Hermes in Epic Vs. Hadestown: Dissecting Two Iconic Musical Portrayals
By Maya Lin-Takahashi
When Hermes materializes on Circe’s island of Aeaea, he does not deliver solemn omens. He practically dances across the beat. In "Wouldn't You Like," the signature track from The Circe Saga, Rivera-Herrans deploys bright synthesizers, crisp percussion snaps, and rapid-fire lyricism that feel closer to contemporary electronic dance music than traditional Broadway show tunes.
The track functions as a psychological pivot for Odysseus. Circe has turned his scouts into swine; despair has brought the Ithacan king to his knees. Enter Hermes, balancing playfully on the edge of mortal doom:
"Wouldn't you like a taste of the power? / Wouldn't you like to use more than words? / Deep in the night, the fight can be ours / Wouldn't you like a taste of the divine?"
Here, the holy root moly is treated less like an agrarian blessing and more like a tactical power-up. Hermes gives Odysseus the means to counter Circe’s sorcery, but Rivera-Herrans ensures the transaction crackles with danger. Hermes is not intervening out of noble compassion; he is bored, amused, and testing whether a mortal mind can survive playing with godly fire. The vocal performance bends notes, leans into half-spoken chuckles, and maintains a breakneck tempo that mirrors the adrenaline spike of hand-to-hand combat.
Maya is a hardware enthusiast who tests and reviews smart home devices, smartphones, wearables, and audio gear. She focuses on practical consumer value and build quality.
