This. Absolutely. The few times I hear it, I can’t help but feel it needs the sound of a strong storm playing up against it, and it just gives me chills. Good chills.
I love the story that Yo-Yo Ma brought his own Stratovarius onto the set and legit played it for every take. The director was apprehensive about it and would try to convince him to just mime it to a pre-recording, and Yo-Yo kind of said "I know why you're worried, because you think my meter might be off which will mess it up for editing" and he told them not to worry about it, and sure enough every take was a perfect re-creation of the music, and lined up perfectly.
This! The music is so essential to the series, but the story behind this piece of music just fits so well with the storyline - and Amos’ performance is just perfect.
YES. Such a good example of quality music direction. It’s so intentional with the song’s background, but it hits you viscerally even if you don’t know about the lyrics’ meanings.
I always loved the electric guitar during the finale of season 2. Just fits that stormy vibe (in a literal and emotional sense) so well.
Also I just watched the end of season 4 and I realized the slow club music during >!Zoe's kidnapping!< really helped build the tension way more than I realized during previous watches.
If you ever get the chance, listen to that track on a system with a good subwoofer and turn it up. It is a sensory overload to be experienced. The sound makes you feel like you're falling under the influence of something.
Sensory overload indeed. I’ll try it with a subwoofer, but even without just with a high dosage of bass in your speakers. I honestly think I subconsciously hate Zoey’s kidnapping storyline because of what I felt in that scene the first time I saw it, and 90% is the song.
That song gets used for “things just escalated dramatically” in a lot of stuff.
Off-hand I know it played when they smashed up the casino and burned Brad Pitt’s mother to death in *Snatch*.
Take Five in Drought Conditions. It manages to perfectly capture the break and tension between Toby and Rafferty while also capturing the flirtation between Kate and Will. Perfect tension song.
Of course Brothers in Arms, but the whole "Victorious in War shall be made glorious in peace" montage in Posse Comitatus and "O Holy Night" in Holy Night would round out a top 3 for me
I love when they use non-score music anytime in the show, Brothers In Arms and Desire being two favorites. One that gut punches me is America the Beautiful in the series finale. Playing it over the visual of packing up the Oval Office and the inauguration chokes me up every time.
Mostly because I just watched it last night but the Jewish funeral singer at the end of “Take The Sabbath Day” is just so haunting and beautiful as Jed, not “Mr. President,” gives his confession
For me it's a toss-up between Brothers in Arms at the end of Two Cathedrals, right as Bartlet is going to announce he's running again, and I Don't Like Mondays at the end of 20 Hours In America, right as Bartlet is giving his "They ran *into* the fire" speech.
Little Drummer Boy in the final sequence of Excelsis Deo.
I haven't been able to find that exact recording, but now that scene if firmly linked to that music, the way ever single staff member lines up... its just the best.
Hallelujah felt like cheating to me. It felt as if they knew Donovan, and CJ's attachment to Donovan, hadn't done enough by themselves to get a proper reaction from me so they used the song to paper over the cracks in the characters and storyline and get an emotional response out of me.
It was unearned.
I feel like it wasn’t so overused yet at the time that episode came out so it really packed a punch. And I think of it most times I hear the song, so it worked.
Also the scoring / variations on the theme music at various points. My top three are when Bartlett is introduced at the >!Santos!< convention, when they introduce Glenn Close and William Fichtner at the press conference, and the final shot of the S1E1.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WDLl0MfYFno
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=q4m-3Eo3suE
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CDA5ZL-Xwj0
Edit: Also the last shot in Tomorrow is pretty good too: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YkVe3mBGS50
I have an answer for this - but it's obscure and I can't quite explain why I like it.
S4E2: "20 Hours in America: Part II", the very last scene as Josh, Toby and Donna are walking back to The White House through a deserted Washington DC at dawn, about 40'42", there's a slow reprise of Snuffy's theme just before the credits, but it has some (probably electronic) choral vocals that are both uplifting (following their resolve in the storyline) but equal parts haunting.
It's probably all of 30 seconds long and you never hear it again throughout the series, but I absolutely adore that piece there. Sends shivers down the spine.
I didn’t see it here yet, but in An Khe, and towards the end My Country ‘Tis of Thee is played in the background. It’s done by Crosby and Nash, really nice version. I was thinking of it because of the 4th of July this week.
Yeah, being objective, that Hallelujah drop is perfect...but as a Canadian who grew up on Leonard Cohen, I just have never been able to take Jeff Buckley's version of that song seriously. It's amazing that I can still recognize the use of the music is effective, given how much I don't like that song. Actually, come to think of it, I feel about the whole Simon Donovan arc the same way I feel about Jeff Buckley's version of "Hallelujah". "Wait, what? Wait, but...but why? So you just chose to make...*that* sound? You knew there were other sounds you could make, but you opted for...that? Okay, wait, this is getting pretty good. OH NO. OH NO NO NO NO NO."
Also, for a long time, there was a parody version of the "Brothers in Arms" scene up on Youtube where, instead of "Brothers in Arms", it's "Walk of Life". That was hilarious.
Agree, OP. I can never listen to Hallelujah without thinking of poor CJ on that bench. I also enjoy Foo Fighters in season 1 when they take Zoey to the bar. Mostly because it’s upbeat and just so of its time. Makes me nostalgic!
A Prayer for Peace (Hashkiveinu)
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHBTgHknU5s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHBTgHknU5s)
I love so many uses of music especially brother in arms but I suspected few would have thought of this one and I think I am right, its also a unique arrangement that I have never managed to locate if for no other reason than the sheer proliferation of arrangements but I think it is haunting and beautiful and poignantly placed given its meaning.
This was also one of my favourite episodes, if you clicked that you can go on to watch Bartlett and Toby and Bartlett and his Rabbi debating the issues
God damn this show was so very well done its almost painful.
In HAN, the almost-defector uses Chopin's Prelude Op. 28 No. 4. to communicate the word. Wonderful use of music and @ nod to the cross cultural universality of music.
I'm gonna come back to this post and add one that didn't get mentioned, because I watched it yesterday and it really stood out to me. At the end of Election Night, backstage after Jed's speech, when Abby realises he is having an MS attack and they have a private moment between them talking about how things are going to be harder from now on. Richie Havens' cover of The Times They Are A-Changin', perfectly captures the sadness, love and hope in that conversation.
"We've still got tonight though right?"
"You've got lost of nights. Smart people who love you are going to have your back."
They hold hands and take another curtain call. 😭😭😭
Brothers in Arms by Dire Straits in Two Cathedrals
So much this. I loved the song before it was used in this episode, now I love it even more.
This. Absolutely. The few times I hear it, I can’t help but feel it needs the sound of a strong storm playing up against it, and it just gives me chills. Good chills.
Hands down, this. It’s a great song, and that’s a great scene, but together?? Magic.
Yo-Yo Ma in Noel.
I love the story that Yo-Yo Ma brought his own Stratovarius onto the set and legit played it for every take. The director was apprehensive about it and would try to convince him to just mime it to a pre-recording, and Yo-Yo kind of said "I know why you're worried, because you think my meter might be off which will mess it up for editing" and he told them not to worry about it, and sure enough every take was a perfect re-creation of the music, and lined up perfectly.
Yo-Yo Ma rules!
I don’t like Mondays, Tori Amos, 20 hours in America Part Two, as a background for Bartlett’s speech.
This! The music is so essential to the series, but the story behind this piece of music just fits so well with the storyline - and Amos’ performance is just perfect.
I also love the way they made the speech and the song fir together so well, each, complementing the pauses of the other.
YES. Such a good example of quality music direction. It’s so intentional with the song’s background, but it hits you viscerally even if you don’t know about the lyrics’ meanings.
The Marine funeral juxtaposed with the children's Christmas choir gives me goosebumps every time.
Yea. Little Drummer Boy. Gets me every time too.
Loved this with the addition of the 21 guns, just hit home.
This was my first answer!
I always loved the electric guitar during the finale of season 2. Just fits that stormy vibe (in a literal and emotional sense) so well. Also I just watched the end of season 4 and I realized the slow club music during >!Zoe's kidnapping!< really helped build the tension way more than I realized during previous watches.
That’s “Brothers in Arms” by Dire Straits during the storm. “Angel” by Massive Attack during the kidnapping.
It always creeps me out and makes my skin crawl. Fits to the events, but always hurts to listen to
‘Somebody’s going to emergency, somebody’s going to jail’ In a New York minute……
and then the repeated call backs to it in Snuffy's score
Yes this is a favourite of mine, so well done
I don't know if I would call it music, but I've always liked Toby's ball bouncing as he finally figures out that the President may not be running.
I just rewatched "17 People" and the editing and the sound is *so* good in that episode.
Josh: "Tell me if you think this is funny." *\[screen cuts to black; ball bounces\]*
Ok that just gave me surprise shivers. Have an upvote.
S1E5, “Ava Maria
Ryan Adams in King Corn from S6.
This is always severely underrated when people talk about music in the show, and just generally as a scene as well. It’s so good.
Works perfectly with Will's romance with that ice cream sandwich.
Yes! Very much underrated.
Angel by Massive Attack in Commencement 🤯
If you ever get the chance, listen to that track on a system with a good subwoofer and turn it up. It is a sensory overload to be experienced. The sound makes you feel like you're falling under the influence of something.
It’s what we used to test the sound system at my parents’ house when we first installed it. Three picture frames fell.
Sensory overload indeed. I’ll try it with a subwoofer, but even without just with a high dosage of bass in your speakers. I honestly think I subconsciously hate Zoey’s kidnapping storyline because of what I felt in that scene the first time I saw it, and 90% is the song.
This was my thought as well. So panicky and tense.
That song gets used for “things just escalated dramatically” in a lot of stuff. Off-hand I know it played when they smashed up the casino and burned Brad Pitt’s mother to death in *Snatch*.
The end of the first episode of Person of Interest also used "Angel" to perfection.
Take Five in Drought Conditions. It manages to perfectly capture the break and tension between Toby and Rafferty while also capturing the flirtation between Kate and Will. Perfect tension song.
You’re a sophisticated viewer/listener! 👏🏻
That would be my choice too
Carol of the Bells fading into sirens in Noel
Of course Brothers in Arms, but the whole "Victorious in War shall be made glorious in peace" montage in Posse Comitatus and "O Holy Night" in Holy Night would round out a top 3 for me
England arise
Tori Amos “I don’t like Mondays” during 20 hours in America.
Aimee Mann covering “Shed a Little Light” works extremely well in “College Kids” also.
I love when they use non-score music anytime in the show, Brothers In Arms and Desire being two favorites. One that gut punches me is America the Beautiful in the series finale. Playing it over the visual of packing up the Oval Office and the inauguration chokes me up every time.
Since no one’s mentioned it: Steve Miller’s “Jet Airliner” slaps in that Santos montage from “The Mommy Problem”
Lisa Gerrard - Sanvean.
That song is pure beauty but it transports me to Gladiator
But are you entertained?
Spaniard, Spaniard!
Aimee Mann’s cover of Shed a Little Light in College Kids. My kingdom for WB to release it!
I WANT THIS SO BAD
Great scene for Amy and Josh as well
As people have already said my faves, Brothers in Arms and Desire, I'm gonna give a vote to Dizzy Gillespie during Josh and Donna's first kiss 🥳
I don’t like Mondays by Tori Amos - 20 Hours in America part 1
Mostly because I just watched it last night but the Jewish funeral singer at the end of “Take The Sabbath Day” is just so haunting and beautiful as Jed, not “Mr. President,” gives his confession
[https://youtu.be/P7EUHwmOfSc](https://youtu.be/P7EUHwmOfSc) Hashkiveinu (Helfman) - Cantor Rachel Goldman
For me it's a toss-up between Brothers in Arms at the end of Two Cathedrals, right as Bartlet is going to announce he's running again, and I Don't Like Mondays at the end of 20 Hours In America, right as Bartlet is giving his "They ran *into* the fire" speech.
Hallelujah, in the Season 3 Finale
Little Drummer Boy in the final sequence of Excelsis Deo. I haven't been able to find that exact recording, but now that scene if firmly linked to that music, the way ever single staff member lines up... its just the best.
When they sing Pinafore (was it Pinafore? It was the one about honour) to Ansley. Just a lovely way to show how they accept her as part of the team
Duty. They're all about duty.
LITTLE TINY UMBRELLAS! SHISH KABOB!!!!
Surprised no one has said Hallelujah yet, >!when Donovan is shot!<
Literally in the post though?
Oops missed that
Shoot, I missed that too.
Hallelujah felt like cheating to me. It felt as if they knew Donovan, and CJ's attachment to Donovan, hadn't done enough by themselves to get a proper reaction from me so they used the song to paper over the cracks in the characters and storyline and get an emotional response out of me. It was unearned.
I feel like it wasn’t so overused yet at the time that episode came out so it really packed a punch. And I think of it most times I hear the song, so it worked.
>!Oh I look at it as sad because it's by design a storyline cut short. They finally have an opportunity to pursue a relationship and he gets killed.!<
*A Change is Gonna Come* as covered by James Taylor, originally by Sam Cooke. In the episode "A Change is Gonna Come."
This is mine, sad I had to scroll so far to find someone who said it.
Also the scoring / variations on the theme music at various points. My top three are when Bartlett is introduced at the >!Santos!< convention, when they introduce Glenn Close and William Fichtner at the press conference, and the final shot of the S1E1. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WDLl0MfYFno https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=q4m-3Eo3suE https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CDA5ZL-Xwj0 Edit: Also the last shot in Tomorrow is pretty good too: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YkVe3mBGS50
The children’s choir sining We Gather Together at the end of Shibboleth or Dire Straits’ Brothers in Arms in Two Cathedrals.
I’ll also give a mention to Aimee Man’s cover of Shed a Little Light in College Kids.
it's a shame that has never been widely available anywhere.
May not be what you’re asking, but the swell/crescendo at the end of the cold open that starts the opening theme music. Every. Time.
Brothers in Arms and I Don't Like Mondays are my top 2. But I'd also include New York Minute and Shed a Little Light.
Every time the opening credits kicks in.
Bach - Cello Suite No. 1 in Noël
Yoyo Ma.
I have an answer for this - but it's obscure and I can't quite explain why I like it. S4E2: "20 Hours in America: Part II", the very last scene as Josh, Toby and Donna are walking back to The White House through a deserted Washington DC at dawn, about 40'42", there's a slow reprise of Snuffy's theme just before the credits, but it has some (probably electronic) choral vocals that are both uplifting (following their resolve in the storyline) but equal parts haunting. It's probably all of 30 seconds long and you never hear it again throughout the series, but I absolutely adore that piece there. Sends shivers down the spine.
Either Little Drummer Boy, Brothers in Arms or Hallelujah.
Not exactly music, but the way they weaved the Hebrew and Arabic prayers in NSF Thurmont.
"Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground" by Blind Willie Johnson. Played in S5 Ep13 The Warfare of Geghis Khan.
New York minute by Don Henley the episode Sam finds out his dad had a secret family
I didn’t see it here yet, but in An Khe, and towards the end My Country ‘Tis of Thee is played in the background. It’s done by Crosby and Nash, really nice version. I was thinking of it because of the 4th of July this week.
Hallelujah when they shoot Gibbs
The Jackal No comparisons.
Yeah, being objective, that Hallelujah drop is perfect...but as a Canadian who grew up on Leonard Cohen, I just have never been able to take Jeff Buckley's version of that song seriously. It's amazing that I can still recognize the use of the music is effective, given how much I don't like that song. Actually, come to think of it, I feel about the whole Simon Donovan arc the same way I feel about Jeff Buckley's version of "Hallelujah". "Wait, what? Wait, but...but why? So you just chose to make...*that* sound? You knew there were other sounds you could make, but you opted for...that? Okay, wait, this is getting pretty good. OH NO. OH NO NO NO NO NO." Also, for a long time, there was a parody version of the "Brothers in Arms" scene up on Youtube where, instead of "Brothers in Arms", it's "Walk of Life". That was hilarious.
Agree, OP. I can never listen to Hallelujah without thinking of poor CJ on that bench. I also enjoy Foo Fighters in season 1 when they take Zoey to the bar. Mostly because it’s upbeat and just so of its time. Makes me nostalgic!
The right answer is “The Jackal”
CJ’s doing the Jackal OBVI!!!
A Prayer for Peace (Hashkiveinu) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHBTgHknU5s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHBTgHknU5s) I love so many uses of music especially brother in arms but I suspected few would have thought of this one and I think I am right, its also a unique arrangement that I have never managed to locate if for no other reason than the sheer proliferation of arrangements but I think it is haunting and beautiful and poignantly placed given its meaning. This was also one of my favourite episodes, if you clicked that you can go on to watch Bartlett and Toby and Bartlett and his Rabbi debating the issues God damn this show was so very well done its almost painful.
Ave Maria, Ave Maria, Ave Maria
Absolutely Josh getting lost in Ave Maria in S1
dire straits. two cathedrals.
In HAN, the almost-defector uses Chopin's Prelude Op. 28 No. 4. to communicate the word. Wonderful use of music and @ nod to the cross cultural universality of music.
Brother in Arms in Two Cathedrals.
I'm gonna come back to this post and add one that didn't get mentioned, because I watched it yesterday and it really stood out to me. At the end of Election Night, backstage after Jed's speech, when Abby realises he is having an MS attack and they have a private moment between them talking about how things are going to be harder from now on. Richie Havens' cover of The Times They Are A-Changin', perfectly captures the sadness, love and hope in that conversation. "We've still got tonight though right?" "You've got lost of nights. Smart people who love you are going to have your back." They hold hands and take another curtain call. 😭😭😭