Maggie Lindemann has done it again with HEADSPLIT! Her new EP is all we can think about, just like her past projects. And because we’ve listened to and thought about it so much, we’ve noticed one important inspiration behind the songs.
If you’ve already watched the stunning music video for ‘taking over me,’ you may have picked up on the similarities to coming-of-age films. And it’s not just you! Maggie’s girls’ night out was actually inspired by the 2003 film Thirteen. Thirteen follows the main character Tracy’s troubled life as she enters the world of sex, drugs, and crime. The video for ‘taking over me’ looks like a night out on the town taken directly from the film.
‘taking over me’ may be the most explicit example, but coming-of-age vibes are all over HEADSPLIT. Maggie takes us on a thrilling journey from love to self-discovery. We know this genre pretty well, and we all know these are themes that are often found in a classic coming-of-age story. So let’s take a look at which song fits each film!
‘rip my heart out’ – Lady Bird
With the subtle angst that Lady Bird‘s title character displays, we think she would love Maggie Lindemann’s HEADSPLIT. And we think ‘rip my heart out’ would be her favorite song because she would relate it to her mother. ‘rip my heart out’ seems to be about a codependent relationship, or one where one person benefits far more than the other. This person is draining the life from Maggie in order to live for themselves, but Maggie doesn’t seem to mind it much.
‘die for’ – The Notebook
This one is less coming-of-age, more rom-com. But the dedication between characters that we see in The Notebook is perfectly matched in ‘die for.’ While so many films see dying for each other as the ultimate display of love, Maggie suggests that it is instead the act of living for each other. The Notebook follows two young lovers through phases of their lives, which they live together until they’re forced apart in their old age. Similarly, ‘die for’ talks about a love so strong that Maggie never wants to be separated.
‘deprecating’ – The Color Purple
The 2023 adaptation of The Color Purple has been all over this award season. But the original 1985 version is just as breathtaking a depiction of abuse. ‘deprecating’ talks about the anger that comes with a “manipulative,” “suffocating” relationship. The Color Purple ends with the main character getting her peaceful ending, and we hope that’s the outcome of ‘deprecating.’
‘you hold my love’ – 10 Things I Hate About You
What we all love about 10 Things I Hate About You is the enemies-to-lovers trope. None of us can forget the poem at the end where Kat confesses her love for Patrick despite all the reasons she has to hate him. Nor can we forget the transformation from Kat’s closed-off personality in the beginning of the film. ‘you hold my love’ is about someone who is just as guarded, but ultimately learns to trust and love someone.
‘one last time’ – Booksmart
‘one last time’ is about holding onto the wrong moments and people as she tries to figure out what’s right for her. She allows herself to hold onto this person “one last time.” Leaving high school and wondering if you’re making the right decisions is a universal experience. And the simultaneous freedom and stress that comes with the ending of high school is something so impossible to replicate, it’s a wonder that both ‘one last time’ and Booksmart managed to do it so well.
’24’ – 13 Going On 30
At the age of 24, Maggie sings about feeling like she’s wasting her time. Time flies when you’re growing up. As so many agree with, she feels like she was “sixteen, a perfect angel, then thirty, you’re turnin’ fatal.” That lyric goes perfectly with 13 Going on 30. The film shows the importance of maintaining your youth while also embracing your life as you age. Right between the ages of 13 and 30, we think 24 is a perfect time to watch this movie.
‘hostage’ – The Perks of Being a Wallflower
‘hostage’ takes HEADSPLIT to a new level as Maggie agonizes over feeling like a hostage in her own head. She talks about her struggles in such a personal way, we can’t help but connect it to the letters written by The Perks of Being a Wallflower‘s Charlie. This movie is a much-watch, especially for teenagers struggling with mental health. And for those of you who are already fans of this movie, we think you’ll connect with Maggie’s lyrics in ‘hostage’ too.
And that’s Maggie Lindemann’s HEADSPLIT in movie form! Did we pick any of your favorite films? Or do you think something else would fit better? Let us know in the comments or by tweeting us at @thehoneypop!
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