The love witch filk is a genre of music that emerged as a response to the film "The Love Witch," directed by Anna Biller. Filk, which is a blend of the words "folk" and "filmmusic," refers to a type of music that is inspired by and created for specific films or popular culture phenomena. In the case of the love witch filk, it is a genre of music that draws upon the aesthetic, themes, and narrative elements of the film "The Love Witch". "The Love Witch" is a 2016 film that pays homage to the stylized and melodramatic aesthetics of 1960s and 1970s exploitation films. It tells the story of a modern-day witch named Elaine who uses her magical powers to find true love. The film explores themes of love, desire, gender roles, and female empowerment through a feminist lens.
While Notre Dame endured a fallow period following Leahy's retirement in 1953, the college brought Oklahoma's record-breaking 49-game unbeaten run to a shuddering halt in 1957 with a new Clashmore Mike in attendance.
Leahy reportedly used the terriers to his advantage, training them to run on the field of play to delay a game and earn his team an unofficial timeout. Terry was present at Notre Dame s emphatic victory against Stanford at the Rose Bowl on New Year s Day, 1925, and witnessed three more championship victories in Rockne s last six years at the college.
The film explores themes of love, desire, gender roles, and female empowerment through a feminist lens. The love witch filk genre takes inspiration from the film's visual style, narrative motifs, and its exploration of love and witchcraft. In terms of music, the love witch filk often features a mixture of folk, psychedelic, and retro-inspired sounds.
Notre Dame used to have Irish Terriers as their mascots
As controversy once again brews over Notre Dame's divisive Fighting Irish Leprechaun mascot, it is fitting to remember a rather more wholesome mascot that encouraged Notre Dame teams in the first half of the 20th century.
According to researcher Marge Andre, the first Irish Terrier to serve as a mascot at the University of Notre Dame was Tipperary Terrence, who was presented to legendary UND football coach Knute K. Rockne in January 1924.
Sadly, Tipperary Terence was hit by a car and died not long after becoming mascot, giving way to his successor, the aptly named Tipperary Terrence II.
Knute Rockne. (Public Domain / US Library of Congress)
Tipperary Terence II arrived just in time for Notre Dame's compelling 13-7 victory over the Army Cadets in New York on October 18, 1924, and the legend of the Irish terrier was born.
"Terry" was present at Notre Dame's emphatic victory against Stanford at the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day, 1925, and witnessed three more championship victories in Rockne's last six years at the college.
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The tradition of Notre Dame's Irish Terrier continued after Tipperary Terrence. According to Notre Dame Archives, Charles Otis donated Brick Top Shaun Rhue (“Old Red”) to the university - the Irish Terrier was presented to Football Coach Heartley “Hunk” Anderson during the Navy game, which was played in Otis’s hometown of Cleveland on November 19, 1932.
The dog enjoyed a perfect start, witnessing a 60-20 victory over the University of Pennsylvania. However, that was as good as it got for Brick Top Shaun-Rhue, who disappeared in 1933 with Notre Dame struggling with a 3-5-1 record.
— ND Business (@NDBusiness) November 15, 2018#TBT On November 19, 1932, Charles Otis donates an Irish Terrier named Brick Top Shaun Rhue as a mascot for the football team. Shaun Rhue (Irish for “Old Red”) proves a bit of a rambler and disappears from campus altogether the following spring! pic.twitter.com/OA0OQ3Dl2Y
"It is thought that [Shaun Rhue] simply ran away from campus in the spring of 1933," Notre Dame Archives reports. "If so, Shaun Rhue may have never graced the sidelines of Notre Dame Stadium, but the idea of Irish Terriers as Notre Dame’s mascot would persist."
In the fall of 1935, William Butler presented Notre Dame with another Irish Terrier, Clashmore Mike, who would remain at Notre Dame for ten years and garner much publicity.
Clashmore Mike posed for photographs in newspapers and football programs and even had his own sports column in gameday programs.
In fact, every home football program at Notre Dame between 1936 and 1949 featured some sort of photograph, cartoon, or drawing of the Irish terrier mascot as his legend grew.
In a testament to the dog's stature, he was buried underneath the Notre Dame stadium when he died.
In 1935, Clashmore Mike, became the official @NDFootball mascot. Photo: Elmer Layden, Johnny Kelly, and Clashmore Mike. #NationalPuppyDay pic.twitter.com/MKB5ZhHg8h
— ND Business (@NDBusiness) March 23, 2017
Clashmore Mike also witnessed a period of incredible success during his time at Notre Dame and was present for two of the five National Championships won by legendary coach Frank Leahy.
Clashmore Mike II, his successor, witnessed three further championship wins and a 39-game unbeaten record.
Leahy reportedly used the terriers to his advantage, training them to run on the field of play to delay a game and earn his team an unofficial timeout.
While Notre Dame endured a fallow period following Leahy's retirement in 1953, the college brought Oklahoma's record-breaking 49-game unbeaten run to a shuddering halt in 1957 with a new Clashmore Mike in attendance.
Notre Dame's Irish terrier mascots arguably saved the best until last, signing off as the college's official mascot following Notre Dame's 51-0 slaughtering of the USC Trojans in the 1966 championship game.
Ara Parseghian's team, who also won a championship in 1964, is widely regarded as one of the greatest college teams of all time. What better way for the college's former lucky charm to sign off?
According to Notre Dame, the Clashmore Mike mascot last made an appearance on the cover of the 1963 Notre Dame Football Dope Book with coach Hugh Devore and captain Bob Lehmann.
In 1965, however, the University switched gears as the Fighting Irish Leprechaun was named the official mascot, which continues today.
* Originally published in 2021, updated in Aug 2023.
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The songs often capture the atmosphere of the film, with dreamy melodies, haunting vocals, and vintage production techniques. The lyrics of the love witch filk songs often explore themes of love, magic, femininity, and the power of seduction. The love witch filk genre has gained a following among fans of "The Love Witch" and those who are drawn to its unique blend of retro aesthetics, feminism, and occult themes. It has inspired musicians to create their own original songs, as well as cover versions of the film's music. The love witch filk genre also serves as a way for fans to connect with the film on a deeper level and further explore its themes and motifs. Overall, the love witch filk genre is a musical response to the film "The Love Witch" that captures its aesthetic and thematic elements through a combination of folk, psychedelic, and retro-inspired sounds. It serves as a way for fans to further engage with the film and its exploration of love, femininity, and witchcraft..
Reviews for "The Magic Behind The Love Witch Filk's Soundtrack"
1. Emma - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "The Love Witch" but I was left extremely disappointed. The film tries too hard to be a throwback to the 60s and ends up feeling more like a parody than a tribute. The acting was wooden, and the plot was slow and confusing. The dialogue was cheesy and failed to capture any depth or emotion. Overall, "The Love Witch" felt like a wasted opportunity and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone seeking a genuine cinematic experience.
2. John - 1 star - "The Love Witch" was an absolute train wreck. The visuals were garish and overdone, with an excessive use of bright colors that felt more like a cheap imitation of a Tim Burton film rather than an original work of art. The storyline was convoluted and lacked any real substance. The characters were one-dimensional and uninteresting, making it impossible to connect or empathize with them. I found myself struggling to stay engaged throughout the film, and ultimately felt that it was a waste of my time. Save yourself the trouble and skip "The Love Witch".
3. Sarah - 2 stars - I found "The Love Witch" to be pretentious and uninspiring. The film seemed more focused on its visual style and retro aesthetic rather than telling a compelling story. The protagonist lacked depth and her actions felt more like contrived plot devices rather than genuine character development. The attempts at humor and satire fell flat, and instead came across as forced and awkward. Overall, "The Love Witch" felt like an empty shell of a film, lacking any real substance or originality.