“Trailerization” is a relatively new phenomenon wherein a classic song is given contemporary movie score treatment, usually for a film trailer to hype a new blockbuster movie. Often the song itself isn’t even in the movie but the cover or remix is just commissioned for the trailer. The reason it has become a popular advertising strategy is because of a belief that the familiarity of known lyrics will help the trailer stick in the minds of the audience.
Juliet Lyons is a new age/chillout musician who has been putting out music for nearly 20 years. Her music has routinely been used in soundtracks for both TV and film. Chris Wirsig is a prolific score composer working across media. The two have teamed up to cover George Michael’s/Wham!’s “Careless Whisper.”
Though released on a Wham! album, “Careless Whisper” was credited to George Michael solo or “Wham! featuring George Michael” when it was originally released as a single. It is Michael’s most covered song even though it is technically a Wham! song, as it was co-written with his Wham! band-mate Andrew Ridgeley and was recorded for Wham!
For their new cover, Lyons and Wirsig have adopted the “trailerizing” approach. Gone is the iconic ’80s sax replaced by an echoy, mysterious piano. Action movie percussion briefly makes its appearance before Lyons begins to whisper the lyrics. Then the drums and Lyon’s voice increase in intensity and they are soon joined by what sounds like an electronic facsimile of an orchestra. The next verse is quieter, though it still has movie drums. But the rest of the track goes full-on epic trailer, with the pounding drums, the orchestra and Lyons’ voice. The outro tones it down a bit, though.
So…what do we think of this? Is this a creative take on one of the biggest songs of all time? It certainly doesn’t sound much like the original. Or is it trend-hopping?
