The name when the lyrics of a piece of music are rewritten to something different. In Knightmare terms, this involves changing them to something Knightmare related.

Possibly the first Knightmare filks occurred in Series 7 of the show in 1993, both sung by Sylvester Hands. Here he sung a rewritten version of the song Greensleeves, and also Ten Dead Goblins to the tune of Ten Green Bottles. In the latter case the only lyrics the drunken Hands sung before passing out were "Ten dead goblins, sitting on the wall". While it's possible that fans may have thought up their own filks before this episode was transmitted, none are known to this author.

By the end of 2002, people were starting to write their own filks on the recently relaunched Knightmare Forum. One early example is The Challenge Days of Christmas, rewritten to the tune of the Christmas carol The 12 Days of Christmas by several members from the 18th to 22nd November 2002. See the thread here.

Things really took off, though, on the 5th November 2003, when Emii posted her Dungeoneerian Rhapsody in a thread entitled 'I had a silly idea...'. Many filks have followed, the main contributors being Emii and Drassil in the early days, and since branching out into plenty more. As of August 2009 the thread has reached 24 pages and has been viewed over 7,500 times.

In December 2005, one filk - Drassil's Do They Know It's Quest Mess? - was sung by Wall Aid 11, a group of several Knightmare community members that included the author himself. A follow-up was mooted in 2006: Perfect Quest, using group-written lyrics to the song Perfect Day, but little progress was made. An official follow-up did appear in December 2007, though, with the song All I Want Is Knightmare To View (based on the song All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey), sung by Sing Back Knightmare. This was followed by Never Gonna Win The Cup in 2009.

Filks are often erroneously called songfics. This is the name given to when a song is turned into a piece of fiction.

On the 14th March 2006, Billy Hicks and Mashibinbin compiled a list of all the songs that have been filked in the thread so far, discounting short extracts. It is reproduced and updated here, together with stats.

The song name is listed first, followed by the artist name in (brackets). If there is a number after the artist, it means it's the nth song filked from that artist to that point. So (Queen 2nd) means it's the second filked song by Queen. The year is then shown, again with a number at the end if one or more songs from that year have been done beforehand, although this may not be entirely accurate as sometimes years of songs are hard to pin down.

You can use Ctrl+F to search this entry and see if particular songs or artists have been filked. Each of the links below marks the first filk (among those listed below) of a new page in the forum thread, to make it easier for you to find any filk you wish to read.

==2003==
Bohemian Rhapsody (Queen) 1975
Fame (Irene Cara) 1982
Flashdance...What a Feeling (Irene Cara 2nd) 1983
Baby One More Time (Britney Spears) 1999
Bright Eyes (Art Garfunkel) 1979
Monster Mash (Bobby 'Boris' Pickett & The Crypt-Kickers) 1962
One Vision (Queen 2nd) 1985
A Kind of Magic (Queen 3rd) 1986
We're Off to See the Wizard (The Wizard of Oz soundtrack) 1939
If I Only Had a Brain/a Heart/the Nerve (The Wizard of Oz soundtrack 2nd) 1939 2nd
Genie in a Bottle (Christina Aguilera) 1999 2nd
Do You Really Want To Hurt Me (Culture Club) 1982 2nd
The Timewarp (The Rocky Horror Show soundtrack) 1973
The Lady in Red (Chris De Burgh) 1986 2nd
Blue (Da Ba Dee) (Eiffel 65) 1999 3rd
Another One Bites the Dust (Queen 4th) 1980
Defenders of the Earth (Defenders of the Earth theme) 1986 3rd
Secret Lemonade Drinker (R. Whites advert) 1973 2nd
Do They Know It's Christmas? (Band Aid) 1984
Another Brick In The Wall Part II (Pink Floyd) 1979 2nd
I Want It All (Queen 5th) 1989
Elvenpath (Nightwish) 1997
White Christmas (Irving Berlin) 1940
I Am I Feel (Alisha's Attic) 1996
Wild World (Cat Stevens) 1970
Stars (Les Miserables soundtrack) 1982 3rd
Wonderboy (Tenacious D) 2002
Last Christmas (Wham) 1984 2nd

==2004==
Mambo No 5 (A Little Bit Of ...) (Lou Bega) 1999 4th
Love Shack (B-52s) 1990
Daydream Believer (Monkees) 1967
St Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion) (John Parr) 1985 2nd
Sledgehammer (Peter Gabriel) 1986 4th
It's Raining Men (Weather Girls) 1984 3rd
The Wheels on the Bus (Traditional) N/A
Once I Caught a Fish Alive (Traditional) N/A
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star (Jane Taylor) 1806
The Lion Sleeps Tonight (The Tokens) 1961
Mickey (Toni Basil) 1982 4th
The Flintstones (The Flintstones theme) 1960
Don't Go Breaking My Heart (Elton John & Kiki Dee) 1976
We Are the Champions (Queen 6th) 1977
You're the Top (Cole Porter) 1934
99 Red Balloons (Nena) 1984 4th
Dancing Queen (ABBA) 1976 2nd
Addicted to Bass (Puretone) 2002 2nd
Enter Sandman (Metallica) 1991
Changes (David Bowie) 1972
We Didn't Start The Fire (Billy Joel) 1989 2nd
Fat Bottomed Girls (Queen 7th) 1978
Bicycle Race (Queen 1978 2
The Show Must Go On (Queen 9th) 1991 2nd
U.N.C.O.U.P.L.E.D (Starlight Express soundtrack) 1984 5th
Space Oddity (David Bowie 2nd) 1969
Going Through the Motions (Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode 'Once More, With Feeling') 2001
One Step Beyond (Madness) 1979 3rd
Our House (Madness 2) 1982 5th
Into the Sunset (The Dreamstone soundtrack) 1990 2nd
Never Ending Story (Limahl) 1984 6th
As Someday it May Happen (The Mikado soundtrack) 1885
Astro Farm (Astro Farm theme) 1992
Sit Down (James) 1991 3rd
The Major General's Song (The Pirates of Penzance soundtrack) 1879
The Nightmare Song (Iolanthe soundtrack) 1882
This is Halloween (The Nightmare Before Christmas soundtrack) 1993
Mulder and Scully (Catatonia) 1998
Dance Commander (Electric Six) 2003
It's a Sin (Pet Shop Boys) 1987

==2005==
Gold (Spandau Ballet) 1983 2nd
Go West (Pet Shop Boys 2) 1993 2nd
Radio Ga Ga (Queen 10) 1984 7th
Hungry Eyes (Dirty Dancing soundtrack) 1987 2nd
Making Your Mind Up (Bucks Fizz) 1981
Video Killed the Radio Star (Buggles) 1979 4th
Life Burns (Apocalyptica) 2005
Streets of London (Ralph McTell) 1974
Is this the Way to Amarillo? (Tony Christie) 1971
I'm Sorry (All-4-One) 1995
Perfect Day (Lou Reed) 1972 2nd
You Can't Hurry Love (The Supremes) 1966
It's Still Rock and Roll To Me (Billy Joel) 1980 2nd
Let It Be (The Beatles) 1970 2nd
My Gallant Crew, Good Morning (HMS Pinafore soundtrack) 1878
I Don't Know How to Love Him (Jesus Christ Superstar soundtrack) 1970 3rd
You Don't Have to Say You Love Me (Dusty Springfield) 1966 2nd
I Don't Like Mondays (Boomtown Rats) 1979 5th
Trouble in Paradise (The Crests) 1960 2nd
Be My Baby (The Ronettes) 1963
Mad World (Tears for Fears) 1982 6th
Sexbomb/Extra (Tom Jones/Halifax) 2000
Toys 'R' Us (Toys 'R' Us advert) 1989 3rd
Snooker Loopy (Matchroom Mob with Chas & Dave) 1986 5th
Let Me Live (Queen 11) 1996 2nd
Thriller (Michael Jackson) 1983 3rd
For He is an Englishman (HMS Pinafore soundtrack 2) 1878 2nd
I'm Still Standing (Elton John 2) 1983 4th
Karma Chameleon (Culture Club 2) 1983 5th
Ladies Night (Kool & The Gang) 1979 6th
Sometimes (Erasure) 1986 6th
Nineteen (Paul Hardcastle) 1985 3rd
Y.M.C.A. (Village People 2) 1978 3rd
The Timewarp (The Rocky Horror Show soundtrack) 1973 (again)
Winter Wonderland (Felix Bernard and Richard B. Smith) 1934 2nd
Good King Wenceslas (Mason Neale) 1853
All I Want for Christmas is You (Mariah Carey) 1994
Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer (Elmo and Patsy Shropshire) 1979 7th
No Limit (2 Unlimited) 1993 3rd
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (Judy Garland) 1944
Everybody (Backstreet's Back) (Backstreet Boys) 1997 2nd
Last Christmas (Wham) 1984 (again)
Spider-Man (Spider-Man theme) 1967 2nd
Merry Christmas Everyone (Shakin' Stevens) 1985 4th
Sleigh Ride (Mitchell Parish) 1950

==2006==
We are the World (USA for Africa) 1985 5th
Ducktales (Ducktales theme) 1987 3rd
I Won't Say (I'm in Love) (Hercules soundtrack) 1997 3rd
I'll Be There For You (Rembrandts) 1995 2nd
We're Going to Ibiza (Vengaboys) 1999 5th
From Russia with Love (Matt Monro) 1963 2nd
Sit Down, You're Rocking the Boat (Guys and Dolls soundtrack) 1950 2nd
Firestarter (The Prodigy) 1996 3rd
Singing in the Rain (Arthur Freed) 1929
Halfway to Paradise (Billy Fury) 1961 2nd
A Whole New World (Aladdin soundtrack) 1992 2nd
The Wanderer (The Beach Boys) 1964
The Young Ones (Cliff Richard and the Shadows) 1962 2nd
Summer Holiday (Cliff Richard 2nd & The Shadows 2nd & The Norrie Paramor Strings) 1963 3rd
Build Me Up Buttercup (The Foundations) 1968
Girls Just Want to Have Fun (Cyndi Lauper) 1983 6th
Donna (Richie Valens) 1959
Take Good Care Of My Baby (Bobby Vee) 1961 3rd
Flash (Queen 12th) 1980 3rd
American Pie (Don McLean) 1972 3rd
Dream Lover (Bobby Darin) 1959 2nd
Summertime Blues (Eddie Cochran) 1958
Sheila's Wheels (Sheila's Wheels advert) 2005 2nd
Alright (Supergrass) 1995 3rd
It Doesn't Matter Anymore (Buddy Holly) 1959 3rd
Perfect Day (Lou Reed) 1972 (again)
Me Myself And I (De La Soul) 1989 4th
Copacabana (Barry Manilow) 1978 4th
In Summer (Billy Fury 2) 1963 4th
Three Lions (Baddiel, Skinner and The Lighting Seeds) 1996 4th
Parklife (Blur) 1994 2nd
A Town Called Malice (The Jam) 1982 7th
Hazard (Richard Marx) 1992 3rd
Who Are You (The Who) 1978 5th
Springtime for Hitler (The Producers soundtrack) 1968 2nd
Call Me (Blondie) 1980 4th
Rock the Casbah (The Clash) 1982 8th
Casper the Friendly Ghost (Casper the Friendly Ghost theme) 1950 3rd

==2007==
Who's Your Daddy? (Lordi) 2006
As Time Goes By (Casablanca soundtrack) 1931
Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now (Starship) 1987 4th
Summer of '69 (Bryan Adams) 1984 8th
You Don't Have to Say You Love Me (Dusty Springfield) 1966 (again)
We Do (The Stonecutters' Song) (The Simpsons episode 'Homer the Great') 1995 4th
Ebeneezer Goode (The Shamen) 1992 4th
Smells Like Teen Spirit (Nirvana) 1991 4th
Living in a Box (Living in a Box) 1987 5th
Walk the Dinosaur (Was (Not Was)) 1987 6th
Dizzy (Tommy Roe) 1969 2nd
La Bamba (Los Lobos) 1987 7th
LazyTown (LazyTown theme) 2004
Valerie (Steve Winwood) 1982 9th
1999 (Prince) 1982 10th
We Will Rock You (Queen 13th) 1977 2nd
St Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion) (John Parr) 1985 (again)
These Dreams (Heart) 1985 6th
Ride On Time (Black Box) 1989 5th
For He's A Jolly Good Fellow (N/A) N/A
U Can't Touch This (MC Hammer) 1990 3rd
The Girl Is Mine (Michael Jackson 2nd and Paul McCartney) 1982 11th
Song For Whoever (The Beautiful South) 1989 6th

==2008==
Never Gonna Give You Up (Rick Astley) 1987 8th
Rio Bravo (Dean Martin) 1959 4th
S.O.S (ABBA 2nd) 1975 2nd
Robert De Niro's Waiting (Bananarama) 1984 9th
Pinball Wizard (The Who 2nd) 1969 3rd
Country House (Blur 2) 1995 5th
You're The Voice (John Farnham) 1987 9th

==2009==
[Peggy Sue Got Married (Buddy Holly 2nd) 1959 5th]
Pink Petticoats (The Big Bopper) 1959 6th
Come On Let's Go (Ritchie Valens) 1958 2nd
Gummi Bears (Gummi Bears theme) 1985 7th
The One And Only (Chesney Hawkes) 1991 5th
Poker Face (Lady Gaga) 2008
Human (The Killers) 2008 2nd
Grace Kelly (Mika) 2007
I Am A Rock (Simon & Garfunkel) 1965
Holiday Road (Lindsey Buckingham) 1983 7th
Hungry Heart (Bruce Springsteen) 1980 5
Brown Girl In The Ring (Boney M) 1978 6th
Gladiators theme (Muff Murfin) 1992 5th
Sk8er Boi (Avril Lavigne) 2002 3rd
Walking On The Milky Way (OMD) 1996 5th
You Don't Know (Helen Shapiro) 1961 4th
Killing In The Name (Rage Against The Machine) 1992 6th
Don't Stop Believin' (Journey) 1981 2nd

==2010==
Mirror Man (Human League) 1982 12th
Remedy (Little Boots) 2009
Elstree (The Buggles 2nd) 1980 6th
Life In A Northern Town (Dream Academy) 1984 10th
Fireflies (Owl City) 2009 2nd

==2011==
Africa (Toto) 1982 13th
Fireflies (Owl City) 2009 (again)
You Can Call Me Al (Paul Simon) 1986 7th
Hotel California (The Eagles) 1977 3rd
Perfect Day (Lou Reed) 1972 (again)
Milkshake (Kelis) 2003 2nd
Somethin' Stupid (Nancy Sinatra featuring Frank Sinatra) 1967 3rd
Kyrie (Mr. Mister) 1986 8th
Can't Fight This Feeling (REO Speedwagon) 1984 11th
Allentown (Billy Joel 3) 1982 14th

As can be seen, since 2006 there has been quite a drop in the amount of filks being written, but new ones still occasionally appear to this day.

The artist with the most filks is, by a huge margin, Queen. They've had thirteen filks, with everyone else only managing two or less. Incredibly, The Beatles only have one filk to their name despite many million-selling hits.

Out of the total filks done, four are from adverts, ten are from television shows, and about a dozen are from films. The oldest song filked is from 1806 (Twinkle Twinkle Little Star), although the original version of La Bamba goes back over 300 years, and the newest from 2009 (Little Boots' Remedy and Owl City's Fireflies), so far two of five songs filked that were released after 2006. The most popular filked year is 1982, with 14; third most is 1987 with 9. 1984 has had 12, but this includes two version of Wham's Last Christmas making them second with 11.

The most popular decade is easily the 1980s, with 69 filks, followed by the 1990s with 39. Compare that to the 2000s which has 16 (excluding the Fireflies duplicate), perhaps indicating the forum's preferred taste for retro songs as the 1950s alone have almost as many songs filked!

(Originally posted on 2006-01-09 00:41:48)

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