ChuckTV.net The CHUCK archive
KrisWatchesOn brings us another music Friday Five, this time focusing on the Bartowski siblings.
And we’ re back again, Chuck fans! Another week, another list of terrific Chuck music. This week we shine the light on Chuck and his sister Ellie. Their relationship has long been a cornerstone of the show and their scenes have brought us some truly wonderful
music. So without further ado…
Top 5 Sibling Songs
Here we go, from the bottom up:
5. “On My Way Back Home†– “Chuck vs the Ring Part 2”
So who else spent three years wondering how the Bartowski siblings became so amazingly close? Sure we knew their parents left them when they were young and that seemed to explain Chuck’ s dependence on Ellie. But the source of Ellie’ s fiercely protective streak was never really made clear. By the end of Chuck versus the Subway, Ellie’ s father was dead, her brother seemingly lost and her world totally shattered. And yet she still had the guts to chase down Shaw in a desperate attempt to save Chuck. Why? Well cue this beautiful, and aptly titled, Band of Horses song. It takes us all the way back to Ellie and Chuck’ s childhood in the days before their mother left. In a bittersweet flashback, we see a young Ellie make a promise to her father, vowing to protect Chuck no matter what. The music continues to play as we fast-forward to the moment when Ellie finally sees the brother she helped rescue. Their long hug is touching and ridiculously sweet. And it’ s the first thing I think of whenever this song fades up on my radio.
4. “Dead Hearts†– “Chuck vs the Aisle of Terror”
“ It’s hard to know they’re out there, it’s hard to know that you still care…â€
The is one of those times when the lyrics of a chosen song truly compliment the scene they’re a part of, giving us a window into our characters’ thoughts and feelings. As this song picks up, Chuck’ s search for Frost has ended and he can finally reunite Ellie with the mother she’ s been longing for. Of course we all know that the reunion doesn’t go as planned. The music switches to a darker score and, despite Chuck’ s best efforts, Mama B is taken into custody. And then this song returns for one of the saddest shots I’ve seen in awhile. Go back and rewind the moment when Chuck walks through the door and Ellie realizes that her mother isn’t coming. She goes from excited, to disappointed, to utterly sad before trying valiantly to put on a brave face for her brother. Even though she’ s an adult now, she looks like a little girl whose hopes have been raised and dashed one more time. And so, as the spot on lyrics continue… “ They were kids that I once knew…†you realize that Chuck has no choice but to tell her the truth about the mom who seemingly abandoned them. It’ s a powerful moment that plays out over an equally powerful song.
3. “One October Song†– “Chuck vs the Subway” / “Chuck vs the First Fight”
And watch as this Friday Five starts to blend with my official “Sarah Lancaster Is Making Me Cry Again†list. Seriously, I could have thrown in We Don’t Eat & Daddy’s Gone, but I’m trying not to make you reach for the Kleenex! So instead, let’s get back to the sniffle-inducing song at hand. The first time we hear it, Chuck is cradling his dying father. And to make it all the more heartbreaking, we realize that Ellie has been there all along, a silent witness to the murder (anyone who read my very first Friday Five knows what this did to me). So it’s only fitting that the song comes back a second time when Ellie discovers her father’ s car and the handwritten note he has left for her (plus the computer that will eventually restore the intersect). For Ellie it’s closure, for her father it’s one last chance to say goodbye, and for the fans it’s another teary moment brought to us by Sarah Lancaster, Scott Bakula and a song that’s become deeply intertwined with the show that we love.
2. “Young Blood†– “Chuck vs the Push Mix”
It figures that a song entitled Young Blood would play over a sequence that’s all about family and new beginnings. From Chuck’s epic proposal, to Casey bonding with his daughter, to the birth of little Clara Woodcomb, this may be one of the sweetest sequences I’ve seen on Chuck. And lest you think you’ll get away without tearing up, you have Ellie’s happy surprise upon seeing her mother: “You came†… and her mother’s response: “We all did.†Say it with me now. Awww. Somehow, in the space of just a few years, the Bartowski kids have discovered that family isn’t just about blood. It’ s about the people who show up when you need them the most. And the chorus plays on… yeah yeah yeah. Good luck wiping that smile off your face.
1. “Mr. Roboto†& “Christmas TV†aka “The Wedding Songs†– “Chuck vs the Ring”
No, your eyes are not deceiving you, there are two songs in my number one spot. My only defense is that I had this list in my mind weeks ago and then Young Blood came along and wedged its way into the line-up. So there you go. Call me a cheater if you like, but don’t make me choose between these songs, because that’s just cruel. And besides, they’re sort of related, right? If Ellie gets two shots at her wedding, then I should get two shots at this. So let’s start with the more obvious choice.
Mr. Roboto: Since the Season Two finale, have you ever heard this song without thinking of Ellie’s first, epically doomed, wedding? No? I didn’t think so. It’s perhaps the most famous sequence in Chuck history and it’s also a perfect example of how Chuck’s family and spy life can collide in both humorous and dangerous ways. You’ve got Ellie meditating while her husband-to-be gamely fist pumps his way through a so-awful-it’s-awesome Jeffster performance. Meanwhile Chuck and his team are battling to save Ellie, her wedding and their own lives. It’s chaotic, ridiculous and a whole lot of fun. And for Chuck, it’ s basically business as usual. His sister had better get used to it, because there’ s a lot more of this madness coming her way.
Christmas TV: It’s the less flashy of the two picks, but an equally cool song over an equally cool sequence. Thanks to Chuck, Ellie finally gets the wedding she’s always dreamed of. And if Mr. Roboto perfectly illustrated the insanity of her big, over the top, first wedding, then Christmas TV illustrates the simple beauty of her second one. Of course, this is all contrasted once more with Chuck’s spy life and the first glimpse of the notorious Ring, but it’s nice to see Ellie get a happy ending for once, especially on the craziest day of her life.
So there you go, guys. That’ s my list. Who wants to chime in?
I LOVE a good musical Friday 5 and this one gets me right here. (points to my heart) Methinks I’ll rewatch all those scenes and appreciate their awesomeness just a little more. The last one makes me want to offer a humble suggestion, 5 songs Jeffster can perform at Chuck and Sarah’s reception. We all know they won’t let a Bartowski wedding proceed without them. 😀
I LOVE SLOW CLUB!!!! (they do the song Christmas TV) they are also responsible for When I go, the song they played in chuck Versus the balcony when chuck is about to purpose to Sarah on the balcony when all of the sudden she is arrested. Slow Club is amazing, and chucks music people seem to agree. 😀
If I had to choose, it would be “Christmas TV” over “Mr. Roboto”, only because of what they represent. “Roboto” was the pandemonium tearing apart the wedding that Ellie didn’t want, which she was only doing to humour Devon’s overbearing family. “Christmas TV” represents the wedding that Ellie really wanted: toes in the sand, peace and simplicity. It once again demonstrated the charm of the Bartowskis, and of the show in general. It was the moment of epiphany for Sarah, where she understood that she could not leave all this to fly off with Bryce to Switzerland. So, the lyrics about missing a flight and staying with a loved one for just one more night was sheer perfection, and stroke of genius on the part of music co-ordinator Alex Patsavas.
I have to agree, Patsavas seems to have the knack for combing through the vast swath of indie songs and old classics and (usually) choosing songs whose sound and lyrics dovetail nicely with the scene they feature in.
For “Dead Hearts”, the lyrics did double duty: Kris already managed how it fits with the aborted dinner reunion, and the “I can say it, but you won’t you believe me…” portion covers Sarah’s doubts on Frost’s true intentions.
For “On My Way Back Home”, note that it was played again much later in the episode, where the (extended) Bartowski family was toasting to Orion’s memory, as well as Chuck telling Ellie that he’d quit (but we know now how that turned out). I’d say it’s more a “song for family” than a “song for siblings”.
For “One October Song”, my only gripe was that it was a bit too noisy; I’ve heard Nico Stai’s acoustic rendition of the song and I thought that’d have been much more suitable for those scenes.
I love Christmas TV too! It fits the scene perfectly, with Sarah shaking her head ‘no’ as an answer to Bryce’s question. It was like Sarah’s first step into Family Bartowski
Another great song, although not directly pertaining to siblings, is the one where Orion is captured by Roark and the elevators close between father and son. Lyrics? Very apt: “He’s gone……He’s gone……He’s gooooone…” sung very well.
I believe that one would be “Daddy’s Gone” by Glasvegas. And you’re right: awesome song.
My Favourite on the list though would have to be On My Way Back Home by Band of Horses.
I absolutely love that band, and the fact that they have become a favourite artist of the show is an absolute delight.
Great list. “Don’t Worry” by Love as Laughter should be on there, too. It was the song from Chuck vs. the Sensei when Chuck tells Ellie he’s going to find their dad for her wedding. That was the first Lancaster scene that made me cry. For some reason it’s her scenes that always get me.