Paladin Playlist 25

Today's Paladin Playlist looks at a song that was referred to me by my darling wife. I didn't think much as I was already well into writing The Paladin when she showed it to me, but after a while, I decided to sit down and really listen to it. Now, while I'm not writing anything based strictly on the lyrics, my goodness does this build a mindset.

Today I'm looking at Painted Smile by Madame Macabre. Between the music and the video, this song builds a very specific mindset. Something dark, something foreboding, and yet not something that is purely evil. It's a dark justice. Lawful evil, even? The point is, the song paints a picture of something that is deadly, creepy, and verging on psychotic, all of which the subject most certainly would disagree with. This is a great song for building a character that dispatches justice according to their own twisted logic, their own dark sense of honor. These are the characters willing to get blood on their hands for what they believe is the better good.

I'd be lying if I didn't say I haven't contemplated a few characters for future stories thanks to this song. It's gripping. It's primal. And yet, it's so calm about it. A gentleman sociopath? Whatever you might think of it, this is a song that will inspire writers. Give it a listen. Painted Smile by Madame Macabre.

​DFTBA