1. Childish Gambino loves Shakespeare, Satre, Vonnegut... all the big hitters.
Because The Internet is full of stylish allusions, but before all of that, he was referencing Chinua Achebe in Not Going Back.
2. David Bowie tried to make Nineteen Eighty-Four: The Musical
This was supposed to be the centre-piece of the stage musical based on the novel. I'm imagining Labyrinth, but even more 80s. Sadly, Mrs Orwell refused him the rights.
3. Gogol Bordello named themselves after Nikolai Gogol, writer and realist philosopher.
One of these men is in a gypsy punk band. Can you guess which?
4. Lana Del Rey's Born to Die is full of Nabakov references.
Consider Off to the Races: ‘Light of life, fire of my loins…’ The opening line of Lolita appropriated. Cheery.
5. Modest Mouse take their name from a short story by Virginia Woolf.
‘... even in the minds of modest mouse-coloured people, who believe genuinely that they dislike to hear their own praises.’ - From Woolf's 'The Mark on the Wall'
6. One Hundred Years of Solitude + Radiohead = Obvious Hit
I imagine Radiohead having a meeting like this: 'Honestly guys, I'm not sure we're gloomy and existential enough. What can we do about that?'
'Perhaps combine our bleak melodies with a magic realist tale of war and fatalism?'
'Sold.'
7. Belle and Sebastian are named after a classic French children’s novel.
Cécile Aubry's Belle et Sébastien have adventures in the Alps. As far as I know, the band do not.
8. Bloc Party took inspiration from Bret Easton Ellis' Less Than Zero for Song for Clay.
Also, Ion Square by Bloc Party uses part of an E. E. Cummings poem as its chorus. Their music has more references than a post-doc.
9. Bastille are all about the Bard.
Poet was inspired by Sonnet 18. Deep.
10. Madonna likes a bit of old Willy Shakespeare too.
Cherish references Romeo and Juliet. She also writes children's books about the English Roses: some kids having adventures at a British school. Their teacher is called Miss Fluffernutter. This is all I know about them,
11. Soma by The Strokes is about the population-controlling drug from Aldous Huxley's Brave New World.
Say no to fictional drugs, kids.
