Wuthering Heights is all the hype right now thanks to a recent film adaptation of the Emily Bronte novel of the same name! Kate Bush’s 1978 hit Wuthering Heights also recently re-popularized the book. The interns have followed suit and chosen songs inspired by literature for their picks this week! Surprisingly, Kate Bush had not read the classic novel when she wrote her song, but instead was watching a TV series adaptation of the book. TV is great but we hope you’re inspired to pick up a book this week. And if you’re a fan of any of the books we mentioned, try listening to some of this music too!
Sally: “Day Is Done”- Nick Drake, A Tale for the Time Being Ruth Ozeki.
For this intern pick of the week I chose “Day is Done “by Nick Drake, to represent one of my favorite books, A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki. In this book the main character listens to a lot of Nick Drake as she travels through the trials and tribulations of her life, which takes some dark turns as she continues to grow up. I listened to this song for the first time because it was mentioned in this story. Listening to this music helped me get into the world of the book and the headspace of the character. Additionally, his existence in this novel proves that Nick Drake is an important figure for sad adolescent girls everywhere, even in fiction. That fact comforts me.
Chloe: “To the End” – My Chemical Romance, A Rose for Emily by William Faulkner
My literature-inspired pick is “To the End,” a song by American rock band My Chemical Romance. It’s based on William Faulkner’s 1930 Southern Gothic short story, A Rose for Emily. This song originates from the band’s 2004 album, Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge, and it utilizes details from the source material to further develop the album’s concept, which tells the story of a young man who has made a deal with the devil in order to be reunited with his lover. The Faulkner story chronicles a small town’s shocking discovery of the secrets kept by a reclusive young woman after her sudden death. It includes themes of love, isolation, and mysterious death! In classic MCR fashion, this track features loud, driving drums, squealing lead guitar lines, and lead singer Gerard Way’s classic creepy whispers and emotional belts. My favorite part of this song is the call-and-response in the choruses, which utilizes haunting harmonies. The song finally ends with the guitars ringing out and fading ominously. If you’re in an emo and high-energy mood, I highly recommend this track!
Alex: “White Rabbit” – Jefferson Airplane, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson
My pick of the week is a song from the psychedelic era of the late 1960s. There’s this scene in Hunter S. Thompson’s novel Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas where Dr. Gonzo is listening to The Surrealistic Pillow album by Jefferson Airplane. White Rabbit plays in the background. I won’t go into too many details on the scene, partially because I don’t want to spoil the book and mainly because I want to keep the content clean. But the scene involves a transistor radio and a bathtub…This hectic moment in the story is something I will never forget. Hunter S. Thompson’s writing here distinctly encapsulates the intoxicating chaos of the time period. Whenever I listen to “White Rabbit”, I’m transported to the age I was when I first discovered and became steeped into this era of music.
Abby: “Firework” – Katy Perry, On The Road by Jack Kerouac
My pick of the week is the 2010 classic hit, “Firework” by Katy Perry. After some research, trying to figure out what song fits best for our pick of the week, I stumbled upon one of my favorite songs as a kid. “Firework” was inspired by On the Road, a novel published in 1957 by Jack Kerouac. Katy Perry’s then-fiancé, Russell Brand, showed her the novel. A specific passage from the novel inspired her after reading, specifically one that talked about having something “shoot across the sky.” Not only did this become part of Katy Perry’s life message, but the song has become a worldwide sensation with a great message interwoven into the lyrics. I chose this song, not only because it was my favorite song at one point, but I got to learn something new about it that 5-year-old me did not know. Fueling my inner child, some would say.
If you want to feel nostalgic and listen to a song inspired by a book, click the link below!