My Champion Playlist

As with Legend and Prodigy, I had a playlist of music I left on repeat throughout much of writing Champion. The list changed depending on whether I was drafting or revising, but I picked out some of my favorites from both and compiled them below.

She (by Abney Park)

"We have consoled each other’s fears / we dried each other’s tears / yet always in doubt, and never in doubt / of we."

Sometimes even I forget that there is a thread of steampunk running throughout the entire series, appearing mostly in the military’s fashion and in the airships. So, naturally, Abney Park is always on my playlist. This one reminds me a great deal of Day and June.

We Are Pilots (by Shiny Toy Guns)

"Holding close my secrets / naked broken pieces / from the madness in what you do / the fingers point right back at you."

I feel like these lyrics refer to various characters. Also, it’s no secret that I have a very soft spot for fighter jets, and seeing as how there are many of those in Champion, I had this title looping in my playlist. It also makes me think of Kaede.

Soldier (by Drowning Pool)

"There is no compromise, your pain, your worth, your sacrifice / on your feet, who’s with me / on your feet, let’s go."

Well, the Legend series is a heavily militaristic story. And in my quest to think of a song that had the eerie nuclear bomb siren in it, I settled on Drowning Pool’s “Soldier.” Few things raise the hairs on my neck like the sound of this siren, which is exactly what the sirens sound like in Champion. The rest of the song’s lyrics are also spot on.

Mad World (by Gary Jules)

"I find it hard to tell you, I find it hard to take / When people run in circles it’s a very, very / mad world, mad world."

This fits many dystopian stories, I think. What a mad, mad world.

Those Without Fear (by Audiomachine)

Next to Two Steps From Hell, Audiomachine makes some of my favorite orchestral soundtrack pieces. So heartwrenching and sweeping. Every time I hear this, I picture Champion's battle sequences.

Do You Hear The People Sing (Les Misérables soundtrack)

"Do you hear the people sing / singing the song of angry men / it is the music of a people who will not be slaves again."

Legend was originally inspired by Les Misérables, so of course I have to put my favorite Les Mis track on here! Chills, every time.

Illuminati (by Audiomachine)

Yet another Audiomachine track I had on repeat while drafting Champion.

I Can’t Make You Love Me (Bon Iver)

"Tell me no lies / just hold me close, don’t patronize me / cause I can’t make you love me / if you don’t."

Bon Iver’s music is so wistful and dreamy. This song in particular reminds me of Champion, although I can’t tell you what part.

Dragon Rider (by Two Steps From Hell)

Oh, orchestral soundtracks. How I love thee. The energy in this one fits the action scenes so well for me.

Last Agni-Kai (Avatar: The Last Airbender OST)

Aside from the final credits track, this is my favorite piece from the Avatar:TLA OST. Just…chills. So ominous, heartwrenching, and tense. Beautiful. It reminds me of one specific scene at the climax of Champion.

The Boy Who Trapped The Sun (by Copper Down)

"Suddenly I have this feeling / Tasting copper in my mouth / I look toward the clouds for comfort / When you grow into your skin / I’ll be the hope joining the wall."

Day is the boy who walks in the light. I couldn’t have put in a more fitting song if I had attempted to write one myself.

Imagine (by John Lennon)

"Imagine there’s no countries / it isn’t hard to do / nothing to kill or die for / and no religion too / imagine all the people / living life in peace."

When I was writing the end of Champion's climax, I had this song in my head. It is the only time I have ever cried while writing. I think you will be able to guess the exact moment in the climax that fits this song.

I Will Always Love You (by Whitney Houston)

"I hope life treats you kind / And I hope you have all you’ve dreamed of / And I wish you joy and happiness / But above all this, I wish you love."

<3

Promise (by Thomas Bergerson)

There’s nothing like a cello to bring all the feels out of me. In addition to being a beautiful piece, I think the title refers nicely to Champion's ending.