Friday, September 2, 2011

Revenge of the 30 Day Song Challenge - Day 7

Day 7 - A Song From a Movie Trailer


"Going Under" - Evanescence, Fallen (2003)


Perhaps you remember Evanescence*. The band was known for their pseudo-gothic metal/rock/rap songs which differentiated them from the crumbling teen pop movement and the ascension of hip hop to the Popular Music Throne**. They were pretty big in 2003 with their hit "Bring Me to Life" featured in the forgotten comic book movie Daredevil.


In 2006, months before the release of their second album, Evanescence's less popular single, "Going Under", was featured in the trailer for Tristan + Isolde. It was a tragic historical romance loosely based on the Arthurian legend of Tristan and Iseult, two starcross'd lovers externally conflicted by a love potion and Iseult's arranged marriage. The film, starring James Franco (ha) and relative unknown Sophia Myles is sort of a guilty pleasure of mine; a hot mess of historical inaccuracy, bad accents, and unlikable characters. But I luurvvve the trailer.


As far as movie trailers go, it's not that great from a critical standpoint. It commits the cardinal sin of movie advertisement by telling the whole story. Hell, the tagline is: Before Romeo and Juliet, there was Tristan and Isolde. You know that movie ain't ending happily.


Back to the song. "Going Under" is featured in the latter half of the trailer. It meshes the modern with the medieval, building the melodrama probably further than necessary. I liked the song long before 2006. But the song makes Tristan + Isolde's trailer one of my favorites.



* Yes, yes, they just released a new single.


** Something Kanye would be proud of: Between February 2003 to February 2006, only three white artists had number one hits. The songs? "This is the Night" - Clay Aiken. "Hollaback Girl" - Gwen Stefani. "Inside Your Heaven" - Carrie Underwood. Just sayin'. People loved hip hop in the mid aughts.

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