We’ve discussed what books to pair with your favorite pop stars and other great book and song pairings. For those who love classic rock and literature, you’ll be happy to know that some of the most popular artists of the 20th century wrote and recorded songs that were inspired by their favorite novels. It might shock you just how many.
1984 inspired Bowie and Radiohead
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What do David Bowie and George Orwell have in common? They both wrote something titled “1984” but did you know that Bowie’s song was inspired by Orwell’s novel? It was written for a musical version of the book. The musical was never produced, as Orwell’s estate refused to authorize it, but the song found its way onto Bowie’s “Diamond Dogs” album, as did several others.
Years later, Radiohead released a track titled “2+2=5” which was also inspired by Orwell’s novel. Their title refers to the part of the book where Big Brother teaches people to reject everything they once knew, such as the lesson that 2+2=4.
The Five Chinese Brothers inspired R.E.M
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1984 was also the year that R.E.M released their album Reckoning, which featured the song “7 Chinese Brothers”. This song was inspired by a children’s book titled The Five Chinese Brothers, which was based upon a classic Chinese folktale.
The Grapes of Wrath inspired Bruce Springsteen
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Bruce Springsteen found inspiration for a hard rock anthem in John Steinbeck’s classic dustbowl novel The Grapes of Wrath. His song, titled “The Ghost of Tom Joad” was inspired by the novel’s title character.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy inspired Coldplay
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What is the answer to life, the universe, and everything? According to Douglas Adam’s Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, the answer is 42. If you’re thinking of the hit Coldplay single of the same name, yes, you are correct: the song was indeed inspired by the book. When asked if this were true in a 2008 interview, lead vocalist Chris Martin replied “It is and it isn’t.” He also added that 42 was his favorite number.
Lord of the Rings inspired Led Zeppelin
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One of the most well-known examples of a band inspired by literature is Led Zeppelin, who were great admirers of J.R.R. Tolkien. They loved his Lord of the Rings series-it inspired several of their hits, such as “Over the Hills and Far Away” and “Ramble On”. In “Ramble On,” the band pays tribute to some of Tolkien’s best-known creations, such as Mordor and Gollum.
For Whom the Bell Tolls inspired Metallica
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Zeppelin themselves influenced many hard rock and heavy metal bands who preceded them. One such band was Metallica, who would later have a hit with their song “For Whom the Bell Tolls”, inspired by Ernest Hemingway’s classic work.
Moby Dick inspired Mastodon
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The heavy metal group, Mastodon, released their album Leviathan in 2004. It featured several songs inspired by Herman Melville’s Moby Dick including “I am Ahab” and “Seabeast”.
These are just a few songs and musicians inspired by great literature of our time. It is wonderful to see how many different ways literature can influence culture.
Featured image courtesy of RaiderReview.