(I still say popular artists want to go classical because they want to be taken more seriously and live on after they are gone, and classical artists want to cross over because they have such a desire to be popular. But of course I could be all wrong. It’s happened before.)
But anyhoo … just read an article that begins with this:
As they grow older, it seems more and more adventurous rock and pop stars of the past 30 years are turning their attentions to classical music. Whether to legitimise the latter end of a long career or to appeal to the maturing tastes of their original fans as they, too, grow up – Sting, Elvis Costello and many other rock hall-of-famers have waded into the murky waters of classical crossover with a symphony or string quartet in tow… And with varying degrees of success.
Now Deutsche Grammophon, the world’s oldest classical label, has enlisted alternative singer-songwriter Tori Amos to pen a song cycle drawing on classical themes. The result, Night of Hunters, will be released on September 23. Amos, now 48, fuelled a feminist revolution in popular music during the early 1990s with hits like Cornflake Girl and Crucify. Incisive lyrics, electrifying stage presence at the piano and sales of more than 12 million albums have secured her place in the pantheon of women in rock. She also happens to be classically trained. So why combine the genres now?
I still puzzle over what makes something classical and what doesn’t. And maybe it just doesn’t matter, as long as it’s good.
