If you’ve ever wondered what your favorite literary characters might be listening to while they save the world/contemplate existence/get into trouble, or hallucinated a soundtrack to go along with your favorite novels, well, us too. But wonder no more! Here, we sneak a look at the hypothetical iPods of some of literature’s most interesting characters. What would be on the personal playlists of Holden Caulfield or Elizabeth Bennett, Huck Finn or Harry Potter, Tintin or Humbert Humbert? Something revealing, we bet. Or at least something danceable. Read on for a cozy reading soundtrack, character study, or yet another way to emulate your favorite literary hero. This week: A.A. Milne’s most bounciest character, Tigger.
Tigger, at heart, is a happy, confident creature, known for his larger-than-life personality, and of course, his bouncing. After all, bouncing is what Tiggers do best. Pooh says wisely, “He always seems bigger because of his bounces,” and it’s true that Tigger’s a little bit of a braggart who can’t deliver, but that’s what happens when you’re so enthusiastic that you can’t see the end of your own nose. All this aside, we think someone who bounces all day long would have to listen to the most spastic, bounding modern indie rock and pop songs he can get his paws on. After all, all that bouncing is hard work, and even a Tigger needs a little musical boost once in a while. Or, if we know him, all the time. Tigger is certainly not one for moderation. His iPod is filled with nothing but fun-fun-fun! Here’s what we think he would boast, bounce, and eat extract of malt to.
“The Ballad of Butter Beans” — Man Man
We can’t decide which would give Tigger more bouncing energy: the spastic xylophone in this track, or, um, actual butter beans.
“Wonderlust King” — Gogol Bordello
Sure, Tigger’s got Gogol Bordello’s entire discography on that iPod of his, but this one, which Tigger interprets as being about all the places you can bounce to, is his favorite.
“Mowgli’s Road” — Marina and the Diamonds
With so many resounding ‘coo coo’s there’s no way he could stay away. Plus, ever since he saw the video, Marina’s pretty much been his bounce-crush. Who can blame him? She’s ours too.
“Who Could Win a Rabbit?” — Animal Collective
If all the animals in Hundred Acre Wood don’t listen to Animal Collective, they probably should. We imagine Tigger bouncing in circles around Rabbit during this song, while Rabbit scowls and thinks about how to ‘unbounce’ him.
“Bathtime in Clerkenwell” — The Real Tuesday Weld
Even Tiggers need to take baths sometimes. We bet the water goes everywhere.
“Up, Up, Up” — Givers
The ever-cheery Tigger would love this shimmery, head-in-the-clouds track with its happily bouncing melodie. After all, up up up is basically all Tigger does.
“Foxy Boxer” — Bearsuit
If there’s anyone that likes handclaps more than indie girls, it’s Tigger.
“Tic Toc” — Mother Mother
Though Tigger’s never laid in bed a day in his life, this almost overwhelmingly hyper song would fuel his mornings.
“Tiny Cities Made of Ashes” — Modest Mouse
This chugging bouncefest could be Tigger’s lullaby. And you know, maybe it was all the ‘drinkin’ drinkin’ drinkin’ drinkin’ Coca Coca Cola’ that made Tigger so hyper. Sugar is bad for Tiggers.
“Ice Cream” — Muscles
Come on, every little boy’s stuffed animals have to jam out to a song that proclaims ‘ice cream is going to save the day.’ Especially when it has this kind of beat.
“We Are Your Friends” — Justice
This is the kind of track that makes even non-Tiggers jump up and down in large groups. Also, another key song for stuffed animals everywhere. You’ll never be alone again, Christopher Robin!
“Wraith Pinned to the Mist and Other Games” — Of Montreal
The elastic intro that becomes the backbone of the entire song is the sound we imagine comes out of Tigger’s bouncing. Whether that’s true or not, we think Tigger would pretend his striped face off to this song.
“Uh” — Fujiya & Miyagi
Even Tigger’s mellower moments have a hell of a backbeat.