By: Kelly Kapowski
As a devoted “Twilight” fan, there is one question I get asked a lot: “Which songs are my personal favourites?” While I adore all of the songs from the movie, it’s hard to pick a song that stands out among the rest. There are just so many excellent tunes! But since the film’s songs are often played in the background, I thought it would be fun to share a list of my top ten favourite songs from “Twilight” so you can play them while you’re reading this. I hope you enjoy this list as much as I do!
‘Twilight’ Theme Song
It’s difficult to put into words the emotions that are stirred up by hearing the “Twilight” theme song for the first time. As a huge fan of the book series, I was immediately captured by the music’s amazing catchiness and the melancholy melody. Hearing this song is like falling into a dream and immediately being transported back to the sunny days of fall and winter in Forks, Washington. Though the lyrics are simply “Twilight,” they mean so much more coming from the lips of actor Chris Cornell.
‘Let It Go’
One of the most iconic scenes from the movie is the transformation sequence when the wolf turns into a human being. This is quite possibly the most stunning visual that “Twilight” has to offer. Letting go of his wolf side and leaving his animal instincts behind is a metaphor for the pain Edward feels from the moment he accepts Bella’s proposal. “Let It Go” is a track that perfectly encapsulates this transformation and the agony that comes with it. The song starts out slow and emotional, and then kicks into an intense, piano-driven portion that takes your breath away.
‘One Night’
Another beautiful song from “Twilight.” In this case, it’s not about letting go but gaining something more. When Bella becomes an honest to goodness vampire, she gains the ability to walk in the sun. One of the first scenes that comes to mind when I think about this song is Bella’s introduction to Edward’s family. She arrives at their house unexpectedly one night and is greeted by an entire clan of vampires who demand to know who she is and why she’s there. It’s definitely an “us against the world” sort of scenario as the vampires try to protect Bella from harm. In the end, it’s all thanks to Edward.
‘Breaking Dawn’
The most recent entry in the “Twilight” movie series, “Breaking Dawn – Part 2,” couldn’t be more different from the rest of the films. Instead of focusing on a struggle between good and evil, this installment looks at the repercussions of the Cullens’ decision to help humans live a peaceful life. After centuries of vampires looking down on humans, deciding to coexist is a big step for these undead creatures. The movie explores the complexities of coming to terms with what it means to be human and how it changes everything you thought you knew about vampires.
The soundtrack to “Breaking Dawn – Part 2” is filled with anthems for the human cause with songs like “New Day” and “Humanity.” The album also features a reprise of the “Twilight” theme song.
‘Aurora’
Speaking of anthems, “Aurora” is one of the best tracks on the “Twilight” soundtrack. It was written and performed by the band The Lonely Island, which also wrote and produced “Hot Line,” one of the previous entries on this list. In this case, the struggle is between good and evil in a different way: the titular Aurora represent the bright lights of the city at night, while the dark elves are a metaphor for the chaos that comes with change. The latter is also the story of “Breaking Dawn – Part 1,” which follows the same basic theme but in reverse.
‘Hotline’
What if I told you that the “Twilight” soundtrack contained two songs that are about addiction? You’d probably think I was joking, but it’s true: “Hotline,” the song that opens the soundtrack, is about an addict’s desire for drugs. Specifically, it’s about the desire to stay connected to drugs even when they’re not physically present. The song’s lyrics tell the story of a man who feels like he’s “hotline connected” to the drug culture, and how he remains in contact with his dealer, who is constantly on the phone with him, even though they’re not physically together. The song starts off slow and ominous, with a violin and cello that evocatively create the image of a dark, tangled web.
‘Tara’
Another beautiful song from “Twilight,” this one from the first installment. It’s a love song, but it’s also a lament for the lost innocence of childhood. In this case, Tara becomes an all-purpose symbol of childhood trauma, depicting the damage that comes from constantly being around dangerous adults. The titular character was originally based on singer and actress Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, who portrayed Tara in the 1966 film “Tarzan and His Perfect Mate.”
‘Fellowship’
“Fellowship” was written and performed by the band The Killers, who also composed and produced the “Twilight” soundtracks. The song’s lyrics are filled with imagery relating to the novel’s key themes of struggle and triumph. It starts out slow and emotional, with vocal harmonies that provide the perfect contrast to the dark mood of the lyrics.