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Tolkein Songs to current melodies

Can anyone put a song from LOTR to the melody of a popular song. Best of all, a well known showtune? Please no Metalica or Pearl Jam, I don't know the melodies.

Some here have actually heard me do my Elvis impersonation, singing Elbereth Gilthoniel to the tune of Love Me Tender. <center> <a href="http://www.barrowdowns.com">Barrow-Downs</a>~<a href="http://www.geocities.com/robertwgardner2000">Bare Bones</a>~<a href="http://pub41.ezboard.com/btarostineruhir">Tar Ost-in-Eruhir</a>~<a href="http://www.geocities.com/robertwgardner2000/gilthalion.html">Grand Adventures</a>~<a href="http://www.barrowdowns.com/fanfichobbits.asp">The Hobbits</a>~<a href="http://www.tolkientrail.com">Tolkien Trail</a> </center>

Music I'm trying out "Greensleeves" and "Oh Danny Boy" to the ballads. Jean, Denise, Donna. Our love is here to stay, Dancing Cheek to Cheek to others

Greensleeves can be made to work with Boromir's funeral song by Aragorn and Legolas. I've tried it, but I'm not sure I recommend it! <center> <a href="http://www.barrowdowns.com">Barrow-Downs</a>~<a href="http://www.geocities.com/robertwgardner2000">Bare Bones</a>~<a href="http://pub41.ezboard.com/btarostineruhir">Tar Ost-in-Eruhir</a>~<a href="http://www.geocities.com/robertwgardner2000/gilthalion.html">Grand Adventures</a>~<a href="http://www.barrowdowns.com/fanfichobbits.asp">The Hobbits</a>~<a href="http://www.tolkientrail.com">Tolkien Trail</a> </center>

Hey this is kindof off-topic, but sometimes when Im trying to sing the songs in my head that are in the book, it is really off.. like there will be another paragraph of the song starting when Im in the middle of a verse (I dont know if that explains it, but you know what I mean). Is there any way to find out how the songs are supposed to be sung other than trying to perfect it in your head? "Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends."

Gandalf, I don't know whether you ever heard the BBC version of LoTR (Radio series, 1980) but the music on that was perfect. Sadly, I can't remember who composed it, but as far as I'm concerned, it's the definitive version (both actors and songs.) If I was more skillful on this computer I could try to put some sound clips up for people to listen to, but I have no idea how to do it. Sam singing the song in the orc tower is one of the most moving and beautiful songs ever...

That sounds quite interesting... is there perhaps a place on the web to obtain such tracks of yesteryear? (aside from the random napsteresque programs, because I'm fairly certain that is a bit too obscure for them...) <hr> Join Me In My Travels... <a href="http://pub39.ezboard.com/btheezboardnomads">the ezboard nomads</a>

"napsteresque" !!! If the Nomad had not already moved on (he stays too briefly in any one place!), I might have congratulated him on a fine new word! (Really, less than a week is far too little time to appreciate the Downs!) I have not lately looked for Tolkien songs on the net. I once downloaded the Professor himself singing an early version of Sam's TROLL SONG! The TOLKIEN ARCHIVES used to have a tremendous amount of material, but alas, it seems to have been cut way back! (POSSIBLE SOLUTION FOR CONTENT PROVIDERS...Bandwidth is the problem. By maintaining a large inventory of big files, a popular website also maintains a high bandwidth cost. Having a ROTATING selection, like a radio station, could ameliorate bandwidth usage...) Earlier, there was a comment to the effect of "I start singing a Tolkien song to a modern tune, but the lyrics don't fit the melody..." Naturally, one must find a suitable melody. For example fitting BOROMIR'S FUNERAL SONG to GREENSLEEVES works, barely, but one must "fit" the lyrics in, by occasionally smooshing multiple syllables to a note or two, or by extending a syllable across multiple notes. One should try to end each phrase with the ending of a stanza or a chorus. One should try to get a feel for matching the melody to the meaning, too. I haven't tried, but I imagine that some melodies from modern musicals or pop ballads would better fit than stuff off the TOP 40. (Do they still call it the TOP 40?) One could go country, I suppose, but all that sounds alike to me now. (The older stuff was better. I imagine Galadriel singing to "Crazy" by Patsy Cline, or Pippin singing "Water Hot" to the tune of "Your Cheatin' Heart" by Hank Williams...) Heh. Of course, one can RAP any poetry that has a beat... Gangsta Elves of Rivendell! <center> <a href="http://www.barrowdowns.com">Barrow-Downs</a>~<a href="http://www.geocities.com/robertwgardner2000">Bare Bones</a>~<a href="http://pub41.ezboard.com/btarostineruhir">Tar Ost-in-Eruhir</a>~<a href="http://www.geocities.com/robertwgardner2000/gilthalion.html">Grand Adventures</a>~<a href="http://www.barrowdowns.com/fanfichobbits.asp">The Hobbits</a>~<a href="http://www.tolkientrail.com">Tolkien Trail</a> </center>

Well I don't know if you'd consider it "popular" style, but the Tolkien Ensemble ( www.tolkienensemble.dk ) is putting all of Tolkien's poetry into song. You can order their CD or... <Attention: Shameless plug alert > You can find one of the Ensemble's songs, along with many other MP3s, at the Tolkien Trail </end shameless plug> Although I agree, bandwidth is a concern... unfortunately none of the free providers seem to even allow MP3s or even zip files on their servers so you have to dump it all on your main server... which is very annoying. GeoCities even deleted my account once for "daring" to put up an MP3. Not only do they use up a lot of bandwidth but even compressed MP3s take up a ton of space. I like your "rotating" suggestion, Gil. Napster is dead but there are numerous other programs that still have decent collections: try Kazaa at www.kazaa.com ---Ben Creator of <a href="http://www.tolkientrail.com">The Tolkien Trail</a>, an exciting new LotR website! Admin at <a href=http://pub2.ezboard.com/bbenjaminstolkienboard>Entmoot</a>, the largest J.R.R. Tolkien community on ezboard! <center><a href="http://www.tolkientrail.com">http://www.tolkientrail.com</a></center>

One could always try... ...the melodies of traditional ballads and hymns. I personally haven't tried, but I'm sure that you could find something that would work. (Whether or not you want the medieval pub scene connotations of a ballad melody, I don't know.) Or just make something up! It's not that hard, really. Start with something vaguely like a song you know, and then start changing the melody to make it fit.

Well, I know that there is a tune to one of the songs at least, but you have to have quite good hearing to pick it out.In the animated movie (Bakshi version) when the company arrives at the Prancing Pony, Frodo sings the same song he does in the book. I think you hear most of the first verse, but after that it cuts to outside. Anyone who knows music should be able to figure the last part out though.Sorry for being kinda OT there...