The Gregorian Pop Cover I Didn’t Know I Needed

I was looking through Tidal for some relaxing music to play whilst doing the housework this morning when I stumbled across a Gregorian chants meditation playlist. It immediately made me nostalgic for that brief, strange period in the 90s when the Chant album by the Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo de Silos unexpectedly shot up the pop charts.

Do you remember that? Suddenly, ancient monophonic plainsong was everywhere, from chill-out rooms to car stereos. Then, just as abruptly, it vanished into the ether, leaving us all wondering if it had been a collective fever dream.

Thinking I would revisit that vibe, I decided to give the playlist a go. The first few tracks were exactly what you would expect. It sounded like a scene from The Name of the Rose, somber and atmospheric.

But then, a Gregorian Chant cover of John Lennon’s Imagine came on and stopped me in my tracks.

I absolutely loved the rhythm of the sound. There was something fascinating about the juxtaposition of the deeply religious musical style against the famously humanist, secular anthem of the lyrics. It shouldn’t work, yet it somehow does.

As I let the playlist run, it just kept giving. Later on, there were covers of Lady in Red, Angels by Robbie Williams, and plenty more. I didn’t know I needed this in my life, but I think Gregorian chant covers of pop songs might just be my new obsession.