THE MUSIC OF BEING HUMAN: THE VAMPIRES STRIKE BACK
New to BH? Watch out, this post contains spoilers from series one...
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This week Colin Teague, the director of episodes 5 & 6, is here to explain how he and composer Richard Wells chose the music for Mitchell's return to the vampires in episode five...
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It's the score we should be talking about rather than the music tracks for Episode 5...Ìý My editor Mike Hopkins and I laid down over 30mins of temporary tracks and score as a guide, then once the picture was locked sat down with composer Richard Wells for a spotting session.Ìý Richard understood we wanted to create a driving beat/force behind the score, and a sense of unnerving dread and anxiety as it progressed to its conclusion.
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There are a couple of themes worth mentioning.Ìý The opening title sequence with the acoustic guitar works extremely well with the montage of visuals and George voiceover.Ìý The Vampire's theme which we use a couple of times in the episode but which I think works brilliantly going from Annie & George seated on the sofa with the line 'not everything about being human is nice...' to the exterior of the hospital to find Mitchell waiting for Herrick and continues into the lift and Herrick's 'chosen' speech.Ìý Finally the Lauren death theme which I wanted BIG and dramatic and building up into a cacophony of noise and which Richard utterly delivered and I loved from the moment I first heard it.
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Around the score a few tracks were incorporated to help with transitions from scene to scene.Ìý I particularly love the Ivor Novello track Love is My Reason, which we use after the big Lauren death sequence.Ìý It cuts through the exterior house visual and then we reveal Mitchell seated in close up smoking.Ìý I figured since Mitchell had been around for over one hundred years he'd have a pretty wide repertoire for music and its such a personal track '...find a reason for living..' it cements his love and loss for Lauren.Ìý Followed immediately by the kick arse contemporary 'Scissor Sister's' track Comfortably NumbÌýto again change pace as Owen arrives at the house in a rather cocky manor.
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The Franz Ferdinand track Take Me Out, used for when Annie visits Owen's house, was actually the first one we tried for the montage sequence and it just kind of fitted perfectly.Ìý Finally the funeral directors background music is a personal favorite, Spirit of the Living God.Ìý Its cheesy and we use two tracks from the album, firstly when Mitchell chats to Seth and then when Seth, George and Annie have a fight.Ìý The idea being that although the funeral parlour is a front, the vampires have thought about the kind of music one might hear if you walked into a real funeral directors.... it's all about the detail...
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Smiles,
CT x
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EpisodeÌý5
Track & Artist
Love is My Reason - Ivor Novello
Use Somebody - Kings of
Comfortably Numb - Scissor Sisters
Open House - The
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Comment number 1.
At 27th Feb 2009, Shell wrote:Excellent stuff as usual. I need to watch this episode again though and really pay attention to the music this time.
Really cleverly done - I hadn't picked up on the background music at the funeral parlour!
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Comment number 2.
At 27th Feb 2009, clhimswo wrote:I loved the part with the Franz Ferdinand track, it fit really well with the scene. As usual a great job with the music.
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Comment number 3.
At 27th Feb 2009, BeingHumanFan84 wrote:Great as usual :-) I think ive used up all the compliments in my vocabulary already lol im going to have to swallow a dictionary ready for tomorrow night i think im in no doubt it will be amazing!
I maybe just be being daft now though but where is the kings of leon track in the show? have i gone deaf i dont remember it and ive watched the show ooh about 30 times now lol
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Comment number 4.
At 27th Feb 2009, Captain_lololololawl wrote:The Kings of Leon track is within the second minute of the episode.
When Annie and George are talking about jam :).
So yay ;D
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Comment number 5.
At 28th Feb 2009, joonscribble wrote:I must say, both the music and direction during Lauren's death scene was amazing. Having not always liked her character, I was surprised by how affected I was when she finally expired.
Superb music and direction! It was absolutely gorgeous, sad, and epic in feeling.
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Comment number 6.
At 28th Feb 2009, BeingHumanFan84 wrote:So it is lol i whacked the speakers up and listened very closely and just heard it - im a bit deaf lol damn i like that song when i read it i hoped id somehow missed it and it had quite a big part lol oh well :-)
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Comment number 7.
At 28th Feb 2009, bumpkin wrote:joonscribble, I second that.
Just watched it again and thought the original music was brilliant again [gold star, Mr Wells], especially noticed it for Lauren's death and Owen's descent into madness.
I actually can't stand the scissor sisters but loved the use of their track in this.
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Comment number 8.
At 28th Feb 2009, tartanpaint wrote:the music at lauren's death was fantastic, and Ivor Novello when Mitchell was sitting was well placed and a good sign of his age.
Well done again!
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Comment number 9.
At 28th Feb 2009, Lionesskeeper wrote:Is there going to be a release of the soundtrack any time soon
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Comment number 10.
At 1st Mar 2009, Anna Fruen wrote:The soundtrack is one of the things that really struck me as being special, even from the early episodes. Let us know if they release it!
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Comment number 11.
At 9th Mar 2009, bexter2001 wrote:um, what about johnny cash's hurt??
That was the best choice of the lot!!
The tone of the song and every one of the lyrics was just perfectly suited...
It was like Mitchell's life story and feelings in one song.
I tear up just hearing it in my head...
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what have I become?
my sweetest friend
everyone I know
goes away in the end
and you could have it all
my empire of dirt
I will let you down
I will make you hurt
if I could start again
a million miles away
I would keep myself
I would find a way
....amazing.
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Comment number 12.
At 10th Mar 2009, bexter2001 wrote:yes, don't worry, have now realised i'm an idiot and Hurt was used in episode ONE.
Still an amazing choice..
i'll shut up now.
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