Macbeth Playlist

1. Another One Bites The Dust by Queen

            - This song describes Macbeth because in order for him to get to his throne as king and keep it he has to eliminate people in his way.  For example, first Duncan bites the dust, then Banquo bites the dust, then MacDuff’s family bites the dust.

2. Double Trouble by John Williams

            - This song represents the scenes in which Macbeth gets news from the Three Weird Sisters.  This song is similar to one of their chants in a scene in which they speak to Macbeth.

3. Papercut by Linkin Park

            - Macbeth felt paranoid and guilty after he killed Duncan.  This is also shown in the song in the lyrics, “ Paranoia’s all I got left I don’t know what stressed me first or how the pressure was fed but I know just what it feels like to have voice in the back of my head.”  Lady Macbeth first stressed Macbeth to kill Duncan, when he originally didn’t want to.  The voice in the back of his head could either be Duncan or Banquo’s ghost, which is shown more evidently in the play.

4. I Just Can’t Wait To Be King

            - Macbeth obviously couldn’t wait to be king which makes this song perfect for him.  It describes how he wanted so badly to be king, even when it seems far away.

5. Be Prepared

            - This song is about a plot to kill a King and get rid of his son.  It also describes the person’s intent to take over as king, just like Macbeth does.

6. I’ll Make a Man Out of You

            - In the play Lady Macbeth questions Macbeth’s manhood.  This song talks about turning a bunch of men into actual men and not wimpy.

7. What I’ve Done

After killing Duncan, Macbeth feels guilt from what he has done and this song symbolizes that regret and guilt.  Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth to, “Go get some water, and wash this filthy witness from your hand." Similarly in the song it says, “with hands of uncertainty so let mercy come and wash away what I’ve done.”  In the song they use a repetition of washing or erasing away the thought s of the bad actions which shows they did something wrong just like Macbeth did.

8. Viva La Vida

            - This song relates to Macbeth in many ways.  One example is in the lyrics, “Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!" This is an example because Macbeth becomes king because he kills the old king.  At the beginning of Macbeth’s reign the people are in favor of Macbeth and think he is a good ruler.  Then the song says, “Shattered windows and the sound of drums People couldn't believe what I'd become.” This refers to the rebellion that breaks out because of people not wanting Macbeth in power.

9. Poker Face

            - Macbeth and his wife have to try to hide their secrets from everyone else and to do this they have to put on a poker face.  Lady Macbeth refers to a type of poker face when she says,  “Look Like The Innocent Flower, Yet Be The Serpent Under It.”

10. New Divide

            - This song and Macbeth both give off two feelings in common. These feelings are confusion and wonder. Wonder is shown in the song when it says, “"Let the floods cross the distance in your eyes give me reason to fill this hole, connect the space between let it be enough to reach the truth that lies across this new divide across this new divide, across this new divide." Wonder is shown by Macbeth when in act IV he wants to get to what happens next and satisfy his curiosity.

 spotify link:macbeth playlist