Flowers have provided inspiration for a lot of artists, from legendary painters like Claude Monet to fashion designers such as Christian Dior. It makes sense that blossoms would play a role in their work, as their bright colors, soft petals and unique designs are considered universally beautiful. Many famous musicians, too, have used flowers as a focal point for their songs.
Here are just a few popular tunes inspired by blooms:
“Flower Duet” performed by Anna Netrebko & Elina Garanca
Classical
Some of the most notable classical composers looked to flowers as a theme for their songs.
According to Classic FM, after Delibes’ “Flower Duet” was incorporated into a British Airways ad, it became even more commonly known than it was before. The song is from the opera Lakmé, and is sung by the title character’s servant, Mallika, while picking flowers near a river.
Listen to “Flower Duet” performed by Anna Netrebko & Elina Garanca
If you’ve ever seen the ever popular Nutcracker ballet, you’ve heard Tchaikovsky’s “Waltz of the Flowers.” As the symphony launches into this beautiful tune, a series of performers emerge dressed as flowers and dance around the stage.
Listen to Tchaikovsky’s “Waltz of the Flowers
Other operas have drawn inspiration from flowers as well. Bizet’s Carmen features a song titled “La fleur que tu m’avais jetée.” The tenor who sings this song talks about the significance that blossoms played for him while he was in prison.
Listen to “La fleur que tu m’avais jetée” from Bizet’s Carmen.
“The flower that you had thrown me, I kept with me in prison … I became intoxicated by its fragrance,” he sings.
April showers bring May flowers, and that’s the central image behind Debussy’s “Jardins sous la plui.” Classic FM noted that this piano song, which was composed in 1903, is part of the larger piece “Estampes,” which is about a French garden caught in a rainstorm.
Listen to Debussy’s “Jardins sous la plui.”
Pop and rock
Even today, blooms continue to be a primary theme in music. Still, not all of them are created equal. So which flower is the most popular in pop and rock? According to The Guardian, more than 62 percent of all songs about flowers center around roses, typically red ones.
One such tune is “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” by Poison. Yahoo Voices reported that this ballad uses roses as a metaphor for the problems – or thorns – that sprouted when front man Brett Michaels broke up with his girlfriend at the time. The source explained that the blossom was a symbol for the band’s flourishing fame and the thorns represented the issues that arose.
Listen to “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” by Poison.
Arguably one of the most famous songs about these flowers is “Kiss from a Rose” by Seal. This pop hit, which was featured on the soundtrack to “Batman Forever,” is just as well-known now as it was when it was released in 1994. Because of the major motion picture including this single, Yahoo reported that it rose to the top of the adult contemporary chart and stayed in the top spot for a whopping 12 weeks. Later, the song won three Grammy Awards: Song of the Year, Record of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Performance. Impressive high notes from Seal and a dramatic waltz rhythm make this a memorable song, even for those who aren’t big flower fans.
Listen to “Kiss from a Rose” by Seal.
Other contemporary artists are using flowers as a symbol for deeper themes in their music. The Guardian revealed that “Where the Wild Roses grow” by Kylie Minogue and Nick Cave follows a man who is so blinded by a rose’s innate beauty and power that he is moved to murder his lover. A similarly dark tune is “A Rose for Emily” by the Zombies. This song is about a spinster who has no one to send her a bouquet. The lyrics compare her to a garden filled with roses that are now wilting and fading.
Listen to “Where the Wild Roses grow” by Kylie Minogue and Nick Cave
Listen to “A Rose for Emily” by the Zombies.
