Page 51 - KTUDELL E-LIT | Issue 4 - January 2025

ARTICLES 2025

The Traces of Literature in Turkish Music
While countless songs on the global music scene draw inspiration from literature,
Turkish music also features works influenced by literary masterpieces. Cervantes'
timeless novel Don Quixote has inspired artists like Redd and Cem Köksal. In their
song "Don Kişot," Redd explores the novel's central themes with a modern twist,
emphasizing the fine line between dreams and reality. Similarly, Cem Köksal’s track
"Don Quixote" depicts the adventures and inner journey of the protagonist, taking
listeners deep into the heart of this epic tale.
Turkish symphonic metal band Almora frequently incorporates literary themes into
their music. Their song "Shehrâzad" presents the story of Scheherazade from One
Thousand and One Nights in an epic narrative style. Likewise, the band Knight Errant
draws inspiration from the Epic of Gilgamesh in their song "Gilgamesh," weaving
ancient themes into their powerful melodies.These examples highlight how Turkish
music pays homage to literary works, blending storytelling and sound to create a
uniquely enriching experience.

The Literary Inspirations of Iconic Bands

It goes without saying which Kurt Cobain wrote "Scentless
book inspired this song. In Apprentice," featured on
"1984," Bowie references Nirvana’s In Utero album,
George Orwell’s dystopian inspired by one of his favorite
masterpiece through books: The Story of a Murderer.
numerous lyrics, capturing The song narrates the story of
the oppressive and haunting Jean Baptiste Grenouille,
atmosphere of the novel. novel’s obsessive apprentice
Bowie’s admiration for the character who lacks a
book was so profound that he personal scent and strives to
continued to draw inspiration create "the most beautiful scent
from it, featuring tracks like in the world." Cobain conveys
"Big Brother" and "We Are the the character's eerie and
Dead," also based on Orwell’s unsettling essence through
1984. raw energy and intense lyrics.

Dire Straits' Romeo and Juliet
draws clear inspiration from Released on the 1967 album
Shakespeare’s timeless Surrealistic Pillow, White
tragedy, reimagining it as a Rabbit is a psychedelic music
modern love story infused classic inspired by Lewis
with Mark Knopfler’s personal Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures
experiences. With references in Wonderland. Reimagining
to the classic play, Knopfler’s
emotive vocals and guitar Alice’s magical world
melodies transform the song through a psychedelic lens,
into a rock classic, capturing the song, powered by Grace
the timelessness of lost love in Slick’s mesmerizing vocals,
a modern light. More than a has become a cultural icon in
tribute to Shakespeare, it’s a music and literature.
poignant reinterpretation.

Featured on Radiohead’s Street
Spirit EP, "Banana Co." was You Can Listen to the Songs Mentioned in the Article on
inspired by the depiction of the Spotify by Scanning the Code Below!
exploitative impact of banana
companies in South America, as Remember, the meaning you find in a song's lyrics or a
described in Gabriel García novel's lines is truly a reflection of your own soul. In this
Márquez’s One Hundred Years of journey called life, where you rediscover yourself in every
Solitude. The song addresses the line, verse, and lyric, enjoy the unique harmony of music
oppressive forces of capitalism, and literature.
fusing the novel's dark
atmosphere with melancholic Looking forward to meeting you again in the words of
music. Thom Yorke’s lyrics literature, the melodies of music, and the pages of another
intertwine harsh realities with issue of this magazine.
social commentary.

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