Juana Summers talks with NPR Music’s Ann Powers about why Charli XCX’s music for the Wuthering Heights movie represents an even bigger, musical development in romance studying.
JUANA SUMMERS, HOST:
The lately launched adaptation of “Wuthering Heights,” directed by Emerald Fennell, is already an authorized field workplace hit, however the gothic romance was additionally an occasion within the music world too, that includes a up to date authentic companion album by the pop star Charli XCX.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “CHAINS OF LOVE”)
CHARLI XCX: (Singing) Shattering like glass, it is the breaking of my coronary heart. The chains of affection are merciless. I should not really feel like a prisoner.
SUMMERS: It is not the primary time that the world of romantic literature and music has collided. For years, followers of romance novels have used pop music to reinforce their very own studying experiences, creating a brand new type of group that unites pop music fandom and e book lovers. Right here to speak to us about this development is NPR music critic and correspondent Ann Powers. Hello.
ANN POWERS, BYLINE: Hey. Thanks for having me.
SUMMERS: Thanks for being right here. So let me begin with this. When did you begin to discover that the growth in romance studying that we have all been seeing has a musical part?
POWERS: Properly, it actually clicked for me with the discharge of Charli XCX’s album and the promotional marketing campaign hooked up to it.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “CHAINS OF LOVE”)
CHARLI XCX: (Singing) I do know the chains of affection will not break.
POWERS: She and Emerald Fennell had created this playlist of all of the songs that impressed each of them in making the movie and the album. And I went trying to find it, and after I did, I found there have been all these different “Wuthering Heights” playlists that predated the film, a few of them by a very long time. I poked round and I discovered an increasing number of playlists that had been grounded in romance studying, both about particular novels or genres or characters. It was an explosion.
SUMMERS: Oh, yeah, I like the concept of readers simply creating playlists to go together with what they’re studying.
POWERS: Oh, completely. I imply, you could find playlists for all the massive ones – the “Heated Rivalry,” after all (laughter), you already know, “A Courtroom Of Thorns And Roses.” Additionally, although, you’ll be able to go all the best way again to one thing like “Twilight,” I imply, actually, the start of the present romance type, and in addition, you already know, people who find themselves into specific subgenres. Like, are you into romance in any respect?
SUMMERS: I’m very into romance as individuals who take heed to this present in all probability know from the books I choose to speak to authors about (laughter).
POWERS: And I believe I heard you want sports activities romance.
SUMMERS: That is correct.
POWERS: And you are going to discover playlists and discussions of music that go greatest with studying sports activities romance novels. I’ll discover ones that, you already know, signify fairies and werewolves ‘trigger that is extra fascinating to me.
SUMMERS: All proper let’s dig in somewhat bit right here. What artists are you seeing which are notably large amongst readers?
POWERS: Properly, OK, that is the place I inform you I actually first began monitoring this development when the English band, Sleep Token, hit the charts again in early 2025 right here within the U.S.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “EMERGENCE”)
SLEEP TOKEN: (Singing) Are you carbide on my nano, pink glass on my lightbulb, darkish gentle on my tradition, sapphire on my white gold? Burst out of my chest…
POWERS: So that is, like, a progressive rock band with a masked singer that makes these epic fantasy idea albums – I imply, the type of factor I might have thought, like, dudes had been into, like Pink Floyd or one thing like that. However I used to be shocked to seek out they had been gaining numerous business success, and I spotted that numerous their followers had been girls and found that romantasy readers love Sleep Token. That style options fairies, dragons, werewolves, you already know, all of that, and it actually synced with the music the band was making.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “EMERGENCE”)
SLEEP TOKEN: (Singing) You could be the one to remove the ache and let my thoughts go quiet.
POWERS: Then I explored somewhat extra, and I discovered that different theatrical rockers, like Florence Welch of Florence & The Machine or the final word, Hozier, had big followings amongst romantasy readers. I imply, Hozier appears like a romantasy hero.
SUMMERS: For certain.
POWERS: So it completely is sensible.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “WORK SONG”)
HOZIER: (Singing) When my time comes round, lay me gently within the chilly darkish earth. No grave can maintain my physique down. I will crawl dwelling to her.
SUMMERS: I am so curious. Why do you suppose there may be such a robust connection between romance novels and music? As a result of I’ve to say this feels one thing that is very singular about romance, like, you do not see this in numerous different genres.
POWERS: It is as a result of the fandoms are actually linked to one another, they usually’re type of modeled after one another. It is actually the twenty first century means of being a pop fan. These communities are largely younger girls who forge connections on-line after which develop real-world communities, like, you already know, Taylor Swift followers go to live shows collectively. Within the case of readers, they’re flocking to romance-themed bookstores or conventions, and what they learn is commonly linked to different facets of their lives, like how they costume, what motion pictures or TV they watch – you already know, we talked about “Heated Rivalry” – and in addition the musicians they love. It is only a prime instance of how being a fan now could be by no means confined to 1 pursuit. Music, studying, style, they’re all linked.
SUMMERS: NPR’s Ann Powers, thanks a lot.
POWERS: Thanks.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “MY REMINDER”)
CHARLI XCX: (Singing) I am not gonna be your bitter rival.
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