Pure Speculation

If you haven't read any of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series then this post isn't for you. Seriously. I have no qualms discussing the books. I'm probably some of those who, despite knowing from the first book that it's a story not written well at all, chunks of it could have been trimmed for a tighter narrative, still found the love affair between a vampire and a pale, young teenager compelling. And while I could objectify it to hell, to me, reading it was fun while it lasted. Although for the last part I was a tad disappointed that the blood and gore I expected to happen eh, didn't. Excuse me for expecting blood and gore about a book where vampires and werewolves exist as each others sworn enemies.

I'm not here to write about Edward or Bella or Jacob. I'm not here to tell you I vacillated between Edward and Jacob the whole four books. That's the thing about triangles, it makes you choose. But here's my theory for those on Team Jacob disappointed that Bella chose Edward. Blame it on Muse. Particularly that song Starlight.

I read the first three books one after the other late 2007. It was given to me by a friend who thought I could use some cheering up after hurdling exams left and right. Around that time I was familiar with Muse's song being played on the radio.

You see, when I like a song I could play it for hours on end on repeat day in, day out until I get tired of it. Call me corny and all but I did that to Starlight. I have the whole album, Black Holes and Revelation, but to this day I never bothered to play the entire thing. Unlike way back when tapes were the norm, like you had no choice but to listen to the whole stuff unless you want the tapes to go out of loop from endless rewinds and fast forwards. Oh wait, are my three readers way too young to know about tapes? And yes, I know I'm probably missing out on the other half of the album which probably sound as great or even better than Starlight.

Have you listened to Starlight and at the back of your head there's this story about missing someone to death? I don't know Meyer's writing process. I'm thinking that the fact she listened to bands (among them and a big favorite was Muse) the whole time she wrote those four books probably inspired her to carry the angst and the drama of a love affair seemed doomed from the start. And if she felt for Starlight the way I felt for it, then there's no way she could've written Bella choosing Jacob in the end for Eclipse.

Why, you may ask?

She may have finished writing New Moon when Black Holes and Revelations was released. I'm thinking that this verse resonated with her the fact that Edward left Bella in New Moon:

Far away
This ship is taking me far away
Far away from the memories
Of the people who care if I live or die

Or even this as a testament of Edward's love for Bella:

My life
You electrify my life
Let's conspire to ignite
All the souls that would die just to feel alive

And well, what about Bella? Here's the perfect thought for her:

But I'll never let you go
If you promised not to fade away
Never fade away

And that seals it. If you listened to the song there's no way that you could write Jacob and Bella into a love story. Starlight is intense and full of longing. The kind that I relate with what Bella and Edward went through. Of course that's just me. Meyer had a handful of bands to thank for providing her with background music and this song probably came up while writing the last two books, or not at all. She may have been inspired by other tracks. But if I were writing the book and heard the song Starlight, it feels like Edward and Bella talking to me about their intense longing and love for each other.

Oh well. Like the title of this post, this is just pure speculation.

Why this post then? This has been stewing in my brain for sometime now (yeah, since 2007 and was reminded of it after reading Breaking Dawn). But when Iris tweeted about the new soundtrack to Eclipse, I figured I need to let this out before I start hearing and watching music videos about the movie. Because I think Starlight is a better fit. Ok, enough.

And yes, I agree with Iris that the soundtrack to Eclipse looks amazing. The New Moon soundtrack was great so I don't doubt that this one will somehow equal that. Although not having Thom Yorke this time is a bummer (I so love Radiohead). Then again, I only got the New Moon soundtrack because of Thom Yorke. Hahaha! Funny also that I got the soundtrack to New Moon and didn't bother watching the movie. But that's just me. Oh, and I don't have the Twilight soundtrack though.

Anyone listened to the entire Black Holes and Revelations album by Muse? I think I listened to half of it only and then I always go back to Starlight and deemed the album great for that one perfect song.