The Orchestra Does A Mic Drop: Examining Classical Pop
Copyright YouTube/@Rosalía
At the thirty second mark of the music video for “Berghain,” Catalan singer ROSALÍA throws open the window curtains to reveal the London Symphony Orchestra’s string section in her room. Sunlight fills the room as the strings erupt into a fiery Baroque-style opening reminiscent of Vivaldi. If that wasn’t enough, the next shot features the Escolania de Montserrat youth choir before ROSALÍA herself sings in operatic vocals. The Bach-like grandeur of “Berghain” sounds nothing like her earlier songs (“Bizcochito,” for example), but this is still the same pop singer ROSALÍA, now just backed by the roar of the timpani instead of a drumkit.
Classical music in pop songs isn’t a new idea: think Pachelbel’s “Canon in D” in “Memories” by Maroon 5. But ROSALÍA has invited a different perspective of genre mixing by integrating classical music elements within her pop song. We often tend to strictly separate classical and pop music, with the former bringing in connotations of “elite” and “high-class,” while pop music is seen as “accessible.” Yet, the orchestra can be used like any other musical instrument in pop, where the intended effect may be completely different (yet interesting!) in creating new kinds of pop music. I found myself in a state of awe when first listening to “Berghain,” never expecting to hear an orchestra so refreshingly used in a song.
Other pop artists have had close ties to orchestras prior to this, but these have been closer to arrangements rather than a song written in collaboration with an orchestra. Laufey has worked with orchestras the Iceland Symphony Orchestra and the Los Angeles Philharmonic for her live concerts. While nothing as intense as ROSALÍA’s, the orchestra reworks Laufey’s songs as dreamier and fairy-tale-like, complementing her “Disney princess” aesthetic. Grammy-nominated Cody Fry has arranged multiple songs to include an orchestra. His arrangement of the Beatles ’‘Eleanour Rigby” has transformed it to a dark, brooding work complete with the frantic crawls of the strings.
There has always been a fascination with classical music in pop culture, such as late-Romantic music and the aesthetic of “dark academia.” Stormy piano pieces like Grieg’s Piano Concerto accompany visuals of dimly-lit libraries and old, faded academic books. Classical music provides a dramatic “soundtrack” to aesthetic trends like these, which further boost their popularity. I’ve noticed that the incorporation of classical orchestras into pop songs has further driven this interest in the people around me (including myself). Genre-mixing from artists like these can break down barriers imposed especially within classical music. We can appreciate the distinct energy an orchestra brings without having to immediately step into the realm of classical music, especially for those who aren’t familiar with such a different genre. Fans can explore new kinds of music, and there shouldn’t be any pressure to label it explicitly as “pop” or “classical.” Instead, there are no rules in music, and the mix of genres like these can give birth to entertaining ideas. Why should the orchestra be limited to the concert stage? I think we can bring them around with our favourite artists, you never know what new sounds can spring from their collaborations!
Some listening suggestions:
Berghain -- ROSALÍA, London Symphony Orchestra
A Night At The Symphony -- Laufey, Los Angeles Philharmonic and Iceland Symphony Orchestra separately
Symphony of Lungs -- Florence + The Machine
Eleanor Rigby -- Cody Fry