Emma Swan Fanmix
We are only 11 episodes in (9 when I made this) and, so far, we don’t know a whole lot about Miss Swan besides the basics. However, IMO, I feel like we can and have learned some key things about her just by watching how she reacts to things physically, verbally, and emotionally. I felt the best way to express what I have learned (or think I have learned) about her through song. (Plus fanmixes are too much fun!) Here are 16 songs that I think represent Emma and her thoughts and feelings at various stages of her life. I would also like to think that this is a nice collection of music that Emma herself would listen to, but that might be pushing it a bit.
01 “Paradise” - Coldplay I like to think that at some point in her life, little Emma had dreams of family and happiness before she became jaded by it all.
02 “Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want” - The Smiths Perfect song for someone who can never catch a break.
03 “Barton Hollow” - The Civil Wars I imagine this is the beginning of Emma’s rebellious (read: breaking the law) stint. The song doesn’t quite fit in most regards, but it just sounds like a song about someone who’s in trouble and going down the wrong path.
04 “Kiss Off” - Violent Femmes Angry, lonely Emma.
05 “This Is the Life” - Amy MacDonald I think this song can be interpreted many ways, but for my purposes, it fits the nomadic life Emma was said to have lived for the past 10 years.
06 “Do What You Have to Do” - Sarah McLachlan Henry’s birth and the aftermath.
07 “These Days” - Foo Fighters Post-baby, jaded Emma.
08 “Don’t Do Sadness” - John Gallagher, Jr. (feat. Lauren Pritchard) I think everyone has felt what this song is describing at one point in their life. It’s just about that moment when it all becomes too much and you wish for a life that is so much more simple. (Note: This song is from the musical Spring Awakening and is actually called “Don’t Do Sadness/Blue Wind.” It is a duet of sorts between the two singers. Gallagher sings the “Don’t Do Sadness” part, then there is dialogue, then Pritchard sings a “Blue Wind” solo, more dialogue, then they sing their songs together. I don’t feel like “Blue Wind” fit the mix very well, so I cut out that solo as well as the dialogue. I couldn’t get rid the duet part at the end, though, so it had to stay. It’s a beautiful song though, and if you like this version, I recommend looking the original up.)
09 “Helena Beat” - Foster the People Feeling down, but with a killer beat.
10 “Happy Alone” - Earlimart Beautiful, heartbreaking song about being alone, realizing you are going to be alone, and knowing you are the only person you can truly depend on.
11 “Rescue Me” - Kerrie Roberts I like to think this is where the show picks up from, on Emma’s 28th birthday, wishing she weren’t alone. Plus it’s the unofficial “theme song.”
12 “Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)” - Florence + the Machine From the first episode, I knew that this song just fit this show and this character so well. If you listen to it, I don’t think I really need to explain any further. I’d set this song around the time she barges into the therapists office and tells Henry that Operation Cobra is on. But I also think it could fit just about anywhere after that, from Emma owing Mr. Gold a favor (“When will it ever be enough?… It’s not enough.”) to Emma possibly having to make “the final sacrifice.” Plus “who is the lamb and who is the knife?” is so fitting for many of the character relationships on this show. And a King Midas mention! I could go on all day. Just listen to the song. You’ll get it.
13 “Lost!” - Coldplay I was hesitant to put another Coldplay song on here, but this reminds me of Emma vs. Regina so much that I couldn’t leave it out. (That is when I’m not crackshipping them together!) “You might be a big fish in a little pond. Doesn’t mean you’ve won, ‘cause along may come a bigger one.” I think it fits their tensions perfectly.
14 “Somewhere” - Lea Michele (feat. Idina Menzel) Emma to Henry. Or Emma and Henry. Plain and simple. (Note: This song is originally from West Side Story and is a love song sung between Tony and Maria. Glee took the song and made it a long-lost mother/daughter song. In the show, Rachel (Michele) has two gay fathers and they used a donor as the bio mom. Years later, the mom, Shelby (Menzel) meets Rachel, but panics and leaves. She comes back a year later, hoping that they can salvage some kind of relationship, even if it is just one as friends.) Though the story lines aren’t the same, I think a similar sentiment runs throughout both stories. Plus it’s hopeful, and I think both Henry and Emma could use a little bit of hope right now.
15 “Rangers” - A Fine Frenzy This song is very fairytale-ish, like “Rabbit Heart” is. Honestly, I can’t really relate this song to any storyline other than Operation Cobra. I just think it fits. It does have a bit of a Emma-and-Henry-constantly-meeting-behind-Regina’s-back feel to it.
16 “Where We Belong” - Lostprophets Finally, Emma belongs. She’s found the place she wants to be and she’s going to keep fighting for it. She’s found her purpose.
Download Emma Swan Fanmix.zip HERE