Do you which song is playing as Sydney sits, alone at a table for two, after her father has stood her up? Do you the song playing as Sydney walks down the street in Rome as Julia Thorne? From Danny’s funeral (“Here Comes the Flood”) to Vaughn’s funeral (“Dirty Little Secret”), the music of Alias is as important to the show as the storylines and the characters it supports. "Background" music is added to shows and movies after filming has been completed, and is used to create moods, fill spaces, provide rhythm and link the scene or the show to other cultural texts.On the DVD audio commentary for season 2 and 3, JJ mentions that he often writes scenes for certain pieces of music. For instance, the parking garage scene in episode 3.15 “Facade,” JJ chose the song “All My Life” by Rosie Thomas. The song begins small, as Sydney enters the parking garage and walks to her car. Vaughn’s car pulls up beside her and she turns, calling to him and then they embrace as the music swells. JJ said he didn’t want the scene to be cheesy, he didn’t want the music to take away from the moment that Sydney and Vaughn were having.
JJ also mentions he has help picking music. Greg Grunberg (Weiss) states he picked the music for the opening season of the Super Bowl episode in which Sydney is clad in lingerie, seducing a man. The song playing is AC/DC “Back in Black.” The song sets the tone for not only the risqué attire, but for the fight that would ensue.
As an avid fan of music myself, I have been impressed by JJ’s ability to piece music to his scenes. It is a “Good Day” (by Luce) for Michael Vaughn when Sydney gives him her middle drawer and “Righteously” by Lucinda Williams has perfect lyrics when Sydney catches Vaughn buying information from an ex-KGB officer in a bar. We can hear these songs on the radio and remember the exact scene, the lines, the actors and the feelings in that moment. With as many poignant and explosive scenes as Alias has, it would be easy for the audience to disregard the music, to focus solely on the words and the actors. But JJ and his crew have done an amazing job of giving these scenes more emotion and maybe even double meaning by pairing it with the right piece of music.
What are you favorite Alias songs? How have the songs changed from season to season? Season 4 didn’t house as much music has the 3 seasons before it, aside from Michael Giacchino’s instrumental pieces, why do you think that is? JJ has carried his love of music over to his series Lost, several songs have been similar. Is it a nod to Alias? I think so!
Some of my favs:
Fade Into You-Mazzy Star (4.04 "Ice" Vaughn as a priest in the bar.)
World on Fire-Sarah McLachlan (4.01 Syd at home, Vaughn shows up to say "That I miss you.")
So Are You To Me- Eastmountainsouth (2.18 "Truth Takes Time" Syd deciphers a code from her mother's earrings.)
Bleed to Love Her- Fleetwood Mac (2.22 "The Telling" Syd and Vaughn play hockey.)
The Wind-Cat Stevens (4.01-2 "APO" Syd cries in the hall, Vaughn comforts her.)
Lay Lady Lay- Bob Dylan (4.22 "Before the Flood" Before the car crash.)
I Shall Believe- Sheryl Crow (2.07 "Counteragent" Vaughn hugs Sydney after she saves him from the bloody finger disease.) I HEART THIS SONG and the look on Vaughn's face at the end of the episode!!
A Place Called Home- Kim Richey (2.06 "Salvation" Vaughn watches Sydney sleep in quarantine.)
Slumber My Darling- Allison Krauss (2.07 "Counteragent" Syd visits Vaughn in the hospital.)
My Sundown-Jimmie eat World (2.15 "Free Agent" The morning after, Syd and Vaughn in bed.) Freedom-David Gray (2.16 "Firebomb" Vaughn sits with Syd who's in the bathtub.)
This Woman's Work-Kate Bush (1.02 Sydney races home from a mission to put Danny's ring back on and then she gets in the tub. Sad Sad Sad! JJ added the tub scene in order to get more of the song on the show. He loves tunes!)
Okay, I have to stop or I will list every song ever on the show!
22 comments:
NICE topic GS! I agree the music is an essential part to Alias, I mean what would that opening scene to "Phase One" be w/o Back in Black?!? It's funny how if I hear a song on Alias I immediately like the song more, or think I'm cool for already liking that song, hehe. Everytime I hear No Doubt's "It's My Life" or "Hella Good" I immediately think of the scenes from Alias. My other favs are "Song 2" by Blur from the s3 "Blowback" episode from the car garage chase, Deftones "Change" from s3 "Hourglass", "I like the way" from s5 "Solo", and so many more! The music from the pilot was awesome too, I downloaded "Under the Gun" from iTunes just because of that. Also, you can't beat "God Put a Smile Upon Your Face" from s2 "Doublt Agent", that song is so freakin sexy from that scene! I could list many more but I won't, fun fun topic though. :)
Wow, Slingshot wrote a novel. Are you going to finish the sound tracks for me?
I also love, love, love Ray Lamontagne "Shelter You" in 4.16 when Vaughn is rogue and Sydney is scrubbing the sink.
Jenn, I so agree with "All I need to Get By." I go back and watch that scene just for the music. it's perfect and it's so typical Vaughn and Syd. That scene I think also shows how close they were in real life. I feel like that is something Vartan and Jen would have done. It's very easy going and the music just adds to it.
Jenn- I love taking suggestions and this was a good one! I have been meaning to write about the music but there is so much to say about it that it's hard to do it justice. I think Alias is one of the first shows, aside from X-files, that really used music to tell a story. Shows like Cold Case and Reunion use music now, more for time period than anything. I love how Lost uses music too. The Mama's and The Papa's "Make Your Own Kind of Music" was playing in the hatch. I love that song!
I've noticed how great the music fits as well!
I have 3 personal favorites.
1) Season 1 : Pilot : Sinead O'Connor - "No Man's Woman"
Not only did the music perfectly fit the mood of what was happening, the lyrics also fit what Sydney is doing. She saw what needed to be done, and she did what needed to be done all by herself without any help. Strange this song is not listed on the ABC website for the pilot?
2) Season 1 : Ep 12 : Rob Zombie - "Dragula"
I am not a huge fan of Rob Zombie, as I find his music a little dark and shall we say, evil? However, this song fit perfectly McKenas Cole and his gang rushing through the back door of SD-6. Adrenaline powered, with a foregleam of the evil and dark deeds about to take place.
And of course, my absolute personal favorite!!!
3) Season 3 : Ep 19 : Deftones - "Change"
I had never heard this song before, and loved it instantly! But this song works on so many levels for what is happening. Sydney is stealing an artifact with guns going off everywhere, and Sloane is getting his "lethal" injection. The action on screen is perfectly timed with the slow and powerful rhythms of this song. I don't think it could have been done any better!
Hello Pauly. I agree! No Man's Woman, I totally forgot about that one! Jennifer Garner mentions on the commentary that it's her favorite song from Alias. I think she even posed for a pic with Annie Lennox once. I love that song!
I can't believe this hasn't been mentioned yet.
Let us never forget Charlie's rendition of "Have a Little Faith in Me". This is a rare case of the show providing the sound track as a part of the story.
Another case of that is when Syd sang for Sark and Kassenau... but I am forgetting the song title.
-R.
Oh I have JG singing on my copy of the soundtrack my sister made for me, it's called..."Since I Fell for You." Such a good song, and JG doesn't have such a bad voice either! I hear she loves to sing and dance. Good thing!
Damn, no one said "Be Still My Soul" the song playing at the funeral where Vaughn has to represent the CIA after Dixon accidently kills those agents. Vaughn hugs the little boy!!
GS - yes "Be Still My Soul" is so touching in that scene. Honestly we sung that one Sunday at church and I couldn't stop from getting tears in my eyes because all I could think about was that scene!! Queenmab I was also going to mention the "What Do I Have To Do" scene because that's such a fun song to go along with their cool spy tactics. :) That's awesome you guys agree w/ me on "Change", when I hear that on the radio I immediately feel like I'm walking in slo-mo and look supacool, hehe.
i want to LIST every song!!! my FAVORITE is 3.15 "all my life"
i mentioned before that my husband made me Alias CDs for each season with all the songs....i listened to them incessantly while training for a marathon and it totally kept me occupied thinking about the show while running and even during the marathon - i pictured syd training and running and just remembered all the key moments where these songs were playing...i LOVE ALIAS MUSIC!!!!!
my ring tone is the alias theme song by the way - i LOVE it!
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i want to ask if anybody knows the song that is played in season 4 episode 2 when nadia is going to save sydney fron kazu tamazaki and she walks into the slaughter house and she puts on her lipstick in order to kiss some guy and leave him unconsious . i really need to find it ....
Everywhere I find lists Kate Bush- A womens work as the song from S1 Ep2 where Syd rushes home and puts on her engagement ring then is in the bathtub, I don't know if somehow it ended up different on the DVD, but that is not the song playing at that part. I have been searching for the actual song and have tried googling the lyrics "Where do I go when it's all over, where do I start when it all goes to the dogs, I'm not bitter, I'm just trying to recover, from my island of lonliness" but no luck :( and it's such a beautiful song
One of the reasons I loved the show was the music in the pilot. Here Comes the Flood by Peter Gabriel and Give You Back by Vertical Horizon. I just watched the episode on Amazon Instant Video and they had changed those two songs! Does anyone know why?
Have to say completely surprised that no one mentioned My Skin by Natalie Merchant from season 1 finale Almost Thirty Years. It plays during the scene where Sloane tells Emily the truth. Amy Irvine was stunning during this scene......
Rara Avis, it's "Island of Loneliness" by Rie Sinclair!
Robetron, the song is called "Since I Fell For You". I have yet to find a high quality song though.
Was wondering if anyone would mention that one.its been decades since I heard that song!Loved the guitar licks,fabulous funky for straight-as-an-arrow, expensive-suits Jack playing like a Down-with- it Mr.Fixit Man. And I remember the first time I saw JenG cry on this series...so real, so painful. touched my hidden deep wounds. She really was amazing.And the couple of times Vaughan just stood and watched her "do her thing". I think he thought he was going steady with Wonder Woman.geeeeeeeeeeezze!
My brain is a sieve these days.anybody recall the so famous jazz singer who had a giant hit w this song years ago?
With "Since I Fell for You"...his scatting was so great with the sax.
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