1. Introduction

Music and poetry are two art forms that have the power to move people in similar ways. There is a long history of poets and musicians collaborating to create something unique and powerful. In recent years, there has been a trend towards song lyrics that are inspired by or directly borrow from famous poems. This practice is commonly referred to as lyrical adaptation or lyrical appropriation.

2. What is lyrical appropriation?

Lyrical appropriation, also known as lyricization, is the process of taking phrases, lines, or entire stanzas from a poem and turning them into lyrics for a song. This can be done with permission from the poet or through fair use laws. Some artists choose to credit the original poet while others prefer to leave it unattributed. The practice of lyrical appropriation is not new; in fact, it has been happening for centuries. However, it has become more widespread and accepted in recent years due to changes in copyright law and the rise of hip-hop music.

3. Examples of lyrical appropriation

One of the most famous examples of lyrical appropriation is Bob Dylans "All Along the Watchtower." The song borrows heavily from the William Blake poem "The Marriage of Heaven and Hell." Dylan takes a few lines from the poem and turns them into the chorus of the song. Another example is Stings "Russians," which uses a melody from Sergei Prokofievs "Romeo and Juliet" ballet and borrows lyrics from a 19th-century Russian poet, Mikhail Lermontov. More recently, Drakes hit song "In My Feelings" features the line "Kiki, do you love me?" which may have been inspired by the Keatsian sonnet "La Belle Dame sans Merci." The line "I love it when you call me señorita" from Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabellos song "Señorita" is also reminiscent of the Pablo Neruda poem "I Do Not Love You Except Because I Love You."

4. Criticisms and controversies

The practice of lyrical appropriation has not been without its controversies. Some critics argue that borrowing lines from famous poems can be seen as lazy or lacking in originality. They argue that artists should create their own lyrics instead of relying on the work of others. There have also been cases where poets have objected to their work being used in a song without permission. In 2016, the estate of Maya Angelou sued rapper Common for using a line from Angelous poem in a song without obtaining permission. Common eventually settled the lawsuit and removed the line from the song.

5. Conclusion

While the practice of lyrical appropriation has been met with some criticism, it has also produced some truly memorable pieces of music. By borrowing from the works of great poets, musicians are able to create songs that are both meaningful and beautiful. It is clear that the relationship between music and poetry is a strong one that will continue to inspire artists for years to come.