Magic and music
I was talking to my friend Marc Oberon the other day about the relationship between magic and music. Marc often performs his routines to music, not only to fill the silence and to cover the sound of any machine that shouldn’t be heard, but because a soundtrack complements and enhances the magic. The emotions evoked by the trick or illusion are echoed and intensified by the music; the emotions evoked by the music are reflected in the magic. A mutually beneficial symbiosis, with magic leading and music supporting.
What about the other way round? We got talking about Alice Cooper, the famous rock star, who does all sorts of dark illusions as part of his stage act, including hanging himself. And then Marilyn Manson, who also does a few (I’m told) and Arthur Brown, the god of hell fire, who doesn’t exactly do magic on stage but is certainly well known for some of the special effects he has used over the years. It’s interesting to note that Marilyn Manson is great friends with Rudy Coby and Arthur Brown with Simon Drake.
It seems to be musicians who want to give the impression of having Satanic powers who tend to use magical effects in their acts. Arthur Brown made the point (see his website godofhellfire.co.uk) that, if he’s going be to “singing about putting spells on people, and devils and gods and unseen forces, it's important that I look like a devil and can do the things I claim.” That makes sense.
But it’s not only this type of music that goes well with magic. Many other singers have introduced an element of illusion into their concerts: Shania Twain, Kate Bush, Bobby Brown, to name but three.
What is it about magic that makes it a good accompaniment to music? Other art forms combined with music can prove to be just a distraction (do you remember the opera-singer/flower-arranger combo on Britain’s Got Talent?) - so why does magic work?
I find this a fascinating question but I haven’t yet come up with an answer. It’s been over a week since my conversation with Marc and I’m still pondering. Anyone else got any ideas?
What about the other way round? We got talking about Alice Cooper, the famous rock star, who does all sorts of dark illusions as part of his stage act, including hanging himself. And then Marilyn Manson, who also does a few (I’m told) and Arthur Brown, the god of hell fire, who doesn’t exactly do magic on stage but is certainly well known for some of the special effects he has used over the years. It’s interesting to note that Marilyn Manson is great friends with Rudy Coby and Arthur Brown with Simon Drake.
It seems to be musicians who want to give the impression of having Satanic powers who tend to use magical effects in their acts. Arthur Brown made the point (see his website godofhellfire.co.uk) that, if he’s going be to “singing about putting spells on people, and devils and gods and unseen forces, it's important that I look like a devil and can do the things I claim.” That makes sense.
But it’s not only this type of music that goes well with magic. Many other singers have introduced an element of illusion into their concerts: Shania Twain, Kate Bush, Bobby Brown, to name but three.
What is it about magic that makes it a good accompaniment to music? Other art forms combined with music can prove to be just a distraction (do you remember the opera-singer/flower-arranger combo on Britain’s Got Talent?) - so why does magic work?
I find this a fascinating question but I haven’t yet come up with an answer. It’s been over a week since my conversation with Marc and I’m still pondering. Anyone else got any ideas?
Labels: marc oberon, music, simon drake
posted by Georgie at
11:04
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