Pride and Prejudice in Music
Recently, I watched someone’s YouTube creation – a scene from Pride and Prejudice set to contemporary music – and it got me thinking. When I read scenes from the story, do I hear contemporary music in my head? The answer is “yes.” I do! So, just for fun, I started writing down the songs that came to mind. Most of the songs I’ve chosen are folk music, oldies, musicals, or American Songbook because that reflects my own taste in music. If you’re interested, you can listen to a clip of any of these songs on iTunes and see if you agree with me. In some cases, not all the words in the song are a perfect fit for the scene, but I’ve included it if the spirit of the song mostly fits.
Darcy really sees Elizabeth for the first time: The Moment I Saw Your Eyes (a barbershop standard)
Elizabeth thinks about Darcy after Meryton Assembly: You’re So Vain (Carly Simon)
Darcy While Elizabeth and Jane are at Netherfield: Something (Beatles); The More I See You (Nat King Cole)
Darcy thinking about Elizabeth after she leaves: Fever (Peggy Lee); You Made Me Love You (Judy Garland); I’ve Got You Under My Skin (Frank Sinatra)
Darcy at the Netherfield Ball: The Way You Look Tonight (Frank Sinatra); Some Enchanted Evening (South Pacific)
Darcy after the Netherfield Ball: (I’ve Had) The Time of My Life (Bill Medley from Dirty Dancing); Every Breath You Take (Police); Let’s Spend the Night Together (Rolling Stones)
At Rosings, Darcy thinking about Elizabeth: Every Little Thing She Does is Magic (Police); Your Smiling Face (James Taylor); Crazy Little Thing Called Love (Queen)
Darcy after his failed proposal: Yesterday (The Beatles); Trying to Live My Life Without You (Bob Seager); You Really Got a Hold on Me (Beatles)
Lydia at Brighton: Girls Just Want to Have Fun (Cyndy Lauper); Hot Stuff (Donna Summer); It’s Raining Men (The Weather Girls)
Darcy and Elizabeth Meet at Pemberley: Make You Feel My Love (Adele)
Elizabeth finds out that Lydia has eloped: Help (The Beatles)
After Lambton, Elizabeth thinks Darcy is lost to her forever: I Say a Little Prayer (Aretha Franklin)
Elizabeth wonders what Darcy’s thinking when he returns to Longbourn but doesn’t declare himself: I Only Have Eyes for You (Carly Simon)
Darcy finally declares himself: At Last (Etta James)
I could have made my list longer, but I thought it would be more fun if you, the fans, added your own. So I’d like to invite you to share what comes to your mind when you think of different scenes in Pride and Prejudice.
Susan Mason-Milks
Susan is the author of "Mr. Darcy's Proposal," a Jane Austen "what if" story. She is currently working on another "what if" which she hopes to have out in the summer of 2013.
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39 Responses to Pride and Prejudice in Music
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I think it would be safe to say that is a very good list. I may suggest to add “The First time ever I saw your face” for darcy’s initial acknowledgement of his regard for Lizzy and maybe “In your eyes” for some of their shared glances of ms Bingley’s ridiculousness.
Thank you! I thought of that one but forgot to write it down and then completely forgot about it! Good addition!
Excellent list. You and I must be on the same page music-wise as I was nodding my head all the way through.
I always thought Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game” was a perfect fit for Darcy’s feelings leading up to the first proposal. 
I’m not familiar with Wicked Game so I listened to a snippet on iTunes and I’d agree – good choice! Thank you!
oh, that is good!!!
What fun! Thanks, Susan. You’ve compiled such a great list that now I have your songs running through my head, and I can’t think of any others to add.
It was fun to come up with the songs! Thanks for commenting!
I love your selection, Susan! I agree with Dianna that I might add ‘The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face’ but it’s a great list.
I thought of that one, too, Jane! What a wonderful song!
I love that Adele is on this list. Such a perfect choice for that moment.
Always,
Mostly Lisa
I really like Adele although I really like her music. I knew I wanted one for my list, so I looked her up on iTunes and found out I wanted to add. I’m so hooked now I’m going to have to buy one of her albums.
You must buy her second album! Such an amazing piece blend of songs. My favorite song of hers is ‘Hometown Glory’, you should check it out.
That is a great list. I LOVE these types of posts and I really wish I wasn’t braindead from work and could come up with some good ones.
“Who Are You When I’m Not Looking” by Blake Shelton always reminds me of Darcy when I hear it; staring at Lizzy at Netherfield trying to soak up everything he can about her without actually talking to her. The lyrics are more for a modern guy but I guess the premise is the same.
I was hoping someone would add the country and western element. I’m not familiar with that style, but I know there are so many great songs that fit these characters. Thank you!
“The Impossible Dream” (from Man of La Mancha)
“Sleeping Single in a Double Bed” (Barbara Mandrell)
“If Loving You is Wrong, I Don’t Want to Be Right” (Barbara Mandrell)
“Never, Never Gonna Give You Up” (Barry White)
“If He Really New Me” (from They’re Playing Our Song)
“My Eyes Adores You” (Frankie Valli)
“Two Divided by Love” (The Grass Roots)
“Right Place, Wrong Time” (Dr. John)
“Never My Love” (the Addrisi Brothers)
“Baby, It’s You” (Smith)
“With Pen in Hand” (Bobby Goldsboro)
“Send in the Clowns” (from A Little Night Music)
“Happily Ever After” (from Company)
“You’re Eyes are Beautiful” (from A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum)
“So Nice While It Lasted” (Sam & Dave)
“Pushin’ Too Hard” (Seeds)
“When a Man Loves a Woman” (Percy Sledge)
Great list, Regina! Thank you for sharing!
I have a country song that makes me think of Darcy’s point of view. Keith Urban’s , “All For You” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29ySjvu_X3w
Thanks for the link. I love the words to this song – it sounded so much like Darcy.
Marc Broussard’s …Hope for me yet…. and….. Save Me …..both make me think of Mr. D. and Josh Groban’s ” My Confession ” is perfection for both of them
Anything Josh Groban sings is good for me!
I love the whole concept of putting music and books together like this. I have a ton of songs that make me think of various stories and characters.
When it comes to P&P I think of Darcy pre-Rosing’s proposal –”I’ve Got You Under My Skin”
So glad you liked the idea. I love “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” – so appropriate for Darcy!
I love it!
“I Won’t Dance” by Frank Sinatra, for obvious reasons
“I’m a Believer!” by the Monkees, ‘and then I saw her face…’
“Arms” by Christina Perri, for the reluctance of both Lizzy and Darcy to fall in love
“Iris” by the Goo Goo Dolls, for Darcy’s letter
“Not Over You” by Gavin Degraw, for Darcy’s failed attempts to forget Lizzy
“One and Only” by Adele, which works from either Darcy or Lizzy’s point of view
“Winter Winds” by Mumford & Sons, for when Darcy’s head and heart are arguing
“Sigh no More” by Mumford & Sons, I’m not sure if this one works exactly, but it makes me think of things that might have been going through Darcy’s mind after the terrible proposal.
You’ve named a few I’m not familiar with so I’ll have to check them out. Thank you for adding your favorites.
Darcy: ‘I don’t like you…but I love you…seems that I’m always thinking of you…though you treat me badly…I love you madly…you really got a hold on me…’
Hi, Angie! Thanks for sharing!
ok, so i thought about this and hands down, when i think of Darcy, I hear Kiss you all over by Exile.
I’m going to have to check that one out. The title certainly fits!
Susan,
. So perfect for her!
This list is inspired!! I love it…and laughed aloud when I saw Lydia/”Girls Just Wanna Have Fun”
I completely forgot about “Bad Girls” by Donna Summer.
I love these lists! What fun! I will go check out a few I am not familiar with.
Thanks for stopping by for a visit!
Thanks so much for a terrific idea and a great list! This is enough to keep me busy on iTunes for a while! Some additional thoughts: I think the entire soundtrack from “Becoming Jane” is wonderful. Also, Mary Simonsen referred to a song in her book “Becoming Elizabeth Darcy” – it is Alison Krauss’s “When You Say Nothing at All” – perfect song to describe Fitzwilliam Darcy.
The soundtrack for Becoming Jane is wonderful – as is the soundtrack for the 2005 P&P. I’ll have to check out the song Mary used in her book – I loved Becoming Elizabeth Darcy!
this pairing of scene and song is perfect:
oops, I meant to quote:
“Elizabeth thinks about Darcy after Meryton Assembly: You’re So Vain (Carly Simon)”
I love that one! I see flashes of Darcy staring at Elizabeth, looking disdainful, etc. while that song plays through my head.
I’m not really a song lover but I love listening to film and tv score. Sorry cos I can’t add on to your list.
That’s ok! Thanks for stopping by to read.