Now Reading: Bardcore Surge Brings Medieval Music to Modern Ears
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Bardcore Surge Brings Medieval Music to Modern Ears
A curious musical trend known as 'bardcore' has been reimagining modern pop and rock songs with medieval instruments like the lute and lyrics peppered with 'thee' and 'thou'. It first gained momentum…
The Story in Brief
A curious musical trend known as 'bardcore' has been reimagining modern pop and rock songs with medieval instruments like the lute and lyrics peppered with 'thee' and 'thou'. It first gained momentum during the COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020, as YouTube covers of tracks by Lady Gaga, Metallica and The Rolling Stones went viral. Earlier examples include the Belarusian band Stary Olsa’s 2016 album 'Medieval Classic Rock' and Sting’s 2006 collaboration with lutenist Edin Karamazov.
Medieval-inspired music also thrives in fantasy video games like The Witcher 3 and Skyrim, which feature bard characters. Meanwhile, Dungeons & Dragons and other tabletop role-playing games have created a demand for authentic-sounding medieval ambience. Rolling Stone India reports that thousands of amateur musicians now produce bardcore content, with comment sections mimicking the banter of old tavern patrons.
The Indian Opinion
The narrative that bardcore is merely an escape from digital dystopia oversimplifies a creative phenomenon. While the trend romanticises the Middle Ages with little historical accuracy, modern pop in pseudo-Elizabethan English is hardly authentic, it also shows a genuine curiosity about archaic instruments and modes. What remains to be seen is whether this nostalgia will spark a revival of actual medieval compositions, or if it will remain a playful, meme-driven genre.
Source: rollingstoneindia.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
