by Before she was the iconic Daenerys Targaryen in Game of Thrones, Emilia Clarke was a musical theater kid with dreams of stardom on the stage. Though her acting career took off thanks to her role on the hit HBO fantasy drama, Clark continues to nurture a talented singing voice and passion for belting out showtunes that few fans know about.
From her karaoke go-to’s to the chart-topping classics that make her want to sing along, Clarke has mentioned numerous songs over the years that light up her musical spirit within. Let’s explore the melodies and artists that inspire the Emmy-nominated star’s vocal talents behind-the-scenes.
“R-E-S-P-E-C-T” – Finding a Fierce Anthem in Aretha Franklin
Clarke has named Aretha Franklin’s 1967 hit “Respect” as one of her favorite songs of all time thanks to its powerful lyrics and the Queen of Soul’s signature style. She loves how the anthemic track has become a feminist calling card over the decades as well as a commanding soul number.
The driving beat paired with Franklin’s commanding vocals have made “Respect” one of the most recognizable songs of the 20th century. It’s no wonder Clarke loves belting out “What you want, baby I got it” right along with the legendary singer. According to Clarke, there’s nothing quite like Franklin’s takes on lines like “give me my propers” to make you feel unstoppable.
While filming Game of Thrones, Clarke even got the chance to visit the historic Fame recording studio in Muscle Shoals, Alabama where some of Franklin’s earliest hits were recorded. She called it “one of the greatest days” of her life to stand in the same studio where an icon put her indelible stamp on music forever.
Journeying Back to 80’s Pop Bliss with “Don’t Stop Believin'”
As much as Clarke loves the soulful classics, she’ll also passionately sing modern pop and rock songs at the top of her lungs. Case in point – Journey’s ubiquitous 1981 track “Don’t Stop Believin’.” Unlike the R&B stomp of “Respect,” this anthem to holding onto optimism is pure fun energy in Clarke’s eyes.
She loves that its driving piano riff almost commands everyone within earshot to sing along wherever it comes on. There’s nothing quite like that “streetlight people” chorus to get an entire bar, stadium, or carfull of people happily screaming in unison.
For Clarke and so many others across generations, the song represents the unifying thrill of music at its best and most crowd-pleasing. She lights up whenever it plays and will gladly take the mic to drive home “born and raised in south Detroit” alongside Steve Perry. “Don’t Stop Believin’” manages to feel both vintage and timeless, transporting Clarke back to music’s glory days.
Girl Power Anthems – “I Will Survive” As Go-To Karaoke Choice
Nowadays, Clarke is just as likely to be found in casual karaoke night spots as she is starring in big-budget films and TV productions. Her go-to song pick on the karaoke circuit might be surprising for a rising young star, but it makes perfect sense considering her effusive personality.
When the opening trumpets of Gloria Gaynor’s disco classic “I Will Survive” sound over the speakers, Clarke is quick to grab the mic. She’ll passionately channel Gaynor’s lyrics about female resilience no matter who happens to be watching. Though she comes from another generation, Clarke deeply connects with the track as an empowering choice for women everywhere.
Released in 1978, Gaynor’s only No. 1 Hot 100 hit struck a cultural nerve in uniting female listeners across racial and generational divides around themes of emancipation from toxic relationships. Its steady beat builds a platform for Gaynor’s soaring vocals as she dedicates lyrics like “you’ll always be alone” and “I’m not that chained up little person still in love with you” to a manipulative ex-lover.
Set in the aftermath of heartbreak, the song’s central character experiences the transformative power of releasing pain through joyful lyricism. Rising from the ashes, she finds new freedom in declaring her former partner will get nothing more from her ever again. That cathartic energy makes it irresistible for outspoken divas like Clarke.
Putting on a Show with Queen’s Crowd-Pleasing “Bohemian Rhapsody”
Clarke has made it clear she loves to ham it up on stage as much as she loses herself in serious acting roles. Is there any better showcase for theatricality than Queen’s six-minute 1975 theatrical rock opus “Bohemian Rhapsody?” She often names the elaborate tune as one of her favorites to perform live thanks to its sheer drama and musical complexity.
Oscillating between soaring melody and aggressive hard rock riffs, the song encapsulates lead singer Freddie Mercury at his mercurial best as a showman. His four-octave voice guides listeners through a literal mini-opera full of stylistic twists and turns. Clarke loves letting loose vocally on its sonic rollercoaster just like Mercury did.
She particularly shines when the driving hard rock section kicks in and Mercury begins aggressively singing lyrics like “Beelzebub has a devil put aside for me!” wailing with intentional campiness. It’s no wonder this vivid tune appeals to her theatrical sensibilities so much. The song remains a proven show-stopper more than 40 years after its initial release thanks to the way it allows gifted yet playful singers like Clarke to run free.
Channeling John Lennon’s Timeless Message with “Imagine”
Clarke counts folk rock pioneer John Lennon among her most respected musician. She returns frequently to his 1971 solo hit “Imagine” as both gorgeous art and what she calls “a guiding inspiration I love to sing.”
While arguably Lennon’s best-known solo song, its lyrics still sound radical decades later in calling listeners to envision a world without divisions like countries or religion to separate humanity. Underpinning its beautiful melody is a utopian message that society could exist peacefully if not for those unnecessary constructs dividing people.
When she sings lines like “imagine all the people sharing the world” and “no need for greed or hunger,” Clarke feels the purity of Lennon’s concept of universal brotherhood. The gentle piano and orchestration accentuate lyrics that today sound more prescient than ever as the world struggles with upheaval. For Clarke. the song asks everyone who sings along to take responsibility for cultivating real change through love and unity.
Though she rose to fame playing a powerful queen, in truth Clarke relates most to singer-songwriters like Lennon who articulate anthemic ideas. With artists like him, she sings for transformation versus mere entertainment or even personal expression. It’s music as a visionary key to a better world.
Owning the Stage and Small Screen
Clarke’s love for music extends behind karaoke nights and car singalongs. She also continues to nurture serious singing aspirations alongside her acting career, though they currently take a backseat. However, between musical theater origins and recent studio collaborations, her vocal talents show formidable promise.
Early Musical Theater Aspirations As an aspiring teenager, Emilia Clarke attended the prestigious Drama Centre London theater school to pursue her acting dreams. However, along the way, she also developed impressive singing skills with an eye toward London’s famed West End and Broadway musical productions.
In interviews, she has reminisced about playing Louise in Gypsy early in her training. The role allowed her to tackle iconic songs like “Everything’s Coming Up Roses” during school performances, leaving her wanting more musical challenges. Ultimately, she left drama school early when cast as Daenerys Targaryen in Game of Thrones, putting Broadway ambitions temporarily on pause.
Fans have still gotten small glimpses of her vocal talents though via YouTube over the years. Quick clips exist of Clarke enthusiastically belting musical theater tunes like “On My Own” from Les Miserables and “Silent Worship” from King Arthur during her drama student days.
They reveal surprisingly powerful singing abilities despite her later fame coming from on-camera work. In the audition-esque videos, she attacks the songs with impressive range and emotional dynamism. One can easily imagine an alternative timeline where she took her talents to the theatrical stage full-time.
Going Pop – “Ooh La La” Collaboration
In 2013, halfway through her Game of Thrones run, Clarke finally returned to her longtime musical passions – this time via pop music. She teamed up with British singer-songwriter Victoria Beckham on an original holiday track titled “Ooh La La.”
Released exclusively on the UK’s Mother’s Day, it’s a bouncy, upbeat tribute to motherhood set to playful lyrics like “princess perfect and baby bliss” and “he’s little perfect, a tiny gift.” While hardly groundbreaking artistry, it fulfilled Clarke’s goal to have light pop fun as a singer outside her acting career.
Paired with Beckham (aka Posh Spice), she gets to play up cheeky British charm on the song meant as a rousing girl power anthem for mothers. Her surprisingly twangy vocals feed off Beckham’s smoother approach as they come together to harmonize an ode to their children being both gifts and mischievous troublemakers.
Singing with an icon was clearly a blast for Clarke. And while the one-off single barely made a blip outside Britain, it hints at her ability to hold her own as a pop collaborator. Much like her karaoke favorites, she chose a feel-good niche track to feed her underlying musical joy.
The Best Song You Haven’t Heard – “Needle in the Hay” Cover In 2022, Clarke’s musical side came roaring back via a haunting rendition of the Elliot Smith ballad “Needle in the Hay” made famous by the film The Royal Tenenbaums. She recorded the cover for the 10th anniversary of Daenerys Targaryen’s first appearance on Game of Thrones – using music to mark her journey playing the now iconic character.
Her version transforms Smith’s stark 1995 original into a slow-building, atmospheric vocal showcase revealing previously unseen vocal power. She starts softly over simple piano chords before gradually unleashing emotive intensity as her voice swells and breaks with feeling.
Singing lines like “Your hand on his arm/Haystack charm around your neck” and “Fifteen whispers then it stops” with hypnotic repetition, she taps into the song’s melancholy heartbreak from her own emotional place. Gone is the pop fizz of her previous musical outing as she lays bare scars still lingering over a decade later.
For Game of Thrones fans, her rendition takes on deeper resonance set alongside scenes from Daenerys story arc – both her ascent as Khaleesi and violent downfall in the series finale. Hearing the sorrow and fragility in Clarke’s voice over her character’s defining visual moments proves surprisingly wrenching. It makes “Needle in the Hay” feel like Daenerys tragic theme song she sings from beyond the grave.
Ultimately, it reveals untapped depths and vocal nuance still hiding within Emilia Clarke as she continues nurturing dual artistic passions in film and music. With one foot still in theater thanks to recent stage roles, she may yet fully return to her musical roots soon. But for now, her cover single showcases a multifaceted star with sound as compelling as visual presence on screen. The Mother of Dragons harbors serious musical gifts.
