So, if you listen to any This American Life or Wiretap, you’ve almost certainly wittingly or unwittingly heard The Cinematic Orchestra thousands of times. I’d embed some samples here, but I don’t know how…but open this in a new window and listen along.
You will recognize:
- Dawn as the theme for a slightly ominous beginning.
- The Awakening as the theme for an outro to a piece that kinda makes you go “hmmm…”
- “Work It!” as the theme for a suspiciously off-kilter or mischievous unfolding. I.e. “Wait a sec, something’s up here…let’s investigate.”
- “Voyage” as a really obnoxious horn sound.
- “Theme De YoYo” – chase scene, obviously.
- “Drunken Tune” as the oft-usd theme played under the reflection part of a quirky story that teaches us a little bit ourselves.
- “All Things” as a kind of melancholy, foreboding “this changes everything” reflection.
It’s kind of ridiculous how often Ira and Goldstein bust these out – though I do like them. I own this album and listen to it sometimes outside the context of radio essays. Plus, Ira is quite aware that they play the same music in every episode (TAL does a lot of Blonde Redhead, too). Check out the episode 259 “Promised Land” where Ira Glass sings as much as he tries his hand at an “I Wish” song. Quite entertaining.
