|
 Music in Gossip Girl Episode 2: The Freshmen
The second Gossip Girl episode of Season 3, “The Freshmen”, features six songs. One of the two most played songs is "Embers", by Just Jack. This song is played as Blair, Dan, and Serena are getting ready for their first day of college orientation. This song seems to be Blair’s theme song, as this episode primarily follows her troubles as she tries to fit in. It’s played a second time as Blair decides to throw a party in efforts to assist her campaign as queen on NYU’s campus. “Embers” is played a third time as the episode ends—Blair sets the tone as she runs to the safety of Chuck’s arms. This quick collection of scenes at the show’s close serves almost as a role call. Blair with Chuck, Vanessa with Scott, Dan with Georgina…all present and accounted for.
But why play “Embers” more than the others? Perhaps it’s the fact that this song manages to have an upbeat tempo and a classical edge all at the same time. It captures the budding maturity of the Gossip Girl characters as they enter a new phase of their lives.
Many sites have incorrectly identified Names in Vain’s “Summons” as their song "Problems with Authority”. It is “Summons” that is played in the bookstore while Vanessa and Dan are attempting to patch things up. Georgina isn’t as lucky. Vanessa is more forgiving than Dan, who says she is asking for too much when she asks for friendship. The song is quite hard to hear, and it’s a shame because it’s actually a good one with a catchy beat and lyrics to match. It’s bound to get stuck in your head.
Cobra Starship (feat. Leighton Meester)’s "Good Girls Go Bad" starts the beginning of Georgina’s party scene as Dan escorts Blair into the party. This song may not be so much for Blair as it is for Georgina, who Dan apologizes to and offers a second chance at potential friendship. It’s volume climaxes as Georgina and Dan continue talking, Blair looks increasing uncomfortable, and Vanessa avoids Blair with a look of disgust.
The second most played song of this Gossip Girl episode is "Hot Mess" by Cobra Starship. Who wouldn’t love a song about girls’ trashy behavior and the guys that love it? This song is upbeat, the chorus is catchy, and the beat is goes pretty hard. This song fits Serena’s train wreck of a life perfectly! We first hear it as we see Serena on a date with Carter Basin. They un-coincidentally run into Chuck during a business meeting, successfully ruining his dream of opening a speakeasy.
Phoenix’s “1901” is the music selected for Blair’s suspicious departure from Georgina’s party and a seemingly innocent conversation gone awry between Scott, Dan, Vanessa, and Katie about NYU professors. It makes for a good party song because of the numerous sounds and changes it has. "1901" is interrupted by Blair’s toast to Georgina and the introduction of a parade of tambourine-toting Christians singing “What Do You Know About Jesus?”—a precious rendition performed by the cast. Appropriately so, “Hot Mess” is played again as Georgina tries to sort out this mess and Blair tries to relocate and take over the party.
While this Gossip Girl episode was more spark than fire, the music was definitely blazing!
|
News 
