This week the ladies of the TGAD talk about Gossip Girl season finale episode 5.24 – The Return of the Ring. Highlights include: how the writers completely changed everything about Gossip Girl, Chuck and Blair being all in, and Serena’s greatest regression yet. Listen to the podcast to hear everything we had to say about [...]
Wow, flashback times! The episode, as one might have speculated, contains lots of 80s music.
1. Missing Persons – Destination Unknown
- first flashback; Lily drives back to LA and calls her dad
Not related to the “Destination Unknown” club song, this Missing Persons song is new-wave gem from the early 80s. Though this song was far before my time, you can see similarities between this song and artists like Metric. The song’s beginning spacey intro is an enticing way to proposition the backdoor pilot to the audience. Plus, it’s typical 80s.
2. Huey Lewis and the News – I Want a New Drug
- flashback; Lily meets her dad and mother at lunch to discuss her expulsion
Now Huey Lewis and the News was something all 80s kids should have been explosed to. Who doesn’t know of “The Power of Love” from Back to the Future? But the song used in tonight’s episode is popular enough. “I Want a New Drug” is standard straightforward rock and A+ on all fronts. Although, I am still convinced that Ghostbusters stole their theme song from “I Want a New Drug”.
3. English Beat – “Mirror In the Bathroom”
- flashback; Lily looks for her sister, Carol, at a diner
Unfortunately, the English Beat song used in the diner scene was pure background. I love this song, so I would have liked to hear more. It’s a good choice to play The English Beat against No Doubt in this episode, considering both bands have heavy ska-influences. More importantly, this song that has a sweet saxophone. And how more 80s can we get with the many mirror references?
4. Modern English – “I Melt With You”
- flashback; Owen tells Lily that Carol will be at the concert
Modern English is a band that still gets tons of play. Their summery song has been covered by Jason Mraz and others and has been reworked into numerous commercials (i.e.: Burger King and Hershey’s Chocolate). The song was circulating since 1982, never officially released until 1990 and still never made it to the Top 40 over those years. But regardless, this is the quintessential optimistic pop song and a good addition to the flashbacks.
5. Billy Idol – “Dancing With Myself”
- flashback; Lily gets ready for the concert
Billy Idol is a dreamboat. Reminiscing about him makes me wonder, where are artists like him? Billy Idol was awesome. Who wouldn’t want a white wedding with him? This is a good song to get dressed to in the morning – it’s energizing!
6. No Doubt – “Stand and Deliver”
- flashback; Snowed Out performs at the club
This cover by No Doubt is what drained the budget of this week’s Gossip Girl. This cover was commissioned just for Gossip Girl and it shows. In the episode, there is no crowd din when the song is played – just the song, which implies that No Doubt negotiated that the cover would be the focus for at least 1 minute. But, I just don’t buy No Doubt’s rendition. Stefani sounds just a tad strained to imitate Adam Ant’s British tone. Where Adam comes across as charming and debonair, the band comes across as a bit lackluster. For a band with lots of experience with horns and percussion – there seems to be a lack of that sound. Overall, it’s mediocre and maybe should have stayed with Adam Ant…
7. New Order – “Blue Monday”
- flashback; first houseparty scene when Lily, Carol, Shep and Owen break into and enter the house
8. Men Without Hats – “The Safety Dance”
- flashback; second houseparty scene where Carol sees Lily and Owen having a good time
New Order is always fun to hear. There are so many cover version of this song and has been used repeatedly in lots of movies and commercials. It’s danceable and synthesized to the max. And it fits the houseparty scene well, it is generic, non-intrusive dance music that implies everyone is having a good time. Another song used for the houseparty scene is the generic, non-intrusive dance song, “The Safety Dance” by Men in Hats. Both are good dance songs. Another classic song of good times is “Just Can’t Get Enough” which aptly describes people’s feelings towards cocaine in the 80s. We hear this song as we see Keith’s friend ski the snowy slopes.
9. Depeche Mode – “Just Can’t Get Enough”
- flashback; Carol yells at Keith to get the music video for Shep
10. Fountains of Wayne – “Prom Theme”
- the present; Blair and Nate dance together at prom
11. Freur – “Doot-Doot”
- the present and flashback end montage of B and S bonding as Lily and Carol chat and as Lily (young and old) look out the window towards the sky
The last song we hear in the episode is Freur’s “Doot-Doot”, which is like a synthy, mellow abstract song. It’s very happy and soft, which was a good match for the end of the episode. And as for 80s songs – that’s it! Very heavy on the retro and much appreciated! The music definitely changed my disposition with the pilot aspect of this episode.
You did forget one song though. It was by Joy division. I can’t remember the name of the song but it played when everyone was dancing at the flashback party.
Peter
sorry you were right it was by the band after Joy division: New order which you have love that song.
Dave
Well if its anything, I totally did miss a song.
I the flashback car scene with Lily, Carol, Shep and Owen, there was a B-52s song called “52 Girls”. I neglected to put it on the post seeing as how I couldnt find an mp3 or a good YouTube clip.
And there was another song that played during the flashback fight scene, but I listened to that scene about 10 times and I was no closer to figuring it out at the end.
Ella
so i have no idea what happened in the 80s, except big hair and yeah… the only thing i got from this was their is a song by the wombats called let’s dance to joy division and i never understood what it meant, so i get it now! check out the song guys! i love pretending to be drunk and singing it really loud on the beach so people will look at us weird!
This week on TGAD we discuss Gossip Girl 5.23 – The Fugitives. Highlights include: Blair and Chuck being end game, feeling sorry for Serena, should [...]
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Music from “Valley Girls”
by Angela on May 11, 2009
in Blog,Commentary,Features,Music
Wow, flashback times! The episode, as one might have speculated, contains lots of 80s music.
1. Missing Persons – Destination Unknown
- first flashback; Lily drives back to LA and calls her dad
Not related to the “Destination Unknown” club song, this Missing Persons song is new-wave gem from the early 80s. Though this song was far before my time, you can see similarities between this song and artists like Metric. The song’s beginning spacey intro is an enticing way to proposition the backdoor pilot to the audience. Plus, it’s typical 80s.
2. Huey Lewis and the News – I Want a New Drug
- flashback; Lily meets her dad and mother at lunch to discuss her expulsion
I Want A New Drug (24-Bit Digitally Remastered 99) – Huey Lewis And The News
Now Huey Lewis and the News was something all 80s kids should have been explosed to. Who doesn’t know of “The Power of Love” from Back to the Future? But the song used in tonight’s episode is popular enough. “I Want a New Drug” is standard straightforward rock and A+ on all fronts. Although, I am still convinced that Ghostbusters stole their theme song from “I Want a New Drug”.
3. English Beat – “Mirror In the Bathroom”
- flashback; Lily looks for her sister, Carol, at a diner
Unfortunately, the English Beat song used in the diner scene was pure background. I love this song, so I would have liked to hear more. It’s a good choice to play The English Beat against No Doubt in this episode, considering both bands have heavy ska-influences. More importantly, this song that has a sweet saxophone. And how more 80s can we get with the many mirror references?
4. Modern English – “I Melt With You”
- flashback; Owen tells Lily that Carol will be at the concert
Modern English is a band that still gets tons of play. Their summery song has been covered by Jason Mraz and others and has been reworked into numerous commercials (i.e.: Burger King and Hershey’s Chocolate). The song was circulating since 1982, never officially released until 1990 and still never made it to the Top 40 over those years. But regardless, this is the quintessential optimistic pop song and a good addition to the flashbacks.
5. Billy Idol – “Dancing With Myself”
- flashback; Lily gets ready for the concert
Billy Idol is a dreamboat. Reminiscing about him makes me wonder, where are artists like him? Billy Idol was awesome. Who wouldn’t want a white wedding with him? This is a good song to get dressed to in the morning – it’s energizing!
6. No Doubt – “Stand and Deliver”
- flashback; Snowed Out performs at the club
This cover by No Doubt is what drained the budget of this week’s Gossip Girl. This cover was commissioned just for Gossip Girl and it shows. In the episode, there is no crowd din when the song is played – just the song, which implies that No Doubt negotiated that the cover would be the focus for at least 1 minute. But, I just don’t buy No Doubt’s rendition. Stefani sounds just a tad strained to imitate Adam Ant’s British tone. Where Adam comes across as charming and debonair, the band comes across as a bit lackluster. For a band with lots of experience with horns and percussion – there seems to be a lack of that sound. Overall, it’s mediocre and maybe should have stayed with Adam Ant…
7. New Order – “Blue Monday”
- flashback; first houseparty scene when Lily, Carol, Shep and Owen break into and enter the house
8. Men Without Hats – “The Safety Dance”
- flashback; second houseparty scene where Carol sees Lily and Owen having a good time
New Order is always fun to hear. There are so many cover version of this song and has been used repeatedly in lots of movies and commercials. It’s danceable and synthesized to the max. And it fits the houseparty scene well, it is generic, non-intrusive dance music that implies everyone is having a good time. Another song used for the houseparty scene is the generic, non-intrusive dance song, “The Safety Dance” by Men in Hats. Both are good dance songs. Another classic song of good times is “Just Can’t Get Enough” which aptly describes people’s feelings towards cocaine in the 80s. We hear this song as we see Keith’s friend ski the snowy slopes.
9. Depeche Mode – “Just Can’t Get Enough”
- flashback; Carol yells at Keith to get the music video for Shep
10. Fountains of Wayne – “Prom Theme”
- the present; Blair and Nate dance together at prom
11. Freur – “Doot-Doot”
- the present and flashback end montage of B and S bonding as Lily and Carol chat and as Lily (young and old) look out the window towards the sky
The last song we hear in the episode is Freur’s “Doot-Doot”, which is like a synthy, mellow abstract song. It’s very happy and soft, which was a good match for the end of the episode. And as for 80s songs – that’s it! Very heavy on the retro and much appreciated! The music definitely changed my disposition with the pilot aspect of this episode.
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Tagged as: 2.24 - Valley Girls, 80s music, Music, music from the episode, new episode, No Doubt