An English Game
A Chivalric, Postmodern Quest
In David Lowery’s The Green Knight, a contemplative retelling of the 14th-Century chivalric epic poem, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the titular character challenges any of King Arthur’s knights to a “friendly Christmas game” involving violence, glory, and looming retribution. The feckless and green not-yet knight Gawain accepts the Green Knight’s challenge, and adventures ensue.
What could be more English than an Arthurian legend? To celebrate this story’s Englishness and rock-and-roll heart, I played a little game of my own—arranging songs by English artists to tell this tale alongside Lowery’s stunning visuals.
To enjoy this playlist according to design,
pause The Green Knight at the moment when the screen goes black just following the verse prologue and combustion of Gawain’s head n (on Amazon Prime, the sync time is 1:05, but sync time may vary by streaming service)
mute the film (and disable subtitles, if active)
simultaneously press play to start the playlist and press play to resume the film. You must press play on the playlist and film at the exact same moment
Note: Once the playlist and movie are playing in sync, do not pause either at any time before the playlist concludes—or all will be lost.
Playlist Links
A Little Respect, Erasure, The Innocents
Live Forever, Oasis, Definitely Maybe
Happy Xmas (War is Over), John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Gimme Some Truth
Let England Shake, PJ Harvey, Let England Shake
Heroes, David Bowie, Legacy (The Very Best of David Bowie)
Live and Let Die, Paul McCartney, Wings, Pure McCartney
Bohemian Rhapsody, Queen, Greatest Hits I, II & III: The Platinum Collection
Karma Police, Radiohead, OK Computer
Strange Magic, Electric Light Orchestra, Face the Music
Songbird, Fleetwood Mac, Rumours
Tommy Can You Hear Me?, The Who, Tommy
A Long Way From Home, The Kinks, Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneyground, Pt. 1
Salt of the Earth, The Rolling Stones, Beggars Banquet
All Things Must Pass, George Harrison, All Things Must Pass
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Elton John, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Red Rain, Peter Gabriel, So
She’s Not There, The Zombies, Begin Here
White Winter Hymnal, Birdy, Birdy
Strange Brew, Cream, Disraeli Gears
A Whiter Shade of Pale, Procol Harum, A Whiter Shade of Pale
Out to Get You, James, Laid
Come Undone, Duran Duran, Duran Duran (The Wedding Album)
Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This), Eurythmics, Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)
Lose Your Head, London Grammar, Californian Soil
Come On Eileen, Dexys Midnight Runners, Too Rye Ay
D’yer Mak’er, Led Zeppelin, Houses of the Holy
Trouble, Coldplay, Parachutes
Nylon Smile, Portishead, Third
Song 2, Blur, Blur
The Long and Winding Road, The Beatles, Let It Be
Disintegration, The Cure, Disintegration
Day is Done, Nick Drake, Five Leaves Left
Goodbye Cruel World, Pink Floyd, The Wall
They Won’t Go When I Go, George Michael, Listen Without Prejudice, Vol. 1
Tracks