Something Intellectual: Applying Music to Literature (Hamlet)

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-- Something Intellectual: Applying Music to Literature (Hamlet)

Posted by Michael Russo on Apr-08-2003 23:58:

Something Intellectual: Applying Music to Literature (Hamlet)

Hey everyone...

I'm working on an English assignment pertaining to Shakespeare's masterpiece, Hamlet.

I need to create a list of songs that could apply to the play. For example, death, suicide, failed love... and anything else that fits into the mood of the play.

Note: I've chosen a specific mix for a variety of reasons... in many cases it won't make a difference, but I've chosen what I like best and/or what I have (eg. I have most tracks below on vinyl, but, for example, I can't get Lexicon Avenue's interpretation of I Wish because it's not out yet, and I don't want to use the radio rip).

So far:

Artist / Title / Mix / Label

Lustral - Broken (Way Out West) [Lost Language]

Jan Johnston - Flesh (Noel Sanger) [Perfecto]

Lamb - Gorecki (Bill Hamel) [White]

John Creamer & Stephane K - I Wish You Were Here (Original) [Need to check]

Bjork - Pagan Poetry (Infusion) [RR1000]

Gabriel & Dresden - Lament (Original) [SAW]

BT - Mercury and Solace (Original) [Nettwerk]

Petter - These Days (Original) [Deep]

Songs with pertinent lyrics or even instrumental tracks would be great. For example, 'These Days' is on there because it seems so sad, whereas 'Flesh' is on there because suicide is such a prevalent theme throughout Hamlet.

I've added some lyrics below for convenience.

Bjork - "Pagan Poetry" Lyrics

Pedalling through
The dark currents
I find
An accurate copy
A blueprint
Of the pleasure
In me

Swirling black lilies totally ripe
A secret code carved
Swirling black lilies totally ripe
A secret code carved

He offers
A handshake
Crooked
Five fingers
They form a pattern
Yet to be matched

On the surface simplicity
But the darkest pit in me
It's pagan poetry
Pagan poetry

Morsecoding signals (signals)
They pulsate (wake me up) and wake me up
(pulsate) from my hibernating

On the surface simplicity
Swirling black lilies totally ripe
But the darkest pit in me
It's pagan poetry
Swirling black lilies totally ripe
Pagan poetry

Swirling black lilies totally ripe

I love him, I love him
I love him, I love him
I love him, I love him
I love him, I love him
She loves him, she loves him

This time
She loves him, she loves him
I'm gonna keep it to myself
She loves him, she loves him
She loves him, she loves him
This time
I'm gonna keep me all to myself
She loves him, she loves him
And he makes me want to hurt myself again
She loves him, she loves him
She loves him, she loves him
And he makes me want to hurt myself again

Jan Johnston - "Flesh" Lyrics

ahhh.. baby, i can hardly recognize myself
mmmmmmmm.... touch me
The light is going blue.
Morning approaches.
The pain's still here.
I'm empty - empty - empty.
Sounds of the world,
Of laughter and tears.
I've nothing left.
I'm empty - empty - empty.
Heaven is forbidden
But I'm going soon
Kiss me one last time
before i take my flesh away
Heaven is forbidden
But I'm going soon
Kiss me one last time
Kiss me one last time
I want wisdom on tap, flowing like water
strange i want that because
I'm empty - empty - empty.
So now eat your words,
I hope you choke.
I feel nothing no more.
I'm empty - empty - empty.
ahhh.. baby, i can hardly recognize myself
mmmmmmmm.... touch me
Heaven is forbidden
But I'm going soon
Kiss me one last time
before i take my flesh away
Heaven is forbidden
But I'm going soon
Kiss me one last time
Kiss me one last time

Lustral- "Broken" Lyrics

In every heart there is regret
But they soon repair and don't forget
The deepest songs that life then fears
Through the pain, through the years
These are the thoughts that I conceal
Though my eyes can't hide the way I feel
There are no angels at my side
I am weak, I am tired
Because I miss you
You know it's true
I am broken
Do you miss me too?
Can we recapture
The life we knew?
I am broken
I am missing you
I am afraid of what I see
When my world is safe, what I dream
I do not shed a single tear
When I sleep, you are here
Because I miss you
You know it's true
I am broken
Do you miss me too?
Can we recapture
The life we knew?
I am broken
I am missing you

Lamb - "Gorecki" Lyrics

if I should die this very moment
I wouldn't fear
for I've never known completeness
like being here
wrapped in the warmth of you
still in my heart this moment
or it might burst
could we stay right here
until the end of time until the earth stops turning
gonna love you until the seas run dry
I've found the one I've waited for
all this time I've loved you
and never known your face
all this time I've missed you
and searched this human race
here is true peace
here my heart knows calm
safe in your soul
bathed in your sighs
wanna stay right here
until the end of time
all I've known
all I've done
all I've felt was leading to this
all I've known
all I've done
all I've felt was leading to this
gonna stay right here
'till the end of time 'till the earth stops turning
I'm gonna love you 'till the seas run dry
I've found the one I've waited for
the one I've waited for

BT - "Mercury and Solace" Lyrics

Awareness, the fruit of life.
Awareness and happiness.

Vibes...

The dance never ends.

But I know you're there.
But I know you're there.

Only you are my happiness.

Memories...

Happiness...

Lovely voices...

In nightfall I'll meet you,
seeds of desire absolve.
There's no going back.
I'm losing control.

As the morning creeps up,
and I'm looking for the shade.
In your embrace,
My grieving says.

Reach out for me - reach out.
Reach out for me - reach out.

I know you're there...you're there.

Reach out for me - reach out.
Reach out for me - reach out.

I may go with you.

Reach out for me - reach out.
Reach out for me - reach out.

I savour every moment.
I'll savour every moment.
You're precious,
You're precious to me.

Any more recommendations would be great. Thanks in advance

Posted by Helta on Apr-09-2003 00:38:

Andain - Beautiful Things

It's about suicide. Yet it's graceful. Much like Hamlet...

Posted by armandzadza on Apr-09-2003 01:30:

I highly doubt that the lyrics are on par with "Hamlet", but you can try Iio - At the End

Posted by whiskers on Apr-09-2003 01:38:

Armin Van Buuren feat. Ray Wilson - Yet Another Day <--- one of the best suicide tune ever (sorry for sounding weird)

Posted by Christopher B on Apr-09-2003 03:02:

Bjork - Play Dead

Posted by Michael Russo on Apr-09-2003 10:58:

Thanks for the recommendations everyone.

Helta: Yes, it is... I hadn't realized that the song was about suicide (didn't pay close enough attention the couple of times I've heard it).

Thanks to pork for the lyrics They're absolutely perfect btw.

And yet another day is also a great pick... it had completely slipped my mind.

Beautiful Things

got up early, found something's missing
my only name.
no one else sees but i got stuck,
and soon forever came.
stopped pushing on for just a second, then nothing's changed.
who am i this time, where's my name?
i guess it crept away.

no one's calling for me at the door.
and unpredictable won't bother anymore.
and silently gets harder to ignore.
look straight ahead, there's nothing left to see.
what's done is done, this life has got it's hold on me.
just let it go, what now can never be.

i forgot that i might see,
so many beautful things.
i forgot that i might need,
to find out what life could bring.

take this happy ending away, it's all the same.
god won't waste this simplicity on possibility.
get me up, wake me up, dreams are filling
this trace of blame.
frozen still i thought i could stop,
now who's gonna wait.

no one's calling for me at the door.
and unpredictable won't bother anymore.
and silently gets harder to ignore.
look straight ahead, there's nothing left to see.
what's done is done, this life has got it's hold on me.
just let it go, what now can never be.

now what do i do?
can i change my mind?
did i think things through?

it was once my life - it was my life at one time.

Yet Another Day

Something's dissapeared inside
Should I try to run away
If I could I would escape you

I won't argue anymore
I have lost the will to be
Hope you don't think I'm ungrateful

Why, why are you laughing?
Is it something that I said?

I don't like this place at all
Makes me wonder what I'm here for
Someone take this pain away
Dying to see another day

I don't want to be your friend
Or pretend that can be
I can sense another way
Dying to see another day

Close the curtains, lock the door
Left my notes upon the stair
In hopes you wouldn't read them

Fake emotions in my head
Everything I've seen and read
Can we begin to find peace?

Why? Why are you laughing?
Is it something that I said?