With the recent release of Emerald Fennell’s adaptation of ‘Wuthering Heights’, much of the spotlight is on the popstar, Charli XCX’s album, Wuthering Heights, created for this movie. When artists produce soundtracks for cinema, audiences across the world latch on to the songs they identify with, creating a larger fan-base and cultural movement in the world of music and film.
The movie was released in theaters on Feb. 13 and has already gained acclaim among fans, grossing around $34.8 million thus far, according to Forbes. The film’s soundtrack has become popular among fans, as her cultural relevance continues to grow, most prevalently among younger people.
The album was released on the same day by Atlantic Records, a label that produces many high-profile movie soundtracks. Charli XCX’s album features “Chains of Love”, which plays in the background of a montage of the main character, Cathy, and her internal struggles with love. At the beginning of the movie, “House” featuring John Cale plays as the young Cathy and Nelly make their way to the Heights. Another prominent song on the album is “Always Everywhere”, a love song in the form of Charli XCX’s pop and techno style.
Charli wrote original songs for the album, which created a special ambience for the film. Though a majority of the songs in “Wuthering Heights” are from her album, there are a few songs that deviate from it. According to a colleague of Charli XCX’s, the opportunity to write a soundtrack for this film was an amazing drift away from her “Brat summer” era. According to BBC, Charli XCX was heavily inspired by Kate Bush’s 1978 hit “Wuthering Heights.”
As Charli XCX wrote and curated the album, she wanted it to feel true to her style. In the past, she has aimed for a party, dance-pop vibe. Her past songs like “360” from the album Brat and “Break the Rules” from her Sucker album lean towards the electro-pop genre, bumping on the speakers at parties or events. For this, though, she wanted it to act as a sentimental and passionate background for the movie. When paired with the emotional rawness of the film’s storyline, it makes for a compelling listening experience, catching the audience’s attention.
