Didriksen Erik - Pop Sonnets: Shakespearean Spins on Your Favorite Songs

Copyright 2015 by Erik Didriksen
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher.
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Number: 2014956801 Hardcover ISBN: 9781594748288
eBook ISBN: 9781594748295 eBook adapted from the print design by Timothy ODonnell
Cover illustration by Martin Hargreaves
Production management by John J. McGurk Q UIRK B OOKS
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quirkbooks.com v3.1 ILLIAM S HAKESPEARE (15641616) has mystified scholars for centuries. With so little documentary evidence about his life and career, particularly in his own hand, he is a topic of endless academic speculation. Did he really compose the works attributed to him? For whom were the Fair Youth and Dark Lady sonnets written? Was Shakespeare murdered by a rival writer? These questions, while intriguing, ignore an important aspect of Shakespeares work. He was not an author but a playwright ; his work is intended not to be read but heard .

His stunning use of rhyme and rhythm not only guided the audience to greater understanding of plot and theme but also helped the actors memorize and perform his works. Given his tremendous power on the stage, we must ask ourselves: if Shakespeares plays were intended for performance, why do we believe his sonnets were intended solely for the page? In fact, they werent. The 154 sonnets we know and cherish were an exception, written and published in 1608 to bolster his income while London theaters were closed because of outbreaks of plague. His complete uvre was far larger, encompassing thousands of unpublished sonnets that were performed with musical accompaniment between acts of his plays. These sonnets survived by being passed down orally, particularly among members of Shakespeares troupe, the Kings Men. (Said troupe endured far longer than most people realize, scoring a number 1 hit in 1963 with their version of Louie, Louie.) In 1743, Sir Kirk de Edin began transcribing these sonnets, finally providing the world with a written record of Shakespeares lost genius.

His work went largely unnoticed, however, until Columbia record executive Robert Lorre discovered the manuscripts in 1951 and began using the sonnets as the foundation for new singles. De Edins manuscript quietly spread throughout the music industry, inspiring countless hit songs over the next sixty-five years. The volume you hold is a selection of these lesser-known sonnets, along with the titles of the songs they helped spark. I earnestly hope they bring you a greater appreciation of both the Bard and the artists he inspired.

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T he game of love, we intimately know
its laws and maxims, mastered by our hearts; thus, I propose to be thine only beau with passion that no other could impart. These feelings weighing heavy in my breast should in thy soul be similarly sown; and now they all are earnestly expressd so that my vows are understood and known: O, never shall I vacate from thy side, nor ever shall I disappoint thee hence, nor will the day approach that wounded pride shall rise from some unfaithful dalliance.

My actions leave thy face unstained by tears and ledgers of my lies shall remain clear. Rick Astley, Never Gonna Give You Up

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I nto the well, I cast a humble prayr
and though Ill not reveal the wish I made, our eyes, they met and we a moment shard, wherein my silent want was well-conveyd. Before we met, I had no yearnings borne for fairytale romance or courtships glee, but O! the summer breeze! thy breeches torn! I have no doubt thou art my destiny! Though weve each other only moments known, my heart doth fling fair Logic now away! I beg thee, take my favor for thine own perchance to call upon me soon, I pray! For long before we had a chance to start, thy absence left an aching in my heart. Carly Rae Jepsen, Call Me Maybe

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T hou art a flame that burns within my breast,
the singular desire within my heart. Believe my wish, most solemnly professd, that we should neer again be made apart. Yet we are twain; it seems thourt worlds away I cannot reach thee with my outstretchd hand to soothe thy aching soul if thou shouldst say thy heart had other circumstances plannd.

Pray, speak of why our love such torment holds, and prithee say why this must folly be! No, tell me not; I fear what might unfold if our two fondest hopes should not agree. I cannot hold my passion long at bay for I do want love fashiond strong that way. Backstreet Boys, I Want It That Way

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T hy confidence in Natures gifts is straind;
I know not why, for thines a pleasing face. Pray, witness all the staring unconstraind by those who mark thine entrance to a place. Thy naked face is beauty unsurpassd; thy countenance is not by rouge improvd. Like Helens, it could launch a navy vast, yet thy reflection leaves thee still unmovd.

My life, once dark, is bathed in brilliant light for thou hast graced it with thy presence sweet; yet thoult not see the passion thoust ignite when thou hast fixd thy gaze upon thy feet. Thy charms are temperd with humility, and make thee still more beautiful to me. One Direction, What Makes You Beautiful

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E ach night I close my eyes to sleep, assured
that in my dreams Ill see once more thy face; and thus I know thy soul hath still endurd beyond this worlds ephemeral embrace. I know not if thy soul stays at my side or if it every night from Heaven leaves. No matter where it lives, thy love abides within me, and again there life achieves. Thy presence hath my courage wholly steeld; thy spirits overtaken all my fears.

To Father Time our love will never yield; it shall remain unshaken oer the years. Although thy image fades at th break of dawn, my heart, with thee inside, will eer go on. Celine Dion, My Heart Will Go On

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A n action imperceptible to most
doth rend my heart when thou dost it perform; while I am paind to look, Im still engrossd and while my heart is broken, so its warmd. Thou knowst not the suffring Ive endured, the fruitless struggle to forget thy face but I shall eer remember, Im assured, so long as thou repeatst that tiny grace. If I cannot escape thy minute charms, Ill win thy love and bring thee endless bliss; I long to hold thee tightly in my arms and bring thee happiness with evry kiss. The love I hold for thee shall neer be lost so long as thou shalt do that thing thou dost.

The Wonders, That Thing You Do!

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M y mistress eyes are nothing like the stars;
theyve brighter shine than all those overhead. Her hairs cascade her visage never mars but effortlessly frames her face instead. And yet, if I should tell her what I see that she hath been by Aphrodite blessd shed quietly demur and disagree and I shall with these words sincere protest: When I observe thy countenances grace, I see no fault no flaw one might repair; and when a smile doth blossom cross thy face, the world takes heed and stops to fondly stare. No words could eer sufficiently impart all thy perfection, just the way thou art. Bruno Mars, Just the Way You Are

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