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Switched on Pop

The Scandalous Sounds of Bridgerton (w Kris Bowers)

Switched on Pop

Vox Media Podcast Network

Music Interviews, Music History, Music, Music Commentary

4.62.7K Ratings

🗓️ 9 February 2021

⏱️ 39 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

The Netflix series Bridgerton has hooked audiences with its bodice-ripping sex scenes, a colorblind approach period drama casting, and a soundtrack featuring recreations of modern bangers from pop stars like Ariana Grande and Billie Eilish arranged in the style of a classical string quartet. By bringing modern melodies into the proper world of Regency England, the show reminds us that classical music wasn’t always so stuffy and solemn. In its time, it trafficked in the same scandal as modern pop. Alongside these classical-pop mashups, Bridgerton serves up its own ravishing score from composer Kris Bowers, who joins to break down how he made the past pop. Songs Discussed: Vitamin String Quartet - Thank U, Next, Bad Guy, In My Blood Kris Bowers - When You Are Alone, Flawless My Dear, Strange Maurice Ravel - Tombeau de Couperin, Prelude Clara Schumann - Der Mond Kommt Still Gegangen Johannes Brahms - Symphony No 3 in F Major Op 90, Mvt 3 (for Four Hand Piano) More Read Maria Popova on the letters of Johannes Brahms and Clara Schumann and Adrian Daub on Four Handed Monsters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

Welcome to Switched On Pop. I'm musicologist Nate Sloan and I'm songwriter Charlie

0:16.5

Harding. Charlie, this week we have to talk about the Netflix series Bridgerton. Do we?

0:23.7

We do. This show is taking the world by storm for a number of reasons.

0:29.0

Okay, I was told I wasn't supposed to watch it. I think my wife just wanted to watch it by herself.

0:33.0

I think there's a few things that have made people obsessed with the show. One is for the aforementioned.

0:38.7

It's sexy take on the aristocratic culture of Regency England. Two, it's progressive approach to casting.

0:48.0

Unlike a lot of historical dramas who claim authenticity as the reason that they have an all-white cast.

0:55.8

Yeah, Bridgerton has a really diverse set of actors playing the roles of these 19th century British aristocrats.

1:04.8

And it's really refreshing to see. Third, and this is the one that really matters to us,

1:11.0

is the score of this show. And by score you mean music, not the risque nature of the show?

1:17.1

People scoring. Oh, I get it. That's funny. Oh, thanks. Yes, the music in Bridgerton

1:25.6

has gone viral and it's helped make classical music fun again.

1:33.0

Okay, this is neat. I assume you have been going on a real deep dive into the classical

1:38.4

score of Bridgerton then. Indeed, I have, Charlie. I've had to watch certain scenes over and over

1:43.5

and over again just to make sure I've really got the musical quality of them, right? And I did watch

1:49.7

at least the beginning of the show. I was definitely compelled and the music you're holding me in as well.

1:55.4

Yeah, you're going to be vinging the rest of it as soon as this conversation is over.

2:00.0

Some of the music you get is kind of what you would expect. It's like classical grates,

2:04.2

Mozart, Shostakovich, the big wigs. Some of the music is original compositions by the composer

2:11.0

Chris Bowers. And I actually speak to him in the second half of our program. Get a deep

2:16.6

conversation with him. Okay, cool. And then Bridgerton also features classical style arrangements of

2:21.0

pop hits by Sean Mendez, Maroon 5, and Billy Eilish.

...

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