Did the Vampire Diaries Use Indie Rock Music?
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The Vampire Diaries is known for its use of popular music to set the tone of each episode. But did you know that the show also used a lot of indie rock music? Here’s a look at some of the best indie rock songs used on the show.
The Importance of Music in the Vampire Diaries
The Vampire Diaries is an American supernatural drama television series developed by Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec. The series is based on a book series of the same name by L. J. Smith. The series ran for eight seasons on The CW from September 10, 2009, to March 10, 2017. The series follows the lives of Elena Gilbert (Nina Dobrev) and her friends, who are all vampire hunters.
Music as a plot device
One could argue that the music in The Vampire Diaries is just as important a character as any of the human or supernatural beings on the show. It’s often used as a plot device to further the story line or to set a particular mood.
For example, in the episode “Miss Mystic Falls”, when Bonnie is trying to convince Elena to let her help with the vervain removal spell, she tells her that she needs to face her fears and let go of her anger. She then puts on The Paper Kites’ “Bloom” and we see Elena start to cry as she dances around her room letting go of all her pent-up emotion.
Music is also used to lighten the mood in some scenes, such as when Damon and Elena are dancing in his apartment to “Animal” by Miike Snow in “The Dinner Party”. And of course, who could forget the show’s iconic theme song, “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor, which plays during the opening credits of every episode.
The Vampire Diaries has been praised for its use of indie rock music, with many critics saying it’s one of the things that sets the show apart from other teen dramas. So whether you’re a fan of the show or not, there’s no denying that the music is an integral part of it.
Music as a way to set the tone
Music is one of the most important aspects in the Vampire Diaries. It’s used as a way to set the tone and as a way to move the plot along.
Music is used to set the tone in every episode. The music is carefully selected to match the mood of the scene. For example, if a character is feeling scared or threatened, the music will be ominous and foreboding. If a character is feeling happy or romantic, the music will be light and airy.
The music also helps to move the plot along. In some cases, a character’s emotions are so intense that they can’t be conveyed through dialogue alone. In these cases, music is used to communicate the character’s emotional state to the audience.
The use of music in the Vampire Diaries is one of the things that makes it such an engaging and addicting show. It’s one of the many elements that make up the perfect storm of television perfection.
The Use of Indie Rock in the Vampire Diaries
The Vampire Diaries has been known to use a variety of music genres throughout the show, but one that is used quite often is indie rock. Indie rock is used in scenes that are meant to be emotional and/or angsty, and it helps set the tone for these scenes. It also helps the viewer connect with the characters on a more emotional level.
The use of indie rock in the first season
The Vampire Diaries debuted on the CW in 2009, during a moment when the indie rock sound was having a major moment in pop culture. The Twilight series had just wrapped up its film franchise, and indie rock soundtracks were becoming increasingly popular in both film and television. For The Vampire Diaries, music supervisors Chris Mollere and Lindsay Wolfington chose to lean into this trend, creating a soundtrack for the first season that was heavily focused on indie rock.
Some of the most iconic scenes from the first season are set to indie rock songs, including “Boys Don’t Cry” by The Cure, “I Will Possess Your Heart” by Death Cab for Cutie, and “Heroes” by David Bowie. These songs helped to create a specific atmosphere for the show – one that was dark, atmospheric, and slightly melancholy. It was a perfect fit for a show about teenage vampires struggling to come to terms with their identities.
In later seasons, The Vampire Diaries would move away from its indie rock roots, instead opting for a more pop-focused sound. However, the influence of those early seasons can still be felt in many of the show’s musical choices.
The use of indie rock in the second season
Season two of The Vampire Diaries is widely considered to be the best season of the show. It is also the season that made the most use of indie rock music. Some of the artists featured in season two include The Paper Kites, African American Blue Eyed Blondes, and The Killers.
The paper kites are an Australian folk rock band who were featured in episode two of season two. This episode, titled “Memory Lane” is set in flashbacks to when Elena and Caroline were human and in high school. The song “Bloom” is used during a scene where Elena is talking to her deceased brother, Jeremy.
African American Blue Eyed Blondes is a New Zealand indie rock band who were featured in episode six of season two. This episode, titled “Plan B” is set in the present day and follows Damon and Stefan as they try to figure out a way to save Elena from being turned into a vampire by Katherine. The song “Howling” is used during a scene where Damon is trying to convince Stefan to give him some privacy with Elena.
The Killers are an American rock band who were featured in episode eight of season two. This episode, titled “Rose” is set in the present day and follows Damon as he tries to track down Rose, a vampire who has information about Katherine. The song “Somebody Told Me” is used during a scene where Damon is questioning Rose about Katherine’s whereabouts.
The use of indie rock in the third season
The third season of The Vampire Diaries featured a wide variety of indie rock songs, many of which were used in pivotal scenes. Some of the most memorable moments from the season include the use of Portugal. The Man’s “All Your Light (Times Like These),” which played during a key scene in which Damon saved Bonnie from being sacrificed; and Radiation City’s “Babies,” which was used in a montage of Damon and Elena’s happiest moments together.
Other notable indie rock songs that were used in the third season include The Paper Kites’ “Bloom,” Washed Out’s “Feel It All Around,” and The Antlers’ “Rolled Together.” All three of these songs added to the show’s already-large repertoire of atmospheric and emotional music, and helped to create some of the most touching scenes in the entire series.
The Impact of the Use of Indie Rock in the Vampire Diaries
The Vampire Diaries quickly became popular when it aired in 2009. The show was set in a small town called Mystic Falls and told the story of two vampire brothers, Stefan and Damon Salvatore, who were in love with the same girl, Elena Gilbert. The show used a lot of popular music to set the tone and mood of the show.
The impact on the show’s ratings
The Vampire Diaries was a successful show that ran for eight seasons on the CW network. The show was popular with viewers and had good ratings throughout its run. Part of the reason for the show’s success was its use of music, and in particular its use of indie rock music.
The Vampire Diaries was one of the first shows to really make use of indie rock music in a major way. The show’s soundtrack featured songs by indie rock bands such as Arcade Fire, The National, and Fleet Foxes. The use of this type of music helped to set the tone for the show and made it stand out from other shows on television.
The use of indie rock music on The Vampire Diaries had a positive impact on the show’s ratings. Viewers who were fans of the music were more likely to watch the show, and the show’s ratings improved as a result. The Vampire Diaries is proof that using Indie Rock music can be beneficial for a television show, both in terms of setting the tone and attracting viewers.
The impact on the show’s popularity
The Vampire Diaries was a popular show on The CW network from 2009-2017. The show was set in the fictional town of Mystic Falls, Virginia and follows the lives of the Salvatore brothers, Stefan and Damon, who are both vampires. The show became popular in part due to its use of indie rock music throughout the series.
The use of indie rock music helped to set the tone of the show and create an atmosphere that was both dark and brooding, yet also romantic and charismatic. The show’s soundtrack featured songs by indie rock artists such as The Killers, Vampire Weekend, Arcade Fire, and Bastille. The use of this type of music helped to make the show unique and stand out from other vampire-themed TV shows or movies that were released around the same time.
The Vampire Diaries’ use of indie rock music had a positive impact on the show’s popularity. Fans of the show were drawn to its edgy and alternative vibe, and the series’ soundtrack helped to create a loyal following among fans of indie rock music.
The impact on the show’s music budget
The use of indie rock music in the Vampire Diaries had a significant impact on the show’s music budget. In order to secure the rights to use songs from popular indie rock bands, the producers of the show had to pay a higher licensing fee than they would have for equivalent songs from more mainstream artists. This increased cost was offset by the fact that the use of indie rock music helped to set the show apart from other television programs and gave it a unique identity.