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Alice in Music

Introduction

In this section we will explore Alice as she has appeared in classical and popular music. Here the question of adaptation versus interpretation gets tricky. We might easily concede that an Alice opera might be considered an acceptable adaptation of Carroll's work, but a three-minute pop song? Somehow, it seems like a popular song does not have enough "substance" to deserve the word "adaptation." Yet, just as the various Alice films have infiltrated the public imagination, no one after hearing Jefferson Airplane's "White Rabbit" (1967) thinks of Alice in quite the same way. Indeed, the phrase "Go ask Alice" is nearly as well-known as the most famous lines from the book. The musical "adaptations" of Alice are very much a part of her evolution, and the evolution of Wonderland in the public imagination. Below is a short list of a few prominent examples of Alice in music. For a more complete list of songs influenced by Alice, click here to read the Wikipedia article.

 

Classical / Opera

This section explores four Alice adpatations in classical music and opera.

Irving Fine (1942)

David Del Tredici (1969-1976)

Carlo Forlivesi (2005)

Unsuk Chin (2007)

 

 

Popular Music

This section explores a few of the many Popular Music songs from the 1960s to the present day which are heavily influenced by Alice.

Neil Sedaka, "Alice in Wonderland" (1963)

Jefferson Airplane, "White Rabbit" (1967)

The Beatles, "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" and "I am the Walrus" (1967)

Tom Petty, "Don't Come Around Here No More" (1985)

Aerosmith, "Sunshine" (2001)

Tom Waits, "Alice" (2002)

Buck Tick, "Alice in Wonder Underground" (2007)

Avril Lavigne, "Alice (Underground)"(2010)

Almost Alice

 

Also See:
Spinner.com's List of "Best 'Alice in Wonderland' Musical Moments"
Alice in the Shadows

 

Musicals

See Theater.

 

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