Songbird-17

Songbird-17
General information
Occupation	Gossamer Courtesan
Biographical information
Place of birth	Trantor
Physical description
Species	Human
Gender	Female
Appearances
Portrayed by	Yootha Wong-Loi-Sing
Debut	"A Song for the End of Everything"

Songbird-17, commonly known as "Song", is a main character in Season Three of the Apple TV+ streaming series Foundation. She is a Gossamer Courtesan who is Brother Day's companion. Song is portrayed by Yootha Wong-Loi-Sing, first appearing in the episode "A Song for the End of Everything".

Biography

Song hailed from the Mycogen sector on Trantor's Level 88. She was part of a religion known as The Inheritance, a sect that worshipped robots. Their faith was illegal and thought to be extinct. In 12,392 Era Imperial, Song was a member of the Gossamer Court. For sixth months, she was the chosen courtesan for Cleon²⁴ who had abdicated his responsibilities as Emperor. She spent her days with Day, supplying him with drugs and living with him on the grounds of the Imperial Palace. Unlike other courtesans, Song retained her memories of her time with Day. This did not sit well with Dusk, who reminded Day that courtesans had their memories erased for a reason, to protect state secrets.

Cleon²⁴ told Song about Hari Seldon and his ability to predict the future, and how Demerzel and the Empire had been taught to do the same. He confided in Song that the ability to predict the future showed that the end of the Empire was coming soon, and his brothers believed that they could prevent it. Knowing that things would get bad, Cleon²⁴ did not want to stay at the Palace, instead telling Song that he wanted to go with her to Mycogen and see where she came from. When Dusk arrived to ask Day if he could delay the ascension due to the looming crisis, Day insisted that Song stayed since it was her house as well.

As Day planned their escape from the Palace, Song questioned when he seemed to be so scared of Demerzel. Day revealed the truth to her that Demerzel was the last robot alive in the galaxy. When Demerzel came to fetch Day for a matter of state, Song made a blessing towards her that she recognised. While Day was absent, Demerzel arranged for Song to be removed from the palace, her memory erased, and returned to Mycogen.

Appearances

• Season Three
  • "A Song for the End of Everything" (First appearance)
  • "Shadows in the Math"
  • "When a Book Finds You"
  • "The Stress of Her Regard" (Mentioned only)
  • "The Shape of Time" (First identified as Songbird-17)
  • "Foundation's End"
  • "Skin in the Game"
  • "The Paths That Choose Us"
  • "The Darkness" (Indirect mention only)