Macbeth's Spotify Wrapped: 104

Macbeth's Spotify Wrapped: 1040

At the end of the year 1040, Spotify released data about Macbeth's most listened to songs:

Like Crazy by Matt DiMona

Burn the House Down by AJR

Stronger by The Score

Mount Everest by Labrinth

By Myself by Christian French

Just What I Am by Kid Cudi

Guilty Pleasure by Bryce Vine

Like Crazy by Matt DiMona

"It seem like everything you do, you do for me

Well, you're my baby

And I'm sorry if I get you down sometimes

Girl, I think you save me, yeah

You pick me right up off the ground"

When looking at these lyrics in the song it becomes clear why Macbeth listened to it so often. Especially in the early days of questing after the prophecy told by the witches, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth had a very interesting dynamic. Lady Macbeth was undeniably the one that pushed things forward during the assassination plot of Duncan. The fact that she did this would likely have Macbeth thinking of her as some sort of savior who essentially "pick[s him] right up off the ground." There is no doubt that as Macbeth listened to this song on repeat he was constantly thinking of his amazing wife and how he doesn't deserve her greatness.

Burn the House Down by AJR

"We gon' burn the whole house down"

Macbeth would have liked listening to this song because of how aggressive it is. Especially during his journey to power, he frequently reflected some of the values that can be seen in lyrics like the one above. The song is talking about overthrowing a power or body that you don't necessarily agree with; AJR wants to be out with the old and in with the new. This lines up with Macbeth's inner desires regarding his thoughts about Duncan as King. The motif of ambition is seen here as well as appearance versus reality due to the fact that Macbeth hides away these desires for a long time before he actually acts on them.

Stronger by The Score

"I can't stop with my ambition

Like a missile on a mission

I'm a force that you will dread"

This song very clearly lines up with Macbeth's constant and never-ending ambition. Even after he has become King, he is not quelled. Macbeth sends out assassins to kill Banquo, his best friend, which clearly parallels The Score when they liken themselves to a missile on a mission. This song is faster paced than many of the others on this list and was likely used as a hype up song by Macbeth. After listening to this there is no doubt that Macbeth's pride would be inflated and he would be ready to do whatever he needed to to achieve his goals.

Mount Everest by Labrinth

"Mount Everest ain't got sh*t on me

Mount Everest ain't got sh*t on me

'Cause I’m on top of the world

I'm on top of the world, yeah

Burj Dubai ain't got sh*t on me

You could touch the sky but you ain't got sh*t on me

'Cause I'm on top of the world

I'm on top of the world, yeah"

This is the first verse of the song, aaaand yea it's a doozy. This song, similar to Stronger, is all about Macbeth and his inflated sense of self. The aggressive way that this song makes its statement and self-identifies is extremely parallel to Macbeth's personality. Again, the motif of ambition and even hubris can be seen in this song choice. This song would very likely be a hype up song of Macbeth's, because not only are the words very impactful but the beat behind them is also quite energizing. Macbeth's choice to listen to this shows that he is just as much of a conceited a-hole as you likely already assumed.

By Myself by Christian French

"I know what I want

And I'm doin just fine all by myself

All by myself"

Macbeth would have really liked this song after his murder of Banquo. Shortly after the time in the dining room when he saw Banquo's ghost we see that Lady Macbeth tries to be there for him, however Macbeth does not seem to want this. Macbeth is fine with being alone because it means that he is King. He thinks that if he lets people in, even Lady Macbeth, there is a chance that his spot on the throne will lose security. The fact that Macbeth likes this song shows that he is really trying to buy into this mentality. Who knows, maybe deep down he actually wants Lady Macbeth to be there for him but his superego is making him display this false reality of what he wants.

Just What I Am by Kid Cudi

"I'm just what you made God — not many I trust

I'ma go my own way God, take my fate to wherever you want"

The motif of fate and the supernatural is shown in this song choice.  Throughout Macbeth's entire journey we see him always showing deference to the witches and their prophecy. His entire quest to become King was started by their words, we even see him seek out guidance/validation from them at times later on during his life. These witches serve as a God-like figure to Macbeth. He believes that they will lead him wherever they will, and he is ultimately just along for the ride. That is why this song would resonate with Macbeth so much.

Guilty Pleasure by Bryce Vine

"I done a couple things you’ll never know about

Some I’m ashamed of, some I forgot about

But I’ll be fine, chase time

Runnin' through the stop sign like I’m livin' for the highlights"

Macbeth really likes this song for obvious reasons. It clearly promotes the idea of having a public self and a private self. What this means is that it essentially condones Macbeth frequent practice of lying and not telling people the whole truth. Whether or not this deceitful little quirk about his personality stems from himself or rather his snake of a wife, simply does not matter. Once Macbeth is in the thick of his journey to become King he has embodied the idea that there must be lies and hidden truths in his life. No matter if he is proud of them or not, they are there and they must stay contained. After all, he is king, so who really cares about a few secret dark times of his past.

It is clear that Macbeth is a complicated dude with a unique psyche. His music taste reflects this in the fact that it is all over the place. It is obvious, however, after looking at all of these songs, that he at least tries to be self-aware. Macbeth has done a lot of things, and as a result he has constantly shifting values, interests, and ambitions. It is nice to see though, that his music lines up with what he is feeling at the time. It seems that he always has at least that as an outlet for his true feelings.