Frances McCombe
The right music is crucial to making or breaking any TV show. A poignant on-screen moment could be totally transformed or completely wrecked by the all-important song choices.
Choosing the perfect musical accompaniment for a moving onscreen moment takes real skill. When done correctly, it can produce an everlasting connection between the music and the specific scene in which it plays.
Music can be seen as an essential part of storytelling; used to convey emotion, set the scene and even foreshadow later events. It can even become as crucial to building up to a memorable climax, as the use of dialogue.
This list presents (in no particular order!) moments that this relationship between screen and sound has perfectly matched, creating some of the most repayable moments in TV history…
1. “In Every Dream Home a Heartache” by Roxy Music – Mindhunter
I had to begin with this disturbing visual/audio pairing- the musical accompaniment to the opening of crime-thriller Mindhunter.
The song tells the tale of engaging in a sexual relationship with an inflatable doll, speaking on emptiness and detachment from real love in a sinister manner.
The song choice here perfectly matches the series’ themes, climbing inside the psyche of those who rebel against social norms in the most extreme fashion.
“displaying a thematic connection between the lyrics and the scene”
The season starts by displaying a thematic connection between the lyrics and the scene, exhibiting detached and unconventional sexual activity.
This particular scene opens with the wife of mass murderer, BTK, coming home to find her husband performing autoerotic asphyxiation whilst wearing a painted mask resembling a female face.
The tension built by the trembling door as the song plays makes the scene especially menacing to viewers who already know about the crimes committed by the BTK killer.
2. “In the Evening” by Led Zeppelin– Sharp Objects
If you have not watched Sharp Objects – DO NOT CLICK THE LINK!
Go and watch the whole thing now, that is an order.
All elements in this scene complement each other flawlessly. Amy Adams’ face when she realises the heinous truth, partnered with the music of Led Zeppelin may seem like an odd combination, but it makes for brilliant viewing.
It presents an utterly riveting end to this psychological thriller. Led Zeppelin plays through the final scene, into the series credits, leaving the viewer in a stunned daze as they attempt to process the scene’s final moments.
3. “Only You” by Yazoo – The Office UK (the good one)
After waiting for all series for Brent to show some spine, there was no better moment than during The Office Christmas Special, and no more deserving target than Chris Finch.
This brilliant moment is then somewhat overshadowed by the return of Dawn, who finally returned to claim the right man for her to then leave again, hand in hand with Tim.
“perfectly captures the dynamic the audience has seen developing”
Yazoo’s hit, Only You, is the perfect song choice for such a poignant moment in this series and perfectly captures the dynamic the audience has seen developing between Dawn and Tim throughout.
Only You is even more superb a song choice when you realise that Big Keith has been DJing at the staff party and has switched the decks into lovers’ hour.
Do I cry every time? – Yes.
4. “You Could Be Happy” by Snow Patrol – Gavin and Stacey
The final season of Gavin and Stacey series 2 screams ‘made in the 2000s’.
The music, the fashion, the foam party; from James Corden’s presence to Stacey shouting “Baby!” down the phone – this scene is utterly cringeworthy. Why is it then that I always end up crying?
I spend all of Gavin and Stacey safely aware that I care very little for the relationship between the two protagonists, and care more about the dynamics of those around them.
It, therefore, shocks me that whenever this song plays over the two main characters running metaphorically back into each other arms, I nearly always end up in floods of tears.
There is something about a 2000’s comedy romance with a cinematic pop ballad that manages to get me emotional.
5. “Oh Girl” By The Chi-Lites – The Sopranos
A beautifully melancholic song appears as a strange choice when playing over the tears of a mafia boss on his way to beat up the man sleeping with his ex-goomar in The Sopranos.
However, this song is the perfect musical addition to this scene.
It drives home to the viewer just how narcissistic Tony is, as his reason for attacking his ex-goomar’s new lover is not love as the song would suggest.
His motivation instead is much more simplistic – to protect his pride. His self-pitying countenance in this scene, crying along to such a beautiful piece of music, fills me with disbelief that someone could be so utterly narcissistic.
Never has a man looked so self-pitying than when Tony sings along and mourns the love of a woman he treated abhorrently.
Tony Soprano has a unique skill as a character to be someone that you love to hate. And Tony wallowing in self-pity, listening to this song is truly the epitome of this.
Featured image courtesy of Victrola Record Players via Unsplash. Image licence found here. No changes have been made to this image.
Interesting read, I would have gone for Evidently Chickentown by John Cooper Clarke from the Sopranos though although Oh Girl is a good choice. Also, nice spot on Big Keith DJ’ing I would not have noticed that
Really enjoyed reading this, the gavin and stacey scene gets me everytime!
A fantastic piece, compels one to go and watch all the above mentioned tv moments just to experience the impact for yourself!
I found this really interesting and fun to read. I agree completely on the Gavin and Stacey one, but I don’t know the others so it’s given me some viewing tips too!