One of my top three tv shows of all time just released it's final season on dvd. Yes, Friday Night Lights is coming to a close, ending one of the most underappreciated, little-watched, yet incredibly scripted, acted, and directed television shows in the history of American television. Not only is the show technically flawless, but it has something way more important - heart. You actually care about these characters and want to know what happens to them from week to week. I find so often that I don't really care about the characters I'm watching, which is a sure sign to drop that show from the dvr and search out more like Friday Night Lights. Once I finish the season and give other hard core fans time to do so as well, I fully intend on writing a complete piece about the show itself, but today I want to focus on the part of the whole that literally gives me chills when the premiere of a new season starts.
No words, just a slightly haunting, rhythmic cadence that characterizes the show so well. It's hard to explain, but it just perfectly fits the show's themes, characters, and overall feeling. I find it hard to articulate, but there's just something about it that gives me chills. A good tv theme song can do that. When it so perfectly captures the show and adds to the overall experience of enjoying it you know you've got a great opener.
Here are some other favorite show openers:
Gilmore Girls
Another all time favorite show, this theme was sung by Carole King with her daughter, which is a great tie-in to Rory and Lorelai's relationship. Although the song is a bit too cheese-tastic for the witty, smart, and often wry banter between the Gilmores and their oh so quirky neighbors, it always brings a smile to my face.
The Simpsons
Yet another great example of solid instrumental composition fully capturing the essence of a show. Why do you need words when "baaaa ba ba ba baaa ba ba ba babababa" is enough?
The Muppet Show
The Muppets need to be on Broadway. I need them to be on Broadway. Immediately. Hey, maybe they can use the theater Spiderman is in. Once they kill off or injure the rest of their cast it should be available.
I've been thinking a lot about the role of music in my life and how it's shaped who I am and how I interact with the world around me. I've always relied on music as a way to express how I feel, find the words that I can't come up with myself, and get those feelings out of myself and my head. There is nothing like hearing a song and thinking, "that is exactly how I feel, how did they know?" To connect with a song so deeply that it becomes a part of you. To play that song so many times and know it inside and out and whenever you hear it in the future it takes you right back to that place, that feeling, that moment in time and reminds you of how far you've come, how much you have left to do, or just how much fun you had. I've had this experience countless times and those songs tend to be my favorites, the ones that I can come back to and they feel like old friends, like coming home. These are just some of those songs for me:
Little Martha by the Allman Brothers
I went through a pretty major classic rock phase in middle school and LOVED the Allman Brothers. Amazing southern rock, first concert at Oak Mtn Amphitheater in Birmingham, and first time I was offered pot (don't worry Mom and Dad, I didn't take it :). I tend to lean towards songs with lyrics, but there's just something so sweet and simple about this melody that takes me back to my 13 year old self and contrasts with the complex and challenging changes I was dealing with at the time.
Full of Grace by Sarah McLachlan
This song captured all of my adolescent angst in a quick 3 minutes 18 seconds. This was one of the first songs that I really thought, oh she just gets it. I know exactly how that feels and it does not feel good.
Hometown Glory by Adele
One of my new favorite artists, this was the standout song for me from her first album 19. There's something about the way it builds that always gets to me. I like that she takes herself back to what it was like for her when she was younger, what her everyday was like in her hometown.
Not Ready To Make Nice by the Dixie Chicks
I don't listen to a lot of country, but I've been a fan of the Dixie Chicks since their first album with Natalie Maines taking the lead. I've loved watching them grow as a band and as musicians and seeing how their personal experiences have impacted their songwriting and depth of character. Without getting too political, I found it fascinating, devastating, and with a bit of dumbfounded shock to watch the majority of their fan base turn on the band after Natalie's comments about then-current President Bush at a London show. Their documentary "Shut Up and Sing" chronicles that difficult time for the band, but also shows the heart, soul, blood, and tears that went into the album Taking the Long Way. This song, the first single off the album, cuts straight to the point, revealing the catharsis that inhabits each lyric. I could probably write an entire post on this song, that situation, and the band itself (hey maybe one day I will!), but for now I'll just say how refreshing it was for me to see three strong women, from the South, saying whatever the hell they wanted, because they can.
Let's Stay Together by Al Green
This weekend I went to visit my mom's side of the family in Albany, GA. It was my Grandaddy's 88th birthday and we were there to celebrate him. It was a quick, but great trip and I know it meant a lot to him that we were all there. However, since my Grandma died almost 8 years ago, it's never been quite the same. This song is my ideal "relationship song" and theirs was the ideal relationship. Completely devoted, adoring, so in love, whether times were good or bad, happy or sad.
From my perspective at least, that's the goal.
Parting Gift by Fiona Apple
Extraordinary Machine overall is an amazing album and one that I continually come back to, but this song has always stood out to me for one set of lyrics:
I took off my glasses while you were yelling at me once, more than once.
So as not to see you see me react.
Shoulda put em, shoulda put em on again,
so I could see you see me sincerely yelling back.
I bet your fortressed face
Belied your fort of lace
It is by the grace of me
You never learned what I could see
The assumptions flying through these lyrics say a lot about the nature of this relationship and what each half expects of each other, sees in each other, and completely misconstrues about each other.
I could literally do this all day, but I'll stop for now and maybe continue this series in the future. What are some of your favorite songs? Artists? Albums? I'm always looking for something new, or old, for that matter.
