10 Modern Songs Inspired by Classical Music

It’s no secret that many modern musicians are inspired by the greats of classical music. Here are ten modern songs that were inspired by classical music.

Introduction

Classical music has been around for centuries, and its influence can still be felt in modern music. From Rock to Pop to Hip-hop, many modern artists have been inspired by classical music composers such as Bach, Beethoven, and Mozart. In this article, we’ll take a look at ten modern songs that have been inspired by classical music.

“All Apologies” by Nirvana

Nirvana was one of the most popular and influential rock bands of the 1990s. The band’s song “All Apologies” was inspired by the work of German composer Richard Wagner. Wagner is best known for his operas, which were highly influential in the development of modern classical music. “All Apologies” incorporate elements of Wagner’s work into a grunge-rock song, giving it a unique sound that blends two very different genres.

“No Surprises” by Radiohead

“No Surprises” by Radiohead is a song that was inspired by the classical composer, Franz Schubert. The song is in the key of D minor, and the melody is based on Schubert’s “Impromptu No. 3 in G-Flat Major.”

“You Learn” by Alanis Morissette

“You Learn” is a 1996 song by Canadian-American singer Alanis Morissette, from her third studio album, Jagged Little Pill. The song was written by Morissette and Glen Ballard, and produced by Ballard. According to Morissette, the lyrics are about “the yin and the yang of learning”.

Musically, “You Learn” is a alternative rock song that contains elements of classical music. The song is written in the key of A♭ major and has a moderate tempo of 80 beats per minute. The verses follow a chord progression of A♭–F–Gm–D♭, while the chorus has a sequence of Cm7–A♭–E♭5–F–Gm as its chord progression. “You Learn” features piano and strings in its instrumentation.

“Bitter Sweet Symphony” by The Verve

The String Quartet No. 2 in D major, Op. 18, by Ludwig van Beethoven, was composed in 1798 and 1799, published in 1800 and consists of six movements. The Verve’s song “Bitter Sweet Symphony” is based on a sample from an orchestral version of the opening of the second movement, which is under copyright by EMI. Despite getting clearance from EMI, former Rolling Stones manager Allen Klein, who at the time owned the ABKCO Music label (which was affiliated with The Verve’s record label), sued for royalties. As a result, they were required to give him 100% of the song’s royalties.

“Bittersweet” by Apocalyptica

Apocalyptica is a Finnish symphonic metal band formed in 1993. Their music features elements of classical music and metal. “Bittersweet” is a song from their album, Plays Metallica by Four Cellos. The song was inspired by Johannes Brahms’ Hungarian Dance No. 5.

“Clocks” by Coldplay

Although “Clocks” by Coldplay might not be an obvious choice when thinking of a song inspired by classical music, the piano melody in the intro and verses is actually based on Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Prelude in C Minor.” If you listen closely, you can hear the similarity in the chord progression. This is just one example of how modern songs can be inspired by classical pieces.

“Nessun Dorma” by Paul Potts

Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti popularized the aria “Nessun dorma” with his performances at the 1990 FIFA World Cup, and it has since become one of the best-known pieces of classical music in the world. In 2006, British singer Paul Potts released a pop/opera version of the song that shot to #1 on the UK Singles Chart, raising awareness of Pavarotti’s work and bringing opera to a whole new audience.

“Viva la Vida” by Coldplay

“Viva la Vida” is a song by the British rock band Coldplay. It was written by all four members of the band for their fourth album, Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends (2008). The song was released on 13 June 2008 as the album’s second single. On the album, this song segues directly into the next track, “Violet Hill”.

The song topped the US Billboard Hot 100 chart for one week and peaked at number four in the United Kingdom. It won the Grammy Award for Song of the Year at the 51st Grammy Awards in 2009. The song became the sixth best-selling single of 2008 in worldwide markets. Its music video was nominated for three awards at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, winning two for Best Cinematography and Best Art Direction.

The song has been used in popular culture, most notably in an advertisement by Apple Inc. to promote its iPhone 3G in 2008.

“Requiem for a Dream” by Clint Mansell

Originally composed by Polish composer Krzysztof Penderecki, “Requiem for a Dream” has been adapted into a number of different pieces of music over the years. Most famously, it was used as the basis for Clint Mansell’s score for the 2000 film of the same name. The piece is characterized by its slow, menacing build-up, culminating in a chaotic and cacophonous climax.