Songs about Books

Music and literature have influenced each other for a long time. “The Odyssey” is one ancient example of how music has been used to spread classic stories. In the 20th century, music and literature began to grow apart, as the major art forms diverged and multiplied into many separate genres. Recently, there has been less celebration of classic literary works through song as musicians become more involved in their own stories (which are many times equally interesting.) Even poetry has lost its mainstream popularity, as the rich rock star became the preferred hero of teens and adults everywhere.


The classics of music and literature remain to be interpreted in interesting ways by both writers and musicians, and it is completely appropriate that celebrated contemporary literature be expressed through music. Some recent artists are taking part in the long history of telling classic tales through music. These musicians take the most celebrated and exciting literature of the last decade and express these timeless stories in song, and they do this with flare and originality.


Take, for example, the Gothic Archies. The Gothic Archies are best known by kids and their extremely fortunate parents who listen to Lemony Snicket’s “A Series of Unfortunate Events” on tape. The Archies are lead by Stephen Merrit of the 6ths and Magnetic Fields, but the Archies are somewhat more musically dark than these other bands. This is not to say that the Archies’ music is depressing, although that seems to be exactly the point of songs with titles like “Smile! No one cares how you feel”, “The World is A Very Scary Place”, and “Scream and Run Away.” These songs are actually filled with dark humor, like Lemony Snicket’s books. The monotone delivery and the echoing music recalls Joy Division and only adds to the creepy fun of the Gothic Archies’ songs. Most of the lyrics revolve around the trials and tribulations of the Baudelaire children, the heroes of “The Series of Unfortunate Events.” I would recommend that any fan of Lemony Snicket’s books listen to the Gothic Archies, and that anyone who isn’t a fan of “The Series of Unfortunate Events” buy the new album “The Tragic Treasury”. The music really does complement the books, but it is just as interesting on its own.


Another example of literary rock stars are local cult favorites, Harry & the Potters. As their name implies, the Potters sing about the magical adventures of one popular boy wizard. They’re surprisingly good at what they do, capturing the pressures of adolescence that are so prevalent in the Harry Potter books and turning them into finely crafted rock songs (including a lighter friendly ballad “Save Ginny Weasley.) The number of bands influenced by the “Harry Potter” books is immense and not surprising given the book’s popularity. A quick search of Myspace shows such wizard-worthy musicians as; Ginny & The Heartbreakers, The Whomping Willows, The Hungarian Horntails, The Parselmouths, Dobby & The House Elves, The Moaning Myrtles, Romilda Vane & The Chocolate Cauldrons, The Wands, The Bandon Banshees, and Hollow Godric among others. Harry & The Potters even have an evil nemesis band in Draco & The Malfoys who proclaim “Evil Wizard Rock Love!” on their Myspace homepage.


It is obvious from the sheer number of musicians interested in writing about contemporary classics that the interpretation of literature through music is not dead, and has even forged new territory with the celebration of excellent children’s books. People are still being effected everyday by stories told in books and in song, and music and literature continue to effect and influence each other greatly.