Ever hear a song that makes you think of D&D?

[Thornir Alekeg]

Run from the lightning of the magic rainbow

 

[The_Universe]

Toby Kieth's "Beer for My Horses," because of the following sequence:

"We'll raise up our glasses against evil forces, singing
Whiskey for my men, and beer for my horses!"

Always makes me think of a party coming back to the infamous D&D-style tavern after an adventure.

 

[Wombat]

I am amazed over the sheer number of people who seem to find their rpg inspirations in metal music. Never was my style, I suppose.

For me, I find inspiration in groups like Dead Can Dance, Unto Ashes, Corvus Corax (closest thing to "Medieval Metal"...), Mediaeval Baebes, and similar groups.

Oh, and Jethro Tull's album Songs from the Wood, with a slight nod to Broadword & The Beast

 

[Thunderfoot]

Toby Kieth's "Beer for My Horses," because of the following sequence:

"We'll raise up our glasses against evil forces, singing
Whiskey for my men, and beer for my horses!"

Always makes me think of a party coming back to the infamous D&D-style tavern after an adventure.

Originally done by Willie Nelson by the way.

 

[Thunderfoot]

I am amazed over the sheer number of people who seem to find their rpg inspirations in metal music. Never was my style, I suppose.

For me, I find inspiration in groups like Dead Can Dance, Unto Ashes, Corvus Corax (closest thing to "Medieval Metal"...), Mediaeval Baebes, and similar groups.

Oh, and Jethro Tull's album Songs from the Wood, with a slight nod to Broadword & The Beast

Probably due to the lyrical content of said genre - most other style (a generalization from some one in the business BTW) are concerned with a specific focus of everyday life. For example R&B will probably never have a song entitled "Dragons Be My Hoes" or "Slaying the Beast" with lyrical refences to actual dragons and beasts... Likewise country music is more concerned with rural life in America and issues that revolve around said life. While there are some rural life aspects in D&D, they probably aren't going to inspire adventure fare, maybe some DM fodder, but probably not much else. Likewise POP is just that, popular culture, last time I checked our hobby was neither considered popular or culture, although I guarantee someone could (and probably should) argue against the latter.

Some New Wave stuff was a little more cerebral than your average pop stuff so there are a few songs that could easily slip in as influences, but they are usually commenting on political and social opinions, not historical opinions, unless they can be used to bolster their socio-political argument. The artists that you mention (at least some therein) are part of a minority group in folk music that obviously are centered around the period in which fantasy societies are either directly set in or based losely upon (ie the Dark, Middle and Rennassance Ages) so it is not surprising to see your stated influences. Likewise, Heavy Metal has many groups that are either interested in or directly inspired by the ages in questions, also the 'violent' nature of the music inspires 'viloent' lyrical content, which all battle is violent - an easy line to draw between and betwixt.

For instance Yngwie Malmsteen (ING-vay) produced 95% of his material based upon sorcery, magic, medieval battles and such so it easy to see how someone might find inspiration there, likewise Ronnie James Dio actually lives in a castle and collects Medieval artifacts because it is a passion for him, therefore his lyrics are constantly filled with dark images reflecting his nature. Also as evidenced by the other posters, Metal artists know their audiences, afterall you can't make money if people don't buy your product (as a producer I am KEENLY aware of this). Knowing that the majority of their fans are into Tolkien, fantasy, D&D, the occult, magic, etc they play to their audience and writes songs about said subject matter, so it shouldn't be that surprising at all. Hope this helps you to see the reason, I am very passionate about my industry and always like the chance to educate others about some of the 'inside' things that make it work.

Of course all of the above is a generealization and there are certainly exceptions to all of the examples stated.

 

[The_Universe]

Originally done by Willie Nelson by the way.

And also prominently featured on the version that's currently playing on the radio! There's no escaping the Red-Headed Stranger!

...and we're practically neighbors! Queen_Dopplepopolis and I just moved to Odenton!

 

[Thunderfoot]

And also prominently featured on the version that's currently playing on the radio! There's no escaping the Red-Headed Stranger!

...and we're practically neighbors! Queen_Dopplepopolis and I just moved to Odenton!

Oh really, I knew you were down Silver Spring way, but nice to have you in the neghborhood...