Yahoo News Queen Charlotte creator Shonda Rhimes wanted Beyoncé for show's soundtrack
Television producer and screenwriter Shonda Rhimes decided she wanted to bring the BeeHive to the ball in her Regency era show Queen Charlotte.
Rhimes, founder of production company Shondaland, made waves with Bridgerton and now its spin-off Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, not only for the two series' racy scenes but also their diverse casting and music choices.
Both shows use classical covers of modern pop songs to bring a twist to the average period drama soundtrack.
Queen Charlotte's episode one and two editors Matt Pevic and Denise Chan spoke to Movie Web about how integral music is to Shonda's work and how Beyoncé was a must-have for the show.
Related: Queen Charlotte's Arsema Thomas on special bond with co-star
Pevic said: "When we finally decided on [using covers], Shonda came in and said, 'I want to hear Queen Bey. I want to hear Beyoncé in this series.'"
Music, or not having it, can be a deal breaker for the producer. He continued: "Shonda sometimes can't even see a show without having the right temp music."
For the spin-off series, the editors worked closely with Rhimes and director Tom Verica and the composer, music supervisors, and music editors to find the right music to complement the visuals.
Related: Bridgerton's Simone Ashley teases "hotter than ever" season 3
Speaking to the publication he said the team would conduct "spotting sessions," where they would collectively watch every scene in each episode and offer notes on music choices or tweak what was already there.
Chan added that Rhimes was "bold": "She's bold in making choices, and she really pushes us out of our comfort zone."
A cover of Beyoncé's Halo was used in the production as well as Run The World, created by Brian Chan and Caleb Chan.
A cover of Déjà Vu by Audiostation was also featured, as well as covers of I Will Always Love You (Whitney Houston) and If I Ain't Got You (Alicia Keys) by Vitamin String Quartet.
Bridgerton seasons 1-2 are streaming now on Netflix, along with Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story.
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