Theory of Filking

Aug 04, 2008

Posted by: John Admin

Uncategorized

*Hem, hem*

Welcome, children, to my classroom. My name is Professor Severine Snape ’ not to be confused with the late Professor Severus Snape. You will address me simply as “Professor”. When you have a question you will raise your hand and wait until I allow you to speak. “Hey!” “Oi, Sev’ or any other abominable mutilation of my name will not be tolerated.

This year you will be studying “Theory of Filking” under carefully controlled conditions and under my guidance. This is a Ministry-approved course, and you will be tested on it for your NEWTs. So, wands away, please! There will be no need to talk.

We will start with the basics. For a basic filk, only two things are required: a song and an idea. When done correctly, those two basic ingredients will come together in an almost alchemical reaction, and produce a result that transcends far beyond the original song. For those of you with any knowledge of the former Professor Snape’s field of expertise: Golpalott’s Third Law for antidotes also applies to filk.

Song and idea can come together in no more than three ways, each producing a specific type of filk. Please copy from the blackboard:

Type 1: As soon as a song is heard, it is instantly obvious to the filker in which way the song should be filked.

Example filk: I’m Going On. This is an absolute classic Type 1 filk. Although the song (“Home” by Daughtry) was already known previously to the filker in question, as soon as it was heard with Filkers’ Ears (obtainable from Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes for 2 Galleons, 5 Sickles ’ subject to availability), there was really only one way to filk it. Song and idea came together in a perfect reaction and quintessence was achieved. A slightly tacky original was transformed into one of the most emotional filks ever written. I dare you to listen to it without crying.

Type 2: A great idea for a filk that requires an active search for a suitable song.

Example filk: Neville Snake Slayer. A nice example of a Type 2. It would have been obvious to any reader of Deathly Hallows that Dork-turned-Superhero Neville Longbottom deserved a song in honor of his newfound Cool Status. Several songs were considered (including the 1985 Dutch Rock Classic “Oerend Hard” by Normaal – for my 5 Dutch readers) until finally the decision fell upon “Helen Wheels” by Wings.

Type 3: A song that begs to be filked but some effort is required to find a suitable topic.

Example filk: Seven Books. The original (“100 years” by Five For Fighting) was a perfectly filkable song: lovely piano, great melody, good structure with lots of verses and a catchy chorus… but what to do what to do! Eventually, it was combined with an idea that had been lying around, waiting to be Type 2’d, and the result was a song about a very special time for the Harry Potter fandom.

Occasionally, filks can move from one category into another. For example, the song “Scarlet” by Brooke Fraser had been accumulating dust on the Type 3 pile for quite a few months before the release of Deathly Hallows. The best idea for it that was thought of, but which never quite clicked, was to make a song about Luna, somehow, as the original had that ethereal quality. After Deathly Hallows, however, the song got catapulted to Type 1 status as the soft, melancholy music was already reminiscent of the sound of the ocean crashing onto the rocks at sunset, and the original lyrics were those of loss and acceptance. What better than to sing about Harry’s final understanding and acceptance of his fate while he is burying his little friend? The final result was To Know but not to Seek – it could not have been anything else.

… Naah. Of course this all is a bit of nonsense. Everyone gets their inspiration in different ways (and I hope sincerely that Professor Umbridge and I have nothing more in common than our fondness for wearing pink; and look much better in it than she does). But I am sure that every filker is familiar with the annoying-but-inevitable filkers habit of not being able to listen to a song any more without thinking “how can I filk this?” For example, last week during my dance class we were doing a routine to the song G.L.A.M.O.R.O.U.S. by Fergie. Instantly my filkers mind switched on, and during the routine I was trying to work out how many letters in L.U.C.I.U.S… no not enough… L.U.S.C.I.O.U.S., maybe? Still one short. Bum! I only snapped out of my reveries when the teacher exclaimed “Nina, you seem to be counting throughout the routine, is there anything about my choreography that confuses you?”

In the end, every song is potentially filkable. Sometimes it is the general feeling of a song that grabs you, sometimes the existing lyrics already remind you of something. Sometimes you get an idea that has nothing to do with the original whatsoever, but it just works. And who cares, really, once you can finally play that finished product to your friends!

Next week, I will tell you how one particular filk came about… See you then!





The Leaky Cauldron is not associated with J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros., or any of the individuals or companies associated with producing and publishing Harry Potter books and films.