couldn't agree more. What's worse is that it was all added so somewhere the original track exist without the mods. If anyone ever finds it please post it here
I like the visuals and love listening to Christopher Walken speak. He is such a character and may he live stress free so that he may entertain us all,,, for evermore.
Please add my voice to those whom would like this remastered to bring forth CW's voice. Rescue it from the unnecessary and distracting sound effects, please.
With over forty-five thousand views and over seven hundred likes what I most enjoy is that teachers are using this video to show their students classic literature. I love kids. I had to leave school and never finished due to bullying. Now at fifty I get to teach adults and I get to help children that may other wise have the same childhood I did. I'm truly blessed and it's the simple changes that do save lives.
+Erica Elizabeth Ravenwood I just stumbled upon this and just read this comment. It's great to hear that you're doing well! Distant greetings at 4:00 am.
I loved it! A beautiful rendition of a beloved classic! I thoroughly enjoyed it! But what else would I expect from Christopher Walken? Right? He is really the perfect choice of actor to read "The Raven."
and he read a brief excerpt of The Raven in his role as schoolteacher Johnny Smith at the start of David Cronenberg's adaptation of Stephen King's 'Dead Zone'... Later on in the film, he has a student reading an excerpt to him. Great to hear the whole poem in that voice though... :)
+Paul Gunson Oh, yes, definitely! His is the perfect voice to read this beautifully chilling classic! Did you also notice the unusual, but apt choice of music? The guitar works so well. Also, the effect by which Mr. Walken is reading with an echo, like in a vast emptiness.
As millions of others, I totally love The Raven; it haunted my teenage years. But this copy... *laughs* One does not simply think of Walken or anyone else (let alone Poe) as KNITTING! I loved it. I'm sharing this at Ravelry to share the joy that is Poe. Thank you!
i have this CD, " Case Closed on Account of Rabies". Several EXCELLENT readings on it, including Iggy Pop reading " Tell Tale Heart", Ken Nordine reading " Conquerer Worm", and Jeff Buckley reading "Uhlalume". Like watching the Peanuts, I MUST listen to this CD every Halloween!
I uploaded this to TH-cam Dec 30th 2013. Still a personal favorite though. I had to learn all kinds of new tricks to make it. Where Walken speaks I used gif animation being careful not to show his lower jaw and then placing stills in different orders to make it look as though he were saying the words. A lot I did with good old PowerPoint.
Thanks, nice work. There are a lot of pieces of music that have had unofficial videos made for them where none exists. TH-cam has to take a lot of them down, which is a shame, a lot of them are nicely done.
As much as I love the Christopher Lee reading, there's a certain way that Mr Walken reads this that seems genuinely unsettling. Christopher Lee is by far the most poetically read, but Christopher Walken actually somehow makes this poem unnerving. I can't explain it..
Yeah, I suppose that's a pretty good way of explaining it. Thanks :D It just sounds very natural the way he reads it. (I guess it helps that he's actually American as opposed to the majority of British actors who read this poem, so it seems more authentic in that sense.)
I heard a reading of the Raven by Basil Rathbone once on ..spotify i think? I'm not a literary man by any stretch but it was imho a real master stroke. Worth checking out anyway.
Christopher Walken did such a wonderful job reading this timeless classic they will never have another reader read this poem as well because another wonderful reader will be nevermore
Original audio is from Hal Willner's tribute to Poe, "Closed On Account Of Rabies." Filled with famous people reading various Poe pieces set to music. There's some great stuff on it and well worth seeking out. The title comes from a theory that Poe's mysterious demise could possibly be attributed to him catching rabies.
Oh wow! I used to hear this all the time on a poetry cd I bought back in 2000!! I haven't heard this in YEARS!! I bought it just for this poem cuz I love cw and eap
The background sound effects totally ruin it.. Especially when the guitar riffs kick in.. can't hear CW, only the guitar.. Very distracting. Either lose them all together or turn them down so low that they are barely perceptible.
Exactly right, especially on the guitar. Not really keeping with the times this was written-lol. I doubt Edgar Allan Poe envisioned any accompaniment-but it might be alright with a creepy violin background. And of course it all taken down a notch. There just doesn't need to be all that noise.
Totally agree , I wonder if thier is a version of this without all of the awful sound effects, just his voice. That's all that is needed just Christopher W. Voice
I have listened again to your oration. This time, l have picked up on your: monometer, diameter, trimeter and mainly tetrameter within your syllables. The adjectives and adverbs with allusions to Christian religion. Also, you, the speaker speaks it all! Thank you for the best night time story for ages my 19th century teller! I will go to bed tonight reminiscing Poe's words! Thank you Christopher Walken.
Such a brutal poem, featuring the perverse simultaneous desires to remember as well as to forget. We all seek distraction and "surcease of sorrow" for lost loved ones, but the bird will not let the poor narrator have this. Reminds one of a line from Batman Begins: "One day you catch yourself wishing that the one you loved had never existed...so you'd be spared your pain."
Thank you. It was a nice experiment and I learned quite a bit making it. I love Poe and Walken is just awesome doing it. The common comment is that the music they had added when he recorded this is so strange and out of place but I think it worked well for this project.
Some comments don't like the background sounds. To me, it is perfect. Not quite awake, still asleep, can't figure out what that is tapping, tapping. Is it the wind, is it more? First time I think I've ever cried to this particular prose. Unnerving. I need to go about my day, but this has caused me quite a bit of consternation and fearfulness. Isn't it wonderful? An escape I much needed in this day, week, month, and year, forever more.
The Raven BY EDGAR ALLAN POE Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore- While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door. “’Tis some visitor,” I muttered, “tapping at my chamber door- Only this and nothing more.” Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December; And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor. Eagerly I wished the morrow;-vainly I had sought to borrow From my books surcease of sorrow-sorrow for the lost Lenore- For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore- Nameless here for evermore. And the silken, sad, uncertain rustling of each purple curtain Thrilled me-filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before; So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating “’Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door- Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door;- This it is and nothing more.” Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer, “Sir,” said I, “or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore; But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping, And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door, That I scarce was sure I heard you”-here I opened wide the door;- Darkness there and nothing more. Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing, Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before; But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token, And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, “Lenore?” This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, “Lenore!”- Merely this and nothing more. Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning, Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before. “Surely,” said I, “surely that is something at my window lattice; Let me see, then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore- Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore;- ’Tis the wind and nothing more!” Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter, In there stepped a stately Raven of the saintly days of yore; Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he; But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door- Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door- Perched, and sat, and nothing more. Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling, By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore, “Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,” I said, “art sure no craven, Ghastly grim and ancient Raven wandering from the Nightly shore- Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night’s Plutonian shore!” Quoth the Raven “Nevermore.” Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly, Though its answer little meaning-little relevancy bore; For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being Ever yet was blessed with seeing bird above his chamber door- Bird or beast upon the sculptured bust above his chamber door, With such name as “Nevermore.” But the Raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour. Nothing farther then he uttered-not a feather then he fluttered- Till I scarcely more than muttered “Other friends have flown before- On the morrow he will leave me, as my Hopes have flown before.” Then the bird said “Nevermore.” Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken, “Doubtless,” said I, “what it utters is its only stock and store Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful Disaster Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore- Till the dirges of his Hope that melancholy burden bore Of ‘Never-nevermore’.” But the Raven still beguiling all my fancy into smiling, Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird, and bust and door; Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore- What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous bird of yore Meant in croaking “Nevermore.” This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom’s core; This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining On the cushion’s velvet lining that the lamp-light gloated o’er, But whose velvet-violet lining with the lamp-light gloating o’er, She shall press, ah, nevermore! Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer Swung by Seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor. “Wretch,” I cried, “thy God hath lent thee-by these angels he hath sent thee Respite-respite and nepenthe from thy memories of Lenore; Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore!” Quoth the Raven “Nevermore.” “Prophet!” said I, “thing of evil!-prophet still, if bird or devil!- Whether Tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore, Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted- On this home by Horror haunted-tell me truly, I implore- Is there-is there balm in Gilead?-tell me-tell me, I implore!” Quoth the Raven “Nevermore.” “Prophet!” said I, “thing of evil!-prophet still, if bird or devil! By that Heaven that bends above us-by that God we both adore- Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn, It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels name Lenore- Clasp a rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore.” Quoth the Raven “Nevermore.” “Be that word our sign of parting, bird or fiend!” I shrieked, upstarting- “Get thee back into the tempest and the Night’s Plutonian shore! Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken! Leave my loneliness unbroken!-quit the bust above my door! Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!” Quoth the Raven “Nevermore.” And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door; And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon’s that is dreaming, And the lamp-light o’er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor; And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor Shall be lifted-nevermore!
I do love this and all of the dramatics!! It's a great theatrical rendition of the awesome Poe done by such a voice! I love it ! I come back and listen a bunch each October!! :)
Mr. Walkin, you've narrated "TheRaven" so inquisitevly. Poe would been in awe of his own words. I can only listen to your rendition forever more. Seminole Wind.
You've really captured the spirit of the poem. Walken does a superb job of narrating getting the characters growing anxiety and you've done a superb job in capturing the growing claustrophobia and the music was a classy touch though it was in the original recording it really along with the visuals gives it pace when it needs it
***** Wow, that was pretty harsh, lol. I had it up for Halloween is all. Right now I have a Transgender Remembrance video to commemorate Nov. 20th and after that I'll have Christmas ones up through the holidays. I'm actually a very good educator and do speaking engagements for state agencies, counselors and have been asked to speak to medical and metal health professionals at the veterans administration. Is your objection that you feel you were tricked into seeing my channel? I have many artistic interests and my channel is broken into several sections.
lol, For one thing I'm not French but for another I'm the one who made the film. If you notice it has my RAVENWOOD logo at the beginning and says an Erica Elizabeth Ravenwood film in the title sequence. I guess I'm still not sure why you're mad at me.
Walken portrays poes sorrow and encroaching madness well. The sadness mixed with madness grows forevermore and beguiling as it seems students read with knowledge piling will soon learn from this video of the ebon raven Nevermore.
I’m still trying to figure out if this was a serious reading or a comic sketch?! So is the power of Christopher Walken’s unique voice and enigmatic interpretation.
The first time I heard Christopher Walken reading The Raven was in the theater in the 80s. But it was the last part of the poem. It was at the beginning of the movie "The Dead Zone". From then on Christopher Walken was my favorite for The Raven. And now... my dream came true.
I heard a pinging, a ting ting ringing, ringing near my chamber door, I thought of cowbell, and I needed MORE!
I don’t say this often, but I think you deserve more likes for this
Brilliant!
This deserves like 30k likes
BEST COMMENT EVER.
When I come back in a year, you better have more likes, or I'll be disappointed
I clicked to see Christopher walken talken.
Yassss
Yea, nah !
Yeah, na, yea!
Na, na, nahh, na, na, nah, nah,
NA, NA, NAH, NAH.
Good one.
Christopher Walken does not require all these overpowering sound effects which do nothing but detract from the performance.
Yes! My thoughts exactly. Such a shame.
Agreed.
The echo. The effects.
The music?
No.
Him in a chamber, sitting in Morpheus' chair.
That's it. Keep it simple...
All Christopher Walken needs is his voice to project the power of Poe's poem. All the sound effects,especially the guitar is too distracting
couldn't agree more. What's worse is that it was all added so somewhere the original track exist without the mods. If anyone ever finds it please post it here
Lost count of how many times I've had this thought, and I'm halfway in. Just clear vocals. Where's that track🤩
Christopher Walken could recite
"Mary had a little lamb, it's fleece was white as snow..." And make it scary...
Tell me why I automatically read that in his voice?
Or, "Yes, Virginia I pushed you off the boat".
@James Miller omg. Lmao. That's is wonderful!
@LindLTaylor X yes.
@James Miller when we were kids my dad recited the last 2 lines as "it followed her to school one day, and a big yellow dog ate it"
I play this in my driveway for Halloween. It really confuses the kids and parents alike.
Richard Macintyre hey thats today
I thought he said on his drive back home, and thought he had the audio book on full blast while driving.
Lol, that's awesome! My family quotes this often. Why? Because their parents are nerds! 😂😂
That is awesome! I was was thinking of doing that! Just perfect!
No appreciation for poetry?
Walken's alluring voice is irresistible. It would be inhuman to resist it.
Quoth the Raven "I haven't killed anyone since 1984"
DonPeyote ....I was born in the year 1984!!!.....am I dead?🤢😨😱😱😱😱
True Romance...one of my top five
Tell me....am I lying?
@DonPeyote Big Brother is watching...
Who did he kill in 1984? He was involved in Natalie Woods death in 1981.
Walken does magnificent justice to Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven."
Both are excellent. Each interpretation gives you something special.
@Caffeinated Piper Better. Besides, Price changes some of the words. That’s a no no.
Walken does magnificent justice to knitting too... it seems (applause 👏 )
Suddenly my peace was torn asunder…..a guitar screaming…….as loud as thunder……making both my ears sore……to listen to this version nevermore.
This needs more Cow Bell.
+Isaiah Jones Definitely. life in general needs more cow bell.
LMAO....Walken is my hero!
+Isaiah Jones Quoth the raven: Cowbell-somemore
May I ask, what is cowbell?
Search TH-cam for "Saturday Night Live more cowbell"
This is read in an amazingly fluent and natural way. I actuly feel I am there
* actually
I Love Poe. Christopher Walken is the perfect Narrator.
I like the visuals and love listening to Christopher Walken speak. He is such a character and may he live stress free so that he may entertain us all,,, for evermore.
Whoever mixed the sound for this has done humanity a great disservice.
TH-cam sound always sucks. It is compressed and most people have crappy speakers or listen on a phone.
@@StanSwan nah, this is poorly mixed, with bad music riffs and bad sound effects.
@@Toywins
Do you always repeat what I say?
@@StanSwan lol
It needs to not have sounds or effects. Only Walken talken
Absolutely adore Christopher Walken
So did Natalie Wood....
I've listened to a bunch of versions of this, and damn, Walken's is by far the best. I could do with more subtle music (or none), though.
Check out Basil Rathbone
Check out Paul Harrel
Have you given Christopher Lee a try?
I don't rate one against the other, but Christopher Lee's is the creepiest.
He did the poem justice as no one else has before. Love Walken
I LOVE how he does not ONLY forget punctuation marks but he split syllables and begins one word with the last syllable of the previous.
Eminem does the same
mickavellian we see this a lot in Shakespearean plays - particularly with great British actors.
Splendid. Such a skilled and talented actor Christopher Walken is.
So was Natalie Woods.
@@seanhammer6296 that's enough!
@@nicolenewsome4863 Lol! Lil' touchy aren't we? Haha.
@@nicolenewsome4863 People like Sean are just pathetic losers, it makes their pathetic asses feel important, shiting on things.
Also an accomplished dancer.
I listen to it everyday in every December for 10 years now!
And I'm back again this year too 🖤
@@mabrukahabdullah8486 I will never forget your favor for bringing me here.
I'm memorizing it, with my own style.
I would pay money to see Christopher Walken recite this while sitting in a rocking chair like in SNL. Comedy gold.
Please add my voice to those whom would like this remastered to bring forth CW's voice. Rescue it from the unnecessary and distracting sound effects, please.
good show old bean
Wow my favorite poet and nararated by one of the best and most versatile bad ass actors ever Christopher Walken
With over forty-five thousand views and over seven hundred likes what I most enjoy is that teachers are using this video to show their students classic literature. I love kids. I had to leave school and never finished due to bullying. Now at fifty I get to teach adults and I get to help children that may other wise have the same childhood I did. I'm truly blessed and it's the simple changes that do save lives.
I have an assignment on this!
CreeperMagnetGaming I hope you do awesome on your assignment!
I have an assignment on this as well . Little bit frightened !
You'll do fine. Find the emotion in what Poe was saying. Find the story. Find his pain.
+Erica Elizabeth Ravenwood I just stumbled upon this and just read this comment. It's great to hear that you're doing well! Distant greetings at 4:00 am.
I loved it! A beautiful rendition of a beloved classic! I thoroughly enjoyed it! But what else would I expect from Christopher Walken? Right? He is really the perfect choice of actor to read "The Raven."
and he read a brief excerpt of The Raven in his role as schoolteacher Johnny Smith at the start of David Cronenberg's adaptation of Stephen King's 'Dead Zone'... Later on in the film, he has a student reading an excerpt to him. Great to hear the whole poem in that voice though... :)
+Paul Gunson Oh, yes, definitely! His is the perfect voice to read this beautifully chilling classic! Did you also notice the unusual, but apt choice of music? The guitar works so well. Also, the effect by which Mr. Walken is reading with an echo, like in a vast emptiness.
It's nice to hear a reading of this poem that doesn't sound like every other reading you're likely to find.
Amen. By far the best I've heard. Hands down .
As millions of others, I totally love The Raven; it haunted my teenage years. But this copy... *laughs* One does not simply think of Walken or anyone else (let alone Poe) as KNITTING! I loved it. I'm sharing this at Ravelry to share the joy that is Poe. Thank you!
He's knitting! Even more magnificent...
Oh my, so sounding so English! Thank you Christopher Walking... it resonates with me.
Desolee Walken. xx
Patricia White Remember Poe was American and had an American, not English, accent, though there exists no audio of him, unfortunately.
Absolutely marvelous. A perfect reading!
One of my favorites read by one of my favorite. A masters work read by the master. Never more.
i have this CD, " Case Closed on Account of Rabies". Several EXCELLENT readings on it, including Iggy Pop reading " Tell Tale Heart", Ken Nordine reading " Conquerer Worm", and Jeff Buckley reading "Uhlalume". Like watching the Peanuts, I MUST listen to this CD every Halloween!
Walken knittin’ whilst sittin’. has me smitten 🖤
Christopher Walken is just brilliant!!!!
I uploaded this to TH-cam Dec 30th 2013. Still a personal favorite though. I had to learn all kinds of new tricks to make it. Where Walken speaks I used gif animation being careful not to show his lower jaw and then placing stills in different orders to make it look as though he were saying the words. A lot I did with good old PowerPoint.
Outstanding ! And one of the best readings I've ever heard of the Raven
You Tube...Christopher Lee, Yhe Raven.
A piece of art in itself. Thanks for this, it's great.
Thanks, nice work.
There are a lot of pieces of music that have had unofficial videos made for them where none exists.
TH-cam has to take a lot of them down, which is a shame, a lot of them are nicely done.
Very well done!!
As much as I love the Christopher Lee reading, there's a certain way that Mr Walken reads this that seems genuinely unsettling. Christopher Lee is by far the most poetically read, but Christopher Walken actually somehow makes this poem unnerving. I can't explain it..
I think his reading seems as though he's living it. Seems as if it's happening right now.
Yeah, I suppose that's a pretty good way of explaining it. Thanks :D
It just sounds very natural the way he reads it. (I guess it helps that he's actually American as opposed to the majority of British actors who read this poem, so it seems more authentic in that sense.)
This poem is unnerving on several levels!
He could unnerve me with ANYTHING he reads.....(I love all of his works!)
I’ve always loved Christopher Lees version and his deep voice perfect. Walken is a fav of mine. I think I will treasure both
Christopher Lee also did this check it it's brilliant, must be something in the first name!
Also check out Vincent Price's reading. His voice was the epitome of horror.
I heard a reading of the Raven by Basil Rathbone once on ..spotify i think? I'm not a literary man by any stretch but it was imho a real master stroke. Worth checking out anyway.
Too bad this narration has been ruined by the ridiculous sound effects.
Listen again: Nevermore!
Agree agree agree, Beth!
I like it.
Who asked
Christopher Walken did such a wonderful job reading this timeless classic they will never have another reader read this poem as well because another wonderful reader will be nevermore
Christopher Walken is such a great actor so under-rated to recite Edger Allen Poe poems.
The man is not pondering over volumns of forgotten lore, He is knitting. Seriously.
And so, I stabbed the raven in the eye with a soldering iron
Wow what was it with Edgar Allen Poe and eyes? Lol
@@thepretender3814 Forget Edgar Allan Walken...lets talk about these blowjobs.
Yes, you did stab the raven in the eye
So once again so did I
Too watch the bird as it lie
And as it began to slowly die
I then muttered, nevermore…
pat and then I stuck him up my ass... 😳 🧭for five years.
Apparently no one got the Joe Dirt reference . Long live Clem Doore !
Would like to hear him read the tall tale heart
Josias Vertiz Maybe Tell Tale Heart?
Yeah maybe that one too
Iggy Pop is the master @ it!
His signature style of speaking is perfect for this!!
I always love to hear the Walken talkin'.
Doah, moah, ! But Lenore. Okay. Walker can do no wrong!
Original audio is from Hal Willner's tribute to Poe, "Closed On Account Of Rabies." Filled with famous people reading various Poe pieces set to music. There's some great stuff on it and well worth seeking out. The title comes from a theory that Poe's mysterious demise could possibly be attributed to him catching rabies.
Thank you, Vaughn Abbott; I'll check it out. Diana/Chicago
I can picture Christopher Walker reading “War of the Worlds”
yeah auto-correct isnt a fan apparently
Oh i love Christopher Walken! This is awesome!
"Never more" is the 1840s version of "talk to the hand".
thank you for the beautiful reading and the video I truly appreciate it I love Edgar Allan Poe and Christopher Walken
Oh wow! I used to hear this all the time on a poetry cd I bought back in 2000!! I haven't heard this in YEARS!! I bought it just for this poem cuz I love cw and eap
I would pay to listen to Christopher Walken read shampoo Bottles...This is amazing!...Subscribed and Thank You
The background sound effects totally ruin it.. Especially when the guitar riffs kick in.. can't hear CW, only the guitar.. Very distracting. Either lose them all together or turn them down so low that they are barely perceptible.
Exactly! I only made it to 1:49 before I had to turn it off.
seeburgm100a YOU MISSED THE POINT.
While I didn't care for the sudden guitar riff, I could still very clearly hear Walken. Lol
Exactly right, especially on the guitar. Not really keeping with the times this was written-lol. I doubt Edgar Allan Poe envisioned any accompaniment-but it might be alright with a creepy violin background. And of course it all taken down a notch. There just doesn't need to be all that noise.
Totally agree , I wonder if thier is a version of this without all of the awful sound effects, just his voice. That's all that is needed just Christopher W. Voice
Finally my life is complete.
This poem needs Walken's voice and nothing more. The extra music and sound effects... Nevermore!
Why do people actually care about this I'm only here for homework
His voice is a perfect choice for this immortal poem.
Genius, take one of the most iconic voices, have him read one of the most amazing poems and then drown it out with loud annoying sounds.
This is lovely! Thank you! Thing that irked me: That bust is clearly not Pallas. Pallas generally refers to Athena.
Yes! The Greek goddess of wisdom. Rather important, that imho.
I have listened again to your oration. This time, l have picked up on your: monometer, diameter, trimeter and mainly tetrameter within your syllables. The adjectives and adverbs with allusions to Christian religion. Also, you, the speaker speaks it all! Thank you for the best night time story for ages my 19th century teller! I will go to bed tonight reminiscing Poe's words! Thank you Christopher Walken.
Such a brutal poem, featuring the perverse simultaneous desires to remember as well as to forget. We all seek distraction and "surcease of sorrow" for lost loved ones, but the bird will not let the poor narrator have this. Reminds one of a line from Batman Begins: "One day you catch yourself wishing that the one you loved had never existed...so you'd be spared your pain."
I would eliminate the electric guitars. You want the reading to have a timeless quality.
If this needs more cowbell then give me a hell yeah!!!
Probably the best phrasing of this of this I’ve ever heard.
I love Poe. Christopher walken is fantastic... great job...... absolutely love this video....
Gave me goose bumps all over ....
Outstanding production Erica Elizabeth Ravenswood. Thank you. Diana/Chicago
Nicely done! Chris Walken is a great choice and the shots from "The Haunting" (the good one) are well-placed.
Thank you. It was a nice experiment and I learned quite a bit making it. I love Poe and Walken is just awesome doing it. The common comment is that the music they had added when he recorded this is so strange and out of place but I think it worked well for this project.
His matter of fact tone but free flowing delivery coupled with the classic dark Poem made for an exceptional pairing.
Some comments don't like the background sounds. To me, it is perfect. Not quite awake, still asleep, can't figure out what that is tapping, tapping. Is it the wind, is it more? First time I think I've ever cried to this particular prose. Unnerving. I need to go about my day, but this has caused me quite a bit of consternation and fearfulness. Isn't it wonderful? An escape I much needed in this day, week, month, and year, forever more.
Thanks for posting this. What a great Halloween treat!
I would like Gary Oldman to take this on...
Gary Oldman as Drexal lol 😂
Yes Vincent price would be good too! Gary oldman in his Dracula voice or Bella legousi would be prefect to read this poem!
I also think, James Earl Jones would be an interesting read.
Or...Alan Rickman...RIP
@@hermantorres5170 th-cam.com/video/sXU3RfB7308/w-d-xo.html
Walken really brought the dark and depressed feelings of Poe to life!
The fact that he is knitting effortless - without looking - is VERY TELLING
The Raven
BY EDGAR ALLAN POE
Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore-
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
“’Tis some visitor,” I muttered, “tapping at my chamber door-
Only this and nothing more.”
Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December;
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Eagerly I wished the morrow;-vainly I had sought to borrow
From my books surcease of sorrow-sorrow for the lost Lenore-
For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore-
Nameless here for evermore.
And the silken, sad, uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me-filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating
“’Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door-
Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door;-
This it is and nothing more.”
Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
“Sir,” said I, “or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;
But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,
And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,
That I scarce was sure I heard you”-here I opened wide the door;-
Darkness there and nothing more.
Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before;
But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token,
And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, “Lenore?”
This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, “Lenore!”-
Merely this and nothing more.
Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,
Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.
“Surely,” said I, “surely that is something at my window lattice;
Let me see, then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore-
Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore;-
’Tis the wind and nothing more!”
Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,
In there stepped a stately Raven of the saintly days of yore;
Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;
But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door-
Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door-
Perched, and sat, and nothing more.
Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore,
“Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,” I said, “art sure no craven,
Ghastly grim and ancient Raven wandering from the Nightly shore-
Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night’s Plutonian shore!”
Quoth the Raven “Nevermore.”
Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly,
Though its answer little meaning-little relevancy bore;
For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being
Ever yet was blessed with seeing bird above his chamber door-
Bird or beast upon the sculptured bust above his chamber door,
With such name as “Nevermore.”
But the Raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only
That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.
Nothing farther then he uttered-not a feather then he fluttered-
Till I scarcely more than muttered “Other friends have flown before-
On the morrow he will leave me, as my Hopes have flown before.”
Then the bird said “Nevermore.”
Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,
“Doubtless,” said I, “what it utters is its only stock and store
Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful Disaster
Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore-
Till the dirges of his Hope that melancholy burden bore
Of ‘Never-nevermore’.”
But the Raven still beguiling all my fancy into smiling,
Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird, and bust and door;
Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking
Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore-
What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous bird of yore
Meant in croaking “Nevermore.”
This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing
To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom’s core;
This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining
On the cushion’s velvet lining that the lamp-light gloated o’er,
But whose velvet-violet lining with the lamp-light gloating o’er,
She shall press, ah, nevermore!
Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer
Swung by Seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor.
“Wretch,” I cried, “thy God hath lent thee-by these angels he hath sent thee
Respite-respite and nepenthe from thy memories of Lenore;
Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore!”
Quoth the Raven “Nevermore.”
“Prophet!” said I, “thing of evil!-prophet still, if bird or devil!-
Whether Tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore,
Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted-
On this home by Horror haunted-tell me truly, I implore-
Is there-is there balm in Gilead?-tell me-tell me, I implore!”
Quoth the Raven “Nevermore.”
“Prophet!” said I, “thing of evil!-prophet still, if bird or devil!
By that Heaven that bends above us-by that God we both adore-
Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn,
It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels name Lenore-
Clasp a rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore.”
Quoth the Raven “Nevermore.”
“Be that word our sign of parting, bird or fiend!” I shrieked, upstarting-
“Get thee back into the tempest and the Night’s Plutonian shore!
Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!
Leave my loneliness unbroken!-quit the bust above my door!
Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!”
Quoth the Raven “Nevermore.”
And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon’s that is dreaming,
And the lamp-light o’er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted-nevermore!
Thank you for posting the poem. It was helpful to read and listen at the same time!
This is beautiful.
I love Christopher Walken.
I do love this and all of the dramatics!! It's a great theatrical rendition of the awesome Poe done by such a voice! I love it ! I come back and listen a bunch each October!! :)
Nothing More + Forever More = Nevermore
This is the best! You did an excellent job. Thank you
Many thanks for sharing this post so close to Halloween 2019. Walken lends a certain spooky to this already eerie piece from Poe. Best wishes.
My fave poem of all time....
04:20
“Eat my shorts❕”
Most underrated comment.
I came to verify the cowbell comment was already here but after that I insisted on finding this one.
@@thorr18BEM Bart brought me here
Nevermore, nevermore, nevermore, nevermore...
This version of The Raven reminds me of Castlevania: Lament of Innocence, and The Prisoner of Azkaban Video Game!
This is brilliant! Thanks so much for sharing!
Mr. Walkin, you've narrated "TheRaven" so inquisitevly. Poe would been in awe of his own words. I can only listen to your rendition forever more.
Seminole Wind.
You've really captured the spirit of the poem. Walken does a superb job of narrating getting the characters growing anxiety and you've done a superb job in capturing the growing claustrophobia and the music was a classy touch though it was in the original recording it really along with the visuals gives it pace when it needs it
max rav Thank you so much. Of the many videos I've done this is my personal favorite.
You are so talented. I'll google you to see if I can find more of your stuff. keep up your great work(s). Diana/Chicago
I would love to see a video of him reading this while tap dancing.
Beautiful and resonating
one of my favorite versions.
I’d love to listen to CW reading this. Perhaps one day someone will publish a video in which he does.
You lost me when the electric guitars showed up😖
Happy 76th birthday to Christopher Walken, his narration is truly astonishing, he does the raven such justice.
Chris is the best. Thank you for this.
Christopher did a great job. I would like to see Zachary Quinto or Hugo Weaving do a version too. IMO
I think Hugo Weaving would be great too.
:D
nah weaving would need some crazy ass monologue that would go on and on and on and on and on LMAO
*****
Wow, that was pretty harsh, lol. I had it up for Halloween is all. Right now I have a Transgender Remembrance video to commemorate Nov. 20th and after that I'll have Christmas ones up through the holidays.
I'm actually a very good educator and do speaking engagements for state agencies, counselors and have been asked to speak to medical and metal health professionals at the veterans administration.
Is your objection that you feel you were tricked into seeing my channel? I have many artistic interests and my channel is broken into several sections.
lol, For one thing I'm not French but for another I'm the one who made the film. If you notice it has my RAVENWOOD logo at the beginning and says an Erica Elizabeth Ravenwood film in the title sequence.
I guess I'm still not sure why you're mad at me.
This had so much potential. Ruined with all the unnecessary sound effects.
Walken portrays poes sorrow and encroaching madness well. The sadness mixed with madness grows forevermore and beguiling as it seems students read with knowledge piling will soon learn from this video of the ebon raven Nevermore.
Love it! Perfect
Beautifully done.
I’m still trying to figure out if this was a serious reading or a comic sketch?! So is the power of Christopher Walken’s unique voice and enigmatic interpretation.
The first time I heard Christopher Walken reading The Raven was in the theater in the 80s. But it was the last part of the poem. It was at the beginning of the movie "The Dead Zone". From then on Christopher Walken was my favorite for The Raven. And now... my dream came true.
While watching and listening to Christopher Walken reminds me that he read this in the movie, The Dead Zone.