to make the most out of it.
Chosen Family - Rina Sawayama
“Chosen Family” is about friendship and relying on other people like Mateo and Rufus have to learn to do. Especially the lines, “Tell me your story and I’ll tell you mine,” describe their relationship well.
One Last Time - Summer Salt
“One Last Time” is about wanting to see someone one last time before they’re gone. This song reminds me of Mateo and his father, who is in a coma on Mateo’s last day. Part of the book is about Mateo wanting to make sure his father has some sort of goodbye left for him when he wakes up.
peace - Taylor Swift
Throughout the book, Mateo and Rufus both want to give peace to each other and themselves, even though they know the end is inevitable. This is reflected in these lines from “peace”:
“Our coming-of-age has come and gone
Suddenly the summer, it’s clear
I never had the courage of my convictions
As long as danger is near
And it’s just around the corner, darling
Cause it lives in me
No, I could never give you peace.”
I think with all of these song you get a strong sense of the book's mood. I really picked up on the sadness and bittersweet acceptance. Many of them discuss the melancholy that comes with thinking about death but also all the warmth from things that make life worth living. Great post!
ReplyDeleteI love the songs you chose! They really show a lot about the book, with themes of sadness and longing, as well as making the most of your time. Awesome blog article!
ReplyDeleteThe songs on this playlist seem perfect for this book. They really emphasize Mateo and Rufus's struggle with accepting their death and making the most out of their last day. This book has been on my list for a while now and I am definitely going to have to read it soon!
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