Watching fashion shows on Youtube since I was kid, I wholeheartedly admit that the runways have taught me some of the best music out there. Whenever I hear Soul II Soul’s “Back To Life” (this season’ most-used music), I’m instantly like “this is so Céline spring-summer 2014 runway”. Or when I hear another tune, I will think to myself “this would be such a great runway soundtrack for X or Y”. Frederic Sanchez, Michel Gaubert, Benji B, and other “sound directors” or “sound curators” are doing God’s work, and people barely acknowledge that.
Somebody once said that if a fashion show has great clothes but terrible music, then automatically it’s a bad show, and I completely agree with that statement.
Here are my top six runway soundtracks off the top of my head (or rather ears) that I listen to daily, while writing, running errands, cleaning or just chilling. The way these are remixed or juxtaposed with the most unexpected sounds is insanely good - just like a very well-mixed drink combining the most unconventional flavours.
Miuccia Prada not only won the latest Paris Fashion Week with her Miu Miu collection, but she also had the best fashion show music of this season. To have Joseph Schiano di Lombo, Crystallmess and Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake” all on one soundtrack is wild. The intro’s gritty beat and sensual moans perfectly capture the frantic vibe of the lady-girl Miuccia envisioned this season.
For John Galliano’s Dior 2004 couture show inspired by Ancient Egypt, the brand sampled Beyoncé’s “Baby Boy” and clashed it with Candi Staton’s “You’ve Got The Love”. In between, some very Egyptian interludes that give divine goddess energy. Do I need to say more?
Mrs. Prada knows good music! For her Rainer Werner Fassbinder-inspired autumn-winter 2014 show, she had Barbara Sukowa, the star of the director’s “Lola” film from 1982, performing live with strings, wind instruments, and the soundscapes of Frederic Sanchez. What was she singing? The songs of Kurt Weill, the genius composer of Weimar. I wish this entire, moody soundtrack became a Spotify release or something because it’s just too perfect.
Hold on, it’s just getting better now...
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