Binding 13

Music is an important motif throughout Binding 13 and plays two key roles in the lives of Johnny and Shannon. First, it is a coping mechanism for both, helping Johnny deal with The Pressures of Athletic Excellence and Shannon handle The Psychological Effects of Trauma. Johnny regularly listens to music loudly in his car, after his awkward interactions with Shannon, and when he fails to explain to her how he feels. He also plays music loudly on the bus on the way to the rugby matches, blocking out everything around him in order to focus. Similarly, Shannon listens to her music to drown out the sounds of Joey and her father fighting.

Second, music serves as a source of bonding for the two characters. When they ride in the car together and Shannon looks through Johnny’s music, she realizes he is more like her than she previously thought. He plays the song “The Middle” by Jimmy Eat World, which repeats the lines “Everything, everything’ll be just fine. Everything, everything’ll be alright” and discusses the importance of living in and enjoying the moment—a direct reflection of the situation that he and Shannon are in, trying not to think about where their relationship will lead them. Similarly, while drunk in the pub, Johnny hears the song “Wicked Twisted Road” by Reckless Kelly and applies the lyrics—which compare teenage love to a “wicked twisted road”—to his feelings for Shannon. In the car, Shannon then brings up the same song and tells Johnny that she thinks of him when she hears it. Additionally, when she sees Johnny’s playlist of love songs with her name on it, it is the first time that she considers that Johnny may be attracted to her as well.