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- “100% Dundee”// The Roots. The Roots named their fourth studio album after the novel Things Fall Apart by legendary Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe, and the song “100% Dundee” refers to both the novel and Achebe by name.
- “Happiness” // Taylor Swift. Taylor Swift, who frequently references books in her songs, seems to have adapted a famous line from F. Scott’s Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby in evermore’s “happiness”: “I hope she’ll be a beautiful fool / Who takes my spot next to you.”
- “How Soon is Now” // The Smiths. The Smiths’ work contains multitudes of literary references; perhaps their most overt homage is within the 1984 B-side “How Soon Is Now.”
- “Killing An Arab” // The Cure. “Killing an Arab”—which has unsurprisingly courted controversy over the years due to people taking its title literally—tells a condescended version of the plot of L’Étranger (The Stranger) by philosopher Albert Camus, in which the main character kills a man on a beach.
Famous songs like Kate Bush’s “Wuthering Heights,” Metallica’s “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” and The Cure’s “Killing an Arab” are directly influenced by classic novels. These tracks use literary references to explore themes such as love, war, and existentialism.
Albums listed here consist entirely of songs retelling a work of literature. This is a dynamic list of songs and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries.
AlbumMusical ArtistLiterary WorkAuthorAn Alien Heat, The Hollow Lands, and The ...Spirits Burning & Michael MoorcockMar 2, 2024 · There's no set rules to where one's muse comes from, but these rock stars found inspiration for their best songs through the written word.
Aug 9, 2024 · From songs by The Beatles to Rick Wakeman, Metallica to The Rolling Stones, uDiscover Music uncovers the best songs inspired by books.
Sep 28, 2014 · We've taken a look at 25 excellent examples where the world of music has been inspired by the world of literature. Cross-art-pollination ahoy. Artist/Song: David Bowie – 1984 , (from 1974’s Diamond Dogs )
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From the tender melodies that bring beloved characters to life, to the powerful anthems that echo the triumphs and tribulations of literary worlds, these songs have seamlessly woven the art of storytelling into the fabric of sound.
