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xie_xie_xie (xie_xie_xie) wrote in qaf_music,
@ 2009-01-19 12:22:00

Poll: Season Finales
I was thinking about the incredible impact of the music in the 122 final scene the other day, and it has inspired me to poll.

Poll #3047 Season finales
Open to: All, results viewable to: All

The season finale song that had the most emotional impact on the drama was:

View Answers

122: Parce mihi domine by Jan Garbarek & The Hilliard Ensemble
13 (68.4%)

220: Human Behaviour (The Underworld Mix) by Bjork
1 (5.3%)

314: True Faith by New Order
1 (5.3%)

414: Somewhere Over The Rainbow by Me First and the Gimme Gimmes
0 (0.0%)

513: Proud 2005 (Peter Presta QAF Finale Mix) by Heather Small
4 (21.1%)

The season final song that is my personal favorite, regardless of its dramatic impact on the show:

View Answers

122: Parce mihi domine by Jan Garbarek & The Hilliard Ensemble
1 (5.3%)

220: Human Behaviour (The Underworld Mix) by Bjork
0 (0.0%)

314: True Faith by New Order
9 (47.4%)

414: Somewhere Over The Rainbow by Me First and the Gimme Gimmes
3 (15.8%)

513: Proud 2005 (Peter Presta QAF Finale Mix) by Heather Small
6 (31.6%)

The songs from the season finales that I simply like because I like the songs for themselves:

View Answers

122: Parce mihi domine by Jan Garbarek & The Hilliard Ensemble
5 (26.3%)

220: Human Behaviour (The Underworld Mix) by Bjork
8 (42.1%)

314: True Faith by New Order
16 (84.2%)

414: Somewhere Over The Rainbow by Me First and the Gimme Gimmes
7 (36.8%)

513: Proud 2005 (Peter Presta QAF Finale Mix) by Heather Small
14 (73.7%)

The songs from the season finales I like because of how they make me feel about the show, because they remind me of it, because they give me a warm show-related feeling, etc.

View Answers

122: Parce mihi domine by Jan Garbarek & The Hilliard Ensemble
11 (57.9%)

220: Human Behaviour (The Underworld Mix) by Bjork
8 (42.1%)

314: True Faith by New Order
16 (84.2%)

414: Somewhere Over The Rainbow by Me First and the Gimme Gimmes
9 (47.4%)

513: Proud 2005 (Peter Presta QAF Finale Mix) by Heather Small
17 (89.5%)

Please also comment below if you feel there are any other songs used earlier in each of the season finales that have a huge dramatic impact on the episode. There is a complete list of the songs on the wonderful website of the Princess of Babylon if you've forgotten what song is in which episode.

And please stick to the season finales for this discussion... we'll get to other episodes later! Plans: I haz 'em!

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noteverything
2009-01-19 03:04 pm UTC (link)

I'm a big fan of parallels, coming full circle and all that jazz, so like Proud in 101 and 513, I am partial to Sleep by The Dandy Warhols for the same reason. (I think it's actually in 102, but many of us see 101 and 102 as one.)
I like that nod to the past, an acknowledgement of sorts, reminding us just how far the characters have come since the beginning.
That sounds kind of cheesy when I type it out, but that's why I like it.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

	ex_4cupcakes771 2009-01-19 03:42 pm UTC (link)
	Not cheesy at all. I picked Proud too, for the exact same reason...and the weepy mess it still makes me when I hear it...I guess it has a dramatic impact on me too. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	_alicesprings 2009-01-19 04:49 pm UTC (link)
	Yep, Sleep by the Dandy Warhols. QaF has the BEST music of any of my fave shows. I love so many songs I hadn't heard before they were on QaF, and now they're inextricably linked. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	vl_redreign 2009-01-19 07:02 pm UTC (link)
	Me too. I have three show soundtracks, and 4 Crystal Method cd's due to this show. (Reply to this) (Parent)

ex_4cupcakes771
2009-01-19 03:05 pm UTC (link)

WOW! What a great poll! I had a really hard time narrowing the first two down, but in the end I picked 513, because I loved the full circle aspect of using Proud in the first and the last episode--and even to this day, when I crank up the Peter Presta Finale mix version in the car, I can get myself sobbing in all of about 15 seconds.

For the second & third questions, I had to pick True Faith, because when Substance came out in 1987, my best friend was in love with that song and he played it constantly. Also, I spent that next summer in Chapel Hill, NC before my senior year of high school and that album was on everyone's stereo; so in addition to being a beloved 314 finale song, it holds a lot of nostalgia for me in other ways.

Other season finale songs that I think dramatically impacted their respective eps in particular for me:

S1...of course, Save the Last Dance for Me by Ben E. King and the Drifters (the song Brian and Justin dance to at the prom)...what hasn't been said about the perfection of those moments. I don't think I can do it justice. Love, rhythm, music, adoration, everything...What QAF lover doesn't hear that song now and think of Justin's prom?

S3
Another impactful song/scene combination for me was in 314 as Ted's checking himself into rehab while The Chemical Brothers/Beth Orton song Where Do I Begin is played in the background. For me, this is one of the most genius moments of film/music I have ever seen. I'm not sure what the technical term for that is...but it's just brilliant.

I can't wait to hear what others have to say about the music in the seaon finales. I think one of the greatest contributions that the music editors of QAF gave to us has been the introduction of so much great music. Their use of music was clever, purposeful, and almost always intelligent and thoughtful (I can only think of a couple of times/song choices with which I disagree!)....

(Reply to this) (Thread)

	xie_xie_xie 2009-01-19 03:19 pm UTC (link)
	Your vote is not showing up! Did you vote? I agree on the Chem Bros/Beth Orton song... genius! Save the Last Dance for Me is HUGELY evocative, but I don't really think the song itself sheds any light on that scene. But it makes me think of the prom, absolutely. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	ex_4cupcakes771 2009-01-19 03:32 pm UTC (link)
	I did vote....Hmm...Maybe I didn't click vote, just comment. Yeah....I'm probably confusing *makes me a weepy, sobbing mess 'cause I know what's going to happen in 5 minutes" for dramatic impact..." LOL...I'm going to vote again... (Reply to this) (Parent)

	testdog65 2009-01-19 04:12 pm UTC (link)
	Their use of music was clever, purposeful, and almost always intelligent and thoughtful Absolutely. I often find that paying attention to the music used in a particular scene gives me better insight into what's really going on. ~Ellen (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	ex_4cupcakes771 2009-01-19 07:04 pm UTC (link)
	I totally agree. (I can really only think of one choice off the top of my head that didn't work for me: the second use of Straight to Number One anyone??) (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	testdog65 2009-01-19 07:27 pm UTC (link)
	the second use of Straight to Number One anyone?? LOL Yeah, I really, truly didn't like the parallel use of that song. cringes ~Ellen (Reply to this) (Parent)

outlander
2009-01-19 03:49 pm UTC (link)

Accck! This was too flippin hard.
The music is such an integral part of the show for me, I don't know if I actually have feelings about these songs separate from the show anymore. They no longer exist individually in my world. Because of that, I can't help but LOVE all of them.
*scratches head*

I remember hearing Parce mihi domine at a mall once. Yes a mall. I couldn't place where I knew it from, I was just horribly uncomfortable all of the sudden. It wasn't until quite sometime later I remembered where I knew the song from.

I have to think more about other songs...I will be back.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

	xie_xie_xie 2009-01-19 04:06 pm UTC (link)
	Songs that knew VERY well prior to the show still stand alone for me, but others, even those I was already familiar with, are harder to look at for themselves anymore. And those songs I never heard before QAF? Inextricably connected. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	outlander 2009-01-19 04:17 pm UTC (link)
	For example, True Faith? Came out when I was in college. Loved it. Heard it at clubs, parties, it's a throwback to my mispent youth. But now when I first hear it, does it remind me of college anymore? Nope. Brain goes straight to partying in the street. ROTF. (Reply to this) (Parent)

testdog65
2009-01-19 04:09 pm UTC (link)

I had to pick Parce mihi domine for the first one, largely because that scene has the most emotional impact on me, regardless of the music. I'm not sure I can separate the effect of the song from the overall effect of the scene.

True Faith has always been a personal favorite, but I find it interesting that songs that I liked waaay before I ever heard them on QAF have now become so closely associated specifically with QAF whenever I hear them.

Cool poll!

~Ellen

(Reply to this) (Thread)

	xie_xie_xie 2009-01-19 07:30 pm UTC (link)
	Yes, a few songs have lost all independent existence for me, too! (Reply to this) (Parent)

vl_redreign
2009-01-19 07:10 pm UTC (link)

I picked True Faith for every question except the first, because that song just...god, tears flowing for sure.

Where Do I Begin is a perfect song, and fit that solemn moment where the voting line stretches down the block to Ted walking down the hallway. It signifies change and determination.

Proud, of course, takes us full circle from 101, and is, for all intents and purposes, Brian and Michael's song. They were together when we first heard it, and together when we last heard it. The interesting thing was in 101, Brian is alone at first, then Michael walks up. And in 513, they start off together, then they kiss and Michael leaves him alone, standing taller, stronger, and wiser.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

	xie_xie_xie 2009-01-19 07:29 pm UTC (link)
	Yes, love what you said about "Proud"!!!! I hadn't seen that before! (Reply to this) (Parent)

starinthesky
2009-01-19 07:14 pm UTC (link)

Wow, that was kinda difficult. 'Parce mihi domine' is by far the song that affects me emotionally. I can't listen to it without it making me sad. I always have a visceral reaction to it and it's tied completely to that ending and the total shock I felt when I first saw it.

Of course other songs from the season finales that I adore are:

S1- 'Save the last Dance For Me' by The Drifters - This song needs absolutely no explanation :D

S3- 'Where Do I Begin' by the Chemical Brothers w/Beth Orton - Such a perfect song for the scene, and for the point at which Ted is at. I already really liked it as I'm a Chemical Brothers fan, but the impact of it along with the soft to sharp focus and overwhelming green of the shots makes the scene disorienting and perfect.

S5- 'Sleep' by the Dandy Warhols - I love the full circleness of Sleep as others have mentioned.
'Ambition' by the Doves - It breaks my heart, but at the same time I find the meaning of the lyrics within the scene to be partly ambiguous and open ended as to Brian and Justin's future. Plus it's just a beautiful song :)

(Reply to this) (Thread)

	xie_xie_xie 2009-01-19 07:28 pm UTC (link)
	I agree with all your comments... I have never quite been able to wrap my brain around the lyrics of "Ambition" as being particularly relevant to the arc. More the SOUND of the music. Can you explain a bit more how you see that? (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

starinthesky
2009-01-19 08:41 pm UTC (link)

I suppose my take on the lyrics has a lot to do with the NY separation being because of Justin's desire to make something of his art, whether or not that's fueled by him or others telling him that he should. So really it's about both his ambitions and those of the others around him, which impact on his and Brian's realationship, seen in the lyric Our ambition cuts you down.

I also the the lyrics -
Ain't a love that's perfect
But I, I live in hope

These lines, for me at least, really sum up their whole relationship. It's a bit cynical on my part but to me it acknowledges that their love isn't perfect and that no love is or can be. It says that there are ups and downs, but that there's still hope that they will reach that perfect love one day anyway and keep trying and will be together.

Does that make sense? I have a hard time articulating this perhaps because it might just be my crazy mind trying to inject meaning where there isn't! But truly I believe that despite the vaguely depressing lyrics that it's ultimately hopeful if a bit ambiguous.

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flamencanyc
2009-01-20 10:29 pm UTC (link)

The season finale song that had the most emotional impact on the drama was...

I said Proud because without it the scene would have felt completely different.

Parce mihi domine was the most powerful in its scene, but the scene itself would have been nearly as powerful in silence as well.

And for question #2, those two really are tied for my top response.

I like all five of the songs in context, but I'm not inherently in love with this version of Over the Rainbow.

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