(no subject)

[hatman]

Hey, can you help me? I'm running a game which involves fantasy settings based on popular songs (mostly classic rock). And I'm running out of songs.

So far I've got:

All Along The Watchtower by Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendricks
White Rabbit by Jefferson Airplane
Puff The Magic Dragon by Peter, Paul, And Mary
Ramble On by Led Zepplin (I'm afraid to use this one because I know so little about LOTR)
Voodoo Cowboy by The Cat Empire (which is probably too modern for a proper Fantasy setting, and also I'm not sure how many have heard of it)
Weapon of Choice by Fatboy Slim (which takes place on Dune, which is more Sci-Fi, really, but could be stretched to Fantasy... but, again, I'm not sure how many people know it)
The theme song to Neverending Story (but that feels like cheating and I'm not really sure how I'd work with it)

And that's about it. I'm running out of ideas. What else is there?

Comments

[nicki]

Fleetwood mac?

Something from Labyrinth?

[hatman]

I haven't listened to the Labyrinth soundtrack, but that seems promising.

Will have to look over Fleedwood Mac songs. Any particular suggestions? Not sure I could pull off Rhiannon, though I know it's rooted in Irish legend. The others I can think of offhand don't really tell a fantasy story that I know of, but I'll have to look at the lyrics more closely.

ETA: Forgot to say thank you. Really meant to. Sorry. But... Thank you! This is a good start. :)

[nicki]

I have to admit I was thinking Rhiannon with Fleetwood Mac. but something like Black magic woman might work too.

[hatman]

Could be. I'll have to think about it. And do some research, when I feel up to it. It's a good thought.

[sholio]

Flying Purple People Eater?

If you are also open to urban fantasy, there's always Warren Zevon's "Werewolves of London".

"Triangle" by Gordon Lightfoot is not strictly fantasy (it's about sailors) but there's a verse that talks about mermaids. Though it's a rather obscure song...

There are a few Jimmy Buffett songs that tell Caribbean-influenced fantasy stories, though in more of a fairy-tale/folktale sort of style than high fantasy - "Jolly Mon Sing" and "Chanson Pour Les Petits Enfants" are the ones I can think of. But again, kind of obscure.

There has got to be something in the Beatles' discography that's fantasy-themed, though I can't think of anything off the top of my head.

[hatman]

I thought of Rocky Raccoon, but it's old west, not fantasy. Someone else suggested Octopus's Garden and Yellow Submarine, but I don't think they really work. Maybe Magical Mystery Tour, but it's too vague... IDK.

Will have to look into the others. Thanks!

[melannen]

Bad Moon Rising? American Pie? Anything from the Beatles' more psychedelic period, maybe? The Ouvre of Queen (okay, that's basically Highlander already)? River of Dreams? The Lion Sleeps Tonight? (...okay that's the Lion King already) Tie Me Kangaroo Down? House of the Rising Sun? Hotel California? Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves? Seven (or really anything by Prince)? King of Pain? The Devil Went Down To Georgia?

...possibly I spend to much time listening to old music and thinking about fantasy setting.

[hatman]

Bad Moon Rising seems vague. American Pie is about a plane crash and drinking sadly at a bar. House of the Rising Sun is about a gambling den/brothel in New Orleans. They both feel too modern to me.

I started with All Along the Watchtower. The Joker and the Thief are mysteriously trapped at the top of the tower and have to make their way down. Each level is an illusionary world based on another song. So, upon finding the door down to the top level (from the roof), they found themselves in Wonderland (White Rabbit). And now they're meeting Puff, who is sad and alone, years after Jackie left him. And so on.

So that's the kind of setting I'm looking for. Something I can use to put fantasy heroes in to explore and try to solve a simple puzzle.

Not familiar with a few of the ones you've mentioned, though. I'll add them to the list to check out. Thanks. :)

[melannen]

...aww, you're taking American Pie and House of the Rising Sun way too literally. :P You might as well say White Rabbit is just about a drug trip. Anyway it's not like brothels don't turn up in fantasy settings all the time. If it has to be medieval-fantasy-friendly it's harder, but I guess neither Wonderland nor Puff are particularly medieval, really.

For Beatles, if you want a built-in setting to navigate through, I suggest "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds". Horse with No Name, maybe? It's certainly got a vivid setting....

[hatman]

Well, I need a setting I can work with. And it wouldn't feel right moving those, somehow. In my head, they take place in New York and New Orleans, and those are just not Fantasy settings.

Which, as you point out, does not mean it has to be strictly medieval. Wonderland isn't, and I even had an Easter Egg involving a "metal bird" named Jeff(erson). So I can be flexible.

I did think of Horse With No Name... and then promptly forgot to write it on my list. I'll have to review LSD.

Thanks again. :)

(If you're interested in seeing what I've got so far, the game is here. But, of course, don't feel you have to.)

[marahmarie]

Speaking of Gordon Lightfoot, The Edmund Fitzgerald, while depressing as hell, might also work.