Soundtrack to Your Type: Enneagram 8

Hey y’all! Welcome back. I am super excited to dive back into this enneagram playlist project, but before we do that, I’m going to take a moment to breakdown the enneagram briefly for those unfamiliar with the enneagram before going into the playlist and why each song was chosen. If you are unsure of which type are, I would recommend visiting the Enneagram Institute to read up on each type to hear what motivates them, what their core fear/desires are, how they behave under stress, and more. When you read through each type, it will become clear which type you most likely are. 

The enneagram is made up of nine types with three subtypes based on the instincts of each person for each type. They are social, self-preserving, and one-to-one. This, along with the wing, is why so many people who share the same enneagram type might seem entirely different from each other.

Over the last several months, I have been working to find a playlist for each type. Before we jump into this project though, I want to acknowledge that I do not speak for all people or any specific group/type. I am just a passionate fan of the enneagram, understanding human nature, and finding music to fit a situation. 

Today, I am inviting you to listen along as I break down the Enneagram 8 playlist.

This week we will be looking at Type 8: the Challenger. 8s are the first type of the “gut” center, which i prefer to call the body center. The three types that make up this center focus on one’s instincts. 8s are often over-expressive of their instincts, making them appear confident and dominant. They wing in Type 7 (8w7: the Nonconformist or the Maverick) and Type 9 (8w9: the Diplomat or the Bear.) 8s are dubbed the challenger for their intense desire to control their environment. They are assertive, resourceful, and confrontational. Their basic desire is to control their life and protect themselves. Their basic fear is being manipulated. They enjoy taking on challenges and achieving greatness in whatever they do. In stress, they gravitate towards being more secretive and fearful like a type 5. In times of growth, they become more open-hearted and sensitive to others’ feelings like a type 2. They want to be self-sufficient in all things and can appear closed off towards others, often times. 

I honestly struggled with creating the playlist for this type. I wanted to move away from stereotyping the type 8 as a dominant, chaotic, relationship. I tried to capture the essence of the multi-level of an 8 as best as I could. Personally, I love having 8s in my life to push me and hold me accountable. I know some people feel intimidated by 8s, but I have noticed that 3s & 8s are very compatible especially in work environments and personal connections. I think it might have something to do with both of these types being more likely to hesitate to being vulnerable. The 3 wants to avoid confrontation, but the 8 can’t, which pushes both types to be more open. I love it. Okay, let’s get into this playlist. 

8 THE CHALLENGER

The Powerful, Dominating Type: Self-Confident, Decisive, Willful, and Confrontational

“Eight” by Sleeping At Last

“Now you won't see all that I have to lose

And all I've lost in the fight to protect it

I won't let you in, I swore never again

I can't afford, no, I refuse to be rejected”

Once again, a perfect song to sum up the 8. As you listen, I hope you hear the vulnerability of an 8 that is underneath a strong exterior, fighting to break out. 

“And all I want is to trust you

Show me how to lay my sword down

For long enough to let you through”

“Walls” by Louis Tomlinson 

“The day you walked away and took the higher ground

Was the day that I became the man that I am now”

Each enneagram type can be tracked back to a childhood hurt. The 8s is most likely an event that hurt them and taught them how to put up walls to protect themselves from being hurt or betrayed again. This song speaks to that, but also speaks to the 8 moving towards a 2 and letting their walls fall when in a healthy relationship. 

“But these high walls, they came up short

Now I stand taller than them all

These high walls never broke my soul, and I

I watched them all come falling down

I watched them all come falling down for you”

“Talk Too Much” by COIN

I love this song for the type 8. If you’ve ever been close to an 8, you know how deep their conversations can be. You might also know some 8s who can seem rude in passing. This is simply because they do not like small talk. They would rather not chat than have to be surface level. This song is a sort of silly comparison to this. One of my favorite things about this song is the conversational feel in the verses. 

“Caffeine, small talk

Wait out the plastic weather

Mmhmm, uh uh, discussing current events”

While this song is clearly about sharing a kiss with someone at a party, it just emulates major 8 vibes. 

“Might Not Like Me” by Brynn Elliot 

“Get over yourself, it's no big deal

If I run a little faster than you on the playground

Get over yourself, what's your problem?”

This song goes out to all my female 8s. Female 8s are often seen as too intense or “too strong.” This theme will come back... But for now, I just want to say embrace that strength! 

“And if you don't like girls tougher than you

And if you don't like girls more daring than you

And if you don't like girls braver than you

Well then you might not like me”

“The Man” by Taylor Swift 

“They'd say I hustled

Put in the work

They wouldn't shake their heads and question how much of this I deserve”

There is such a clear difference in a male 8 versus a female 8. This double standard is so strongly represented in this banger by Taylor Swift.

“Hard to Love” by The Mowgli’s

“I'm a little bit hard to love

I think I do that on purpose

I know I don't give you much

I know it makes you nervous”

8s are dominant and sometimes can be hard in relationships. They are hesitant to open up and hesitant to compromise. This stems from their desire to control their future. But they desire connection and intimate honesty in relationships. These things sometimes create so much inner conflict that it makes them seem standoffish. 

“Thriving” by Diet Cig

This song is an example of how an 8 can respond once they’ve been burned in a relationship. It showcases the resilient attitude and desire to have the upper hand that 8s cling to when in stress. 

“I will never hate myself 

The way you want me to

And I am tired of playing 

By all your rules 

...

And I just want you to know that

I'm thriving thanks for asking”

“Colorful” by Jukebox The Ghost

“Hey, yeah we're just getting started

Take your fears and let them go

For the lovers and the broken-hearted

Take a deep breath, make the world a little colorful”

8s are ambitious and able to see the world differently. Even though they might be hard to get to know, they add so much to the lives of people who they let in. This song reminds me of all the things in 8s that I admire. They offer a different perspective that helps relieve fears. They are reliable and honest and bright. 

“The Archer” by Taylor Swift

“Easy they come, easy they go

I jump from the train, I ride off alone

I never grew up, it's getting so old

Help me hold onto you

...

I've been the archer

I've been the prey

Who could ever leave me, darling?

But who could stay?”

8s are challengers. They are fighters. They fear people will betray them, so they tend to leave before giving someone that chance. I think Taylor captures this feeling so well in this song.  

“Combat, I'm ready for combat

I say I don't want that, but what if I do?”

“The Fall” by half•alive

“I'd jump off and into your arms

But I can't trust the fall”

Once again, half•alive has absolutely crushed this one. They have so many songs that are just perfect anthems for the difference enneagram types, and this one doesn’t fall short again. All about wanting to trust someone but being afraid of the fall, this song speaks to the core desires and fears of an 8 beautifully. 

“It's like sharing a dream with someone

Once you say it out loud it can't be undone

I can't trust the fall”

“Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken” by Pink

“I fight because I have to

I fight for us to know the truth”

We close this playlist on a beautiful ballad about desire victory over betrayal. It’s about fighting for freedom and truth. It’s a beautiful testament to the fire of an 8, even when fighting isn’t their desire, the push to be just and truthful for the people they love push them. They can often see themselves and be seen by the world as “wild hearts,” and I think this is because of their drive. 

“My freedom is burning

This broken world keeps turning

I'll never surrender

There's nothing, but a victory”

I really hope this helps non-8s find some empathy for the people in their lives who they have a hard time understanding. 8s are deep, intense, strong, powerful, and will fight for what they believe in. Take some time and get to know an 8, listen to what makes them feel most like themselves, beyond the walls they have to protect themselves and their loved ones. They are worth it. 

We will be looking at Types 9 & 1 very soon. I couldn’t be more excited to show you them. 

Peace. Lil.