Headline: 'Yellowjackets' Show Delights Audiences with a '90s Music Revival
The riveting Showtime series, 'Yellowjackets', has a knack for delivering unexpected treats, with its musical choices taking the spotlight this season. The storyline oscillates between a group of teenage soccer players marooned in the 1990s Canadian wilderness following a plane accident and their grown-up counterparts in the present day. The series brilliantly weaves in iconic '90s music, featuring hits from artists like Tori Amos, early Smashing Pumpkins, Massive Attack, and Veruca Salt, among others.
The latest episode saw the debut of a new version of the show's theme song, "No Return", by the alt-rock icon Alanis Morissette, which has been released as a single. One of the most unexpected and successful uses of nostalgic music was in the first episode of the second season, where a scene featured Jeff, played by Warren Kole, jamming to Papa Roach's "Last Resort" after a passionate encounter with his wife Shauna, portrayed by Melanie Lynskey.
The show's music supervisor, Nora Felder, shared that the choice of the Papa Roach song was scripted, providing the ideal release for Warren, who was grappling with intense emotions alone in his garage. Felder embraces the challenge of choosing the right songs to match key moments in the script, aiming to stay true to the story and its needs.
One such instance was the inclusion of Amos's iconic song "Cornflake Girl" from her revolutionary 1994 album "Under the Pink". Felder believed the lyrics served as a fitting backdrop for the ending of the first episode, reflecting not only the mindset of young Shauna, but also the past and present experiences of the other 'Yellowjackets' characters.
Felder's role is not without its challenges, with the song selection for particular scenes often changing due to technical reasons or evolving scene requirements. The goal is always to select the best possible song to enhance the narrative. The collaborative process doesn't have a precise roadmap, but according to Felder, the picture will guide you to what it needs.
A notable moment where music and scene blend seamlessly is the infamous 'last supper' scene from the second episode, which features Radiohead's "Climbing By The Walls" from their groundbreaking 1995 album "OK Computer". Felder believes the song perfectly underscores the eerie scene where the group experiences collective hallucinations while cannibalizing a member.
The significance of music to the unique atmosphere of 'Yellowjackets' is further underscored in the second season's chilling trailer, which features Florence + The Machine's spine-tingling rendition of No Doubt's timeless 1995 hit, "Just A Girl". Florence Welch, the band's lead vocalist, expressed her excitement at being asked to reinterpret the iconic song in a 'deeply unsettling' way for the show.
Alanis Morissette also expressed her enthusiasm for collaborating with 'Yellowjackets'. She cited the parallels between the show's raw intensity and her approach to songwriting. According to her, the show allows each character, especially the female ones, to be dynamic and complex, which aligns with her career-long goal of supporting women's empowerment and viewing the world through the female lens.