D&D: Songs in the Key of D&D!
It’s not every day you find a musical comedy album that encapsulates D&D…
Every year, crowds of people flood into Austin, TX for South by Southwest–a festival dedicated to music, movies, and tech. There’s no shortage of spectacle that hits the city. This year includes a giant buffalo to celebrate American Gods, an M&M “Film Studio” set up downtown, and a real-world Los Pollos Hermanos, straight out of Better Call Saul…
The whole place was built in three days.
…and among all that, at the Nerdist Backyard Bash: the debut of Songs in the Key of D&D, an album that captures the highs and lows and wonderful weirdness of playing D&D. Written and performed by Amy Vorpahl along with producer Maxi Morales, Songs in the Key of D&D was taken from Vorpahl’s tabletop experiences, including some memorable moments from the Saving Throw Show, and a one-woman show entitled: “Dungeons and Dragons: A One-Nerd Show.”
Jason Charles Miller, Amy Vorpahl, and Maxi Morales, ready to perform
That last one is the inspiration for a song entitled the DM’s Lament, and this one is almost too real, guys. If you’ve ever run a session of D&D then this song is for you. From the frantic, fast-paced but ultimately cheery hey-guys-let’s-focus-upand-are-we-leveled-up-and-ready-to-go-it’s-time-to-start-playing-maybe to the refrain of “resigned to the fate that I’m my friends’ referee…” as a party of players start going off the rails and everyone ends up dead, because you know what you did Randy.
The whole album is just as delightful. Here’s a peek at some of the liner notes, just in case you’re not convinced yet:
“The Worst of the Terrible Things” is a folk song about the terrors of your character dying in a D&D game. In a different Saving Throw Show game, the DM killed off Amy’s character without warning, and she burst into inconsolable tears, despite trying to power through.” Yeah, that was bullshit. This song is not an exaggeration.
“I’m Coming (Into My Own)” is about a D&D character who finally began doing damage in battles. [Editor’s note–apparently it’s also an Innuendo, but, I’m just not seeing it?]
“When You Get Where You’re Going” was written when a member of Barky’s Brigade moved away from LA after being part of the team for about two years. It’s a song for anyone who has to leave their group behind, no matter the reason: location, work, or babies. […] I really do hope wherever you go, you find people who play D&D. Because tabletop RPG people are the best people, present company included.
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All in all, the album is a ton of fun. The songs have a nice variety to them, you get a good mix of fast-paced funny songs, and a few real earnest ballads that are a nice reminder of why we play. There’s a song on there called My Own Kingdom that’s really about finding your place. I know D&D et al. was a big part of how I started figuring out how I fit into the world.
Songs in the Key of D&D is now streaming on Spotify, or you can follow the link below to pick it up for yourself. And these songs are more fun with friends–this could be a great way to get everyone corralled and ready to go at the top of your next session.
Songs in the Key of D&D
The album, Songs in the Key of D&D, is full of witty little ditties inspired by the tabletop RPG, Dungeons & Dragons. The ten songs play like a stage musical’s album, with characters, stories, and funny lyrics covering several music genres, all performed by Amy Vorpahl. For instance, “You Don’t Dress Up to Play D&D” is a rap about the public’s misconceptions about the game while “I Hope When You Get Where You’re Going (You Find People Who Play D&D)” is an earnest rock ballad about moving on.
Subscribe to our newsletter!Get Tabletop, RPG & Pop Culture news delivered directly to your inbox.By subscribing you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.[Vorpahl]’s no stranger to gaming or the internet and is excited to release her first album, stating, “I finally found a subject I was passionate enough to write music about. Sorry for being exclusionary, but it’s Dungeons and Dragons.”
The music producer, Maxi Morales, is a gamer himself, and immediately fell in love with making a niche album, celebrating the hobby. He produces music, and writes, sings, and performs in his band, Eléctrico Limón, in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Just to reiterate, you know what you did, Randy.
