There are a few reasons that make someone want to re-watch a movie or TV series: an emotional response, a connection to the characters or simply nostalgia. While all are good reasons to sit through hours of television, there is one reason that will keep me coming back to any series: a banging soundtrack.
The soundtrack is ultimately what determines what the viewer will feel when watching their favorite show. Should the scene be depressing or cheerful? Funny or serious? The mood of the show can be almost any of these depending on the tone of the music. If chosen carefully, one could create the perfect soundtrack. An objective example of such a masterpiece would have to be the Netflix original “The Umbrella Academy.”
Originally beginning as a comic book written by My Chemical Romance lead singer Gerard Way in 2008, “The Umbrella Academy” was eventually given its own live-action series on Netflix in 2019 for Steve Blackman to write. Without giving too much away, the story follows seven powerful people that were born all around the world at the exact same time. Over time, a reclusive billionaire adopts these children and forms a league of vigilantes called the Umbrella Academy.
While the comic book did supply the inspiration for the characters, the show still had to bring the vibe of the comic book to life. With the musical influence of its original writer, Blackman did this by arranging a soundtrack that itself makes the show worth re-watching multiple times.
The intentions of the music are set with the first song played being “I Think We’re Alone Now” by Tiffany. All of the adopted siblings, who are now adults, reunite to attend the funeral of their father. While all in their separate rooms, one plays the tune and slowly, all begin to dance on their own. While they are alone, this is also the first time that they have all been together in years.
This scene was so notorious that Blackman replicated the scene in season two using Sam Cooke’s “Twistin’ the Night Away.”
Every song is played for a specific reason and is usually ironic to the scene. Each has a specific task, usually to reflect and magnify the gravity of the scenes while also delivering a whimsical tone. The choice of music makes each scene its own character, which makes it just as important as the actual characters in the show.
There are few shows that could pull off a 1980s doughnut shop fight between a man trapped in a teen’s body and time travelers to the tune of They Might Be Giants’ “Instanbul (Not Constantinople).” While the scene is filled to the brim with fast-paced violence, the song also sets the pace of the scene.
I can’t help but be entranced with each scene as it transitions to each new song. Every moment carries so much more value than it would have without the music. Somehow, after what feels like 10 minutes, three 40-minute episodes have flown by.
Usually, a playlist stays to a specific genre of music. It aids in anything from signaling what era the story is set to reflecting the importance of the scene. Blackman chose not to follow those strategies. Instead of era signaling, he chose to use the music as a means to reflect the chaos of the show. No guidelines, just fun. What makes this soundtrack such a success is that there is something appealing to everyone watching; it introduces someone to a band that they will potentially love now. For me, it was The Dead South.
In season two, Blackman blessed us by including Way’s latest song “Here Comes the End.” As a life-long fan of My Chemical Romance, this was the icing on the cake. Season three has a lot to live up to.
