Image Credit: Ula Kuźma

Vitamin String Quartet’s classical covers of modern pop songs see meteoric rise in streams.

Streams of classical music covers of modern pop songs have soared after the success of Netflix series Bridgerton, which is now the most-streamed series ever on the platform – 82 million people streamed the series in its first 28 days on Netflix.

As a result Vitamin String Quartet, the classical group who perform most of the songs featured on the period drama, have seen their streams across platforms increase by 350% and have grown monthly listeners by 50% on Spotify and Apple Music. The Los Angeles-based quartet have released over 100 albums of new versions of rock, pop and country songs recorded in a classical style, so for fans of the niche crossover genre there’s hours of listening to be done.

Composer Kris Bowers handled the rest of the period drama’s soundtrack. The crossover of music genres fits in well with the contemporary elements of the show’s female-driven narrative. The first series of Bridgerton is set in Regency London, where the dramas of the elite are exposed by a mysterious gossip columnist Lady Whistledown who publishes the scandals in a pamphlet. The action follows the eldest daughter of the high class Bridgerton family, Daphne (Phoebe Dynevor), as she makes her debut onto the marriage scene. When the dashing Duke of Hastings (Regé-Jean Page) comes on the scene as a witty sparring partner for Daphne, the attraction is undeniable…

Bridgerton isn’t the first series to feature classical covers on its soundtrack – Gossip Girl and Westworld have used the device before. The songs covered by Vitamin String Quartet on Bridgerton are as follows:

  • ‘thank u, next’ by Ariana Grande (Episode 1)
  • ‘Girls Like You’ by Maroon 5 (Episode 1)
  • ‘In My Blood’ by Shawn Mendes (Episode 2)
  • ‘bad guy’ by Billie Eilish (Episode 3)
  • ‘Strange (feat. Hillary Smith)’ by Celeste (Episode 5)
  • ‘Wildest Dreams’ by Taylor Swift (Episode 6)

The series has already been renewed for a second season. In other soundtrack news, Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood is scoring Pablo Larraín’s new Princess Diana movie Spencer. No doubt hoping to ride off the success of royal blockbuster successes like The Crown, the film stars Kristen Stewart as Princess Diana and is due to be released this autumn. Greenwood’s previous soundtrack work includes You Were Never Really Here (2018).