ROMEO AND JULIET'S SONGS

 

Romeo had Juliette (Lou Reed) →

 In this song the author describes the sad episodes in New York and makes it clear that these two things cannot be separated like Romeo and Juliet. Such as in the book, the song talks about cruel events that remind of the fights between Romeo, Tebaldo and Mercuzio in

Romeo and Juliet’s poem. During this struggle Tebaldo killed Mercuzio and, for this reason, Romeo claimed his friend by killing Tebaldo. Reading the lyrics of Lou Reed ‘song, the comparison with the story of Romeo and Juliet is obvious.

“And Romeo wanted Juliet

And Juliet wanted Romeo”

“And Romeo had Juliette

And Juliette had Romeo”

Romeo and Juliet (Dire straits) 

This song is about one girl and one boy called “Romeo” and “Juliet”. Romeo loves Juliet and, to conquer her love, he tries to make a serenade below Juliet’s window. The song also alludes to others works that talks about young love like “west side story” and “my boyfriend’s back”. It was released in 1981 and it belongs to the album “Making Movies”.

 “A lovestruck Romeo sang the streets of serenade

Laying everybody low with a love song that he made

Finds a streetlight, steps out of the shade

Says something like, "You and me, babe, how about it?"

To you I bestow ( Mundy) 

This song came out in 1996. The artist is Mundy. This stanza represents the scene of Romeo when he secretly visits Juliet in his garden, under her balcony, with the hope of taking her with him. In addition to this scene, Mundy refers to Romeo and Juliet in various parts of the song for example, in the first stanza of the song, Mundy mentions Romeo's great love for Juliet as he considers her more valiant than a diamond.

“And my love for you is better than diamonds.

And If you come back, I'll take you to the garden

We'll dance to an orchestra on the lawns”.

Whatever  (Butthole Surfers)

This song came out in 1996  from a rock band called “Butthole Surfers” and it talks about a guy who had a dream about a girl (in this case Juliet) and all the Montagues in general. He says that this girl is driving him crazy and he is getting mad. And because of this the full title of the song is “ Whatever, I had a dream”. 

While we listen to the song, we can notice that the initial part seems almost quiet, but if we continue listening to the singer’s voice, with his intonation, it makes it seem like a lament, as if he was suffering saying those words.

Here's to the Montagues, John Wayne, and Bette Davis

And Romeo, he waved before this chorus girl and beggars hair

Juliet is up in heaven, a pocket full of pills

And Jesus drives to Mexico, to get her prescription filled

I had a dream last night, and it fit me like a glove

I was a scream last night