Songs with Mythological Elements

Victor Frost

So I have a group project (ugh) to do that requires we pick a song with mythological elements and then make a presentation explaining the mythological element and various re-tellings of the same story. Any Suggestions? One of my project partners suggested the following:

Venus - Bananarama
Flight of icarus - Iron Maiden
Calypso - Suzanna vega

EDIT: I'm thinking maybe "Immigrant Song" by Led Zeppelin, because it's about Vikings, and everyone knows Vikings could beat the ancient greeks any day of the week.

Apreche

Led Zeppelin is ripe with mythologies. They are also so popular that said mythologies are well documented.

TheWhaleShark

EDIT: I'm thinking maybe "Immigrant Song" by Led Zeppelin, because it's about Vikings, and everyone knows Vikings could beat the ancient greeks any day of the week.

Might I suggest EVERYTHING BY AMON AMARTH?

Also, Nile is great for Egyptian mythology. Well, mostly. There's also some Cthulhu in there too.

Therion released an album called Secret of the Runes, a concept album that explores the various levels of existence in Norse mythology.

Y'know, I could keep going with the metal bands, but really, just pick a song from a European metal band at random, and it very likely involves some mythology in some capacity.

EDIT: Also, look at everything that Blind Guardian has ever released. They're all about the mythology and folklore.

WindUpBird

Everything Pete said.

Also, Enslaved.

Sail

pick a song with mythological elements and then make a presentation explaining the mythological element

You could always use a song from a Christian rock group.

*badump-tish*

Nukerjsr

I'm thinking (Icarus) - Borne on Wings of Steel by Kansas is mythological, but it's told from more of Icarus's Point of View.

pick a song with mythological elements and then make a presentation explaining the mythological element

You could always use a song from a Christian rock group.

*badump-tish*

Yeah, that works. Also, wouldn't any song about Santa Claus work too? XP

WindUpBird

You could always use a song from a Christian rock group.

*badump-tish*

I wouldn't want to be in the classroom for that presentation... But it would be some glorious IRL trolling.

Andrew

Thrice did two songs on the story of Icarus, one from the point of view from Icarus and one from his father Daedalus. It's interesting because Dustin Kensure wrote the first song as he was just leaving his parents care and becoming an individual while the second one is after he became a father. It's quite a poignant view on how the writer's viewpoint on father/child relations is represented not only in the story, but how the writer portrays the story.
Edit: Lyrics

I've waited for this moment
All my life and more
And now I see so clearly
What I could not see before.
The time is now or never
This chance won't come again
Throw caution and myself into the wind.

There's no promise of safety with these secondhand wings
But I'm willing to find out what impossible means.
A leap of faith.

Parody of an angel
Miles above the sea
I hear the voice of reason
Screaming after me
"You've flown far too high boy now you're too close to the sun,
Soon your makeshift wings will come undone"

But how will I know limits from lies if I never try?

There's no promise of safety with these secondhand wings
But I'm willing to find out what impossible means.
I'll climb through the heavens on feathers and dreams
'Cause the melting point of wax means nothing to me.
Nothing to me
Nothing to me

I will touch the sun or I will die trying.
Die Trying.

Fly on these secondhand wings
Willing to find out what impossible means
I'll climb through the heavens on feathers and dreams
'Cause the melting point of wax means nothing to me
Nothing to me
Means nothing to me
Miles above the sea.

I stand on the cliffs with my son next to me
This island our prison, our home
And everyday we look out at the sea
This place is all he's ever known

But I've got a plan and some wax and some string;
some feathers I stole from the birds
We leap from the cliff and we hear the wind
sing a song that's too perfect for words

But son, please keep a steady wing
And know your the only one that means anything to me
Steer clear of the sun, or you'll find yourself in the sea

Now safely away, I let out a cry
"We'll make the mainland by noon"
But Icarus climbs higher still in the sky
Maybe I've spoken too soon

Oh son, please keep a steady wing
And know your the only one that means anything to me
Steer clear of the sun, or you'll find yourself in the sea
Won't you look at your wings
They're coming undone
They're splitting at the seams
Steer clear of the sun, for once won't you listen to me?

O, Gods!
Why is this happening to me?
All I wanted was a new life for my son to grow up free
And now you took the only thing that meant anything to me
I will never fly again, I will hang up my wings
O, Gods!
Why is this happening to me?
All I wanted was a new life for my son to grow up free
And now you took the only thing that meant anything to me
I will never fly again, I will hang up my wings!
O, Gods!

Nuri

Sting - The Soul Cages. Practically every song on the album, including The Soul Cages, has mythological elements, and they are interesting obscure stories. Sting loves mythology and folktales, particularly those of a Northern European persuasion. Of course, I'm sure a more popular myth will be much easier for the project.

Also, for the record, it's Suzanne Vega. Unless there is some new singer that Google and I don't know about.

Jason

Live - Lakini's Juice