I know a lot of folks like the songs that are played at the end of episodes. But, I don't.

Today, we had the repeat of Such Sweet Sorrow (Carol's last show) on TNT and the new episode. Both had a song that was used to "set the mood" of the final scene. Unfortunately, ER uses these songs not as background music but as the major sound. It has been used so many other times that it is now an ER hallmark.

Aside from the fact that the songs are so bad, (gimme a break, Don Henley?) they are now shouting at us that an important event is coming up - Lucy's murder, Carol's departure, Kerry's choice - to name recent major scenes. Not very subtle.

Then we get the questions, "What was that song?" Folks run out to buy the CD because of the exposure.

Funny how the three artists that I know offhand record on Warner Brothers (the aforementioned Don Henley, Beth Nielsen Chapman [Sand & Water] and Amanda Ghost [today]) and ER's production company is also Warner Brothers.

Bet you folks didn't think that you were listening to commercials for WB records!

-- Zorbo (RDomino1@aol.com), February 02, 2001

Answers

Response to Music

Hey! I don't think those songs are crappy, they are 'suiting' to the storyline. I have never heard them before - untill ER came to Australia and i'm yet to hear that silver lining song, but i trust and like TPTB's judgement. What do u think they are using those songs for, for fun? And just wondering, do you want tem to put on 'Slim Shady' or that craig david song, what is? Anyways, I don't go out and buy all the song on the show, only those i really like. The ER CD was however a must and i'm looking for a CD of 'Batle flag' for my friend and myself.

You know, i don't ONLY like ER, even though its my fav i like other shows and i like other songs besides those on ER like that Coyote Ugly song - Can't Fight the Moonlight.

-- Ritaann (er_aussie@hotmail.com), February 02, 2001.

Response to Music

Zorbo...I'm with you. I hate those schmaltzy songs. Lazy writers, if you ask me. "Here, I'm too tired to finish this episode, let's throw in some cheap sentiment and we'll tell you how you're supposed to be feeling right now." Every time I hear that cheesy Don Henley song I want to puke.

Tonight's "song" ruined the episode for me. What a bad note to end on.

-- Rachel Stephens (rachel@flexiblestrategies.com), February 02, 2001.

Response to Music

Excuse Me! But I think you totally miss the point of that song. Its to set the mood. I can honestly say that this was the first time I've ever wanted to reach through the TV and just give someone a big hug. I don't think I wopuld've felt the same way had that song not been there. The writers aren't being lazy they were actually doing a great job. They were letting Laura do some incredable acting without saying a single word. As for being a advertisement for Warner Brothers. I guess you never buy any soundtrack records or never get a book or CD that they show on any number of talk shows.

-- James (eorejim@aol.com), February 02, 2001.

Response to Music

"ER" isn't the only show doing it. They started doing it on other WB shows like "7th Heaven". The only difference is unlike "ER", at the end of "7th Heaven" they tell you what song was played and who it is by. Like in their season premiere they had the song "Better All Alone" by Alice Deejay and right after the show ended they told us that. I think WB figured this would be a good way to sell music. I do wish "ER" would do this so we're not left wondering what the song is and who it is by.

-- Cammie (rmaelhorn@home.com), February 02, 2001.

Response to Music

I made a mistake in the title of the song. Actually it's called "Better Off Alone" by Alice Deejay. Does anyone else think that they should do this on "ER"?

-- Cammie (rmaelhorn@home.com), February 02, 2001.

Homicide: Life on the Street used to do this a lot; I got used to it over there, and so it doesn't bother me as much as it probably should. What bugs me about the way ER does it is that the song is so clearly an additional *whap* in the side of the viewer's head -- "hey, you stupid viewer, this is an emotional scene, and we're going to reinforce it as much as possible and in the most heavy-handed way we can think of." It all goes back to what I've been saying for a long time about the fundamentally unsubtle nature of the show - - of most shows -- these days.

I find their lack of faith in the audience disturbing but, given what's been coming out of that part of the world in terms of entertainment lately, I am not surprised. At all.

Cheer up. Instead of having elaborate music videos, we could end up with Doc Rock.

-- Mike Sugimoto (phloem@fumbling.com), February 02, 2001.

Zorbo, I completely agree. I hate it when they play those songs. The one at the end of "Such Sweet Sorrow" wasn't bad, but the songs they played for "Sand and Water" and "Surrender" were dumb. Every time they do this I feel like I'm watching "Ally McBeal" instead of ER. I really wish they keep the song playing to a minimum, if they feel they need it at all. I would have rather heard conversations between characters.

-- Annie (GoldenLaur@aol.com), February 02, 2001.

Zorbo - I agree totally, too. They do all that schmalzy music stuff, because it's what we've come to expect in sentimental tv shows. I hate it. And I'd hate if ER stooped to the self-conscious level of an "Ally McSchmeal" too!!!

-- Andreaux (andscott@email.com), February 02, 2001.

Well I have to disagree with most of you, because I love it when they put songs in at the end. For me it *does* add to the emotionality of the show, just like it adds to movies and other shows (like Ally McBeal) and why soundtracks sell so well. Of course they're going to use music recorded at WB, because it's a way to get the song out there...obviously lots of people hear the songs, the ones who really like it will go out and buy it, and that's business. Nothing wrong with that. If they used a song every single episode, yes, it would be too much. But they haven't done that quite yet, so for now I'm going to enjoy it. JMHO.

-- Elaine (mrsclooney78@hotmail.com), February 02, 2001.

I liked the songs at the beginning and end of "Such Sweet Sorrow," but didn't care for either of them this season. I think it's because the songs themselves are so bland. I would hate to imagine that some interchangable ballad could ever be played as a soundtrack to my own life, so I feel kind of bad for the characters to get treated that way. I did like a lot of the songs on "Homicide," though; they weren't trying to force an emotion so much as set a mood. And I always liked the songs that opened "New York Undercover," with the visual of the crime being committed while they play (sometimes the best part of the episode).

-- Bonny (bonnyv@netzero.net), February 02, 2001.

I don't like them much either... last night as Kerry was riding on the train, I thought we'd suddendly switched to Felicity against my will.

Sometimes the music works...I believe the choice of "Battleflag" for the stabbing scene was haunting and added a great deal to the scene. This last song, however, was really intrusive.

-- Minuet (myminuet@aol.com), February 02, 2001.

I have to agree with Elaine...I like the song at the end of the epi. I do have to wonder if they're doing it a bit too much, thus the feeling of a commercial for WB records instead of a TV show. Another of my favorite shows did this on Monday night (Family Law) and I thought it was very effective. I just wish I had a website like this one to find out the name of that song. I haven't visited here for a while (life's been busy), but I knew where to turn to find out anything ER! :)

-- Diana (dilynne@juno.com), February 03, 2001.

Ok, I still stand by my first post, but I watched it again, and it did have a bit of a "music video" look to it, mostly in the El. That made it a bit weird, but I still thought the song was appropriate.

-- Elaine (mrsclooney78@hotmail.com), February 04, 2001.

I must say that the ending music didn't bother me at all on first viewing. On the second viewing it didn't bother either, but the music during Elizabeth's OR scene REALLY did bother me. I usually love Alex Kingston's acting, but that scene really bothered me--it was over the top and that "rally music" didn't help one bit. I was re-viewing some of last seasons episodes this weekend and found the one where Romano tell Elizabeth that as associate chief of surgery, she gets to operate solo. I think that's a really stupid policy for any level of doctor for such complicated surgery for the very reason that things can go wrong and you need not only another set of hands, but another brain as well. Even if they allow RNs to first assist as some hospitals do, I would expect them to well trained enough to help pick up the slack if a surgeon is losing it.

-- christine (cmniekamp@aol.com), February 05, 2001.

So does any one else think that ER should put at the end of the show what song was played and who it was by so we're not left wondering and asking everywhere what the song was? They do this on another show that I mentioned in my earlier post.

-- Cammie (rmaelhorn@home.com), February 05, 2001.

Only if they change the name of the show to "Dawson's ER."

-- Cecelia (evilstoat@hotmail.com), February 05, 2001.

How can it be a commercial for WB records if they don't say what the song is or who it is by?

-- Kathy (Krstear@aol.com), February 07, 2001.

Hi guys, after reading all the above I cannot understand where we are at i.e. was the song that we were all so interested in by Alice Deejay I am a wee scots girl from Dunfermline and wish to know if I have picked this story up right, if so can anyone tell me what the name of the album is? By the way it has been great chatting with you

-- Jacqui Hamilton (jacqui_hamilton@bankofscotland.co.uk), April 14, 2001.

Jacqui -the song at the end of SSS is 'taking you home' by Don Henley. I dont know what album it's from I am also a wee scots girl from fife, I live near cupar!

-- Katherine (k_a_muir@hotmail.com), June 05, 2001.

"Taking You Home" is on Henley's INSIDE JOB CD, released a few weeks after SSS originally aired here in the states in May 2000.

-- Diana (dilynne@juno.com), June 05, 2001.

Well, I'm a wee Spaniard/German/American girl from Texas and I frankly enjoy the songs. No, I don't feel as if I'm being hit over the head with a bat telling me it's time to cry or laugh. I do feel that the music is much like the costumes, the extras, the lighing, etc...it sets the mood, folks. But, yes, I am relieved that ER does not list the songs and artists during the credits--that really would be a promo (I agree with you Kathy.) By not listing the songs, the music simply becomes an inseparable part of the story. Beside, it's fun just trying to figure out what the songs are and who created them. I do wish they would use less pop/popular music--it would cut some of the cheesiness I think people feel. But, considering this whole topic, I am reminded of one of my favorite news programs---it's on (U.S.A.)National Public Radio --the name of which escapes me right now. In between segments, NPR icorporates music to illustrate the story being told. It really brings the essence of the story to the listener, which is the whole point I think given that the radio listener isn't watching a video segment of the news story, of course. By the way, I did go out and buy the Amanda Ghost CD that was featured in the episode with Kerry at the end. But, not because I saw the show--I didn't! I read the review and was persuaded not by what I would have seen had I watched the episode, but rather by the reviewer's multiple references to the song.

-- Malik (Texdina@aol.com), August 06, 2001.