By Georgia Mott
Frida Kahlo was one of the world’s most renowned artists, most known for using folk symbolism and the art of self-portraiture to depict social messages about class and gender. Despite having died in 1954, her artwork has continued to inspire artists all around the world and has even been used as inspiration in the musical sphere. Here are 5 pieces of music inspired by Frida Kahlo paintings.
1. Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida”
It may be surprising to hear that one of the most popular pop songs of the 2010’s was inspired by Frida Kahlo paintings, but the band’s frontman Chris Martin has been quoted saying he took inspiration from Viva la Vida and even used the title as the name of the song. The painting itself, whose title can be translated to ‘Long live life’, was made by Kahlo shortly before her death in 1954. Chris Martin said he was especially moved by the boldness of the painting and its dedication to the enjoyment of life, even in the face of suffering. Frida Kahlo endured a turbulent life, contracting polio as a child and later suffering severe injuries in a bus accident. The Coldplay song seeks to capture the sentiment of Kahlo’s work—finding triumph and joy amid persistent pain.
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2. Florence and the Machine’s “What the Water Gave Me”
Florence and the Machine are another acclaimed band who credit Frida Kahlo’s artwork as a significant source of inspiration. Their song “What the Water Gave Me” shares its title with a 1938 painting by Kahlo and draws consistent reference to her work throughout its lyrics. The song also weaves in other culturally resonant allusions, such as the line “pocketful of stones,” a poignant nod to Virginia Woolf’s tragic suicide.
Kahlo’s painting offers an expressive interpretation of the self-portrait, depicting a woman reclining in a bath surrounded by floating symbols that reflect key moments and emotions from Kahlo’s life. Through these symbols—such as a floating corpse and a key—Kahlo revisits her recurring theme of pain and personal struggle. Both Florence and the Machine and Kahlo use the imagery of water to explore the depths of female suffering.
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3. Rossometile’s “Pasionaria (Frida)”
Next in our survey of songs inspired by Frida Kahlo paintings: the Italian band, Rossometile, reaches beyond the confines of musical genre by combining elements of symphony with metal and gothic music. Whilst not being based on a specific painting on Frida Kahlo, the song “Pasionaria” from their album “Gehenna” is dedicated to Kahlo’s life as a figure of feminine intensity. The band’s website describes the subject matter of “Gehenna” as using “the female figure as a symbol for passion.” Pasionara draws on their multidisciplinary understanding of classical literature and blends it with gothic metal motifs to vividly portray the turbulence of Kahlo’s life.
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4. Patti Smith’s “Noguchi’s Butterflies”
Although this artwork was not made by Kahlo herself, it still held a lot of sentiment for her, and can still be viewed at the Frida Kahlo Museum in Mexico City. After seeing these butterflies, which were gifted to Kahlo by artist Isamu Noguchi, Patti Smith was inspired to write a piece that bridged the modes of poetry and song. The poem, later set to music, highlights Kahlo’s determination to ensure that her chronic health challenges never stifled her artistic expression. Smith uses the butterflies gifted by Noguchi to reflect Kahlo’s physical limitations, yet emphasizes that, despite her health struggles, it was Kahlo’s boundless imagination that fueled some of the most expressive artworks of the 20th century.
5. SPELLING’s “Little Deer”
Rounding up our list of songs inspired by Frida Kahlo paintings: Chrystia Cabral, who performs under the name ‘SPELLLING’ is an experimental pop artist who released the song ‘Little Deer’ in 2021. The subject matter of the song is heavily influenced by Frida Kahlo’s unusual interpretation of the self-portrait, in which she appears as half-human, half-deer. SPELLLINGS’s broad use of instrumentation, paired with striking lyrics, successfully demonstrated the emotional tribulations of Kahlo’s life and the prejudices she faced throughout her life.