For the month of November, I’ll be selecting songs in conjunction with the music Twitter challenge: #WelcomeToTheOccupation.
The power of one creative form inspiring another cannot be denied. And music is often a critical player in that exchange. It’s well known that Aimee Mann’s music inspired the P.T. Anderson classic, Magnolia, not the other way around. Often times though, soundtrack music is inspired by the movie. There are also instances of novels and other fiction forms inspiring lyricists. Two examples that come to mind are Rush’s “Red Barchetta” inspired by Richard Foster’s “A Nice Morning Drive” and Elton John’s “Rocket Man” inspired by Ray Bradbury’s short story with the same name.
While I’m not big fan of Elton John’s music in particular, I love the melody and lyrics of “Rocket Man”. Elton John and co-writer Bernie Taupin brought the astronaut character back down to earth. Just a normal guy whose wife packs his lunch and who realizes his job takes him away from his family too much – months even. Elton and Bernie stepped into the astronaut’s shoes and told a story that’s relatable to anybody. That’s the magic of the song.
“And I think it's gonna be a long, long time
'Til touchdown brings me 'round again to find I'm not the man they think I am at home. Oh, no, no, no, I'm a rocket man.”