“13 Songs that Channel Greek Gods & Goddesses,” features music from Arctic Monkeys, Kacey Musgraves, Mary J. Blige, Miguel & Shinedown.

‘God,’ this is one of the weirder lists I’ve ever concocted. As a child, I had multiple hobbies, one of which was researching – weird kid right? One of the many topics investigated – being the quirky only-child that I was – was Greek mythology.  That’s right, I had a passion for learning about all those fictional deities, many of which had their share of questionable moments.  Now, as an equally-quirky if not quirkier adult, I thought it would be interesting to somehow compile a list of songs that channel some of biggest Greek gods and goddesses.  It’s an ambitious, somewhat crazy concept, but folks, that’s what you see in front of you with the playlist “13 Songs that Channel Greek Gods & Goddesses,” featuring music courtesy of 🎙Arctic Monkeys, 🎙Kacey Musgraves, 🎙Mary J. Blige, 🎙Miguel, and 🎙Shinedown among others.

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1. Miguel, “Sky Walker”

Ft. Travis Scott

💿 War & Leisure • 🏷 RCA • 🗓 2017

Greek/Roman God: Zeus / Jupiter

🎙Miguel shines on 🎵 “Sky Walker”, the promo single from his fourth studio album, 💿 War & Leisure. He delivers vocally, infusing ample swagger into his performance.  Like the two songs that precede it (In the context of War & Leisure), “Sky Walker” generally possesses the sound we associate with the musician.  There are some tweaks – “Sky Walker” sounds more modern – but there’s still the sense that Miguel still has ‘one foot in the door of the past.’  In regards to messaging, it’s all about denouncing and proving haters wrong. 🎙Travis Scott guests on the second verse, playing into the message and flexing lyrically.  He doesn’t break new ground, but it’s enjoyable all in all.

Where does mighty Zeus/Jupiter, god of the sky come into play? Since there’s plenty of flexing on “Sky Walker,” and Zeus is the ‘head honcho,’ it seemed fitting he’d listen to this swagger-filled Miguel joint, “splish.”  In his description of the ‘pinstriped suited’ Zeus now, Ricky Riordan asserts, “On stormy days, he can be found brooding in his throne room in Mount Olympus, over the Empire State Building in New York.”

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2. Kacey Musgraves, “Mother”

💿 Golden Hour • 🏷 MCA Nashville • 🗓 2018

Greek/Roman God: Hera / Juno

“Wish we didn’t live so far away / I’m just sitting here thinking ‘bout the time that’s slipping / And missing my mother.” Grammy-winning country artist 🎙Kacey Musgraves outdid herself on here third studio album, 💿 Golden Hour.  Although 🎵 “Mother” is the shortest song on the album (Less than one-minute-and-a-half), the piano ballad is beautiful and thoughtful, as evidenced by the aforementioned lyrics.  Musgraves continues on the chorus, “And she’s probably sitting there / Thinking ‘bout the time that’s slipping / And missing her mother, mother.”

This song is reminiscent of Hera (Juno), the “mom” of the Greek (Roman) mythological gods.  Rick Riordan asserts that a modern-day Hera “hangs out where family life is strongest: the car pool line at school, weekend soccer games, and birthday parties.”

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3. Mary J. Blige, “Mighty River”

💿 Mudbound • 🏷 Netflix / Milan • 🗓 2017

Greek/Roman God: Poseidon / Neptune

🎙Mary J. Blige had a fantastic 2017-18 – outside of her underperforming 💿 Strength of a Woman album that is.  She was nominated for multiple supporting acting awards for her role in the film Mudbound.  In addition to Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations for character Florence Jackson, she also earned nods as a songwriter and performer of 🎵 “Mighty River”. “Mighty River” is the centerpiece of the Mudbound soundtrack, opening it with the utmost emotion and power.

It’s the emotion and power of this soundtrack highlight that reminds me of Poseidon/Neptune.  Poseidon wasn’t the god of a mighty river – No – he was the god of the sea.  The tumultuous tendencies of bodies of water tend to parallel the mood swings of the mythological god, who Rick Riordan asserts, “On his bad days, he caused minor problems like destroying cities with earthquakes or sinking entire fleets of ships.”

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4. Luke Bryan, “Here’s to the Farmer”

💿 Farm Tour…Here’s to the Farmer (EP) • 🏷 Row Crop / Capitol Nashville • 🗓 2016

Greek/Roman God: Demeter / Ceres

Though known mainly for his ‘proper’ studio albums, country superstar 🎙Luke Bryan has also issued a couple of side projects.  One side project was his EP, 💿Farm Tour…Here’s to the Farmer.  The title track, 🎵 “Here’s to the Farmer,” seems to complement Demeter (Ceres), the goddess of Agriculture.  “Here’s to the Farmer” is the crowning achievement of the EP, with the verses literally depicting the life of a farmer.

“Talk about an uphill battle
2000 acres of beans and cattle…
Hydraulic fluid on his jeans
Red dye diesel and ten rows between…”

The chorus goes on to sums up things up soundly.

“Here’s to the farmer that plants the fields in the spring
That turn from green to that harvest honey…”

Okay, okay – maybe Demeter would find this record to be a bit corny, but surely, she’d appreciate Bryan’s effort to give farmers the respect and praise that they deserve.

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5. Metallica, “Here Comes Revenge”

💿 Hardwired…To Self-Destruct • 🏷 Blackened • 🗓 2016

Greek/Roman God: Ares / Mars

🎵 “Here Comes Revenge” continues the epic nature that characterizes 💿Hardwired…To Self-Destruct, the Grammy-nominated 🎙Metallica album. “Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth” adds Biblical references to the mix. Those biblical ties extend beyond Matthew 5:38.  Before uttering the aforementioned, 🎙James Hetfield proclaims, “He was Abel, I was Cain.” As the story goes, Cain kills his brother Abel because The Lord didn’t approve of his offering but approved of Abel’s. Ares (Mars) is known as the god of war in Greek and Roman mythology.  Rick Riordan calls the modern-day Ares is “One of those gods who could pick a fight in an empty room.” Methinks Ares would love this Metallica joint.  After all, “In literature, Ares represents the violent and physical untamed aspect of war”.

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6. Arctic Monkeys, “Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino”

💿 Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino • 🏷 Domino • 🗓 2018

Greek/Roman God: Athena / Minerva

Most critics embraced 💿 Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino, the unique comeback album by British alternative band 🎙Arctic Monkeys, though some where more skeptical.  Personally, the album was intriguing and a refreshing change of pace from 🎙Alex Turner and company. Minor key title track 🎵“Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino” ranks among the crème de la crème, arguably the crowning achievement.  Turner sings about an imaginary hotel and casino, possibly on the Moon. According to an EW interview, Turner, referencing the title track states, “…Whether we’re actually talking about a sort of hotel-casino complex on the moon or not is debatable.”  Weird to the core, “Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino” encompasses politics, philosophy, technology… it’s something.

Interestingly enough, “Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino” was the first song that came to mind when thinking about Athena (Minerva), the goddess of wisdom, war, the arts, crafts, and skill among other things. Why? Turner incorporates a variety of ideas throughout the record, showing how creative and wise he is personally and as a songwriter.  He also happens to be singing specifically about technology, even if literally a hotel on the moon comes off as utterly absurd.   Rick Riordan characterizes the wise goddess in her ‘modern-day version’ as “sitting in on lectures about military history or technology” and “favoring people who invent useful things.”

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7. G-Eazy, “No Limit”

Ft. A$AP Rocky & Cardi B

💿 The Beautiful & Damned • 🏷 RCA • 🗓 2017

Greek/Roman God: Apollo

🎙G-Eazy became ubiquitous in 2017, leading up to the release of a highly-anticipated third studio album, 💿 The Beautiful & Damned. Promo single and highlight 🎵 “No Limit” is a b-b-banger through and through. Assisted by 🎙Cardi B and 🎙A$AP Rocky, Rocky sets the fuckboy tone, which totally suits the oft-overconfident G-Eazy. Eazy follows up with a cocky post-chorus, as well as a verse encompassing sex, money, and of course, uncompromising confidence. He returns for the third verse, referencing Costco rubbers, #Damn Daniel, and Saint-Laurent. Cardi B drops the second verse, matching his unapologetic-ness.

What does this all have to do with Greek/Roman god Apollo? Well, there seemed to be “no limit” to his greatness, at least in own eyes, according to Rick Riordan.  According to Riordan, “Apollo was into everything, from music to medicine, probably because he thought he was better at everything than anyone else.” Adding to his confidence, Greek Gods and Goddesses asserts “Apollo is the ideal of the kouros, which means he has a beardless, athletic and youthful appearance”. Totally “no limit.”

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8. Christina Aguilera, “Fall in Line”

Ft. Demi Lovato

💿 Liberation • 🏷 RCA • 🗓 2018

Greek God represented: Artemis / Diana

🎵 “Fall in Line”, the third advance single from 💿 Liberation, features a grinding, soulful, six-eight groove, perfect fuel for the fire for 🎙Christina Aguilera and 🎙Demi Lovato. Aguilera gets to work with controlled, but nuanced vocals on the first verse.

The message, aimed towards girls, is pitch-perfect:

“Little girls, listen closely...
...in this world, you are not beholden
You do not owe them
Your body and your soul.”

Aguilera’s beastly vocals begin to appear on the pre-chorus, letting her pipes rip on the chorus (joined by Demi Lovato). Lovato takes the lead on the second verse, similarly maintaining composure and poise, before spreading her wings and flying on the chorus.  The true magic occurs throughout when these two join forces, particularly the second and third iterations of the chorus.  Clearly, empowerment is the central message.

Artemis (Diana), goddess of the hunt, forests and hills, the moon, and archery, certainly wasn’t a woman to “fall in line.” According to Greek Gods and Goddesses, “Artemis was a virgin and drew the attention and interest of many Gods and men. However, it was only her hunting companion, Orion, that won her heart.” Just like how Christina Aguilera and Demi Lovato speak against women letting men force them to do things they don’t want, Artemis wasn’t willing to give up her virginity or bow down to any men.

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9. Nick Jonas, “Jealous”

💿 Nick Jonas • 🏷 Island • 🗓 2014

Greek/Roman God: Hephaestus / Vulcan 

“It’s not your fault that they hover / I mean no disrespect / It’s my right to be hellish / I still get jealous.” 🎙Nick Jonas is overprotective of his bae on 🎵 “Jealous,” a hit from his 2014 self-titled studio album.  Why is he overprotective? He fears some other guy will steal her for himself.  Ultimately, he’s jealous and simply put, she’s a dime.

“Cause you’re too sexy, beautiful
And everybody wants a taste
That’s why I still get jealous.”

Nick Jonas has something that Hephaestus (Vulcan) didn’t – handsomeness. Rick Riordan describes the god of blacksmiths, fire, and metalworking as having an “ugly face, scraggly beard, and massively powerful hands”.  Jonas and Hephaestus do share jealousy, as Riordan goes own to state that he was a “jealous husband, always on the lookout for that scoundrel Ares and anyone else who might want to flirt with his wife [Aphrodite].”

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10. Bazzi, “Beautiful”

💿 COSMIC • 🏷 Atlantic • 🗓 2018

Greek/Roman God: Aphrodite / Venus

“Hey / Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful angel / Love your imperfections every angle / Tomorrow comes and goes before you know / So I just had to let you know.” Eclectic is a great way to describe 🎙 Bazzi, a 20-year old, rising urban-pop artist from Michigan, now based in California. On 🎵“Beautiful,” a highlight from his debut album, 💿COSMIC, Bazzi loves everything about her. He makes some sexual references but goes beyond the physical. On this starry-eyed, love-centric record.

“The way that Gucci look on you, amazing
But nothing can compare to when you’re naked.”

Bazzi MUST be describing Aphrodite (Venus), the goddess of love and beautiful.  Sure, Gucci wasn’t around in Ancient Greece, but extraordinary beauty, particularly nude, has been around forever.  It’s no surprise men desired her – who wouldn’t want a goddess?

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11. Run the Jewels, “Lie, Cheat, Steal”

💿 Run the Jewels 2 • 🏷 Mass Appeal • 🗓 2014

Greek/Roman God: Hermes / Mercury

“Lie, cheat, steal, kill, win, win.” 🎙 Run the Jewels are willing to do whatever on 🎵 “Lie, Cheat, Steal” from their second album, 💿 Run the Jewels 2. 🎙 Killer Mike has a fair point on the hook: “everybody’s doin’ it.” 🎙 El-P speaks on the hardships of life, when justifying the actions: “Cause death by electrocution’s like life in New York, isn’t it?” On his verse, Killer Mike asserts: “You might have to pull your AK, send one to the cemetery / We over worked, underpaid, and we underprivileged.”

The key portion of the Run the Jewels song pertinent to Hermes (Mercury) is stealing. Greek Gods and Goddesses states that “Hermes…was god of trade, thieves, travelers, sports, athletes, and border crossings, guide to the Underworld.” The article goes on to say that “In some myths Hermes is also depicted as a trickster…” and that Homer and Hesiod portrayed him “as the author of skilled or deceptive acts…”

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12. Cole Swindell, “Somebody’s Been Drinkin’”

💿 All of It • 🏷 Warner Music Nashville • 🗓 2018

Greek/Roman God: Dionysus / Bacchus

“Somebody’s been drinkin’ and got to thinkin’ ‘bout us / It’s just the cherry bombs talkin’ when you’re hittin’ me up.” 🎵 “Somebody’s Been Drinkin’” (💿 All of It) begins relatively mysteriously, with little rhythmic or melodic motion.  Initially, it’s very spare, quiet, and simplistic. Following the mysterious intro, Georgia country singer 🎙 Cole Swindell enters, setting things in motion.  Gradually, there is more motion and more instrumentation. Ultimately, Swindell sings about romance, even if it’s fueled by a couple of drinks. By the chorus, Swindell lets loose, showcasing the full range of his beautiful, distinct pipes.  The centerpiece is undoubtedly the catchy, memorable chorus, excerpted above.

Dionysus (Bacchus) was the god of wine, so, undoubtedly, he did lots and lots of drinking. The song title alone of this Cole Swindell single seems appropriate to this drunken god.  Interestingly, Greek Gods and Goddesses describes states, “He is described in literature as womanly or “man-womanish’”.

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13. Shinedown, “DEVIL”

💿 ATTENTION ATTENTION • 🏷 Atlantic • 🗓 2018

Greek/Roman God: Hades / Pluto

🎙 Shinedown fittingly approaches 🎵 “DEVIL” chocked-full of darkness, not to mention being set in a minor key. From the jump, “DEVIL” hits you right in the chest. The guitars are incredibly heavy, the drums pummel, while frontman 🎙 Brent Smith is filled with angst, fire, and the utmost grit.

“‘Cause it’s about to get heavy (Heavy, heavy, heavy, heavy)
It’s about to be on (Heavy, heavy, heavy, heavy)
Yeah, I’m bangin’ slingin’ napalm (Heavy, heavy, heavy, heavy)
So nobody move
'Cause I was sent to warn you
The devil's in the next room.”

Hades (Pluto), the god of the underworld, was not the devil.  That said, he was not particularly a nice or warm person.  According to Greek Gods and Goddesses, “Hades rarely left the underworld. His presence was not welcomed by men or by gods.” Rick Riordan highlights how Hades won his wife, Persephone: “He kidnapped her… How would you like to marry someone who lives in a dark cave filled with zombies all year round?”

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[📷 : Atlantic, Blackened, Capitol Nashville, Domino, Island, Mass Appeal, MCA Nashville, Milan, Netflix, RCA, Row Crop, Warner Music Nashville]

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