Hello everyone! It has been a while since I did a Tunes Tuesday post. But I am back and ready to discuss music from my writing playlist. One song that I recently connected with is “Shallow” by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper. The song was featured in the 2018 version of A Star is Born but has taken on a life of its own on radio and streaming platforms.

I fell in love with this song the moment I heard it. The lyrics perfectly encapsulates the relationship and dilemma between my two protagonists. Bradley Cooper sings the first verse in “Shallow,” asking Lady Gaga’s character if she is satisfied with her life, if “there’s somethin’ else she’s searchin’ for.” In my novel, my female protagonist is very unhappy in her life. She is stuck in a loveless relationship and is forced to sacrifice her own happiness in order to survive. The male protagonist comes into her life and helps her see her true potential.

In the second verse, Lady Gaga says “Tell my something, boy/Aren’t you tired tryin’ to fill that void?/Or do you need more?/Ain’t it hard keepin’ it so hardcore?.” This relates to my male protagonist who is struggling with addiction to self-medicate and avoid dealing with some major trauma he has experienced.

The chorus of the song talks about how these two people, with their traumas and insecurities, are jumping into a relationship together. They are out of the “shallow” and navigating through rough waters. But they are there together.

As I begin working on Act 2 of the third draft of my novel, I am leaning heavily into the romantic/relationship aspect between my two protagonists. Songs like “Shallow” help put me in the right mindset.

If you haven’t heard this song already, (which is unlikely), check it out below!