Ups, Downs, and Diagonals
Demetrius and Helena's Love, (from Helena's point of view)
Theme: Love is never straight forward, but it tends to work out in the end
Track One: Love Song by Sara Bareilles
"Promise me, that you'll leave the light on, to help me see, with daylight my guide gone"
Although the song is not a perfect fit, the part above works out, because it seems to describe them hitting a rock in their relationship - Hermia. This is when Helena begins to realize that love is not as simple as it is in the storybooks.
Track Two: Stay With Me by Sam Smith
"won't you stay with me, 'cause you're all I need, this ain't love it's clear to see, but darling stay with me,"
perfectly summarize Helena. They are saying that she wants him to stay even if it is not 'real love,' just for the sake of having him. This song was really the turning point. Here, Helena realizes that love is hard to get to, and that obstacles will stand in your way.
Track Three: Take a Bow by Rihanna
"the best lie goes to you for making me believe."
seemed to describe how Helena was so in love until he turned on her. Although this song talks a lot about someone who does not want to take someone back, instead of the other way around, but the other themes are the same. This is when Helena realized that love can be ugly and cruel and unrequited love is painful and dark.
Track Four: Better Than Revenge by Taylor Swift
"soon she's gonna find stealing other people's toys on the playground won't make you any friends. She should keep in mind, she should keep in mind, there is nothing I do better than revenge,"
It seems to be summarizing how Helena seems to think that Hermia stole her man (so she's directing it to Hermia,) so she's trying to make Hermia pay by telling Demetrius they are leaving, in hope that he will also thank her. At this point, Helena seems to think that things are maybe starting to look better for her because Demetrius will possibly thank her.
Track Five: Black Widow by Iggy Azalea
"I'm gonna love you, until you hate me, and I'm gonna show you, what's truly crazy, you should have known better, then to mess with me, honey, I'm gonna love you, gonna love you,"
I can imagine Helena listening to it and deciding that she will obsess over Demetrius, even though he quite obviously despises her. This starts to show her unrequited love, and they go farther and farther down a path that doesn't seem to be working.
Track Six: Stuck Like Glue by Sugarland
"There you go making me feel like a kid, won't you do it and do it one time, there you go pulling me right back in," along with
"I'm stuck on you, stuck like glue, you and me baby, we're stuck like glue."
This part seems to show how Helena is so obsessed with Demetrius that she would probably sing this to him, and how she will run around a forest and offer to be beat for him. This part pushes Helena to be bitter and spiteful towards love because she cannot control others' feelings.
Track Seven: Night Changes by One Direction
"Everything that you've ever dreamed of, disappearing when you wake up, but there's nothing to be afraid of, even when the night changes, it will never change me and you"
This part really seems to zoom at a little and describe all four Athenians. Everything that Hermia dreamed of with Lysander disappeared, but Helena's world was brightened, even though she did not believe it. I think she would have possibly directed these sentiments to both Hermia and Demetrius, because she is telling Hermia that everything she wanted is going away now, even though it is not what Helena necessarily wants. This part really seems to turn Helena's view of love away, because she believes that the two boys are mocking her, and being rude.
Track Eight: Apologize by One Republic
"You tell me that you need me, then you go and cut me down"
Although the whole "apologize" theme did not really fit, the underlying theme of broken trust does work out quite well. I think that here, Helena decides that she hates love, and her trust is broken.
Track Nine: Walking on Sunshine by Katrina and the Waves
"I used to think maybe you loved me now baby I'm sure," and
"Now I'm walking on sunshine and don't it feel good!"
are two lines that I think describe how Helena feels. This is when she seems to realize that love has a way of working itself out in the end, and even through all the ups and downs, love will prevail.
Track Ten: Mine by Taylor Swift
"you are the best thing that's ever been mine."
Helena would listen to this song after Theseus decreed that the two could get married, and Demetrius claimed that he loved her. This shows Helena that even though love got pretty crazy, and went up and down, looked good and bad, and even went "diagonally," it still worked.