Monday, August 27, 2007

Clear eyes, full hearts and a money back guarantee

It's third and long as far as marketing goes for NBC's Friday Night Lights, and the folks at Universal/NBC have drawn up some new plays for season two. In an unprecedented move, they're offering a money back guarantee on the DVD release of FNL's first season (out this Tuesday, August 28.) It seems like a risky move, but when you have as nearly a perfect first season as FNL did, it's not a bad bet that seeing is believing.

"Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose" is the oft-repeated phrase of the football team on the series, and it became a sort of battle cry for dedicated viewers who were justifiably worried about it first being cancelled, then about it not being picked up for a 2nd season. But like they did with their other pet 30 Rock, NBC kept the series in play and finally gave it the full 22 episode renewal, even though it attracted little in the way of eyeballs (FNL finished a dismal 95th in series viewership last season.)

Besides being the best new drama of last year, FNL is also in my top five for best use of music in a series. Much of that is due to the use of the East Texas indie rock instrumental act Explosions in the Sky, who's catalogue of songs were utilized extensively throughout the series. The trio builds sweeping landscapes that reflect the area, so it should be no surprise that it goes so well with the setting of Dillon, Texas. Besides EITS, there was the inspired choice of Jose Gonzalez' "Storm," which got used in a couple episodes. Songs from LCD Soundsystem, TV on the Radio, Spoon, Calexico w/ Iron & Wine, The Go! Team, Richard Buckner, Sparklehorse and Whiskeytown all provided ample goosebumps. But if there's a backup theme song to the first season, it would be the song "Devil Town" performed for the series by Tony Lucca. The song is a cover of schizophrenic pop genius (and Texas resident) Daniel Johnston, who's haunting acapella is probably too eccentric for primetime television. The song acts as a witty commentary on the crazed town of Dillon, and how even the best can fall into fanaticism. "All my friends were vampires / didn't know they were vampires / turns out I was a vampire myself... in a devil town."

Playlist: Friday Night Lights First Season
Full tracklisting with episode breakout

In anticipation of the DVD release, an FNL soundtrack was released last week featuring much of the music here (Friday Night Lights Original Television Soundtrack.)

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2 comments:

Shawn Anderson said...

Friday Night Lights First Season

1. "Your Hand in Mine" - Explosions In The Sky - Theme song/Opening credits (and parts used throughout the series)
2. "Remember Me As A Time Of Day" - Explosions In The Sky - Episode 101 (opening scene, and used throughout series)
3. "Black Betty" - Ram Jam - Episode 101
4. "New Friend Request" - Gym Class Heroes - Episode 101
5. "Yee Haw" - Jake Owen - Episode 101
6. "Gold Lion" - Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Episode 101
7. "Louie Louie" - The Kingsmen - Episode 101
8. "Dance Inside" - The All-American Rejects - Episode 101
9. "Streets Of Where I'm From" - Old 97's - Episode 101
10. "The Right Thing" - Prophet Omega - Episode 101
11. "Wolf Like Me" - TV On The Radio - Episode 102
12. "Idlewild Blue (Don'tchu Worry 'Bout Me)" - Outkast - Episode 102 & 118
13. "What Hurts The Most" - Rascal Flatts - Episode 102
14. "Flutterby" - Helen Stellar - Episode 102
15. "Devil Town" - Tony Lucca - Episode 102 & 122
16. "Come Back" - Pearl Jam - Episode 103
17. "All This Time" - Heartless Bastards - Episode 105
18. "Let's Get Out of This Country" - Camera Obscura - Episode 105
19. "Rock and Roll (Part 2)" - Gary Glitter - Episode 105
20. "Shoot The Runner" - Kasabian - Episode 105
21. "Stranglehold" - Ted Nugent - Episode 105
22. "Wanna Know" - Obie Trice - Episode 105
23. "Look Into The Air" - Explosions In The Sky - Episode 105
24. "Rewind" - Stereophonics - Episode 106 & 110
25. "Everything I Do" - Whiskeytown - Episode 106 & 113
26. "Gene Autry" - Beulah - Episode 106
27. "Lost In The Back Yard" - James McMurtry - Episode 106
28. "Hair Of The Dog" - Nazareth - Episode 107
29. "Slam" - Toby Mac - Episode 107
30. "What Do You Go Home To?" - Explosions In The Sky - Episode 107
31. "Decline-O-Meter" - The Gourds - Episode 107
32. "I Don't Think So" - Kelis - Episode 107
33. "Lips Of An Angel" - Hinder - Episode 108
34. "Dead Man's Will" - Calexico - Episode 108
35. "Search And Destroy" - The Stooges - Episode 108
36. "Storm" - Jose Gonzalez - Episode 110 & 121
37. "Maneater" - Nelly Furtado - Episode 110
38. "I Turn My Camera On" - Spoon - Episode 111
39. "Saving Grace" - Tom Petty - Episode 111
40. "Cochise" - Audioslave - Episode 111
41. "Little Fat Babies" - Sparklehorse - Episode 111
42. "Morning Hollow" - Sparklehorse - Episode 111
43. "Jesus Christ" - Brand New - Episode 112
44. "Figure" - Richard Buckner - Episode 113
45. "I Remember" - Chris Brokaw - Episode 114
46. "Sexyback" - Justin Timberlake - Episode 114
47. "Rock The Boat" - Hues Corporation - Episode 114
48. "Lord Give Me A Sign" - DMX - Episode 115
49. "Huddle Formation" - The Go! Team - Episode 115
50. "U + Ur Hand" - Pink - Episode 115
51. "On The Verge" - Le Tigre - Episode 115
52. "The Only Moment We Wore Alone" - Explosions In The Sky - Episode 116
53. "Six Days at the Bottom of the Ocean" - Explosions In The Sky - Episode 116
54. "Iguazu" - Gustavo Santaolalla - Episode 116
55. "The Right Thing" - Prophet Omega - Episode 116
56. "Talk To Her" - Priestess - Episode 116
57. "Eyes - Rogue Wave" - Episode 117
58. "Political Scientist" - Ryan Adams - Episode 117
59. "Late Nineties Bedroom Rock For The Missionaries" - Broken Social Scene - Episode 118
60. "Read My Mind" - The Killers - Episode 120
61. "Appalachian Lullaby" - Shudder To Think - Episode 121
62. "Daft Punk Is Playing At My House" - LCD Soundsystem - Episode 122
63. "Walk Over Me" - Dirtie Blonde - Episode 122
64. "Lady Marmalade" - Labelle - Episode 122
65. "Shut Em Down" - Bionic Jive - Episode 122

Josh Tilford said...

I've been trying to find the song that plays when Tim is in his truck and driving to see his dad for a signature.
Also, the song that plays when Lyla comes through Jason's window at night.
Do you know which ones they are?