#i spent a loooooong time writing this i'm gonna tag all the main tags okay

[sailorstarlesbian]

I made a harukyon playlist! Because I have intense brainworms and because I noticed there's a severe lack of TMOHS playlists on spotify (except for itsukyon, good job).

Explanation/rant about each song + link to lyrics and translations under the cut! (tldr: tsundere x tsundere realness)

Weird Autum (Shardrow/Night in the Woods). Sometimes you can't see someone until they're gone. But some people never stop, they're always moving on. This song pretty much reflects how people view Haruhi at the beginning of the story, plus the curiosity? the singer has about Autum also reflects Kyon's curiosity for Haruhi and wanting to know more about her despite thinking she's "weird".

Dakara boku wa ongaku wo yameta (Yorushika). Even I had a faith in something too, but now it has turned into rubbish. I wrote to you again and again. Shoutout to letyukisayfuck for suggesting this one on the discord because yeah... I feel this one really resonates with Haruhi's feelings pretty much through the series, but mostly during Melancholy. Her inner turmoil between wanting to believe in the supernatural, wanting to believe she's special, but also being a pretty rational person who deep down knows it's impossible. The "you" the singer is talking too pretty perfectly fits Haruhi's vision of John Smith too.

Yoake to Hotaru (n-buna). I can't find what I want to do, so I hang my head down low and pretend to be in a hurry. They laugh at me when I fell down, but I notice not to notice the laughter. Yea this is pretty much a continuation of the last song (they're written by the same person it's not my fault). Haruhi's melancholy, her negative feelings towards a boring world that has no use to her, etc etc. I like that this song is less angry than the others in the playlist because Haruhi also has her moments of just. Feeling sad, man.

I Hear a Symphony (Cody Fry). I used to hear a simple song, that was until you came along. Now in its place is something new. I hear it when I look at you. I feel like this is pretty obvious, but, yea, Kyon's world literally gains color after he meets Haruhi. He, a self-defined cynic who thought he was over believing in supernatural stuff, is suddenly thrown into Haruhi's whole mess and he loves it. I'm gonna lay down and cry now.

Die Anywhere Else (Alec Holowka/Night in the Woods). I just want to die anywhere else. If only I could die anywhere else. So come with me, let’s die anywhere else. Pretty much Haruhi's feelings during Melancholy, especially at the end. The song talks about feeling insignificant, about not liking where you are but being unable to change anything. This girl needs therapy.

I was an Island (John-Allison Weiss). I was a fighter, and I was so brave. But I lowered my sword when you held me and swore you'd stay. This is one of those songs that fit both of them pretty well! It's a bit more obvious is that Haruhi finally found in Kyon someone who would stay with her despite everything (I feel like their fight in Sighs is the best example of this), but it's also true that Kyon trusts Haruhi more than anyone else, and he found in her someone who helps him be himself (even if he's tsundere about it).

Bouken deshou deshou? (Aya Hirano). Please come with me. Look at me--I'm free everywhere I go. Literally a Haruhi song! I couldn't not add it. I feel like it sums up Haruhi's feelings right after meeting Kyon and forming the brigade, of excitement and feeling like doing things that aren't normal, and wanting Kyon to come with her and look at her as she finally feels some happy after so long.

Rock in God's Shoe (Sushi Soucy). God is a narrator but He left His mic off, and now we are left without guidance. Okay this one is less about their relationship and just a good Haruhi song. The "God is a middle schooler, we are a science project" part reflects pretty well both Haruhi's mentality during and before the did whatever the fuck to the world three years ago, and the song reflects pretty well how the different factions view her. The God is a narrator part also fits really well with the Kyon is god theory. I wanna make an animatic with this song someone please bully me into doing it.

Despair (Leo). 'Cause it's not romantic, I swear. I'm not gasping for air. I want you to be here, but please don't come near. It's the tsundere song! They're both tsundere!! What else can I say. They're both so in love with the other but are too stubborn and prideful to admit it.

Avalanche (Walk the Moon). One glance and the avalanche drops. One look and my heartbeat stops. This is to me like, the pinning song. Again kind of self-explanatory, they're both in love with the other but are too tsundere to admit it. "Sometimes the past echoes in the future" also speaks to how their relationship literally started before they met for the first time (the sense of urgency in the lyrics is me pushing them together like dolls).

Kimi no shiranai monogatari (Supercell). Since when did I become someone who chases after you? I'm begging you, listen without being surprised, to these feelings I have. It's super important to me that this is Kyon's POV. This is a song about Kyon realizing too late he was in love with Haruhi the whole time and regretting not telling her (if you wanna get sad, this is after they graduate and lose contact, or it could just him being dramatic). The brief mentions of the "you" in the song sound a lot like Haruhi, and the mentions of summer to me are reminscent of how brief the three years of high school really are. I also really really love the scenario of Kyon finally realizing/accepting he's in love with Haruhi. Plus it's important to me that back in like 2010 every popular ship got an AMV or a MAD with this song, AND that it's a Bakemonogatari ED and Bakemonogatari owes sooo much to Haruhi let's be real.

Zenzenzense (RADWIMPS). We met at the far extremes of so many galaxies. How should I grasp your hand to keep it from falling apart? All of this song is just harukyon. From the very beginning with Haruhi telling Kyon he's late, the mentions of basically "I would stop the earth to save you if anything happened to you", to "the parts of the story that happened while you were sleeping" (everything Haruhi doesn't know about the brigade), plus the singer's cocky attitude (calling the other person's smile awkward or their voice annoying while talking about restarting the world for them) that fits Kyon so well. "You stole from me my ability to ever give up" is just. I need to lay down I'm getting emotional.

(break in the list because tumblr got mad at me)

One Man Live (RADWIMPS). You make this perfectly round earth in to a theater, and you make yourself on the stage, there you will play until the sound of the ringing stops and the applause echoes around. Kind of a similar vibe to Zenzenzense, though this is more about Haruhi's strong personality and Kyon being willing to be his support (even if he's tsundere about it). The way it talks about overcoming pain speaks to me about both Haruhi overcoming her issues, and about Kyon overcoming all the real stuff that comes with being in Haruhi's orbit, but "the feedback is no problem, that sound will become your voice".

Shut Up And Dance (Walk the Moon). "Oh, don't you dare look back, just keep your eyes on me" I said, "You're holding back". She said, "Shut up and dance with me". The chorus just always makes me think of Haruhi and Kyon, and their typical kind of banter, while in the "narration" Kyon knows them getting together is just matter of time. Maybe not as deep as the rest but it's fun and I like it.

Super Driver (Aya Hirano). I found you all by myself, isn't it obvious I'd fall in love with you? I mean this is another Haruhi song so, you konw. I really like the bridge, where Haruhi says "none of this is a dream, so why is my heart pounding?", because it refelcts how she's finally having fun without having to "force" anything, just being with the Bridage. Haruhi being happy makes me happy.

Melancholic (Junky). Ever since you appeared in that dream, I haven't been honest to myself. Another tsundere song! What I like about these is that it fits both of them, though this is a bit more Haruhi-centric. You can tell the singer is angry about having her heart stolen, but happy about it at the same time. Haruhi and Kyon are both a bit angry at the other for their feelings, but at the end of the day it's still a happy feeling and they both enjoy each other's presence (no matter how tsundere they are about it).

Sokkenai (RADWIMPS). Why are you so indifferent? Turn around and face me. You’re the one who told me to come. Listen it's not my fault so many RADWIMPS songs sound like Kyon's POV. This really feels like the rare moments when Kyon gets emotionally mature with Haruhi, where he knows what Haruhi wants from him but wants her to say it out loud (like exactly the end of Melancholy, "looks good on you" etc etc). Deep down Kyon knows Haruhi is both embarrassed and afraid to admit her feelings, even though she's the one that keeps pulling him closer and closer. The way the chorus says "if I'm not the one, tell me because I don't have that much time", but then "if you'll teach me about love, I have all the time in the world" just... feels like the type of thing Kyon would say. Even the part at the end when the singer admits he's only being this bold because he's a little drunk anddoesn't know if he'll be brave enough to admit all this later is spot-on. I need to lay down again.

My Life Would Suck Without You (Kelly Clarkson). Maybe I was stupid for tellin' you goodbye. Maybe I was wrong for tryna pick a fight. This is another tsundere song, but at least now it's Established Relationship Tsunderes. I have a hard time believing Haruhi and Kyon would stop fighting even if they got over their issues and started dating, they're both still very stubborn and prideful and I feel like fighting is just how Haruhi communicates sometimes. But at the same time it just works for them? They're the type of couple that have a lot of small "fights" that are never serious but are actually very well-balanced and barely ever get into any real fight.

Still Into You (Paramore). Let 'em wonder how we got this far, 'cause I don't really need to wonder at all. I know this isn't necessarily a tsundere song but I've interpreted that way for years so hey. I don't really have much to say about this one, I think it's really sweet and the kind of relationship described in the song is just Established harukyon.

Sparkle (RADWIMPS). Even if it may become a tragedy, I wished for seemingly unreal days… with abnormal meaning… But once I did, you were standing outside the door, all of your baggage in tow. What can I say. This is just Kyon during Disappearance, this is a song about being in love with someone through the pain and wanting to stay together through all. It's one of those songs that to me really capture the heart of harukyon, and that's that while they may be tsundere and they may get on each others' nerves, they trust each other more than anything, they bring meaning to each other's lives, and they will quite literally find each other in every universe

Magic Mirror (RADWIMPS). Can you protect yourself? Do you know how to use your courage? I'm sure you're bad at it, So I'll help you out as I can. Staying in line with the previous song but in a more general sense, kind of similar to One Man Live, this song is about Kyon wanting to help Haruhi through her issues. However I like that in the end, "the person crying in the mirror was myself", is basically saying that Kyon also has issues! He's also a weird little man who isn't honest and he tries to help others to distract from his feelings. Go to therapy boy!

Iin desu ka? (RADWIMPS). When I searched for the meaning of being with you, the answer was to live through tomorrow. When I searched for the meaning of living through tomorrow, the answer was to be with you. Don't complain about the amont of RADWIMPS songs this is my playlist okay. This is another song that feels like it fits both POVs. They're both tsundere, they're both unsure if it's okay for them to like the other, but they also know that it's okay, because it's them. The part where it says "because I know my last words in this world will be 'thank you' to you" hits me every time.

God knows... (Aya Hirano/ENOZ/you know this song it's okay). I'll follow you. No matter where you are in the darkness of this bitter world you will shine, and exceed the limits of the future. This is kind of an honorary addition? In that I don't really think it fits them as well as the other songs, but I just wanted to add it lol. I do think there's a bit of both of them in this song, again with their motif or "I'll follow you anywhere, I'll share your pain, we will make the world fit us". Also there's no better way to end a harukyon playlist than with Aya Hirano.

Shoutout also to Kyon's character songs, especially kentai life returns and daga soredake janai, which I love unironically but just didn't fit the vibe of the playlist. Also thanks for reading this far this was very very long whoops.