Literature and music are an important part of our daily lives and are two complementary arts. In this content, we will examine unforgettable songs inspired by literature and books. Of course, the list of songs inspired by the books is not only about them. You can also add and develop your own songs to this listing if you want.
Nirvana – Scentless Apprentice
by Patrick Süskind’s Fragrance
The lyrics of Scentless Apprentice, the second song on the Grunge group Nirvana’s In Utero, were inspired by the book by author Patrick Süskind.
One of Kurt Cobain’s favorite books, Fragrance, describes a murderer, Jean-Baptipte Grenouille, who is devoid of all emotions but is extremely sensitive to smells.
Grenouille, who continues to live as a fearless apprentice as seen in the title of Nirvana’s Scentles Apprentice, is committed to creating the most beautiful scent in the world. The lyrics tell the personality and story of Grenouille.
The Cure – Killing An Arab
by Albert Camus’ Stranger
Inspired by Albert Camus’ legendary book The Stranger, Killing An Arab’s words are an example of existential philosophy. The beach scene in the book is summarized in the song.
The lyrics also reflect the existential worldview of Mersault, the protagonist of the book. Killing An Arab is the first single released by the team.
Robert Smith, the band’s leader, wrote that Albert Camus’s novel Stranger impressed him more. Although many of the music lovers accused the group of racism because of the name of the song, the group leader stated that this incident had nothing to do with racism, only a reference to the character in the book.
The Doors – End of the Night
by Louis Ferdinand Celine’s Journey to the End of the Night
In 2015, the 50th anniversary of The Doors’ Debut album, published under its own name, End Of The Night, is inspired by the French writer Louis Ferdinand Celine’s Journey to the End of the Night.
Among the books to be read, Journey to the End of the Night is one of the most important works of the 21st century with its narrative realistic language and the narrative that conveys the nature of man. It deals with the effects of World War I on people and the policies of war. The book advocates an antimilitarist line.
Alan Parsons Project – The Raven
by Edgar Allen Poe’s Raven
Inspired by Edgar Allen Poe’s stories and poems, The Raven is the second song of the concept album “Tales of Mystery and Imagination“.
After working as a sound technician for Alan Parsons, Pink Floyd and the Beatles, he founded the Alan Parsons Project and released his first album, Tales of Mystery and Imagination, in 1975.
All the songs in the album are the stories or poems of Edgar Allen Poe. The Raven is from Poe’s poem, translated into Turkish by the name Raven.
The only word he says in the poem is ”Nevermore, kar the crow is haunting a man, and he slowly drowns in his memories. At the beginning of the song we hear the raven voice say “Nevermore.
The Strokes – Soma
by Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World
Soma is the third song on the Strokes’ Is This It, which marked the 2000s. Soma is also the name of the drug pill that Huxley uses in his bold New World dystopia to keep people happy and forget the pain. Thanks to this pill called Soma, everyone has created a happy and joyful system.
Muse – Resistance
by George Orwell’s 1984
Resistance describes the forbidden relationship between Winston Smith and Julia, the protagonist of George Orwell’s 1984 novel, and the struggle of two lovers to resist and survive in a dystopia where love is forbidden.
Gorge Orwell’s 1984 influenced music as well as literature. Other songs affected by 1984 are as follows;
• Ministry of Love – Eurythmics
• 2 + 2 = 5 – Radiohead
• 1984 – David Bowie
• California Uber Alles – Dead Kennedys
• Big Brother – Stevie Wonder
• Spies – Coldplay
• Doublethink – Douglas Dare
The Velvet Underground & Nico – Venus in Furs
by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch’s Venus in Furs
Inspired by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch’s book, Venus In Furs is one of the most iconic songs of Velvet Undeground’s 1967 debut album Velvet Underground & Nico.
Masoch’s book, Venus of Fur, which is considered the father of masochism, depicts the sadistic relationship between a male character who enjoys suffering and falls in love with a fur woman.
Venus in Furs, the first lyrics of the song “Shiny, shiny, shiny boots of leather karakter refers to the character is Venus Fur.
Rolling Stones – Sympathy for the Devil
by Mihail Bulgakov’s Margarita with Master
Sympathy for the Devil was influenced by the Russian writer Mikhail Bulgakov’s anti-Stalin novel Usta and Margarita. The Master and Margarita, who criticized the Stalin order, were censored during the Soviet period and were published in 1966.
At the beginning of the book, he goes to two people who talk about whether or not Satan lives and identifies himself as a human being. The lyrics of the song are written from Satan’s point of view and this event is explained in the lyrics.
The Smiths – This Night Has Opened My Eyes
by Shelagh Delaney’s A Taste Of Honey
One of the greatest songwriters, Morrissey is inspired by romantic poetry and writes her emotions in simple and influential lyrics. One of Morrissey’s greatest inspirations is the British writer Shelagh Delaney. This Night Has Opened My Eyes tells the story of A Taste of Honey, one of Shelagh Delaney’s works.
The Smiths is not the only group affected by Shelagh Delaney. The Beatles “A Taste Of Honey” song, which is accepted as a music-changing band in the world, was inspired by Shelagh Delaney’s A Taste of Honey.
Led Zeppelin – Ramble On
by J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings
Robert Plant, the legendary vocalist of Led Zeppelin, worked on J.R.R. It was inspired by Tolkien’s cult work, The Lord Of The Rings. Robert Plant also explained that there are many references to the book, including Frodo Baggins, Mordor and Gollum.
Kate Bush – Wuthering Heights
by Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights
Wuthering Heights is Kate Bush’s first single album. The song was ranked first in March 1978 in countries such as England, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand. Kate Bush became the first female artist to rank high on the UK charts.
The song was inspired by Emily Bronte’s book Wuthering Heights. Directly quoting the lines of the novel, Roman Wuthering Heights ”is about love, hate and abandonment.
Metallica – For Whom the Bell Tolls
by Ernest Hemingway’s Who Does The Bell Ring For?
“For Whom the Bell Tolls ile is a book written by Ernest Hemingway. Metallica brought the song to the book lovers with the book’s name. Metallica’s second album, Ride the Lingtning, was released in 1984. The song tells the episode in Whose Bells Are Playing for, where a republican group of soldiers were killed by enemy planes on a hill trying to escape with the horses they stole.
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