Perfume Genius: Cinematic Inspiration Behind The Music

Michael Alden Hadreas, better known by his stage name Perfume Genius, is an American singer-songwriter. Hadreas's music explores themes including sexuality, his personal struggle with Crohn's disease, domestic abuse, and the dangers faced by gay men in contemporary society. The moniker 'Perfume Genius' is inspired by the genius perfume-maker in Tom Tykwer's 2006 film Perfume: The Story of a Murderer. Hadreas's music has also been featured in several films, including the trailer for Bo Burnham's Eighth Grade, and The Goldfinch.

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'Perfume: The Story of a Murderer' inspired the name 'Perfume Genius'

The name Perfume Genius is inspired by the 2006 movie Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, directed by Tom Tykwer. The film is an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Patrick Süskind and tells the story of Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, a murderer with a superhuman sense of smell. Born in a French fish market and abandoned by his mother, Grenouille grows up to become obsessed with creating the perfect perfume.

The film received mixed reviews from critics. While the visual style and performances of some actors were praised, the screenplay and casting of other actors were criticized. However, it grossed more than $135 million worldwide, with particularly strong sales in Germany.

The musician Michael Alden Hadreas, better known by his stage name Perfume Genius, created his MySpace page under the name "Perfume Genius" in 2008, two years after the film's release. Hadreas's music explores themes such as sexuality, personal struggles with health issues, and the dangers faced by gay men in contemporary society. Hadreas has released several albums, including "Learning" in 2010, "Set My Heart on Fire Immediately" in 2020, and "Ugly Season" in 2022. He has also curated music for festivals and appeared on television shows such as "The Late Show with David Letterman".

In an interview with Criterion Collection, Hadreas shared his favourite movies that capture intense emotions and profound relationships, including actor-driven dramas like "Breaking the Waves", "Thelma & Louise", and "The Piano Teacher". Hadreas's taste in films reflects his interest in intense feelings and the coexistence of contrasting elements, such as humour and horror, within a narrative.

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'Eighth Grade' featured a Perfume Genius song in its trailer

The 2018 coming-of-age comedy-drama film, Eighth Grade, directed by Bo Burnham, featured a Perfume Genius song in its trailer. The song, "Slip Away", was the first single from Perfume Genius's fourth studio album, No Shape, released in 2017.

The artist behind Perfume Genius, Mike Hadreas, began his music career in 2008 with his debut album, Learning, released in 2010. Hadreas's music often explores themes of sexuality, his personal struggle with Crohn's disease, domestic abuse, and the dangers faced by gay men in contemporary society.

The inclusion of "Slip Away" in the Eighth Grade trailer is notable as the song's lyrics and emotional tone align with the film's themes of adolescent angst and awkwardness. The song has also appeared in other teen-focused media, such as the film Booksmart and the TV show 13 Reasons Why, further solidifying its association with teenage experiences.

The use of Perfume Genius's music in Eighth Grade is an example of how filmmakers can leverage the power of music to enhance the emotional impact of their stories. The song's appearance in the trailer helped to set the tone and engage audiences, demonstrating the importance of musical choices in film marketing and the ability of music to evoke strong emotions and connect with listeners.

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Michael Alden Hadreas, better known by his stage name Perfume Genius, is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. Hadreas's music explores topics including sexuality, his personal struggle with Crohn's disease, domestic abuse, and the dangers faced by gay men in contemporary society. Hadreas chose his stage name based on the genius perfume-maker in Tom Tykwer's 2006 movie Perfume: The Story of a Murderer.

Perfume Genius is known for his acting work in Booksmart (2019) and Doom Patrol (2019). In addition to his acting career, Perfume Genius has also released several albums. His debut album, Learning, was released in 2010 through Turnstile Records in Europe and Matador Records in the United States. The album received critical acclaim, including a score of 8.2 out of 10 from Pitchfork.

On October 30, 2014, Perfume Genius appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman, performing "Queen". In 2015, he was featured on the cover of Hello Mr. and collaborated with Sharon Van Etten on a cover of the Grateful Dead's "To Lay Me Down" for a charity tribute album. On September 16, 2016, he released a cover of Elvis Presley's "Can't Help Falling in Love" in collaboration with Prada, which was featured in an ad campaign for Prada's fragrances.

Perfume Genius has continued to release music and make appearances in films and on television. In 2017, he released the video for "Die 4 You", and his music was featured in the trailer for the film The Goldfinch. On January 15, 2025, Hadreas announced his seventh studio album, Glory, and released the single "It's A Mirror," which was named "Best New Track" by Pitchfork.

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'The Goldfinch' used the track 'Otherside' in its trailer

The track "Otherside" by Perfume Genius, the stage name of American singer-songwriter Michael Alden Hadreas, was featured in the trailer for the 2019 film The Goldfinch. The Goldfinch is based on the 2014 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name by Donna Tartt. The movie was directed by John Crowley and starred Ansel Elgort, Nicole Kidman, Sarah Paulson, Luke Wilson, and Jeffrey Wright.

The song "Otherside" is from Perfume Genius's album Set My Heart on Fire Immediately, released in 2020. The album also included the singles "Describe" and "On the Floor." Hadreas's music often explores themes such as sexuality, his personal struggle with Crohn's disease, domestic abuse, and the dangers faced by gay men in contemporary society.

The artist took his stage name from the 2006 film Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, directed by Tom Tykwer. The movie is a co-production of Germany, France, Spain, and the United States and is based on the novel of the same name. It stars Ben Whishaw as Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, a notorious murderer with a superhuman sense of smell. The film received mixed reviews, with critics praising the visual style and performances of Alan Rickman and Whishaw, while criticizing the unevenness of the screenplay and the casting of Dustin Hoffman.

In addition to The Goldfinch, Perfume Genius's music has also been featured in other films and media. For example, his song was included in the trailer for the 2018 Bo Burnham movie Eighth Grade.

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'Perfume Genius: Queen'

"Queen" is a song by American singer-songwriter Perfume Genius, the stage name of Michael Alden Hadreas. The song was featured on Perfume Genius' third album, "Too Bright", which was released on September 23, 2014. The album marked a radical transformation in both sound and posture for Perfume Genius, exploring themes of sexuality, empowerment, and queer identity.

"Queen" specifically addresses the "gay panic" of the 80s and 90s and the gross myths and homophobia projected onto queer people during that time. The song is a cultural provocation, flipping the power dynamic between gay people and homophobes. Hadreas' lyrics mock the fragility of heteronormative attitudes that feel threatened by the mere presence of a gay man.

The song has been featured in various television series, including the Hulu series "The Great," the HBO series "Vice Principals," and the Apple TV+ series "Dark Matter." Additionally, a Perfume Genius song was featured in the trailer for the 2018 Bo Burnham movie "Eighth Grade."

Perfume Genius' music often explores personal topics such as sexuality, his struggle with Crohn's disease, domestic abuse, and the dangers faced by gay men in contemporary society. Hadreas' own experiences as a gay man, including facing death threats and physical attacks during his youth, have influenced his artistic expression.

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