{FTF Commentary} Fairy Tales and the Radio


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Who doesn't love music?  I have songs in many languages and many genres on my iPod.  I can't settle on any one thing!  I'm always intrigued when I hear fairy tales mentioned in songs and want to know more.  I'm not talking about Disney characters breaking into song, either.

I was thinking about it last week while watching THE VOICE.  Coach Adam Levine and his band Maroon 5 sang their latest single, "Payphone," which features Wiz Khalifa.  I was only half-paying attention because I was doing something simultaneously on the computer (And I can't hear well, so if I'm not paying attention, I tune out words).  All of a sudden, I hear, "fairy tale!"  and go, "Huh, what, what?  What did I miss??"

The song isn't one where fairy tales are good things.  The chorus states,

If happy ever after did exist
I would still be holding you like this
All those fairytales are full of shit
One more stupid love song, I'll be sick


At first, I'd been excited to feature it for FTF and squeal about a new fairy tale song.  Alas, it's not to be!  Embedding has been disabled on the video so I can't post it here, but visit YouTube to hear the song. ^_^


Here are three songs I love that feature fairy tales in unique ways.  I'll post from oldest to newest.

1) "A Sorta Fairytale," Tori Amos

I discovered this song in high school.  I was taking part in an online writing challenge called a Lyric Wheel, where we submitted songs and someone else had to write a story based on the song they were given, then "gift" the other person with the story.  I forget now if I was given the song to write for if my friend who was also doing the Wheel was given the song, but either way, that's how I discovered it!

And, okay, the song doesn't have as much to do with fairy tales as other songs do, but it's a song I still love! :) [Be warned that the music video is REALLY WEIRD, though! O.o)





2) "Cinderella," Steven Curtis Chapman

This song is incredibly poignant!  I love this version of the video because Steven Curtis Chapman talks about his inspiration for the song.  I love that it compares three important stages of a girl's life to a fairy tale (And three balls...three midnights...ahhh!) and showcases the special relationship between a father and daughter.  This song is also great for a Father/Daughter dance (Especially at a wedding!).

I'm pretty sure I've shared this one before, but here it is again!





3) "A Dustland Fairytale," The Killers

I adore The Killers.  "A Dustland Fairytale" is off their last-released album DAY & AGE (all the way back in 2008 now!  I am so beyond excited that a new album is finally coming later in 2012!), and it's one of my favorite songs on the album.  There is so much meaning in this song.  I like the way the music video tells an entire story.  I also like the way lead singer Brandon Flowers wrote the song when his mother was going through cancer treatment, giving the song a darker meaning when he sings,

Now Cinderella don't you go to sleep 
It's such a bitter form of refuge
Why don't you know the kingdom's under siege
And everybody needs you...

This song shows the underbelly of a fairy tale, the way Happily Ever After can be truth, but it can also be a lie.  I don't know, I just love it!







What are your favorite songs that incorporate fairy tales, even in small ways?  I would love to add more to my list of Songs to Love! 

Comments

  1. Well, you know the Taylor Swift ones that I won't even mention, but Sara Bareilles has one called Fairy Tale that mentions Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White etc, being disenchanted with their princes. It's pretty good reminding you that there is no HEA.

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  2. Oh my God are you trying to make us cry??? They get harder to watch as you go down. And I don't even have a daughter. Phew! I have to go eat some chocolate!

    Heather

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  3. There's a song by A Perfect Circle called "Sleeping Beauty" that I've always been a little partial too.

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