A hero's journey playlist

Every hero goes on a similar journey. At least according The Hero with a Thousand Faces the 1949 Joseph Campbell book that talks about his theory of the journey of the archetypal hero found in world mythologies. 

In Guardians of the Galaxy and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2, which is now available on Digital HD and coming to blu ray/DVD on August 22nd, Starlord and his band of misfit cohorts try to defend the galaxy from the evil overlord Thanos and other much more spoilery villains. Starlord, is inspired by his ever present mix tapes. Who doesn't like a good mix tape? But me without ideal tape deck, I'm forced to make digital playlists like this killer GOG - Hero's Journey playlist. 

What makes a good hero's journey playlist? Well it starts with an epic battle. The bad guys are seemingly coming out of everywhere and in a whirlwind of chaos. I chose BABYMETAL’s Gimmie Chocolate to represent this moment. The chosen messengers of the Fox God were seemingly destined for this moment. Swirling metal and and flashing lights fill the land until a lone hero emerges. With bravado and bombast and LL Cool J’s 1990 hit Mama Said Knock You Out. While the villains thought our hero was gone. He has been here and ready to restore the balance. 

Don’t call it a comeback I've been here for years!

That was pretty easy defeating those minions. Almost too easy. That's when our big bad arrives. Loud, angry, in your face and totally in charge. Truly The King Of Rock, of whichever rock he happens to be from. RUN DMC’s classic perfectly epitomizes the modern badass villain. Our hero is now pushed back he's on his heels. There is seemingly nowhere for him to turn. He's in his own hell, which brings us to the Meat Puppets Lake of Fire. This song which was popularized as a cover during Nirvana Unplugged in New York perfectly epitomizes the feeling of helplessness the hero has until he can come up with a plan. 

The hero needs a squad if he's going to defeat the forces of evil. So one by one he brings the gang back together all to the funky tune of The Magnificent Seven by the Clash. With the team all back together they are ready to take on the bad guys. Together. They race towards the battle and listen to Nirvana’s In Bloom, an amazing driving song if there ever was one. It doesn't matter if it's a car, a tank or space ship driven by a being who looks like but is most certainly not a raccoon. But rest assured our hero does have a gun. So does the raccoon guy. 

Everything seems to be going great when the hero and his friends are betrayed by one of their own. Our hero is devastated. The mission can't go on not like this. Weezer’s The Sweater Song (Undone) takes the hero into places he just doesn't want to go, dark places. Is what he's been fighting for all these years even worth it. 

But there is work to be done. And nothing gets a hero ready for a redemptive battle than a training montage. And if the hero is like me, and in this case he is. He’s listening to the same thing I'm putting on when I need a pick me up doing cardio at the gym House of Pain’s Jump Around. He’s all pumped up the team is ready and they are now ready for the final battle. The one for all the marbles and you hear the pounding beat rolling towards you. 

 

BOOM-BOOM-CRASH

BOOM-BOOM-CRASH

The villain has no chance now. Queen’s epic We Will Rock You is cocksure and bold. There is no doubt on how this ends. With the hero slightly battered but standing tall with his friends victorious as We Are The Champions plays. The remaining villains skulk away for the sequel. 

After the dust settles, the hero bids his companions good bye. Because his destiny lies in his own hands. He’s going down the only road he’s ever known. Just like the Whitesnake's stadium filling anthem Here I Go Again. 

What songs would you add to a hero's journey playlist? Comment below with your song choice between now and August 22nd when Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 is released on Blu Ray/DVD for a chance to win an epic Guardians of the Galaxy prize pack. 

Disclaimer: I was compensated by the brand for this post and playlist creation. But all opinions are my own.