What classical music inspired the Beach Boys, Madonna & Lady Gaga?
Listen to Tony Hadley present episode 2 of 'Pop Meets Classical' on Scala Radio
Last updated 21st Jun 2021
It's True. We are ridiculously excited to welcome Spandau Ballet front-man Tony Hadley to the Scala Radio family as he joins Scala Radio to present a new three-part series – ‘Pop Meets Classical’.
In the series, Tony explores the relationship between classical compositions of the past 300 years and some of the music the iconic singer and his peers are so well known for.
Each two-hour episode will take a look at how pop music, that we all know and love, has borrowed from classical traditions over the years, with a few surprises in store for the listeners.
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Everything you need to know about Tony Hadley and Spandau Ballet
Tony Hadley was lead singer in the 80s New Romantics band Spandau Ballet.
Spandau Ballet are one of the most successful bands to have emerged from the New Romantic era, helping to define the 80s with a succession of smash hit singles like 'True', 'Gold', 'Through the Barricades' and their debut single, 'To Cut A Long Story Short'.
The band formed back in 1979 with the classic line-up of brothers Gary and Martin Kemp, Tony Hadley, Steve Norman, and John Keeble. However, that all changed in 2017 when Tony announced he would be leaving the group, and in June 2018 a replacement singer was revealed as Ross William Wild.
Read more about Spandau Ballet on the Scala Radio website
Blending his own musical experience ‘Pop Meets Classical’ with Tony Hadley will also feature interviews with Gary Barlow, Bonnie Tyler and Dan Smith from Bastille, as well as insight from classically-trained musicians, composers, orchestral arrangers and studio engineers.
“I'm really excited to be talking about the relationship between pop and classical music," said Tony to us when we spoke to him earlier this week. "I think that people will be surprised about how far the relationship goes. From the 17th Century to the present day.”
From Frank Sinatra and The Beatles to Bach and Beethoven, Tony will look at your favourite chart hits under his 1980s microscope and revel in the similarities they have with classical works.
Trust us. It's going to be Gold.
What did Tony Hadley play on episodes 1 and 2 of Pop Meets Classical?
Tony explored classic songs and the classical music some of them are connected with. And some of those connections will blow your mind.
Episode 1
In episode one, was Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata really the inspiration for The Beatle's Because? And what about Eric Carmen's epic tear-jerker All By Myself? Where did that originate? Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No.2, so Carmen claims. Be sure to listen out for Oompah Brass' version of Celine Dion's All By Myself cover too.
Cole Porter - I've Got You Under My Skin - Studio Orchestra
Ravel - Bolero - Andre Rieu
Beethoven Piano Sonata 'Moonlight' - Daniel Barenboim
The Beatles - Because - Peter Breiner and His Orchestra
Eric Carmen - All By Myself
Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No.2
Celine Dion - All By Myself - Oompah Brass
The Beach Boys - Lady
Bach - Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring
Chaka Khan - Aint Nobody - Youngblood Brass Band
Wham - Young Guns
Tina Turner - What's Love Got To Do With It - Tony Hadley & The Sarm Orchestra
Rossini - Largo al factotum - Leo Nucci
MIKA - Grace Kelly
Bach - Toccata & Fugure
Muse - Plug In Baby
McFly - Transylvania
Bastille - Pompeii - Bastille, Studio Orchestra
Episode 2
Bernstein - America - Philip Jones Brass Ensemble
Eduardo Di Capua - O Sole Mio - Elvis Presley
Beethoven - Fur Elise - Stewart Goodyear
Buddy Holly - It Doesn't Matter - Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Vittorio Monti - Czardas - Nigel Kennedy & English Chamber Orchestra
Lady Gaga - Alejandro
Lady Gaga - Alejandro - Aston
Madonna - In This Life
George Gershwin - Prelude - Wayne Marshall
Beach Boys - In My Room - Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Lil Nas X - Old Town Road
Ben E King - Stand By Me - Altius Quartet
The Pretenders - 2000 Miles - Studio Orchestra
Chopin - Prelude No. 20 - Eric Lu
Bruckner - Symphony No. 5 - Munich Philharmonic Orchestra
The Piano Guys – Kung Fu Panda
Burt Bacharach & Hal David – I Say A Little Prayer - Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Pachelbel - Canon – Brooklyn Duo
Spandau Ballet - True - MauColi
Listen to Episode 2 of 'Pop Meets Classical' with Tony Hadley
Catch-up on the second episode of ‘Pop Meets Classical’ with Tony Hadley. Episode three is on Scala Radio on Sunday 27th June from 6pm.