Justice's Setlist Explained Part Three (SPOILER ALERT)
WARNING: Before you go any further, this post explains why I chose the songs I did for the novel, Justice: A love story, part one. If you haven’t read the book, but want to, then DO NOT READ this. It contains tons of spoilers.
For those of you who have read Justice and are curious as to why I chose the songs I did for the novel, then read on...
When I sat down to write Justice, I knew that it had to be set in the ‘90s. To get in the mood, I started listening to my favorite songs from that era of my life. This story opens on Halloween 1992 and ends in early February 1996. So I researched what songs were most popular from 1992-1996. As I was doing this, I got an idea—why not make each chapter title a song from that era? I picked songs that set the mood of the scene, or are mentioned in the scene, or playing in the scene, essentially bringing the story to life via song.
As I wrote, the songs began to weave a story themselves, some even worked as foreshadowing future scenes, especially when I linked them together. Some were chosen because they captured the inner life of the character whose POV you’re in, others because they moved me while I was writing, and some because I wanted to honor a friend of mine from that time. I created a list called Justice and started throwing songs in there all willynilly. With time, I’d choose one and write the scene. This became the novel setlist. In the end, I love this setlist and listened to it over and over as I edited the manuscript and the story formed into the final version you now have in your hands.
Since so many of you have asked me why I picked the songs I did, it only makes sense to give you a little guide to the soundtrack of Grace, Justice, and Erik’s story. Here it is, a song guide to Justice: A love story, part one. I’d love to hear what you think.
Given there are 49 chapters in the book, which means 49 songs, I’m splitting this up into four posts. No one can read something that’s too long anymore, right?
This is part two covering Chapter Twelve through the end Part One in the novel. To read about the songs in the first half of the book, read PART ONE and PART TWO.
You can listen to the setlist on Spotify here.
Chapter Twenty-Three: Right Here, Right Now, Jesus Jones, First Released 1990
It’s summer in Chicago 1995, and Grace, Erik, and Kat are setting up their young adult lives. Grace has moved out of her childhood home into the house on Deming Place. She’s free. She has money. She lives down the street from Erik. I was alive and I waited for this. There is no other place I wanna be. This song is the vibe of the city in the summer and I thought it suited the scene perfectly. Besides, I’m pretty sure this song was one of the Bulls three-peat unofficial anthems.
Chapter Twenty-Four: Everybody Wants to Rule the World, Tears for Fears, First Released 1985
Another song from the ‘80s that I had to use because this song always makes me think of boating on the water. I could see Justy piloting his boat, the Amazing Grace, into the Gulf harbor. The sun behind his back, wind in his thick, dark hair. While the essence of Grace’s life is now urban, his is Floridian, tan, and screams of future wealth. Hence, the real goal for Justice at this moment in his life is to build an empire, which he will do. This is also the first time we meet Lindsey. She also wants to rule the world, and she wants to do it on Justice’s arm. She doesn’t have that big of a role in his life yet, but she will. She’s persistent, isn’t she? Help me make the most of freedom and of pleasure. Nothing ever lasts forever. Everybody wants to rule the world.
Chapter Twenty-Five: One of Us, Joan Osborne, First Released 1995
Alas, the perfect song for when Grace and Erik decide to go to Mass after attending a boozy breakfast down the street. Trust me, this happens in the city. Sometimes, you get called back to the religion of your youth in the most unexpected ways. Besides, St. Clement is the parish down the street from Grace and Kat’s abode. It’s also where I married the love of my life, so, there’s another autobiographical element. Why did they go to church? I don’t know, but Grace insisted upon it.
Chapter Twenty-Six: You Never Can Tell, Chuck Berry, First Released 1994
Okay, so this song wasn’t first released in 1994, but it was on the Pulp Fiction soundtrack. For many of us who were twenty-something in the ‘90s, this was a pivotal movie. I had to mention it, and since EVERYONE went as Vincent and Mia for Halloween for several years after the movie’s release, it made sense to use that movie in this scene between Erik and Grace. A scene where we see the pair volunteering to work with the city’s homeless. They are growing up, giving back to the community, and growing closer as a result. When I decided to mention Pulp Fiction in the scene, I knew I had to use a song from the soundtrack and since Grace is a dancer, it would be the famous Uma and Johnny T. dance scene that she’d love the most. Besides, Erik is now facing the fact he loves her more than anything and that the time has come to leave Amy and make his move with Grace. You could see that Pierre did truly love the Mademoiselle...
Chapter Twenty-Seven: Glycerine, Bush, First Released 1994
The trio is watching Reality Bites and talking about the movie when Grace accidentally reveals that she’s no longer a virgin and Erik reveals he broke up with Amy. Why this song, I’m not sure. The mood perhaps. Bush was really popular in the fall of 1995. I love this song, so I put it here. Besides, Erik needs to stop letting the days go by, because he’s running out of time.
Chapter Twenty-Eight: All I Wanna Do, Cheryl Crow, First Released 1993
They’re drinking beer at noon on Thanksgiving Day, and all Erik wants to do is kiss Grace. So finally, he does.
Chapter Twenty-Nine: Dreams, The Cranberries, First Released 1993
This is how Grace feels now that Erik has kissed her. She’s completely smitten. I know I’ve felt like this before, but now I’m feeling it even more, because it came from you. I also chose it for this scene because it is the opposite vibe of Zombie, the other Cranberries song on the list. Then, Grace was mean to Erik, now everything is as it should be, for a few days. And now I tell you openly, you have my heart so don’t hurt me...
Chapter Thirty: Torn, Natalie Imbruglia, First Released 1997
Grace is at the art show, captivated by one of the paintings, when who should she bump into, yet again? When my husband first read this story, he got up and growled, “Justice is back? Oh no!” Grace is torn and both Erik and Justice are a little late, for if either had dedicated himself sooner, the rest of this story never would have happened. Illusion never changed into something real. I’m wide awake and I can see the perfect sky is torn. You’re a little late, I’m already torn.
Chapter Thirty-One: When a Man Loves a Woman, Michael Bolton, First Released 1991
Erik’s scene, where he tries to figure out how to win this battle, so he gives Justy’s business card to Grace and tells her to call him. I’m sure no one saw it coming, but what else could he do? If he wants a complete Grace, she needs to be sure. Besides, Erik knows Justice, he knows the guy will fail. What Erik doesn’t know is how much that failure will cost his own heart. Michael Bolton’s version of this song is one of my favorites and was popular at the time due to the Meg Ryan movie with the same name. When a man loves a woman, deep down in his soul, she can bring him such misery.
Chapter Thirty-Two: Never Gonna Give You Up, Rick Astley, First Released 1987
You’ve been Rickrolled. If you don’t know what that is, Google it. Also, Justice is NOT going to give Grace up now that he’s found her. He’s convinced of this.
Chapter Thirty-Three: I Feel For You, Chaka Khan, First Released 1984
I needed a club song, and they still played this in the clubs in the ‘90s. They also still play it in the clubs now. Grace does feel for Justy, but is it love or lust? This song captures the back-and-forth between a new couple trying to figure it out for the second time.
Chapter Thirty-Four: A Girl Like You, Edwin Collins, First Released 1995
One of my favorite songs from the Empire Records soundtrack, this song is exactly how Justy feels about Grace. The whole thing is overwhelming, he can’t believe its happening, yet he knows he has to make it work, even if he’s not sure how. Plus, there’s that devil reference again. You made me acknowledge the devil in me. I hope to God I’m talking metaphorically. Hope that I’m talking allegorically. Know that I’m talking about the way I feel, because I’ve never met a girl like you before.