Essay: Songs for Romeo and Juliet: Find the Perfect Music for Each Scene



Romeo and Juliet Soundtrack Assignment:

“The Heart Wants What it Wants” by Selena Gomez

Prologue: because this song sums up the story of the play, when only the heart can control actions, not minds.

“Everybody was Kung Fighting” by Carl Douglas

Act 1 Scene 1 when everyone starts to fight in the streets.

“Don’t be Cruel” by Bobby Brown

Act 1 Scene 1 when Romeo is upset that he is not receiving any love back from Rosaline.

“Rehab” by Rihanna feat. Justin Timberlake

This song is meant for Romeo because Rosaline is like an addictive drug that he can’t get over and it makes him very depressed.

“Too Young for Love” by Michelle Williams

In Act 1 Scene 3 the Nurse, Juliet, and Lady Capulet are discussing Juliet’s future, and the topic of marriage comes up.  Lady Capulet asks Juliet about her thoughts on marriage, Juliet responses with a short but respectable answer saying that she does not want to get married.  However, she says that if she likes what she sees she will consider the marriage.  The Nurse thinks that Juliet is still too young for marriage considering she raised her and still thinks of her as her child.  The Nurse says “Thou wilt fall backwards when thou comest to age” (1.3.57.)  This means that when the time is right, Juliet will be able to get married and experience certain privileges, but until then the nurse thinks that Juliet is still too young to experience those things.  The song “Too Young for Love” by Michelle Williams is about a girl being pressured into loving a man because she has come of a age where everyone has boyfriends.  However, the girl in the song does not want to love a boy yet, she is still young and wants to experience life, just like how Juliet wants to live her life the way she wants to.  The song states a lyric “Stop thinkin bout boys” which relates to “Romeo and Juliet” in the sense of that boys and love are not the only things that are important in life and that in order to succeed you must focus on what is truly important.  This song is appropriate because it really relates to the scene where Juliet and the nurse think that Juliet is “too young for love” so the song really fits with the tone and mood of the scene.  That is how the song “Too Young for Love” relates to Act 1 Scene 3 in Romeo and Juliet.

“You Got It Bad” by Usher

Act 1 Scene 4 when Mercutio and Benvolio tell Romeo that he much too far in love with Rosaline and that he must move on to someone else.

“If It Isn’t Love” by New Edition

Act 1 Scene 5 at the ball when Romeo finds out that Juliet is a Capulet and he is told not to associate himself with the Capulet’s but he loves Juliet .

“Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran

In Act 1 Scene 5 Romeo and Juliet meet for the first time at the feast, and share a kiss together.  They speak to each other as if they have loved forever.  When they kiss Romeos says “My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss” (1.5.96-95.)  This showcases that Romeo is already in love the moment he sees Juliet and that they have a bond like no other.  This relates to the song “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran because in the song is says “We found love right where we are” showcasing that they just met and that they have found the love they had been looking for right in that moment.  Then, when they part their separate ways Juliet asks the nurse “Go ask his name, If he be married” (1.5.133.)  This showcases that she just met Romeo and she already wants to marry him, just like how the song proves that love at first sight is real and if the bond is that strong nothing can overcome it.  When Romeo says ““Did my heart love till now? forswear it, sight! For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night”  (1.5.51-52) it showcases that Romeo thinks that Juliet is the only girl he has ever loved and just like in the song how it says “And darling I will be loving you ’til we’re 70” means that they will love each other forever, just like Romeo and Juliet say they will love each other no matter what.  Also, the title itself, Thinking Out Loud relates to Romeo and Juliet because in the play they all seem to think and speak aloud where everyone can hear them, just like how Romeo and Juliet express their thoughts for each other out loud at the ball.  That is how the song “Thinking Out Loud” relates to Act 1 Scene 5 in Romeo and Juliet.

“We Belong Together” by Mariah Carey

Act 2 Scene 2 when Romeo and Juliet speak at the balcony and know that they are meant to spend the rest of their lives together.

“Love is a Battlefield” by Pat Benatar

Act 2 Scene 3 when Friar Lawrence warns Romeo that this love is not going to be easy and that they should take their time, but Romeo insists that they get married now.

“Unconditionally” by Katy Perry

Act 2 Scene 6 when Romeo and Juliet get married because they promise to unconditionally love each other.

“Bad Reputation” by Pat Benatar

This song is for Tybalt because he is very strong and aggressive, and he also does not cares what anyone thinks, even though he does have a bad reputation.

“Dilemma” by Nelly feat. Kelly Rowland

Act 3 Scene 2 when Juliet finds out that Romeo has killed her cousin Tybalt and now she knows that they both have an even bigger dilemma than their forbidden love.

“Can You Stand the Rain” by New Edition

In Act 3 Scene 5 Romeo and Juliet spend their last night together before Romeo has to go off to Mantua because he has been banished from Verona.  When it is time for Romeo to leave Juliet says “Methink I see thee now, thou art so low, As one dead in the bottom of a tomb” (3.5.55-56) this foreshadows some unfortunate situations in the future.  The song “Can You Stand the Rain” is all about each person in the relationship being able to be loyal and be there for one another when times are bad, just like how Juliet must stay loyal to their marriage even though Romeo is banished for life.  In the song it says “’Cause I need somebody who will stand by me Through the good times and bad times She will always, always be right there” this is like sometime Romeo would say in common era.  He is saying that even though I am gone and our lives are going to be very complicated I need you to be supportive and help me get through this time of need.  The song says again “Can you stand the rain? Love unconditional, I’m not asking just of you.”  Can you stand the rain means can you withstand the bad circumstances that we are going to go through and will you stay loyal to me no matter what the situation.  Love unconditional means that the spouse will love and support the other person no matter what as they will do the same.  Romeo and Juliet are going through a tough time in their relationship and they need to be there for each other through thin in thick because they committed to each other and need to stay loyal.  The song “Can you stand the Rain” by New Edition may be an old song by it perfectly sets the tone and mood for Act 3 Scene 5 in Romeo and Juliet.

“Teenagers” by My Chemical Reaction

Act 3 Scene 5 when Juliet refuses to marry Paris we can see how she is acting like a disobedient teenager.

“Suit and Tie” by Justin Timberlake

Act 4 Scene 1 when Paris goes to see Friar Lawrence and is feeling excited and privileged to marry Juliet.

“Hate that I love you” by Rihanna feat. Neyo

Act 4 Scene 3 when Juliet takes Friar’s drugs she is unsure and hates that she loves Romeo because it is causing her so much trouble and worry.

 “Dead and Gone” by Justin Timberlake

Act 5 Scene 1 when Romeo finds out that Juliet is “dead” and he rushes back to Verona to be with her.

“These Four Walls” by Little Mix

Act 5 Scene 3 when Paris goes to visit Juliet’s grave and is having a hard time getting over her death because he truly wanted to marry her.

“Born to Die” by Lana Del Rey

Act 5 Scene 3 when Juliet, Romeo, and Paris die because of a stupid feud between the families and then the family forgive each other.