Dua Lipa and A Flock of Seagulls call attention to the flux of time in Percy Jackson and the Olympians episode 6

In a first, Percy Jackson and the Olympians included two songs in episode 6, "We Take a Zebra to Vegas," than the standard one. But, as usual with this series, the inclusion of the tracks is a bit of storytelling that adds to and complements what's going on in the episode.

When our trio of heroes make it to the Lotus Casino, "Levitating" by Dua Lipa begins to play as they take in the scene before them. It's nothing but pure enjoyment. The dice are rolling, machines are dinging, the occupants of what's essentially a playground for those with cash to spend and fun to have are doing exactly that. "Levitating" is a modern choice for a show whose needle drops are typically from the 20th century with exception to "Logical" by Olivia Rodrigo, which was featured in the premiere.

Lipa's banger, however, manages to be sneakily sinister if you pay attention to the lyrics and the context of the episode's setting. The casino is a den of fun, but it's also run by Hermes, the god of travelers and thieves who exists beyond space and time. People enter this establishment but, judging by the mix of clothing from different eras, they don't always leave.

"Levitating" opening lyrics, via Genius:

If you wanna runaway with me, I know a galaxy
And I can take you for a ride
I had a premonition that we fell into a rhythm
Where the music don't stop for life
Glitter in the sky, glitter in my eyes
Shining just the way I like
If you're feeling like you need a little bit of company
You met me at the perfect time

The second song, "I Ran (So Far Away)" by A Flock of Seagulls, doesn't get as much of a prominent spot as Lipa's track but its chorus is clearly audible as Grover searches for Hermes and then comes across Augustus, a satyr who knew his uncle, Ferdinand. The song, which came out in 1982, is 38 years older than Lipa's. While the songs do complement each other, sonically they're worlds apart just like the fashions of the casino's patrons.

A Flock of Seagulls' song is interestingly placed since it could read as a warning to runaway from the beguiling establishment. It also highlights how difficult it is to escape the Lotus. Out of all the settings in Percy Jackson and the Olympians, the casino is the most deceptive and honestly the most disturbing. If you don't have at least one person in your party who is keeping their wits about them, you could waste your life away in the place.

"I Ran (So Far Away)" chorus lyrics, via Genius:

And I ran, I ran so far away
I just ran, I ran all night and day
I couldn't get away

What also makes the inclusion of these songs particularly choice is the fact that they both use references to space. Lipa sings about getting lost among the stars with someone while A Flock of Seagulls is about an alien abduction. They're both otherworldly and a perfect combination for a place ruled by Hermes.