UJ
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Among the myriad unsettling treasures provided by Showtime’s haunting series “Yellowjackets,” the standout this season undoubtedly revolves around its musical selections.
The show – oscillating between a group of teenage soccer players stranded in the 1990s Canadian wilderness following a plane crash and their corresponding adult selves today – leans heavily into nostalgia. It features beloved tracks from the last decade of the 20th century, including hits from Tori Amos, early Smashing Pumpkins, Massive Attack, Veruca Salt, and many others.
In the latest episode of “Yellowjackets,” alt-rock icon Alanis Morissette will introduce her rendition of the theme song, “No Return,” which she has already released as a single.
One of the most surprising and effectively nostalgic uses of music appeared in the Season 2 opener last month, where Warren Kole’s character, Jeff, enjoyed a solitary car moment after an intense encounter with his wife, Shauna (Melanie Lynskey), blasting Papa Roach’s “Last Resort” (though the song is actually from 2000, its throwback appeal remains strong).
In a conversation with UJ, the show’s music supervisor, Nora Felder, revealed that the choice of the Papa Roach track was scripted, perfectly channeling Warren’s heightened anxiety during that solitary moment in his garage.
However, many key moments in the script are left for her interpretation, and Felder embraces the chance to pair these moments with the most fitting songs from that era.
“As I prepare my playlists for the show, I immerse myself in the era and spirit of the time,” she explained. “My primary focus is to stay true to the story and allow it to guide me in terms of musical needs.”
A prime example of this is found in the same episode with the integration of Amos’s iconic track “Cornflake Girl” from her groundbreaking 1994 album “Under the Pink.”
This song – featuring the lyric “Things are getting kind of gross” just as young Shauna (Sophie Nélisse) is about to do something unimaginable – “came to mind almost instantly” for Felder.
“I believed that Amos’s lyrics could eloquently parallel the emotions of the first episode’s conclusion – mirroring Young Shauna’s mindset,” she remarked, “and reflecting both past and present sentiments experienced by the other ‘Yellowjackets’ characters in Season 2.”
Felder’s role presents its challenges, as there is often an aspirational list of desired songs for specific scenes in each script, which can be altered due to technical constraints or evolving scene requirements that arise during production, influenced by numerous factors, including actors’ performances.
“The entire team always strives for the finest song selection to elevate the narrative,” she indicated. “Upon reaching post-production, a recurrent question among us during collaborative discussions is, ‘Can we improve upon this?’”
Felder clarifies that she doesn’t believe there is a definitive blueprint for merging songs with any scene or storyline.
“My mantra is, ‘Let the visuals inform you of their needs.’ (Somewhat reflective of the Wilderness, I suppose?)”
Another scene perfectly synchronized with the accompanying music is the infamous ‘last supper’ moment from the previous episode, highlighted by Radiohead’s “Climbing Up The Walls” from their iconic 1995 album “OK Computer.”
“The song alludes to those unspeakable demons that can inhabit one’s mind,” Felder pointed out, referencing the bewildering collective hallucinations experienced by the group while they engage in cannibalism. “I can’t conceive a more apt way to eerily enhance (that) scene, referred to as ‘the feast.’”
To emphasize the significance of music in shaping the atmosphere of “Yellowjackets,” one only need observe the spine-chilling Season 2 trailer, featuring Florence + The Machine’s haunting reinterpretation of No Doubt’s classic 1995 song, “Just A Girl.”
“As a profound fan of ‘Yellowjackets’ as well as this music era, and with this particular song having a significant impact on my youth, I was ecstatic to reinterpret it in a ‘deeply unsettling’ manner for the show,” said band frontwoman Florence Welch in a statement to UJ.
“We aimed to incorporate horror elements into this iconic song to complement the show’s tone. As someone whose earliest musical passion was pop punk and Gwen Stefani, it was a dream assignment.”
Similarly, Morissette expressed that she felt inspired by her connection to “Yellowjackets.”
“I see parallels between ‘Yellowjackets’ and my songwriting approach: the sheer intensity, and an unabashed pursuit of the raw and profane,” Morissette stated. “Throughout my career, I have worked to uplift women and nurture sensitivity, presenting the world through a female lens. What’s remarkable about this show is that each character is permitted to be intricate and multi-dimensional, rather than simplified and stereotyped. I feel privileged to contribute to the legacy of ‘Yellowjackets.’”
