Music placement has definitely blossomed in recent times. If, in the beginning, music was mostly used to link scenes together or add some drama and the word of mouth was "a perfect score", today we are surrounded by an entire palette of song compilations, special compositions, rocky rock, bubbly pop or downright quirky soundtracks. Among all this mayhem and melting pot of talent and artistic timing, there sometimes emerges a blend of music and video so strikingly perfect, that you can't help but talk about it.

"Smallville" is a pretty special TV show. Aside from the fact that it is the home of everyone's favorite superhero and his marvelous, yet oddly human adventures, it is also one record-breaking, "glue you to your seat" kind of television program. Adding up to 8 seasons and counting and amassing 5 millions of viewers per episode, it is nothing short of a miracle in the rampaging and selective world of entertainment. And yes, you've got it, it's one fine example of spotless music supervision.

A Music Placement Playground

The music of Smallville is a being of its own; ever since its release, the show's undeniable appeal has been drastically amplified by a series of fresh, expressive and emotionally charged indie rock songs that provide just the right fit. With the aid of some surprising chords, bluntly honest lyrics and deep, instrumental sounds in key parts of the song, the main theme "Save Me" by Remy Zero manages to speak about vulnerability and heroism in a manner which, just like the show, grows from serenity to turbulence faster and faster every moment. It is a preparation for the tense turning points that every episode boasts, a desperate cry of a needy society, as well as a glimpse of understanding when it comes to the complicated life of Clark Kent, an ordinary youngster struggling with extraordinary problems.

Apart from inner and outer conflicts, superpowers and common tragedies, like any self-respecting TV series, Smallville also has a love affair. Or, better yet, make that two love affairs. The unique depth and innocence of Clark's relationship with Lana are paralleled only by the sheer and simple beauty of the Lifehouse-made backgrounds that accompany them. These Malibu based alternative soft rockers have contributed no less than seven songs to the show's music combo, as their acoustic, delicate ballads  such as "Everything" or "Blind" seem to whisper this love story into the viewer's ear.  

The band, whose meaningful and sensitive style is now linked inseparably to Smallville into a sort of music placement symbiosis,  actually made a live appearance on the show in the fourth season finale, during the prom scene where Lana and Clark find themselves close to each other, but separated by the obstacles each of them had to deal with; the track "You and Me" is, for those couple of seconds, the indie soundtrack all youngsters can hear humming as they think of their love interest.

The alternative rock book keeps adding pages with every shift in the plot. When millionaire loner Lex Luthor and the lovely Lana Lang acknowledge their feelings for each other amidst all the tension, Jame Carrington's Ache conveys a message of silent pain and troubled love, while, at their wedding, Patty Griffin's "Heavenly Day" depicts the image of a bittersweet, apparently joyful, yet sorrowful event. Lex's own crossing over from weird, secluded rich boy to heartless, cold-blooded villain is portrayed by the eerie and quite far-fetched "Prelude 12/21" of AFI, whose creeping tunes provide a view into the darkness ticking within him. The story can go on, as practically every scene in the show comes with its own musical sample attached, so that no aspect of the characters' day-to-day issues and grander-scale decisions is left without a sound to induce the specific mood..

This entire mixture of powerful, epic and awe-inspiring action and emotional, quintessentially human and intricate inner thoughts is also spiced up throughout the storyline by more top-notch  names whose creations seemed to scream "Smallville". Evanescence is featured with its heart-breaking "My Immortal", Avril Lavigne steals a few rebellious tears with "I'm With You" and Kelly Clarkson's "Sober" is living proof of Clark and his world's ability to remain standing after everything has broken down. The list can go on with Enrique Iglesias, U2 or REM, as some of their most moving songs have found a place in the soundtrack.

Earthy Music For An Out-Of-This-World Story

In fact, the trick behind Smallville's jaw-dropping success is not necessarily the universally popular, comic-inspired Superman topic, so oft-covered before, as it is also not necessarily the teen, high-school drama, also approached by so many thus far. The magic lies in joining these two pieces; the truth is Clark Kent's young Superman story is fascinating because of its encounter with the realm of the supernatural and easy to identify with because it is the image of every youngster's existence. All the flying and superspeed bits aside, it's a TV show about the inner struggle for identity, about matters of trust, family and friendship and how maturity is achieved with choosing duty over happiness. Clark Kent's coming of age is an epic where everyone needs to be saved, Clark included, and the music placement behind the scenes reflects an entire generation of emerging teens with its indie sappiness.

The soundtrack so carefully hand-picked by music supervisors Madonna Wade Reed and Jennifer Pyken and swiftly underlined by Mark Snow's original compositions has stirred more than a couple of waves in the music scene. With two hit original albums(The Talon Mix and The Metropolis Mix) made up of songs from the first five seasons and a handful of more underground, folksy artists and mainstream rockers alike, the show promises to keep music aficionados and gentle souls on their toes in the future as well, because it brings some simply amazing pieces of music into the spotlight. The Smallville musical round-up is a genuine saga in itself, leaving no stone unturned,  no plot twist out of tune and more than plenty of room for aspiring musicians to make the cut into one of the show's exciting episodes.

Copyright © MusicSupervisorGuide.com. This article may not be reproduced without written permission by MusicSupervisorGuide.com.

About MusicSupervisorGuide.com

MusicSupervisorGuide.com is the ultimate Music Supervisor Directory for Film, TV, Advertising and Video Games.

It features full contact details for the music supervisors of the top 1,000 Film, TV, Advertising and Video Game projects in the world. Fully-cross referenced and searchable in seconds by music supervisor, type of project, sub-category and more.

Used by the top Record Labels, Publishers, Songwriters, and Managers around the world. For more information, please visit www.musicsupervisorguide.com.