Songs of our times that remind you of LOTR... - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

**The Saucepan Man** · 11-12-2006, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kath

There is a song called King Of The Mountain by Kate Bush that, for me, really reminds me of that scene in the Hobbit when all the Dwarves get their instruments out and play the song about going and freeing the Lonely Mountain.

Great song and great album (although we Kate Bush fans have waited long enough for it ...

).

I would most definately agree that the song has a distinct Middle-earth feel to it. Indeed, much of Kate Bush's music does. Perhaps it's the Celtic influence.

Maikadilwen · 11-12-2006, 08:22 AM

One song which has often made me think of ME is Two Horizons by Moya Brennan. Tara itself is the seat of the kings of old and it's not far out for me to add some first age elves onto that. The song is so beautiful and so sad at the same time.

"Hard to believe when the heart is so broken
Storms in the valley hide words never spoken

I hear the sounds
Two horizons sing
The harp that once through Tara

Silver moon stands when the morning is rising
Chasing the wind to the crystal horizon
Hard to believe when the signs are uncertain
Courage be born then our world will stop hurting

I hear the sounds
Two horizons sing
Two horizons burn
The harp that once through Tara"

ninja91 · 11-12-2006, 12:18 PM

The Battle of Evermore by Led Zeppelin of course.

Lalwendë · 11-13-2006, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ninja91

The Battle of Evermore of course.

The amusing thing is that Plant and Page totally deny that they were influenced by Tolkien when writing their lyrics (see Hammer Of The Gods, definitive Zep bio), but the evidence against them is a bit heavy. The Battle of Evermore mentions Ringwraiths, Ramble On mentions Gollum and Misty Mountain Hop is self-explanatory. The fact that Jimmy Page at this stage used to go on stage dressed as a wizard only adds to it all.

Hmm, I have some more to add to the list of music. If you like The Battle of Evermore how about Fairport Convention's album Liege And Leaf? Sandy Denny who sings on 'Battle..' was the late singer for Fairport. A lot of the old late 60s/early 70s acid folk songs make me think of Tolkien; Vashti Bunyan's album Just Another Diamond Day is Hobbit music - simple, delicate and whimsical. Then finally there's Kate Rusby's Underneath The Stars - beautiful...

Oh, and if you want something to remind you of something darker in Tolkien's work, the very scary Come To Daddy by Aphex Twin always makes me think of the scene where the Witch-king threatens to take Eowyn off to the Houses of Lamentation. Brrrr!

Macalaure · 11-13-2006, 11:46 AM

Now that the dark side is mentioned, Nine Inch Nails' "The Becoming" reminds me of the emergence of the Nazgûl (that we know so outrageously few of).
It's a very cold and brutal song about a person who feels that he himself is taken over by something else. The last two lines of the lyrics are repeated several times and in two voices thus adding to that feeling of schizophrenia I connect with the Ringwraiths in their earliest condition.

Legate of Amon Lanc · 11-23-2006, 05:09 AM

If I had to say which reminds me about the LotR, it would be also few ones from Led Zeppelin, but not Battle of Evermore (although it fits in there and it surprised me when I first heard it some time later). Btw I really don't think BoE refers just to Middle-Earth: apart from mentioning the Ringwraith, there is no distinct mention of anything else of Tolkien, and I think it's more or less "general" - about fantasy, or fairytales, and so on. There is also one song from a band I actually don't know, they are not my kind of music, but I noticed that in one of their songs - otherwise they don't have anything in common with Tolkien or even fantasy at large - they sing about a man who returns home drunk or something like that, don't know the text, just there is a word about his wife, that she "cried like hurt Nazgul".
I'm actually surprised no one has mentioned the Blind Guardian (or maybe I overlooked it?). Their album "Nightfall in Middle-Earth", which is all about Silmarillion, and sole songs like "Lord of the Rings" I don't find actually drawing me to the world of Tolkien, but they talk about it nonetheless, so I'm surprised they were not even mentioned (especially, if there were Nightwish mentioned, who are very similar kind of music, but do not sing about LotR explicitely, and the BG do - at least in these few songs).

But back to the original question, songs which remind ME of ME (ahem... you know what I mean

) are some from Clannad, but as well Led Zeppelin's Stairway to Heaven (as someone has already mentioned) and Black Dog (don't ask me why; I just used to have them on tape - ah, the ancient times - together, and it reminds me somehow of the other Wizards than Gandalf. Yeah, when I listen to it, I imagine Radagast, Saruman, and the Blue Wizards. But don't ask me why, really don't know). There are also songs where the feeling is more common, like Pink Floyd's "Breathe". And yeah, I could add some songs from the Beatles remind me of Frodo and Sam's journey to Mordor: namely "With A Little Help From My Friends", "A Day in the Life", "Magical Mystery Tour" and "Strawberry Fields Forever"

Lalwendë · 11-24-2006, 02:55 PM

Legate, you might be amused by this: mad Led Zep & Tolkien page.

In addition to Ringwraiths, Plant wrote about The Dark Lord, so that might be another, but the guy on this page says there is 'no Avalon' in Tolkien but there is Avallone (how much Tolkien has he read, eh?). You're correct, Plant and Page deny they wrote any of their songs 'about' Tolkien, and if you look at them they're actually a big jumbled mess of all kinds of things. Plant was indeed a big Tolkien fan, but those were erm....'heady' times for Led Zep and I strongly suspect they were not always fully 'sober' when writing lyrics.

But the atmosphere of the song is most conducive to thoughts of Tolkien's work at least...

mark12_30 · 02-19-2009, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maikadilwen

One song which has often made me think of ME is Two Horizons by Moya Brennan.

I am a loyal Moya Brennan fan but usually listen to her gaelic songs. Which is kind of funny, since I have most of her albums.

Interesting that you brought this one up. Time to dig into my itunes archives and find it!

Eomer of the Rohirrim · 02-19-2009, 01:13 PM

I finally investigated Isengard, a project of black metal hero Fenriz, and it's really good. It evokes the spirit of Orcs. Folky, black metal. Songs like 'Trollwandering' - what more can I say? Isengard!

Aganzir · 08-28-2013, 05:32 AM

I've been massively obsessed with PJ Harvey's All and Everyone for the last month or so. A while ago I was rambling on about it as usual and quoting the lyrics to Lommy, who didn't (understandably) remember them in detail.
"Sounds like Éomer's song," she said.
"Oh yeah, it actually does!" I said. And realised later that I had totally misquoted, and added parts of Out of doubt, out of dark in the middle. Which probably tells that the connection was dormant in my head even before Lommy pointed it out.

Anyway here goes - the Rohirrim charging into the Fields of Pelennor (and even some marine elements from Éomer's meeting with Aragorn in the battlefield).

Death was everywhere
In the air and in the sounds
Coming off the mounds of Bolton's Ridge
Ooh, death's anchorage

When you rolled a smoke or told a joke
It was in the laughter and drinking water
It approached the beach as strings of cutters
Dropped into the sea and lay around us

Death was in the ancient fortress
Shelled by a million bullets
From gunners waiting in the copses
With hearts that threatened to pop their boxes
As we advanced into the sun
Death was all and everyone
Death was all and everyone

As we advancing in the sun
As we advancing every man
As we advancing in the sun

Death hung in the smoke
And clung to 400 acres of useless beach front
A bank of red earth, dripping down
Death is now and now and now

Death was everywhere
In the air and in the sounds
Coming off the mounds of Bolton's Ridge
Oh, death's anchorage

Death was in the staring sun
Fixing its eyes on everyone
It rattled the bones of the Light Horsemen
Still lying out there in the open

As we advancing in the sun
As we advancing every man
As we advancing in the sun
Sing, "Death to all and everyone"

edit: now my signature looks awkward

Hookbill the Goomba · 09-24-2013, 10:39 AM

Listening to Octopus's Garden by The Beatles makes me think of Oin.

In all seriousness, though, I was listening to Last of the Famous International Playboys by Morrissey and couldn't help thinking of Sauron - particularly his relationship with Melkor. I imagine Sauron being enamoured of him and wanting to impress him with his deeds of darkness.

The song is originally about the London gangsters known as the Kray twins (Ronnie and Reggie Kray), from the 1960s. I can just imagine Sauron having similar feelings of idealization for Melkor.

Dear hero, imprisoned
With all the new crimes
That you are perfecting

Oh, I can't help quoting you
'Cause everything
That you said rings true

And now in my cell
Well, I followed you
And here's a list of who I slew

Reggie Kray, do you know my name?
Oh, don't say you don't
Please say you do, ohh ohh

I am the last of the famous
International playboys
The last of the famous
International playboys

And in my cell
Well, I loved you
And every man with a job to do

Ronnie Kray, do you know my face?
Oh, don't say you don't
Please say you do, ohh ohh

I am the last of the famous
International playboys
The last of the famous
International playboys

In our lifetime those who kill
The news world
Hands them stardom

And these are the ways
On which I was raised
These are the ways
On which I was raised

I never wanted to kill
I am not naturally evil
Such things I do

Just to make myself
More attractive to you
Have I failed?

Oh, the last of the famous
International playboys

Inziladun · 09-24-2013, 10:50 AM

Hookbill, your Morrissey song makes me wonder why I haven't thought of this one for Túrin before.

Thinlómien · 11-13-2006, 03:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Saucepan Man

I would most definately agree that the song has a distinct Middle-earth feel to it. Indeed, much of Kate Bush's music does.

Night scented Stock from Never for Ever always makes me think of Grey Havens, and you'd better not ask why, because it's just a feeling...

11-12-2006, 08:22 AM	#2
Maikadilwen Summoner of Lost Souls Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: At home, with my Strongbow Posts: 521	One song which has often made me think of ME is Two Horizons by Moya Brennan. Tara itself is the seat of the kings of old and it's not far out for me to add some first age elves onto that. The song is so beautiful and so sad at the same time. "Hard to believe when the heart is so broken Storms in the valley hide words never spoken I hear the sounds Two horizons sing The harp that once through Tara Silver moon stands when the morning is rising Chasing the wind to the crystal horizon Hard to believe when the signs are uncertain Courage be born then our world will stop hurting I hear the sounds Two horizons sing Two horizons burn The harp that once through Tara" __________________ -"Death borders upon our birth, and our cradle stands in the grave. Our birth is nothing but our death begun."

11-23-2006, 05:09 AM	#6
Legate of Amon Lanc A Voice That Gainsayeth Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: In that far land beyond the Sea Posts: 7,431	If I had to say which reminds me about the LotR, it would be also few ones from Led Zeppelin, but not Battle of Evermore (although it fits in there and it surprised me when I first heard it some time later). Btw I really don't think BoE refers just to Middle-Earth: apart from mentioning the Ringwraith, there is no distinct mention of anything else of Tolkien, and I think it's more or less "general" - about fantasy, or fairytales, and so on. There is also one song from a band I actually don't know, they are not my kind of music, but I noticed that in one of their songs - otherwise they don't have anything in common with Tolkien or even fantasy at large - they sing about a man who returns home drunk or something like that, don't know the text, just there is a word about his wife, that she "cried like hurt Nazgul". I'm actually surprised no one has mentioned the Blind Guardian (or maybe I overlooked it?). Their album "Nightfall in Middle-Earth", which is all about Silmarillion, and sole songs like "Lord of the Rings" I don't find actually drawing me to the world of Tolkien, but they talk about it nonetheless, so I'm surprised they were not even mentioned (especially, if there were Nightwish mentioned, who are very similar kind of music, but do not sing about LotR explicitely, and the BG do - at least in these few songs). But back to the original question, songs which remind ME of ME (ahem... you know what I mean ) are some from Clannad, but as well Led Zeppelin's Stairway to Heaven (as someone has already mentioned) and Black Dog (don't ask me why; I just used to have them on tape - ah, the ancient times - together, and it reminds me somehow of the other Wizards than Gandalf. Yeah, when I listen to it, I imagine Radagast, Saruman, and the Blue Wizards. But don't ask me why, really don't know). There are also songs where the feeling is more common, like Pink Floyd's "Breathe". And yeah, I could add some songs from the Beatles remind me of Frodo and Sam's journey to Mordor: namely "With A Little Help From My Friends", "A Day in the Life", "Magical Mystery Tour" and "Strawberry Fields Forever" __________________ "Should the story say 'he ate bread,' the dramatic producer can only show 'a piece of bread' according to his taste or fancy, but the hearer of the story will think of bread in general and picture it in some form of his own." -On Fairy-Stories

11-24-2006, 02:55 PM	#7
Lalwendë A Mere Boggart Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: under the bed Posts: 4,737	Legate, you might be amused by this: mad Led Zep & Tolkien page. In addition to Ringwraiths, Plant wrote about The Dark Lord, so that might be another, but the guy on this page says there is 'no Avalon' in Tolkien but there is Avallone (how much Tolkien has he read, eh?). You're correct, Plant and Page deny they wrote any of their songs 'about' Tolkien, and if you look at them they're actually a big jumbled mess of all kinds of things. Plant was indeed a big Tolkien fan, but those were erm....'heady' times for Led Zep and I strongly suspect they were not always fully 'sober' when writing lyrics. But the atmosphere of the song is most conducive to thoughts of Tolkien's work at least... __________________ Gordon's alive!

02-19-2009, 01:13 PM	#9
Eomer of the Rohirrim Auspicious Wraith Join Date: May 2002 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 4,859	I finally investigated Isengard, a project of black metal hero Fenriz, and it's really good. It evokes the spirit of Orcs. Folky, black metal. Songs like 'Trollwandering' - what more can I say? Isengard! __________________ Los Ingobernables de Harlond

08-28-2013, 05:32 AM	#10
Aganzir Woman of Secret Shadow Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: in hollow halls beneath the fells Posts: 4,511	I've been massively obsessed with PJ Harvey's All and Everyone for the last month or so. A while ago I was rambling on about it as usual and quoting the lyrics to Lommy, who didn't (understandably) remember them in detail. "Sounds like Éomer's song," she said. "Oh yeah, it actually does!" I said. And realised later that I had totally misquoted, and added parts of Out of doubt, out of dark in the middle. Which probably tells that the connection was dormant in my head even before Lommy pointed it out. Anyway here goes - the Rohirrim charging into the Fields of Pelennor (and even some marine elements from Éomer's meeting with Aragorn in the battlefield). Death was everywhere In the air and in the sounds Coming off the mounds of Bolton's Ridge Ooh, death's anchorage When you rolled a smoke or told a joke It was in the laughter and drinking water It approached the beach as strings of cutters Dropped into the sea and lay around us Death was in the ancient fortress Shelled by a million bullets From gunners waiting in the copses With hearts that threatened to pop their boxes As we advanced into the sun Death was all and everyone Death was all and everyone As we advancing in the sun As we advancing every man As we advancing in the sun Death hung in the smoke And clung to 400 acres of useless beach front A bank of red earth, dripping down Death is now and now and now Death was everywhere In the air and in the sounds Coming off the mounds of Bolton's Ridge Oh, death's anchorage Death was in the staring sun Fixing its eyes on everyone It rattled the bones of the Light Horsemen Still lying out there in the open As we advancing in the sun As we advancing every man As we advancing in the sun Sing, "Death to all and everyone" edit: now my signature looks awkward __________________ He bit me, and I was not gentle.

11-13-2006, 11:46 AM	#5
Macalaure Fading Fëanorion Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: into the flood again Posts: 2,911	Now that the dark side is mentioned, Nine Inch Nails' "The Becoming" reminds me of the emergence of the Nazgûl (that we know so outrageously few of). It's a very cold and brutal song about a person who feels that he himself is taken over by something else. The last two lines of the lyrics are repeated several times and in two voices thus adding to that feeling of schizophrenia I connect with the Ringwraiths in their earliest condition.

09-24-2013, 10:39 AM	#11
Hookbill the Goomba Alive without breath Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: On A Cold Wind To Valhalla Posts: 5,912	Listening to Octopus's Garden by The Beatles makes me think of Oin. In all seriousness, though, I was listening to Last of the Famous International Playboys by Morrissey and couldn't help thinking of Sauron - particularly his relationship with Melkor. I imagine Sauron being enamoured of him and wanting to impress him with his deeds of darkness. The song is originally about the London gangsters known as the Kray twins (Ronnie and Reggie Kray), from the 1960s. I can just imagine Sauron having similar feelings of idealization for Melkor. Dear hero, imprisoned With all the new crimes That you are perfecting Oh, I can't help quoting you 'Cause everything That you said rings true And now in my cell Well, I followed you And here's a list of who I slew Reggie Kray, do you know my name? Oh, don't say you don't Please say you do, ohh ohh I am the last of the famous International playboys The last of the famous International playboys And in my cell Well, I loved you And every man with a job to do Ronnie Kray, do you know my face? Oh, don't say you don't Please say you do, ohh ohh I am the last of the famous International playboys The last of the famous International playboys In our lifetime those who kill The news world Hands them stardom And these are the ways On which I was raised These are the ways On which I was raised I never wanted to kill I am not naturally evil Such things I do Just to make myself More attractive to you Have I failed? Oh, the last of the famous International playboys __________________ I think that if you want facts, then The Downer Newspaper is probably the place to go. I know! I read it once. THE PHANTOM AND ALIEN: The Legend of the Golden Bus Ticket...

09-24-2013, 10:50 AM	#12
Inziladun Gruesome Spectre Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Heaven's doorstep Posts: 8,039	Hookbill, your Morrissey song makes me wonder why I haven't thought of this one for Túrin before. __________________ Music alone proves the existence of God.