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I put together a compilation of music that I think will be useful during various shows and decided to share it with you all.

Dave’s Collection of Magic Music

1 Do You Believe in Magic, Aly & A.J. 2:16
2 You Can Do Magic, America 3:52
3 Can You Read My Mind, The Best of Meco 3:16
4 The Flying Sequence, Superman 8:13
5 I Can Feel the Magic, Four Tops 4:50
6 Is This Magic, Dan Fogelberg and Dan Weisberg 3:08
7 Eye In The Sky, The Alan Parsons Project 4:35
8 If You Could Read My Mind, Gordon Lightfoot 3:47
9 Magic, Olivia Newton-John 4:31
10 Strange Magic, Electric Light Orchestra 4:07
11 A Kind of Magic, Queen 4:24
12 I Want to Make Magic, Cast from FAME – The Musical 2:19
13 You Made Me Believe in Magic, Bay City Rollers 2:42
14 Magic Man, Heart 5:27
15 Magic Power, Triumph 4:54
16 Illusion, Destiny’s Child 3:51
17 Psychic Man, Artificial Joy Club 4:32
18 Money, Pink Floyd 6:32

All of these can be purchased and downloaded from music.msn.com.

One selection that is missing from the list above is "Abracadabra." I haven't determined yet which artist does the possibly 1980s rendition of it that I am used to hearing on the radio.

Let me know what you think I should add to the list.

I haven't determined yet which artist does the possibly 1980s rendition of it that I am used to hearing on the radio.

It was the Steve Miller band here in the UK but I believe Sugar Ray did it in the US.

And how about that superb classic, 'That Old Black Magic' by Billy Eckstein (and hundreds of others since!)?

Mandrake wrote:

I haven't determined yet which artist does the possibly 1980s rendition of it that I am used to hearing on the radio.

It was the Steve Miller band here in the UK but I believe Sugar Ray did it in the US.

And how about that superb classic, 'That Old Black Magic' by Billy Eckstein (and hundreds of others since!)?

Thanks Mandrake.

I'd have to be careful about That Old Black Magic. Actually, I had considered using Black Magic Woman in an upcoming class at work, but certain women in class could be offended.

Perhaps just a musical version with no lyrics would be more appropriate and less intrusive into the magic?

I saw a Magish called Gaetano, originally from New Jersey, earlier this year who did some great stage illusions, one was set to 'Purple Rain' and another using songs from The Lion King - he used to be a rock drummer before going into magic full time, considered that the music was an extremely strong part of his stage magic and would prefer to not do an effect if he wasn't fully happy with the music. Having watched his show four times, I have to agree with him as it all worked beautifully and the music's still buzzing in my head now as I remember the effects he did.

for the really bizzarre magic stunts, I think a lot of music by Nightwish would suit it, possibly HIM aswell. I don't really think it has to be down to the lyrics including magic in them, to me it makes it seem corny and stale.

I have used Kraftwerk before.

Got to agree on the whole 'using songs with the word "magic" in them' or whatever. Proper corny. Proper stale. Proper cheesy. Stale, corny cheese. Much better to use the mood of the music - classical, dance, latin all provide plenty of different moods if you have the opportunity to perform magic to music.

In fact, a well-chosen ballad can bring an effect home too - Steve Zebsuses Seal's 'Kiss From a Rose' (July 1994, and re-issued July 1995 -made the top ten second time round) in one of his effects, and it is absolutely beautiful.

I would say that the fact that the word "magic" is part of the lyrics does not make the song "corny." It may or may not be corny. If you listen to some of the songs I listed here, you may find that you like some of the ones with the word "magic" in them enough to use them in an act. You'll also see that not all of my selections actually refer to magic. One of my favorites is "Eye in the Sky."

The idea of using ballads such as "Kiss From a Rose" is a good one.

My favorite musician here in the U.S. is a guy named Chip Davis, who has an orchestra (I guess) called Mannheim Steamroller. A musical piece of his that I love and think would be great for a magic show is called "Dancing Flames." It's on the CD "To Russia With Love," and possibly other CDs of his.

ab5zn wrote:You'll also see that not all of my selections actually refer to magic.

Well, two don't.

Nevertheless, I stand corrected.

I think the best example of linking music to a magic effect was when Andy Nyman did Charade on the get Nyman DVD....

A most beautiful piece of choreography if there ever was one...

It uses Kylie Minougue's "Can't Get You Out of My Head", and he deals the cards in tune to the LaLaLa bit...

Summed up nicely Zack

There's some great tunes out there and you could debate until the cows come home (an expression that any non-brits may not understand). My personal preferences for music whilst performing are instrumentals.

Some great tunes from Spyro Gyro, the Alan Parsons Project, Jean Michel Jarre. the only magic related track that I like is Queen's, A Kind of Kind of Magic on the end of their A kind of Magic Album - simply because it's an instrumental version of their classic hit.

On a slightly "heavier" side of the spectrum (but not so much that you're going to want to sacrifice your budgie to the devil before plunging head first into the depths of a remote lake somewhere not even yourself has heard of), and one which appeals to myself (even though it should be about appealing to the spectators!), there are 2 songs from the latest BiffyClyro album "Infinity Land" which come to mind.
"Wave upon wave upon wave" (possibly for an ambitious card routine with the king of hearts) because it contains the lyrics "do you believe in magic" and "theres a knife in my hand covered in blood, I cant understand" (which I feel to be rather appropriate for this card).
secondly "Some kind of wizard" for the lyric "no sense makes sense to me at all but your expression says it all".

I suppose they might be possibilities if you have a specific audience in mind, but then... maybe its better to appeal to a broad range of people rather than a select group!?

you should consider the song "magic" by "pilot", also, im sure women wouldnt be offended by "black magic woman" it makes a pretty good backround and is a very popular song.

i just remembered a really good one, everything about it is right for stage magic, and it sets a good mood. "magical mytery tour" by the beatles