For my adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream I chose to create a modern day adaptation that focuses primarily on themes of rebelling against social and political barriers, as well as the power of love and the pursuit of one’s true love. As the music director I was tasked with creating a playlist that captured both of these themes. For my list, I made the decision to choose my songs from the 1970s/80s era of rock music. The reason I chose this period was because this time period in rock is one that also contained themes about both love and breaking societal molds. One band in particular that I focused heavily on was Queen, a band that perfectly embodies the central themes of this adaptation. Queen is a band known for breaking through previous expectations and limitations of rock music in the 1970s and many of their songs focus on themes of love and passion, making them their extravagant, over the top, rebellious nature perfect for my adaptation. For my track list I chose 10 particularly powerful or impactful moments that fit the themes I wanted to focus on and selected songs that would amplify the presentation of that scene.
Individual Explanations
Somebody to love - Queen
This is the first song I chose for my adaptation and will serve as the opening score. This song, written and performed by Queen, is the perfect song to open the film. The song has a generally upbeat tone and good pace to it. Along with that its focus on love and freedom both tie into the central theme of my adaptation, while also helping set the tone and pace for the film.
I want to break free - Queen
This is the second song I chose for my adaptation. Once again by my central band of choice, Queen, this song will be used when Hermia and Helena are talking about their future together and how they want to escape their parents. The song is all about finding freedom through true love, which perfectly suits the feeling of the moment.
We’re not gonna take it - Twisted Sister
This is the third song I selected for my adaptation and the first one that fits into my second theme of rebelling against societal constraints and norms. This song, performed by Twisted Sister, is the perfect song to set a theme of pushing back and seizing the initiative, which is why I’ve chosen this song for when Helena and Hermia decides to run away from home and be together despite what their parents say.
A king of magic - Queen
This song will play when our cast is first being shown on the train. I chose this song for several reasons, the first of which being its title is kind of a pun, as this scene would be when we first see Oberon and Titania. But more than that this song also continues to push my theme of love. Specifically lines like “One dream one soul, one prize, one goal, one golden glance of what should be” help this theme.
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap - ACDC
This song was chosen to play during Titania’s use of “magic” to make Oberon fall in love with Nick Bottom and when she uses it on the lovers while they sleep. This song also falls into my second theme of revolting against societal constraints.
Can’t help falling in love - Elvis Presley
This song serves almost entirely as ironic and comedic relief. It will play when all of the lovers are waking up and falling in love due to Titania’s love magic. The entirely serious song, with the backdrop of wild and funny love shenanigans helps keep the movie light hearted and fun, while still keeping tones of love and passion.
-Mr. Bluesky - Electric Light Orchestra
This song will play when Nick Bottom and Oberon are “in love” with each other. The upbeat and fast pace of the song helps make the scene comical and fun. However along with that the song is also about a beautiful day that can’t last forever, as the song ends with night coming and the blue sky being sent away, very similar to Nick Bottom and Oberon’s “love”, which can only last as long as Titania needs it to.
Crazy little thing called love - Queen
This song will play when both Hermia and Demetrius are fighting for Lysander after Titania causes them both to fall in love with him. I chose this song because it is a good way of representing the craziness and irrationality that love can place in people.
If you leave me now - Chicago
This song I chose to bring the upbeat mood from previous scenes down a bit. This song will play when the lovers have all started fighting with each other and have gone their separate ways for the night, all sleeping in different train cars. I want this scene to have a lot of emotions to it to show the pain of love being taken away, and to bring the tone back down to a more emotional level. This song is perfect for it due to its topic of lost love and slow and sad tone.
Love of my life - Queen ending scene
This is the final song I want to have in my adaptation. Love of my life by Queen serves as the perfect ending score for my film. This song is not only soft and filled with themes of love but it is also very emotional and helps leave my viewer on a reflective note to the film they’ve just watched.
Individual Explanations
Somebody to love - Queen
This is the first song I chose for my adaptation and will serve as the opening score. This song, written and performed by Queen, is the perfect song to open the film. The song has a generally upbeat tone and good pace to it. Along with that its focus on love and freedom both tie into the central theme of my adaptation, while also helping set the tone and pace for the film.
I want to break free - Queen
This is the second song I chose for my adaptation. Once again by my central band of choice, Queen, this song will be used when Hermia and Helena are talking about their future together and how they want to escape their parents. The song is all about finding freedom through true love, which perfectly suits the feeling of the moment.
We’re not gonna take it - Twisted Sister
This is the third song I selected for my adaptation and the first one that fits into my second theme of rebelling against societal constraints and norms. This song, performed by Twisted Sister, is the perfect song to set a theme of pushing back and seizing the initiative, which is why I’ve chosen this song for when Helena and Hermia decides to run away from home and be together despite what their parents say.
A king of magic - Queen
This song will play when our cast is first being shown on the train. I chose this song for several reasons, the first of which being its title is kind of a pun, as this scene would be when we first see Oberon and Titania. But more than that this song also continues to push my theme of love. Specifically lines like “One dream one soul, one prize, one goal, one golden glance of what should be” help this theme.
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap - ACDC
This song was chosen to play during Titania’s use of “magic” to make Oberon fall in love with Nick Bottom and when she uses it on the lovers while they sleep. This song also falls into my second theme of revolting against societal constraints.
Can’t help falling in love - Elvis Presley
This song serves almost entirely as ironic and comedic relief. It will play when all of the lovers are waking up and falling in love due to Titania’s love magic. The entirely serious song, with the backdrop of wild and funny love shenanigans helps keep the movie light hearted and fun, while still keeping tones of love and passion.
-Mr. Bluesky - Electric Light Orchestra
This song will play when Nick Bottom and Oberon are “in love” with each other. The upbeat and fast pace of the song helps make the scene comical and fun. However along with that the song is also about a beautiful day that can’t last forever, as the song ends with night coming and the blue sky being sent away, very similar to Nick Bottom and Oberon’s “love”, which can only last as long as Titania needs it to.
Crazy little thing called love - Queen
This song will play when both Hermia and Demetrius are fighting for Lysander after Titania causes them both to fall in love with him. I chose this song because it is a good way of representing the craziness and irrationality that love can place in people.
If you leave me now - Chicago
This song I chose to bring the upbeat mood from previous scenes down a bit. This song will play when the lovers have all started fighting with each other and have gone their separate ways for the night, all sleeping in different train cars. I want this scene to have a lot of emotions to it to show the pain of love being taken away, and to bring the tone back down to a more emotional level. This song is perfect for it due to its topic of lost love and slow and sad tone.
Love of my life - Queen ending scene
This is the final song I want to have in my adaptation. Love of my life by Queen serves as the perfect ending score for my film. This song is not only soft and filled with themes of love but it is also very emotional and helps leave my viewer on a reflective note to the film they’ve just watched.
Album Cover
The album cover was an interesting decision to have to make for my project. The first challenge was the fact that I had never designed something like an album cover before. After looking over reference images from real album covers I decided to keep things simple. Using basic tools I created a small city skyline with a starry background behind it, with yellow text across the sky as well. I chose to keep my cover simple as it seemed most album artwork is simple and doesn't go too much over the top.