‘The Great’ Exclusive Music: Hear The Haunting Cover Of Leonard Cohen’s ‘Bird On A Wire’ From The Hulu Series

If you’ve seen the trailers for “The Great,” or already begun watching the series (it premieres today on Hulu), you know that series creator Tony McNamara, who previously wrote “The Favourite,” has crafted a fun, somewhat silly at times story about the rise of Catherine the Great. That being said, there are moments of emotional heft and the music of the series follows the same push and pull between drama and comedy.

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And in honor of the soundtrack for “The Great” arriving next week, we’re thrilled to debut a single from the record, which shows the more dramatic side to the music presented in the series. The single is a haunting cover of Leonard Cohen’s song, “Bird on a Wire,” performed by Simone Istwa, and produced by Zachary Dawes, with Maggie Phillips serving as the music supervisor, bringing the song to the series. The cover is a beautiful rendition of one of Cohen’s more well-known songs, showcasing the incredible voice of Istwa.

Series composer Nathan Barr said, “Following Catherine’s wild ride from naive and innocent to determined and brilliant with the music was a real pleasure for me. We recorded a traditional orchestra in London and then gave the score a twist with electronic underpinnings, which helped keep the tone of the score fresh and in line with Catherine’s modern sensibilities. The score is energetic, sometimes funny, often over the top, and rooted in themes that carry us through the season.”

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In addition to his work on “The Great,” Barr is probably best known for the scores for series such as “Fosse/Verdon” and “Hollywood.”

As mentioned, the soundtrack for “The Great” is expected to be released digitally, courtesy of Lakeshore Records, on May 22. You can preorder it now. The series itself is available now on Hulu.

Track List

1. Intro
2. You Must Trust Me
3. In The Court
4. Hats From Paris
5. The Party
6. He’ll Be On You
7. Raccoon
8. Bathtub
9. Escape
10. Chess Game
11. Tea Dance
12. Archie’s Blessing
13. You Told Him
14. She Has Never Seen My Face
15. The Way Things Were
16. Leo Vronsky
17. Fire Dance
18. Do What We Want
19. Journey To The Front
20. Knife In Pocket
21. Tainting The Borscht
22. Next In Line
23. Let Them Come
24. It Is Over
25. Huzzah
26. Bird On A Wire – Simone Istwa