Music? None this week. So let’s talk about Hunger Games. And Firefly.

This week was a pretty slow one for tv in general, so there wasn’t any music that cried out to me. But I guess that’s a good thing because it gave me time to listen to the Hunger Games soundtrack, which isn’t so much the music used in the movies, but rather music inspired by the movie/book.

I’ll admit upfront that I really loved the books. They’re fast reads, incredibly exciting, and significantly better written than the Twilight novels (which I have also read – did I mention I work in a bookstore?). With that in mind, I went to see the movie last week with high hopes, and I was mostly pleased.  But this post is not about the movie, or the books for that matter. Let’s get back to the music.

I’m enjoying the soundtrack very much, especially the songs from Arcade Fire and Neko Case. They have a pseudo-futuristic feel to them, but they are also Appalachian and country. It all comes together very well. And, on top of that, as I was listening to the music, I had an epiphany. Each song not only evoked District Twelve, but also the short-lived but much-beloved show, Firefly. Remember this?

Moreover, after listening to the Hunger Games soundtrack, I started to believe that the whole series, Katniss, Peeta, the Capitol, owes a whole lot to Joss Whedon’s creation. In fact, I don’t think the one could have existed without the other.

There are a lot of correlations here. The most obvious is the Capitol and the Alliance: two big bad central governments filled with wealth and frivolity controlling the outer realms, the districts or the colonies. (One could also argue that both these regimes are mutations of Oz or Oceania, but that’s a different essay entirely). In both worlds, the centralized powers control the rim areas, in turns ignoring and oppressing the people who live there. They also like to make examples out of the people who rise up against them, the Capitol with the Hunger Games, the Alliance with their bounty hunters, who hunt and torture people who threaten unity.

There are other similarities between the book and the tv show as well, especially when you delve into Catching Fire and Mockingjay. One could argue (as I’m doing here) that Katniss is an equivalent to River, especially in the later books. Both women are deadly when they want to be; they are inaccessible emotionally to most of the people around them; and both represent threats to the government and are wanted and hunted because they expose a weakness in the government’s power. Sure, Katniss isn’t crazy in the same way River is, but I’m not saying that these stories are exactly the same.

I also see that Haymitch is an offshot of Captain Malcolm Reynolds. Both are men reduced and hardened by their past experiences with the government who rise to the occasion when needed and help to save the day. Oh, and of course, District 13 could be seen as the Browncoats; it’s not much of a leap there.

I could also argue that Simon, the Alliance-bred, uptight protector of River, is not too far away from Effie, the Capitol-bred, fastidious protector of Katniss. And the games-keepers? The ones who control everything and are willing to drive children to their deaths? How about the blue-handed men who hunt down River, killing everything in their way, as a parallel? Interesting crossover, right?

Obviously there are differences between the Firefly and Hunger Games. And there should be. I’m not saying that they are the same story by any means. All I’m arguing is that one seems to have influenced the other in my mind, just they way great art inspires future artists. I love the Isaac Newton quote “If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” I would argue that that is what has happened here. But I thought it was worth pointing out that Joss Whedon, even though he hasn’t had a show in a few years, is still out there, is influencing the world.

Finally, with all that theorizing out of the way, enjoy the two songs I liked most from The Hunger Games album. They are really quite good.

Arcade Fire – “Abraham’s Daughter”

Neko Case – “Nothing to Remember”

Til next time,
Mary

Cougar Town Saves the Music Day

Well, it’s another boring week in terms of music.  Only one song of note, and that was on, no surprise here, Cougar Town.

Avalanche City “The Streets” – This song played at the end of the episode, right after Travis did his stepping routine.  I thought it was such a fun, summery, beach song to play over Ellie finally surfing. It reminded me of the song used in the first season when the whole crew goes to the beach. Really great stuff.

And the song from the first season, Leona Naess “Leave Your Boyfriends Behind”

Hope you enjoy them!

-Mary

“Sha-la-la-la-la-la Kiss the Girl” – It’s the Music of the Week

This was a better week for music than last week, and, oddly enough, it was because of the return of The Little Mermaid and Grey’s Anatomy. Weird, right? But I’ll take it if it means new stuff for me (and you, gentle viewer) to enjoy.

And now, the top music of the week:

Some People Don’t Ignore the Music on TV Shows

This was a seriously slim week in terms of music.  I mean, seriously, a Grey’s Anatomy sized seriously.  However, it’s also a March week in television, so probably I should be happy that there was any TV to watch at all.  Only one song really jumped out at me and then one slipped in at the end upon web search, so here goes: my impossible small list of favorite songs of the week.

Favorite Music o’ the Week

This week was pretty light on good music.  Really, I’ve been getting most of my songs from the new season of Skins, but my plan is to wait until the end of this series and then post all my choices together for that show.  But back to this week.  Just two tracks really stood out to me.  I hope you enjoy them.

Starting off… My favorite TV song choices

First post down.  Now the second one has to be more interesting than the basics.  In the future, I will post my favorite songs used each week, but since this is the one to start us off, I’m going to dig a little deeper.  Here are the top five best songs that I think have been used so far this TV season.

1. The Gabe Dixon Band – “All Will Be Well” – This has become one of my favorite songs. Period.  It aired on the Parks and Recreation episode “End of the World” and played over the last few minutes as April and Andy drive to the grand canyon.  It’s a beautiful song and cheers me up every time I hear it.  
2. tUnEyArDs – “Gangsta” – This song, for me, wasn’t so memorable when it was actually on the episode, which was The Good Wife’s “Death Row Tip.”  However, I downloaded it and now it’s one of my favorites of the year. I have yet to get sick of it. 
3. The Head and The Heart – “Rivers and Roads” – First off, I want to say that How I Met Your Mother has been killing it music-wise this season.  I had to narrow it down to just one, which meant that I had to leave out Crooked Fingers “Heavy Hours” from the episode “Tick Tick Tick” where Robin decides not to be with Barney and also Florence and the Machines “Shake It Out” from the latest episode “No Pressure.”  But this song, from “The Drunk Train” stands out for me because it’s so heartbreaking as Barney pines for love and Ted confesses his feelings for Robin. I know that feeling and it gets me every time. 
4. Bootstraps – “Fortyfive” – From the episode “Clear Skies from Here on Out” from this season of Parenthood, this song plays when Crosby and Adam finally decide to become partners at the Luncheonette.  The makers of Parenthood really know how to use music and here it blends so perfectly into the scene.  At first Crosby is celebrating by playing the drums and slowly the music ramps up.  It’s so joyful, I can’t help but smile thinking about the scene. 
5. The Donnies The Amys – “Boxer + Clover” – This song is truly a blink and you’ll miss it one.  Unlike my other choices, which were featured pretty prominently in the episodes, this one just plays in the background of a few scenes in the Grey’s Anatomy episode “Have You Seen Me Lately?” (Also, I apologize for using Grey’s.  It’s no longer a great show, but I love this song, so who cares. Right?)  The song was good enough for me to break out my phone and shazaam it right there.  Now it’s on heavy rotation on my iTunes.  I’m sure you’ll like it too. 

Well, that’s it for now.  I imagine that you can get a little of my musical taste from the post and hopefully you like it.  If not, oh well, you have horrible taste. (Just kidding… sort of.) Check back soon for my inaugural TV review post.

-Mary

PS.  Just because, here’s a photo for your viewing pleasure.  “Life’s Too Short,” the new show from my favorite, Ricky Gervais, started this week, and though I’ve already watched it, this photo still seems appropriate.