03/19/2007
Mix Disc Monday Home / Music Home / Bullz-Eye Home
The following is a comprehensive summary of the music in Anderson’s films and is the second of a two-part series. Be sure to check out Part One as well as our Wes Anderson entertainer page, which contains a description of each of his movies and other interesting facts about his career.
If you remember, Part One ended with Nico’s haunting vocals (in "These Days") as Richie sees his stepsister (and secret love), Margo, for the first time in many moons. The scene certainly kicks the film into another gear, but the young couple is unaware that there are some dark times ahead.
Disc Two (caution: spoilers ahead)
The Royal Tenenbaums (Continued)
"Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard,"
Paul Simon
This song plays as Royal (Gene Hackman) takes
his grandsons out on the town to commit minor acts
of mischief. Simon’s upbeat acoustic guitar lends
a whimsical, playful feel to the montage.
"Judy is a Punk," The Ramones
Raleigh (Bill Murray) and Richie (Luke Wilson)
examine the private investigator’s report on Margo
(Gwyneth Paltrow). The rebellious song plays during
a montage of Margo’s past affairs, before and after
she was married to Raleigh. His response to the
news is classic: "She smokes."
"Needle in the Hay," Elliott Smith
The news of Margo’s affair with Eli (Owen Wilson)
sends Richie into a tailspin. This haunting track
plays as he cuts his hair and shaves his beard
before attempting to commit suicide. Smith sings
over a subtle guitar, which adds to the intensity
of the scene.
"Fly," Nick Drake
This uplifting song signifies the beginning of
Richie’s rebirth. It plays as he leaves the hospital
and heads home on the Green Line bus. It leads
into a very important scene with Margo.
"She Smiled Sweetly," The Rolling Stones (Between
the Buttons)
Even though the Stones don’t allow their music
to appear on soundtracks, Anderson decided to use
two of their songs back-to-back in the crucial
tent scene. "She Smiled Sweetly" plays as Richie
shows Margo his wounds and the two go on to talk
about Margo’s romantic past. The pretty song continues
as they declare their love for each other and share
a passionate kiss.
"Ruby Tuesday," The Rolling Stones (Flowers)
After shedding a few tears, Margo leaves the tent,
but stops to say, "I think we’re just going to
have to be secretly in love with each other and
leave it at that, Richie." As the tent flap closes,
the song’s chorus – "Goodbye, ruby Tuesday
/ Who could hang a name on you? / When you change
with every new day / Still I’m gonna miss you" –
explodes in volume, punctuating the moment.
"Stephanie Says," Velvet Underground
Richie seeks out Royal at the hotel and the two
go up to the roof to talk about Margo. This quiet
track plays at the tail end of their conversation,
and in a moment of unmistakable symbolism, Richie’s
falcon Mordecai flies in.
"The Fairest of the Seasons," Nico
This gorgeous song (like the Disc One Nico track
"These Days," this was also written by Jackson
Browne) starts just after Margo and Richie share
a smoke on the roof. Alec Baldwin provides a "where
are they now?" voiceover summary for all the main
characters in the film. Nico’s haunting voice is
a fitting backdrop for the news of Royal’s death.
"Everyone," Van Morrison (Moondance)
At
the funeral, this bittersweet track begins just
as we read the epitaph on Royal’s tombstone: "Died
tragically rescuing his family from the wreckage
of a destroyed sinking battleship." The moment
is a perfect example of the kind of emotional texture
that Anderson is able to create with image and
sound.
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
The soundtrack features a number of David Bowie
songs sung in Portugese by Seu Jorge, but this
list will focus on the tracks sung in English.
"Life on Mars?," David Bowie
This track plays just as Steve (Murray)
meets Ned (Owen Wilson) for the first time. After
Ned explains that he might be Steve’s son, the quiet song
explodes as Steve walks off to digest the news. Bowie’s
vocals mirror the desperation that Steve must be
feeling at the time.
"Gut Feeling," Devo
This track plays as the crew prepares for their
mission to find the jaguar shark. It features a
terrific extended intro before the vocals begin
at the two-minute mark. Anderson probably didn’t
have any trouble getting permission to use the
song: Mark Mothersbaugh was a member of Devo and
has scored all of Anderson’s films.
"Search and Destroy," Iggy & the Stooges
After pirates raid Steve’s ship, he fights them
off as this song plays in the background. It’s
a punk song with a hard edge, and its quick tempo
raises the intensity of the scene.
"30 Century Man," Scott Walker
This song is simply Walker and an acoustic guitar.
His voice is powerful, which underlies the tension
as Team Zissou prepares to hunt the shark. They
know it’s nearby, now they just need to find it.
"The Way I Feel Inside," The Zombies
This track plays during Ned’s funeral. It’s sung
a cappella at the start, but a quiet organ comes
in a bit later. It’s a sad song for the film’s
saddest moment.
"Queen Bitch," David Bowie
Steve’s documentary about the jaguar shark turns
out to be a hit, and this track serves as an audible
celebration. Bowie’s music is present throughout
the film in both English and Portuguese, so it’s
only fitting that one of his songs is used as the
closer.