This post is fairly straightforward. We are going to take a little look at a few songs that are either inspired by books or references them in the lyrics. So, shall we dive right in?
Queen - Bicycle Race
I don't believe in Peter Pan
Frankenstein or Superman
To get the message across that he'd rather be riding his bicycle than anything else, Queen singer, Freddie Mercury, runs through all the things in which he has no interest. At least when compared to enjoying a bicycle ride.
Fans of J. M. Barrie's creation, Mary Shelley's novel about a scientist's desire to create life, or the comic books about Kryptonite's most famous son, may be disappointed that Mr. Mercury has no time for these books. Though, to be fair, a little outdoor exercise is good for you!
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Mellowship Slinky in B Major
Being that I'm the Duke of my domain
My hat goes off to Mark Twain
Singing a song about what true men don't do
Killing another creature that's kind of blue
At the peak of their funk rock powers, on their 1991 album, Blood Sugar Sex Magik, lead singer Anthony Kiedis uses this song as an opportunity to show reverence for some of his favourite things. Just after the first chorus, the lead singer references Mark Twain, Truman Capote, and Charles Bukowski, as well as some of their work.
Sergei Prokofiev - Romeo and Juliet: The Dance of the Knights
This piece is taken from Prokofiev's ballet, Romeo and Juliet, Op. 64, which is based on William Shakespeare's famous play about the star-crossed lovers. The piece was composed in 1935 and is well known; even if you are no fan of classical music, trust me, you have heard this piece before.
Nirvana - Scentless Apprentice
Every wet nurse refused to feed him
Electrolytes smell like semen
I promise not to sell your perfumed secrets
There are countless formulas for pressing flowers
On Nirvana's last studio album, Nirvana's Kurt Cobain paid homage to Patrick Süskind's novel, Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, a novel set in 18th Century France and telling the tale of Jean-Baptiste Grenouille. Jean-Baptiste is born with an incredible sense of smell but has no scent himself. He is also a murderer and unable to form healthy relationships with anyone.
The song is violent and dirty, just like the character in the book.
Kate Bush - Wuthering Heights
Heathcliff, it's me, I'm Cathy
I've come home, I'm so cold
Let me in your window
This song is inspired by Emily Brontë's novel of the same name. In the song, Bush sings from the perspective of the book's character, Catherine Earnshaw, a ghost at Heathcliff's window. As a fun fact, Kate Bush and Emily Brontë share their birthday - 30 July.
This song was Bush's first single, released in 1978, and she wrote it when she was only eighteen.
I hope you enjoyed this little list post of rather bookish songs. If you did, you can buy me a coffee on Ko-fi, where I regularly post updates about this blog and other of my writerly efforts. All support is gratefully received - it keeps me writing! Thank you!
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