Music and Composers

NO WHAT IS MY LIFE MAKE THIS STOP

Georges Bizet

“Trio des Cartes” (1875)

“Trio des Cartes” (1875)

A song in the opera Carmen. In the context of the opera, Frasquita and Mercedes (side characters, Carmen’s friends) are reading tarot cards. Carmen joins them and learns the cards are predicting their deaths, as well as Jose’s (love interest, main point of conflict in opera). The tarot cards end up being right. Trio des Cartes is French, and it translates to Trio of Cards. This is in reference to the three cards drawn in the tarot reading.

Carl Orff

“O Fortuna” (1935)

“O Fortuna” (1935)

It’s the centerpiece of various mishearing meme tiktoks, though it actually has a pretty serious meaning. The song is a movement in the list Carmina Burana, being the opening and closing song. The song’s lyrics are based off of a Latin poem with an unknown author. It describes a complaint against the goddess of fortune, Fortuna. The lyrics describe fortune as monstrous, empty, and malevolent, and it straight up sounds like a hero to villain monologue.

Benny Spellman

“Fortune Teller” (1962)

“Fortune Teller” (1962)

An RnB song which tells the story of a young man who learns he will find love within a day (“when the next sun arrives”) from a fortune teller. The next day, he returns upset that the fortune teller was wrong, only to fall in love with the fortune teller herself. The song’s lyrics are unstructured, in 7 separate verses without any chorus. The song mentions palm reading and a crystal (heh) ball.

Al Stewart

“Nostradamus” (1973)

“Nostradamus” (1973)

A folk-rock song in the album Past, Present, and Future with an impressive runtime at almost 10 minutes long. The song is written about Nostradamus and his collection of quatrains (poems). The song and Nostradamus himself is often associated with 9/11, despite his song being made 28 years before it. This largely comes from false poems circulating, those of which Nostradamus never wrote. The lyrics adopt the view of Nostradamus, the majority of the lyrics modeling the style of poem Nostradamus made. They are meant to act as prophecies, something that Nostradamus may have made, though they reference events which have already happened at the time of release of the song.

Scorpions

“Wind of Change” (1990)

“Wind of Change” (1990)

A ballad about the bands visit to the USSR during the height of perestroika (basically the de-communisation of the USSR)

One of the singers said in an interview that the USSR was characterized by the mood that the Cold War was coming to an end, the music was the unifying factor for the people.

Fun fact, there are claims with the CIA being involved with the creation of this song. Song was also performed live after the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Jesus Jones

“Right Here, Right Now” (1991)

“Right Here, Right Now” (1991)

Song was inspired by the Perestroika reforms in the USSR, some of the lyrics also being influenced by the overthrowing of Nicolae Ceaușescu (Socialist dictator in control of Romania.) LYRICS ALSO INSPIRED BY 2 OTHER SONGS. AND THE FALL OF THE BERLIN WALL OK I GET IT.

Literally nothing significant.

Michael

“Heal the World” (1991)

“Heal the World” (1991)

From his album, Dangerous, series of anti-war songs. The song itself includes antiwar lyrics, and Jackson’s wish for humanity to make the world a better place. Michael Jackson said that this song was the most proud of to have been created. An organisation calledHeal the World Foundation was also founded by him. (I apologise for the notes being cluttered so much.)

Fun fact, one of the very few Michael Jackson songs where it doesn’t include him.

Michael Crawford

“Counting Up to Twenty” (1995)

“Counting Up to Twenty” (1995)

Song about being optimistic about the future and such, again, I doubt anything meaningful from this.

But, it did appear on the largest theatre installation in the world, EFX.

Will Smith

“Will 2K” (1999)

“Will 2K” (1999)

Literally just being excited for the 2000’s, I seriously doubt there’d be anything complex about this on the challenge.

Alice Coltrane

“Journey In Satchidananda” (1971)

“Journey In Satchidananda” (1971)

Spiritual Jazz. The album is mostly based on Indian culture, and religion. Shiva is mentioned in the album, a Hindu Deity. I remember joking about this being something like the white woman screaming during moana to “embrace” herself with polynesian culture, it’s sorta like that.

Satchidananda is referred to as “the ultimate reality” (varying meanings, but all pretty similar.) The combination of 3 words in Sanskrit (southern india iirc) Existence, consciousness, and bliss

Vangelis

“To the Unknown Man” (1977)

“To the Unknown Man” (1977)

Song inspired by Tao philosophy. I don’t know, I don't want to listen to this. *Do better Bolour.

Kitaro

“Theme From Silk Road” (1980)

“Theme From Silk Road” (1980)

An instrumental travelogue (basically a documentary showing said location/travels) along the silk road (Xi’An (Chang’an)) to Rome.

The main reason for this was to show how Japan was influenced by the silk road.

(First time a foreign program filmed in China.)

Enya

“Caribbean Blue” (1991)

“Caribbean Blue” (1991)

I HATE, HATE, this. “Complex” song with multiple layers, and textures. Greek wind god mentioned, and Afer ventus, “african winds.”

Enigma

“Return To Innocence” (1994)

“Return To Innocence” (1994)

New-age song, has a cultural element known as the Amis chant (indigenous group of Austronesian people in Taiwan.) Despite the name of the song, it's more so about being yourself rather than actually “returning to innocence.”

George Frideric Handel

Music for the Royal Fireworks (1749)

Music for the Royal Fireworks (1749)

D major scale for wind instruments (trumpets, saxophones, clarinets, etc). Handel composed it while contracted to George II of GB in 1749 for the fireworks set in London’s Green Park on the 27th of April, 1749 in celebration of the Austrian Succession War and the signing of Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (which ended the war).

Igor Stravinsky

Feu d'artifice (1908)

Feu d'artifice (1908)

French for fireworks. Stravinsky composed Feu d'artifice as a wedding present for Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's daughter Nadezhda and Maximilian Steinberg, who had married a few days before her father's death. It is a form of scherzo or “orchestral fantasy” because of its short length.

Claude Debussy

“Feux d'artifice” (1913)

“Feux d'artifice” (1913)

A piece in Claude Debussy’s 24 pieces for Preludes, which was then divided evenly into two books of 12 pieces. Designed for solo piano. Feux d’artifice is the last piece on Book II.

Oliver Knusses

Flourish with Fireworks (1988)

Flourish with Fireworks (1988)

Two minute celebratory opener for Michael Tilson Thomas’ first season as principal conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra, who was (not sure if they’re still alive) a friend of Knussen for 18 years prior to this particular piece. He and Michael both like Stravinsky a lot so he took inspiration from Fireworks (Feu d’Artifice)(mentioned above) to create this piece where there is a lot of variations in notes.

halyosy

“Fire◎Flower” (2008)

“Fire◎Flower” (2008)

"Fire◎Flower" is an original song by halyosy. It was uploaded to YouTube and Piapro on August 3, 2008. It is one of halyosy's most notable songs and one of Len's early hits. The song tells a story about a boy (Len) who describes his love for a girl (Rin), presumably in the summer (during the summer's festival). "Like a fire flower" is a metaphor for his love for her. The symbol "◎" symbolizes "firework" in the title. This song has entered the Hall of Legend (Vocaloid Hall of Fame) (Vocaloid is a singing voice software developed by Yamaha. I didn’t know this so I’m adding it).

Katy Perry

“Firework” (2010)

“Firework” (2010)

Third song on the album Teenage Dream. Perry co-wrote the song with Ester Dean and the song's producers Stargate and Sandy Vee. The song was commercially successful, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and the top five on 20 charts around the world. . Some call the lyrics ‘clunky’ though. Self powering, telling people they can do anything they want.

Joseph Haydn

Fire Symphony (c. 1760)

Fire Symphony (c. 1760)

Also known as Symphony 59, this piece was created in A Major. The work is in standard four movement form and scored for two oboes, two French horns, continuo (bassoon, harpsichord) and strings. The nickname ‘Fire’ did not originate from Haydn himself. For a long time, people thought the nickname was given because of the ‘fiery nature’ of the piece, especially the ‘unusually spirited first movement’, but this piece is no more energetic than any other Haydn composed during this time. Instead, the nickname might derive from the use of several movements as accompanying music to the play Die Feuersbrunst (The Conflagration) (conflagration means large extensive fire that burned a great deal of land (I added this definition because I didn’t know. Don’t feel offended if you know)).

Richard Wagner

“Magic FireMusic” (1870)

“Magic FireMusic” (1870)

Magic Fire Music is the last scene of Die Walküre, second of four operas/epics in Wagner’s Ring Cycle. Wotan, the king of the gods, punishes his daughter Brünnhilde for defying him by putting her into a magical sleep. To protect her, he surrounds her with a wall of magical fire. He uses motifs (recurring musical themes) and leitmotifs (short themes linked to characters or ideas).

Suzanne Vega

“Predictions” (1990)

“Predictions” (1990)

A folk song I can’t find much context on. Suzanne was a large figure in the development of MP3 development (though I don’t think this will be useful). The song’s lyrics reference many forms of fortune telling.

Jean Sibelius

The Origin of Fire (1910)

The Origin of Fire (1910)

The origin of fire is a single movement (lines 41–110) in the Kalevala, Finland’s national epic. It premiered on 9 April 1902 at the opening of the Finnish National Theatre, directed by Sibelius himself. It was later revised in 1910. Some of the sketches for the piece can be related back to 1893 to 1894.

Igor Stravinsky

Suite from The Firebird (1919)

Suite from The Firebird (1919)

The orchestral background for Russian ballet The Firebird based on Russian fairy tales of the Firebird and the blessing and curse it possesses for its owner (Firebird is a bright glowing/burning bird from a faraway land). Stravinsky used many techniques, such as leitmotifs (short recurring musical phrases), to show the Firebird’s ‘immortal and supernatural’ elements.

Sergei Prokokiev

Winter Bonfire (1951)

Winter Bonfire (1951)

It was composed for a symphony orchestra, choir, and narrator, following stories such as the Ugly Duckling and Peter and the Wolf. However, it was created for the Soviet state radio, which means it immediately fell out of favour with the western world. That’s sad because it was one of Prokofiev’s last compositions before his death.

Jerry Lee Lewis

“Great Balls of Fire” (1957)

“Great Balls of Fire” (1957)

The song, released by rock and roll star Jerry Lee Lewis, sold one million copies its first day of release. It was ranked as the 96th greatest song to ever exist by Rolling Stones and featured in the film Jamboree AND the Top Gun franchise.

Johnny Cash

“Ring of Fire” (1963)

“Ring of Fire” (1963)

The song was popularised by Johnny Cash after it appeared on his 1963 compilation album Ring of Fire: The Best of Johnny Cash. It was written by his eventual second wife June Carter and songwriter Merle Kilgore. The song was first recorded for June’s sister Anita, but Cash took the song, added Mexican horns to the background, and popularised it. It was said by Cash’s daughter to be about the “transformative powers of love.”

Vangelis

“Chariots Of Fire” (1981)

“Chariots Of Fire” (1981)

Written as the soundtrack for a film with the same name. Was named “Titles” at first as it was the opening to the movie, but became widely known as “Chariots of Fire”. It was listed as “Chariots of Fire - Titles” on the Billboard Hot 100. The film was based on the true story of two British athletes of the 1924 Olympics - one a Scottish Christian who ran for the glory of God and the other an English Jew who ran to overcome prejudice.

Billy Joel

“We Didn’t Start The Fire” (1989)

“We Didn’t Start The Fire” (1989)

Released in 1989 as part of Billy Joel’s album Storm Front. It refers briefly to 119 significant political, cultural, scientific, and sporting events between 1949 (the year of Joel's birth) and 1989, mostly in chronological order. It was nominated for the Grammys and became his third song to reach number one on Billboard Hot 100. The song was written to show that there are always many things happening around the world.

Tommy Dorsey

“Imagination” (1940)

“Imagination” (1940)

Big band jazz song famously performed by Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra, with vocals by Frank Sinatra. The song is about how imagination allows the speaker to dream of a perfect love, even if it isn't real. It celebrates the power of the mind to create beauty and hope, especially in love.

Gene Wilder

“Pure Imagination” (1971)

“Pure Imagination” (1971)

Song from the 1971 film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, sung by Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka. The song celebrates creativity, dreaming, and the limitless possibilities of the imagination. It invites listeners to believe in a world beyond reality, where wonder and magic are possible if you open your mind. Wonka uses the song to welcome the children into his magical chocolate factory. Also recreated in the Timothee Chalamet adaption of Wonka 😃👍

John Lennon

“Imagine” (1971)

“Imagine” (1971)

“One of the most famous and influential songs of all time, released in 1971. It presents a vision of world peace, unity, and hope.” (Wikipedia) Lennon invites listeners to imagine a world without divisions—no countries, no religions, no possessions—where all people live in peace. The song isn't attacking religion or governments directly—it’s a call to rethink the things that separate humanity and imagine a world built on shared understanding and love.

Evanescence

“Imaginary” (2000)

“Imaginary” (2000)

A haunting, emotional rock song from their debut album Fallen (2003). It blends gothic, orchestral sounds with powerful vocals by Amy Lee. The song explores escapism through imagination. The narrator retreats into a dream world to escape pain, trauma, or a harsh reality. It contrasts a dark, chaotic real world with a calm, dreamlike inner world—a place of safety and control created through imagination.

Cast of Mary Poppins

“Can You Imagine That?” (2018)

“Can You Imagine That?” (2018)

Mary Poppins encourages the Banks children to open their minds to imagination and wonder, even when things feel sad or confusing. The song begins as she helps the children with a bath, but quickly turns into a magical journey under the sea—complete with ships, sea creatures, and playful adventure. The children are struggling with grief and uncertainty, and Mary uses the song to show how imagining new possibilities can bring joy and hope.

Ragtime

“Wheels of a Dream” (1998) vs. “Wheels of a Dream” (2009)

“Wheels of a Dream” (1998) vs. “Wheels of a Dream” (2009)

A duet sung by Coalhouse and Sarah about their hope for a better future for their child. In the 1998 original Broadway version, the song is long, powerful, and placed early in the show to show their love and dreams. It’s one of the emotional highlights and is fully performed with strong vocals and full music. In the 2009 revival, the show was shorter overall, so the song was often cut down or moved later in the story, sometimes used as a short reprise. The revival focused more on keeping the story moving, so it didn’t always keep the full version of the song. Both versions show the same message about hope, but the original is bigger and more emotional, while the revival is simpler and more focused on the story.

Martin Guerre

“I Will Make You Proud” (1994) vs. “Justice Will Be Done” (1999)

“I Will Make You Proud” (1994) vs. “Justice Will Be Done” (1999)

“I Will Make You Proud” is a solo anthem as he rallies the village and stokes nationalistic pride. It’s a bold, stirring statement showcasing his confidence and ambition. “Justice Will Be Done” replaces or reshapes that moment into a powerful ensemble piece centered around the dramatic courtroom verdict. It brings together the cast, amplifying communal judgment and moral reckoning after the trial. The transition from “I Will Make You Proud” to “Justice Will Be Done” reflects a major shift in storytelling between the original and the 1999 tour: it moves from a personal, character-driven declaration to a broader, collective conclusion - emphasising group dynamics and moral resolution at the heart of Martin Guerre's revised narrative.

Mulan

“Reflection” vs “Written in Stone” (1998)

“Reflection” vs “Written in Stone” (1998)

“Reflection” was included in the final film, performed by Mulan (Lea Salonga). Serves as Mulan’s emotional centerpiece, capturing her inner conflict: hiding who she really is and longing to be true to herself. Positioned early in the film—after her failed matchmaker visit—as she questions her identity and place in society. “Written in Stone” was cut from the final version after Stephen Schwartz left the project. A powerful torch song that declared traditions and destiny as unshakeable: “our destinies are written in stone.” Originally placed when Mulan disguises herself as a soldier—highlighting societal expectations and the weight of ancestral duty. (I may use hyphens too often oopsies)

Alanis Morissette

“Ironic” (1995) vs “Ironic” (2015)

“Ironic” (1995) vs “Ironic” (2015)

“Ironic” (1995) is a classic alt-rock song filled with unlucky or strange situations like “rain on your wedding day” and “a traffic jam when you’re already late,” though many scenarios aren’t really ironic?? In 2015, she performed a new version with James Corden, keeping the melody but updating the lyrics to reflect modern life—mentioning things like “swiping left on your future soulmate” and “meeting the man of my dreams, and then meeting his husband.” While the original had an emotional and earnest tone, the updated version is humorous and self-aware, emphasising both the song’s original meaning and how much the world has changed.

K.D. Lang vs. Sheryl Crow

“Surrender” (1997) vs. "Tomorrow Never Dies" (1997)

“Surrender” (1997) vs. "Tomorrow Never Dies" (1997)

When Tomorrow Never Dies was being made (1997), composer David Arnold wrote a dramatic James Bond theme called “Surrender”, performed by k.d. lang, which was initially chosen as the opening theme and woven into the film's score—complete with brassy John Barry–style motifs—before being replaced by Sheryl Crow’s version for commercial appeal. Lang’s version remained in the end credits, with many fans and critics—especially on Reddit—noting it better fit the Bond mood, calling it “classic Bond” with its bold horns and powerful vocals. In contrast, Crow’s “Tomorrow Never Dies” served as the official theme, co-written with Mitchell Froom, and released as a single in December 1997, reaching the UK Top 20. Crow’s version—while smoother and commercially successful—was viewed by some as too subdued for an opener, though it earned industry acclaim and award nominations.

Billy Joel vs. Fallout Boys

“We Didn’t Start The Fire” (1989) vs “We Didn’t Start the Fire” (2023)

“We Didn’t Start The Fire” (1989) vs “We Didn’t Start the Fire” (2023)

“We Didn’t Start the Fire” (1989) is a rapid-fire history song listing major global events from 1949 (the year he was born) through 1989, like the Cold War, civil rights movements, Vietnam, and the rise of television, using each reference to show how every generation inherits global chaos. It’s driven by repetition and urgency, aiming more for cultural memory than deep explanation. In 2023, Fall Out Boy released their own version, covering events from 1989 to 2023, such as 9/11, Elon Musk, COVID-19, and the rise of social media. While Joel’s version reflected personal and collective anxiety over history repeating, Fall Out Boy’s update has a more chaotic, ironic tone, sparking mixed reactions—some praised its effort to continue the idea for a new generation, while others felt the references were more random or lacked the impact of the original. Both songs use the same structure but reflect the concerns and noise of their own times.

Sun Ra

“Space is the Place” (1973)

“Space is the Place” (1973)

The first song in Sun Ra’s space is a place album. Introduction to Sun Ra’s ‘free and vast form jazz catalog’. It is a fusion of science fiction and ancient myth with the panoply of jazz. It was originally released on the Blue Thumb label in 1973. In 1998, it was reissued by Impulse! Records. It is about escaping earthly oppression and imagining a utopian future in space where Black people can create a new, liberated society.

Grace Jones

“Nightclubbing” (1981)

“Nightclubbing” (1981)

Jones’s (Jamaican artist) fifth studio album. A pop album that forays into new wave and dance. It features a distinct sound that also incorporates rock, funk and post-punk music (according to Wikipedia, I listened and I have no idea what genre this is). Nightclubbing is a "post-punk pop" album that, "delved into the worlds of disco, reggae and funk much more successfully than most of her 'alternative' contemporaries, while still retaining a blank-eyed alienation that was more reminiscent of David Bowie or Ian Curtis than most of her peers." It is about moving through nightlife spaces with cool detachment and confidence, observing the scene rather than being consumed by it. It mixes themes of rebellion, style, and self-possession—suggesting that nightclubbing isn’t just partying, but a kind of performance or statement of identity in a world that often watches and judges.

Flying Lotus

“Galaxy In Janaki” (2010)

“Galaxy In Janaki” (2010)

Part of Cosmogramma, the third studio album by American music producer Steven Ellison as Flying Lotus. While Lotus’s mother was hospitalized with diabetes complications, Lotus brought his recording equipment into her room and set up microphones to gather audio. He later used the wheeze of a respirator and pings of vital-sign monitors in the production of this track. His mother died shortly before the album's release, and he dedicated this track to her. It is free jazz. I cannot find anything that has analysed the lyrics and I cannot find the lyrics. I will potentially listen to it myself later and write a summary of the lyrics.

Kendrick Lamar

“Black Panther” (2018)

“Black Panther” (2018)

First song in the Black Panther movie soundtrack where Lamar sings from the perspective of T’Challa (main character). The song bears a calm, peaceful, hopeful, and uplifting vibe from the instrumentation throughout the song, down to Kendrick’s verse. This is to exemplify the heroic nature exhibited by T’Challa. Throughout the song, the beat switches to a darker key-laden sound, which expresses T'Challa’s Black Panther side. It is a rap song.

Gojira

“Global Warming” (2005)

“Global Warming” (2005)

Final track on Gojira’s album From Mars to Sirius. It is an atmospheric metal (?) song. It discusses Earth’s destruction due to human actions, particularly focusing on climate change, pollution, and the loss of natural harmony. The lyrics shift from despair and warning “And I feel all alone 'Cause everybody's wrong, I fear the living. What is this thing that we call hate?” to a hopeful call for transformation “Open thy eyes and let all this flow in. Now see a new hope is growing inside”.

Common

“Imagine” (2021)

“Imagine” (2021)

A collaboration between hip-hop singer Common and soul singer PJ. The song fantasises about a welcoming, care-free world for all and spiritual rebirth. I don’t know what else to write, that's literally all the song talks about. Common wrote the song ‘at a time when we were all going through a lot’ (COVID I guess with the timing). He wanted to create music to help him and others to focus on the good things in the world.

Utopian Art Machine

“SolarPunk Anthem” (2024)

“SolarPunk Anthem” (2024)

Rock single. It’s supposed to inspire solar punks, vegans, world savers (?????), and the super conscious (???????), bringing a sense of hope to those who care deeply about the future rather than to just achieve commercial success. It discusses environmentalism, sustainability, and holds a hope for optimistic futures.

Sons of the Pioneers

“Old Man Atom” (1945)

“Old Man Atom” (1945)

Statistical protest song against the bombings of hiroshima, nagasaki, and the test at bikini bottom.

The song personifies the Atom, “Old Man Atom” as if he were some careless man, thinking he can do anything, going anywhere, and everywhere, without being stopped.

“All men may be cremated equal” is very funny. Mocking the declaration of independence, as a protest to atomic bombs.

The Golden Gate Quartet

“Atom and Evil” (1946)

“Atom and Evil” (1946)

Title is a play on Adam and Eve, and the song is a spin off of the story? Like a narrative (idk how to describe this.)

Basically (okay this is so good, I can’t describe it.) BASICALLY. Atom is Adam, and Eve is Evil, and something about how Eve doomed humanity, something like that. (I am definitely remembering this.)