Harry Potter: Wizard Rock’s Greatest Hits
By John Seaborn Gray, Houston Press, November 19, 2010
For the past few years, a genre centered around J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter universe has been growing on the Internet and elsewhere. We don’t think anyone involved in it is older than 25, but that’s okay. Sometimes sheer youthful enthusiasm can make up for the songwriting being a little green.
Wizard rock – or wrock – is actually a pretty decent repository for seeing who might go on to make brilliant (if slightly more serious) music in a few short years. At least one of the girls from The Parselmouths has a new non-wrock band, and surely more will come. In the meantime, here are some of our favorite wrock numbers you can sing along with on your way to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, which opens… right now.
Ministry of Magic, “Goodbye Privet Drive”
Somewhere halfway between the slick, airy harmonies of Blink 182 and the electronic production of Owl City lies the Ministry of Magic. Favoring sentimentality over comedy, they’re infectiously catchy.
The Whomping Willows, “On Behalf of Neville”
A very rhythmically well-done number from the Whomping Willows, we like the lyrics as well, particularly the one in which perpetual Potter-universe whipping boy Neville Longbottom wishes he could “bring something more to the table than plants, plants, plants.” Poor guy. Side note: Dancing kids. Always cute.
The Remus Lupins, “Seven Potters”
Based on a scene which some of you will be seeing tonight, The Remus Lupins have cobbled together a nifty little video to accompany their 90′s-style slacker-rock sound. Aside from being amusing and well-shot, it also illustrates that whatever role Daniel Radcliffe takes next, it should definitely include a bitchin’ handlebar mustache.
The Moaning Myrtles, “Don’t Throw That Book At Me”
A celebration of Potterdom’s most emo ghost, this song references the introduction of Moaning Myrtle in the second novel and movie. A perfect example of the kind of overwrought yet sincere chick-rock the character might actually write.
