Since launching in 2021, The Earthshot Prize has quickly become recognized among the most prestigious environmental awards in history. When the British band Bastille rocked up to the 2023 ceremony with their breakthrough hit “Pompeii,” it was destined to be a moment to remember.
But as they unveiled their ethereal rendition, featuring London singer Freya Ridings, film composer Hans Zimmer, and an entire cinematic orchestra, it became one of the best “Pompeii” performances of Bastille’s career. This spectacular clip has gone YouTube-viral, topping over 1.6 million views to date!
Hans Zimmer has a knack for drawing out the beauty in whichever piece he writes and reimagines, and he didn’t let his classical music buffs down for a second. This orchestral rendition is steeped in wonder and serenity: Hans Zimmer transferring Bastille’s pop chords to the vibrant expanse of his orchestra; reducing the dominating beat underlying Bastille’s 2013 original to make way for a tranquil and ethereal rendition.
Bastille’s iconic hook is magnified through the voices of a fully-fleshed choir, welcoming a cathedral-like ambience that explodes with the chorus’s swelling of stringed instruments, spurring a transcendental uplift of emotion.
But it’s Freya who steals the spotlight — her warm, rich vocals a staggering match for the vivid power underscoring this hit. Even while Bastille frontman and “Pompeii” songwriter Dan Smith anchors the track in place with his original, chart-topping vocals, Freya magnifies this song’s beauty beyond even Hans Zimmer’s abilities, moving countless viewers to chills and tears.
While one top commenter wove a joke out of this spectacular rendition, writing, “Hans Zimmer could honestly put a microphone in a Taco Bell bathroom and make a masterpiece out of it,” another saw to the heart of Bastille’s performance when they commented, “The orchestra, the choir, the singers. This reminds me how beautiful life can be. And what beautiful things we can create together.” Which is exactly the effect the Earthshot award show was aiming for.
Founded by Prince William and co-launched with David Attenborough, the annual Earthshot Prize is due to run until 2030 — a ten-year mission to recognize game-changing, planet-saving, sustainable solutions and innovations in the face of climate change. According to their website, “The Earthshot Prize finds, supports and celebrates those who turn bold ideas into real solutions to repair our planet […] helping them to grow and awarding the very best five solutions each year with £1 million each to scale their work.”
Bastille’s collaboration with Hans Zimmer and Freya Ridings at the 2023 Earthshot Prize ceremony has truly redefined “Pompeii” into a timeless masterpiece. Zimmer’s orchestral genius, combined with Ridings’ haunting vocals, created an unforgettable performance that continues to captivate audiences worldwide. To explore more about this sensational rendition and the talents behind it, please check out the links provided below.