The BBC's Horrible Histories featured hundreds of hilarious sketches, with many episodes also boasting their own musical number. These songs were performed by the same cast and were always historical re-tellings of major events from throughout known civilization from a satirical point of view.
Much of this music was a parody of well-known songs, however, each one included memorable performances, brilliant costuming, clever lyrics, or humorous staging. These songs have managed to stand out amongst the rest because they succeed in being both informative and simply hilarious.
This song about the infamous King Henry VIII was largely taken from the traditional rhyme associated with remembering the many names of his six wives. However, the Horrible Histories song does expand on the information given in the simple rhyme with clever, and downright funny, lyrics.
This is a classic of the series as it ticks every box. It's a throwback to a familiar tune while featuring one of British history's most famous faces. Its staging is actually pretty simple which puts the focus on each of the women Henry is singing about. Of course, it's no match for the best musicals based on historical events but is a solid entry into the archives.
A parody of "Staying Alive" by the Bee Gees, this Horrible Histories song is set during the Aztec era. A group of priests sings about the sacrifices they make for their gods, proclaiming that it's pretty rare that many of the local civilians will actually survive.
It's catchy, full of crazy vocals, includes period-accurate costuming, and features a fun shout-out to some of the deities they are killing in the name of. Needless to say, the song stands out for its absurdity as well as its toe-tapping beat. It definitely lives up to the horrible part of the show's name though.
Take That's "Relight My Fire" featuring Lulu is the inspiration behind this RAF classic, which celebrates the non-British pilots who gave their lives and served the allies during the second world war. Despite being a bop, the song actually contains a vital message about unity during a crisis.
The upbeat tone of the song doesn't quite match the sacrifices that these brave men actually made during their service, but it's still a great way to share an often forgotten piece of historical knowledge with a wider audience. This is a much larger ensemble performance that features the talent of some of the best of the cast.
When Horrible Histories takes on a ballad they go all in. "Sweet King Richard III" took its cues from a number of real-world songs, but this also feels like an original serving as a love letter to the misunderstood monarch.
The song is all about breaking down the myths of King Richard III, performed stunningly by Jim Howick. who fans may recognize from other roles including in Sex Education and, of course, Ghosts. It's one of his best performances in Horrible Histories and although it's still pretty witty, actually delivers some real heart.
Lady Gaga clearly had a huge influence on "Cleopatra" which portrays the famous leader as a bit of a celebrity, obsessed with gossip and the paparazzi. The number paints her complex history in all of its colors, not holding back on any of the gruesome details that saw her hold on to power for so long.
It's shot as if it's a professional music video, albeit one that's set in ancient Egypt and boasts some beautiful fashion pieces befitting an empress. "Cleopatra" is a performance perfected by Martha Howe-Douglas who fully embraces the role as the diva queen.
The many King Georges of Britain had a huge impact on history and the song "Born To Rule" is an ensemble ballad that attempts to tell each of their stories. All are family members, and all are connected by their names but each of their personalities is vastly different. Whether they were a little kooky or actually managed to rule with some decorum, these monarchs are noted for some of their bizarre decisions.
The setting is simple for this Horrible Histories number, with a spotlight shining upon each of the kings as they sing. And, to finish off the hilarious parody of classic boybands, the king's costumes are also coordinated while remaining true to the era in which they ruled.
British shows like Ghosts and Horrible Histories often feature catchy theme tunes that sum up the series. The American market is beginning to focus on theme music much more, but the tradition never left British TV. The opening number for Horrible Histories has always been a brisk but much-loved introduction.
It briefly runs through the many eras that the show covers, while also paying homage to the titles of the Horrible Histories books which came before the TV show. It's easy to sing along with and actually gets better every time it's listened to!
"The Monarchs Song" is easily one of the most memorable from the show as it outright tries to teach its viewers every single British monarch since William I. It's a longer number than most in the show, but one that brings in most of the cast, some of which reprise their notable roles as monarchs from previous episodes.
It's catchy and easy to join in with, as the chorus repeats and builds over the course of the piece. With a huge selection of settings, backdrops, and costumes it has high re-watch value. It's clear the cast is having a ball here, and their enthusiasm is infectious.
"Dick Turpin" is another original song that heavily parodies Adam & The Ant's 1988 hit "Stand and Deliver" as it tells the story of the infamous Highway Man. Mathew Baynton is the star here and seems to channel the charisma of his Ghosts character in his melodramatic performance.
Turpin's tale is told with a lot of humor and the show really ramps up the visuals here in the attention to detail of re-creating Adam & The Ant's music video. It's a catchy tune, and Baynton delivers it with the flamboyance and iconic vocal inflection of '80s new wave frontmen perfectly.
Eminem was the influence behind this historical rap which details the party king's antics, as Mathew Baynton suits up as King Charles II. The music video is shot like a number of classic tracks, with Charlie showing off his 'crib' or rather his palace.
The king's court joins in on the festivities as the many things that Charles did, including putting out the Great Fire of London and re-instating Christmas, are listed out. It's a song that's sure to get stuck in any fan's head and is one of the most upbeat pieces from Horrible Histories. Plus the period wigs and costuming really add to the overall affair.
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