33 - We Have the Answer to All Your Fears

It really gets to me, in a good way, when a movie picks a song that just fits the emotion of a scene.  It may or may not lyrically fit, (bonus points if it does) but the sound and feel can be exactly what that moment of story needed.  Especially if it can convey the bulk of what is being felt/shared when there is no dialogue between characters.

A few days ago Just Breathe from Pearl Jam was such a song.  It was great, and was what really sold that whole movie for me.  The song for today comes in a movie series not known for using "modern" music at all.  The majority of it's 8 film run is all original score.  I got to see this movie with a couple that loves these stories as much as I do.  It was a great time in St. Louis that weekend in November 2010.

This post is for Josh and Milta Little

Song 33
        "O Children" by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds on their dual album Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus.

It was used in the penultimate movie in the Harry Potter series, The Deathly Hallows - Part I.  I had never heard of the Australian band before the movie.  Honestly, I haven't taken the time to look up more of their music since I got this song.  Something I should definitely do something about. 

The placement of this song in the movie is quit poignant.  Without giving too much away, if you haven't read the books or seen the movies, the emotion of the song and the scene is important for carrying a huge amount of information.  There are two characters who are almost always part of a trio together alone.  A guy and a girl.  Now the third party, another bloke, has abandoned them.  He and the girl have an obvious but not really spoken about romantic relationship.  Which now seems unbearably strained if not over.

So the scene is the remaining two have been loyal and steadfast friends.  There has never been hints of romance between them.  The guy, knows the girl is feeling low.  Possibly lower than he has ever seen her.  Not just because of what just happened in her guy splitting, but with all the problems they are dealing with.  They have a little radio in their tent (it's a magic tent, so it's quite spacious inside) when O Children comes in on a station.  It's mid song, and the guy looks over to the girl who is huddled in a corner, walks over and gives her his hand.  She takes it, almost as if a drone, as he leads her into an open area.  He slowly starts to mover her arms to the music and they begin dancing.

This song was a fantastic choice.  The tone is haunting and stirring at the same time.  We see a little life and happiness burst into each character.  You know that their bond of friendship is deeper than ever, and that they will always be there for each other.  From trying to end the reign of evil, to just cheering up a friend.

I've gone on quite long enough, but I'll say this as to why I feel it fits Autumn.  First of all, the movie came out in November 2010, so I heard the song in Autumn.  Secondly, Autumn is for fantasy and imagination.   Third, this song just has that deliberate, slow, lumbering pace of the seasonal change and that we're moving from the heat and light of Summer into the cold darker days of Winter ahead.

It chills me and inspires me.  Take a listen.  Maybe you'll explore more of their music before me, if so, let me know what you like!

-Jesse