This is the
John Cale version of Leonard Cohen’s great song, “Hallelujah”. It has been used many times, in many shows
and movies, such as “Shrek”, “House”, and “Scrubs”, but the one it always
reminds me of is “The West Wing”.
Actually,
the version used in the West Wing was Jeff Buckley’s, but regardless, the song
reminds me of “Posse Comitatus”, the unforgettable
episode where Mark Harmon, playing C.J.’s Secret Service agent/new boyfriend,
is gunned down when he inadvertently walks in on a robbery in progress in a NYC
convenience store.
It’s also
the one where the President (Martin Sheen, the President we pretended was real
during the GW Bush years) runs into his opponent for reelection played by James
Brolin and Brolin, when told of the death says, “Crime. Boy. I don’t know” and
President Bartlett (Sheen) after some more strained small talk, says “In the
future, if you're wondering, 'Crime, boy, I don't know,' is when I decided to
kick your ass."
You know by
its context that somebody’s going to die when you hear “Hallelujah”, it never
accompanies good news. It was a classic use of popular music in television to
comment on or act as a counterpoint to what was going on onscreen.
(If you
read Ken Levine’s blog, and I do religiously, that’s why I link to it on mine;
he feels that the use of music in this way is a cheat, a lazy way to make a
point. I agree to a point, but this song is emotionally wrenching in its use
here. C.J. finally gets a life outside the West Wing and “Bang!” it’s over)
Most people
agree the first use of popular music in TV drama was Michael Mann’s “Miami
Vice”. Or at least it was the first time I was made conscious of the powerful
emotions that the right song with the right image can produce.
“Hallelujah’s
use in the West Wing was heartbreaking. I don’t know if it’s Aaron Sorkin who
chose the music, but “The West Wing” always used the perfect song at the
perfect time.
There’s
another song on my Zune that was used brilliantly by “The West Wing”, about 15
postings from now, as I look at my list, so be forewarned.
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