The Sopranos last night was a portentous slow-burn with tons of exhausting what’s-gonna-happen dread and Lynchian foreshadowing. As usual, the Sopranos producers have an incredibly cinematic way of using music and last night wasn’t much different. Who would’ve thought the Dave Brubeck Quartet’s amiable, “Take 5,” (the most popular song ever done in 5/4 time) would be utilized so ominously in the monopoly scene before the big fight? The closing was bitterly ironic as well; a bouncy and jubilant, “This Magic Moment” plays as Bobby is reunited with his family after just having commited his first ever murder (You’ll recall Lou Reed’s excellent version of this was used in Lynch’s “Lost Highway,” connection perhaps?)
I’m slighty confused that the Soprano’s episode guide mentions neither of these songs in their music section, but my eyes and ears did not decieve me. I believe they have an old one up for some reason; the Stones’ “Moonlight Mile” was not used last night. I think that was probably the end of last season (memory serve me now).
Rolling Stone has an interesting Sopranos music section on their website right now where show producer David Chase discusses the use of music and its importance in the show. Unfortunately most of it is in Flash and can’t be embedded here, but it’s worth checking out. And Mr. Chase, please note that Daniel Lanois is from Hull (the region of Arcadia), not Montreal (just keeping you honest). Other things gleaned: Chase didn’t ever want a score used in the show (hence the songs), he originally wanted a different theme each week, but HBO, “wisely” talked him out of it and he decided to cast Little Steven in the show after watching him induct the Rascals at the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame (he was impressed with his “presence”).
RS: Do you try and avoid Mob hits?
Chase: If it’s a good song and it works in the spot [then you use it, no matter what], you really don’t know if a song’s going to work to picture, but when it works there’s this electric charge.
Amen.
Update: The Greatest Music on Television? The Soprano’s/E Street Band member Steven Van Zandt (consigliere Silvio Dante) has written an excellent piece on the history of music in films and TV. This deserves its own post, but I’ll put it here for now.
Download: “Take Five” (mp3 sample, not the Dave Brubeck version, sorry, all I could find online)
Lou Reed “This Magic Moment” (from “Lost Highway”)
Dave Brubeck “Take Five” (live 1961)