Popular music is not traditionally monarchy friendly. Lyrical or
contextual content related to pomp and circumstance, the royal family,
jubilees and the like are not a common occurrence in pop and rock,
unless of course your name is Gary Barlow. The reason for this is
arguably because all forms of popular music are effectively rooted in
disenfranchisement and escapism, from rock and roll, to hip-hop to punk
or R&B. Origins such as these do not really go hand-in-hand with the
hyper-privileged lifestyle that the Queen, the monarchy and the jubilee
represent.
So how exactly should a monarchy themed mixtape be approached? An
obvious way to tackle the theme would be to focus on a punk inspired
playlist, with tunes circling around anti-monarchy sentiments, ala 1977
and the Silver Jubilee. But this of course has already been done, and
mostly by men at that (while punk certainly had feminist undertones, the
key players, especially in 1977, were all-male acts).
Instead, therefore, the girls are have chosen to focus our Monarchy
themed mixtape around idyllic, metaphorical concepts linked to aspects
of the monarchy – of crowns, diamonds, knights and ladies and
princesses. Such abstractions are figuratively employed throughout music
to symbolise all types love and idealism – ways us commoners can feel
like royalty – special and priceless. Whether you are a ‘Dancing Queen’
or your partner’s knight in shinning armour, we can all feel like
royalty when the mood takes us.
the girls are | Monarchy (Spotify)
1. Regina Spector – ‘Lady’
2. Fucked Up – ‘Queen of Hearts’
3. ABBA – ‘Dancing Queen’
4. Lady Lazarus – ‘Took in My Diamond Heart’
5. Au Revoir Simone – ‘Knight of Wands’
6. Ida Maria – ‘Queen of the World’
7. Bat For Lashes – ‘Seal Jubilee’
8. Marina and the Diamonds – ‘Shampain’
9. Princess Chelsea – ‘Machines of Loving Grace’
10. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – ‘Dragon Queen’
See this at TGA at: http://www.thegirlsare.com/2012/06/10/mixtape-monarchy/
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