Dog Legs & Feet
Shakespeare's Palpable Hits
© 2003 Zita Sound LLC (678572947322)
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Catchy modern songs with lyrics either taken from the Bard or inspired by his plays.
tracks
- 1 Blow, Blow, Thou Winter Wind
- 2 Who is Silvia?
- 3 Hark Hark the Lark
- 4 Sweet Sweet Viola
- 5 Come Away, Death
- 6 Come Unto These Yellow Sands
- 7 A Lover and His Lass
- 8 O Mistress Mine
- 9 Cats and Dogs
- 10 Will You Buy Any Tape?
- 11 A Sheep-Shearing Song
- 12 Sigh No More, Ladies
- 13 Take O Take Those Lips Away
- 14 Master & Swabber
- 15 Under the Greenwood Tree
- 16 Fie on Sinful Fantasy
- 17 Fear No More
- 18 Irish Dement
- 19 That Sir That Serves
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notes
Shakespeare's plays contain dozens of songs -- but only the lyrics. For the most part, the original melodies are unknown, leaving us with a mystery - and a delectable creative opportunity. Any music for the 400-year-old words must be created afresh for each new production, just like costumes and sets.
That's how the songs on this album came into being. Just like the plays from which they come, these songs are a mixed bag of old and new, bitter and sweet, fast and slow. A bunch of rustics in the forest might break into a madrigal or a rollicking country jam; a starstruck lover might express his feelings in a sultry jazz number; a witty song mocking the opposite sex might turn into a campy cabaret. In short, the plays' wide-ranging emotional palate begs for musical styles that are just as varied -- you'll never quite know what's coming 'round the corner.
All of these songs were used in, or inspired by, Shakespeare plays that were performed in and around Austin, Texas during the past 12 years. Many were used in productions of the Shakespeare at Winedale program of the University of Texas at Austin. We hope you enjoy them!
reviews
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No Holds Bard!
author: PazmundialThere are not many albums out there like this. It's not unheard-of for a rock band to update a centuries-old song on the back half of an album - heck, think of the Byrds "Turn, Turn, Turn" - but an entire disc of them? The good news is that, in this case, it works. In fact, you can - if you should want to - almost forget you are listening to Shakespeare and just enjoy the music on its own merits. It is, Shakespeare or no, an album filled with good tunes. What comes across in just about every track on "Shakespeare's Palpable Hits" is the theatricality of the music. Listening to it, you're reminded that each of these songs has a dramatic context in which it both entertains an audience and advances a plot; and though that context is stripped away here, the songs still are filled with the color and pageantry of a play. This album does not have the classically trained, fragile sound that one often associates with Shakespeare music - these guys have rock-and-roll voices, and they frequently belt out the songs as if they are on stage in a crowded bar. Even the few songs that sound "Elizabethan" have a certain roughness to them - the music of the pub, not the court. Some of the songs have a silly or farcical or vaudevillian quality that makes this sometimes sound like a children's album. Others have a haunting lilt, and still others are just good toe-tappers. The disc as a whole has some of the same jumbled, fantastic, over-the-top quality of a late Beatles album like "Sgt. Pepper" or "Magical Mystery Tour." The disc also contains a handful of "non-Shakespeare" songs (that is, with lyrics not written by Shakespeare) sprinkled throughout. "Sweet Sweet Viola" is a roots-rock finger-snapper that quickly runs down the labyrinthine plot of "Twelfth Night." "Cats and Dogs" is a satirical take on the wicked queen from "Cymbeline," who covers up her plan to poison her stepdaughter by claiming she wants to get rid of some pesky strays. "Irish Dement" is a raucous beer-swinging singalong that reminds you "you're sure to be dyin' someday." The only problem with this album, really, is that there could be more of it. "Come unto these yellow sands" and "Master & swabber" in particular seem to end just when they're getting going... though the band can hardly be blamed if Shakespeare didn't write more words for these ditties. All in all, this album is one of those little gems that, even if you don't listen to it every day, you'll always be glad you have in your collection.
Good tunes and a fun romp through Shakespeare's canon
author: D.M. SacksThis album is really enjoyable and accessible. You don't have to know Shakespeare to enjoy this album, but of course, the more Shakespeare you know - the more you'll enjoy these songs! Their arrangements are quirky and fun and their harmonies are spot on! My favorites are - Sweet Viola, Irish Dement and A Lover and His Lass. Fun for all!
Excellent! Shakespeare music for everyone!
author: TriphiliaThis album is cool because it offers fresh takes on music penned by the world's most influential playwright. The songs are very catchy, and run the gamut of musical styles. I'd especially recommend this as a gift for Shakespeare lovers, or for students studying the Bard in class. The CD really brings home to timelessness of Shakespeare's words and themes. The song Irish Dement is contagiously compelling. All the songs are loads of fun.
Catchy album, surprisingly good
author: LJThis isn't normally the type of music I'd pick up, but I was pleasantly surprised at how light and fun it is. It has a great rhythm that I find gets stuck in my head -- sometimes I can be caught singing the songs at work. Great band that sounds like they actually enjoy playing together. I highly recommend it.