THE CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED
The True Blood Season 3 Finale episode airs on September 12. I’m having trouble believing that Season 3 is almost over because it seems like yesterday when we were all waiting patiently for the season to start.
While a finale episode is always bitter sweet, I think this finale might be a bit sweeter than usual, because it includes as its title song, a collaboration of two great True Blood musicians.
Also, as a special treat, the Vault is running a contest where you can win a True Blood Season 2 soundtrack CD. See the contest rules below.
Inspired to remake a classic blues tune, True Blood’s music supervisor, Gary Calamar and CC Adcock came up with the idea to remake, for the finale’s title song, “Evil“.
Jace Everett, the writer and performer of the show’s title theme song, Bad Things, was asked to join in and work with CC to create a new version of the classic blues song by Willie Dixon, which was recorded and made famous by the great blues artist, Howlin’ Wolf. CC Adcock, the musician who wrote Bleed 2 Feed, which is on True Blood’s Season 1 soundtrack, and who has appeared with his band playing at Arlene and Rene’s wedding in Season 1, got together with Jace and fellow producer, Mike Napolitano to record this great new version.
C.C. Adcock and Gary Calamar
Below is the mini-documentary about this collaboration recording, presented by HBO, showing how the recording came to be.
Jace Everett
Since the resulting recording of “Evil” by CC and Jace is the title song of Season 3′s finale episode, it seemed appropriate to find out more about it. Recently, I had a chance to speak to Jace Everett about the making of the song and that interview is below with a bit also thrown in by Gary Calamar.
Can you tell me how the song and the collaboration with CC Adcock came to be?
Gary Calamar (music supervisor) and CC Adcock were bouncing some ideas for a “classic”song to use this season for trailers. Much as they used Dylan’s song “Beyond Here Lies Nothing” for last season. Howlin’ Wolf was one of the blues greats they had in mind.
How did you and CC get together on it?
CC and Gary thought it would be cool to get me involved. They called me up and CC and I spent a couple of weeks bouncing ideas back and forth. The whole production style, while certainly a collaborative effort, was really the brain-child of CC and Mike Napolitano. Mike engineered the track and had some great ideas to augment where CC and I envisioned it heading.
Tell the fans a bit about the origin of the song?
This is a classic blues written by Willie Dixon. Willie wrote so many songs that are now considered standards. Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Little Walter and others all recorded his tunes. To say nothing of the fact that white boys like the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin and countless others have been aping Willie’s tunes ever since. Now I guess CC and I are getting in on the action!
Can you tell me about the experience of making the recording? When was it recorded and where?
I flew down to New Orleans and spent a couple of days with CC bouncing from studio to studio. The track is a really good mixture of raw and loose musicianship and some cool loops and sound design. I really like the mixture of technology and raw humanity we captured.
I understand that a mini-documentary is being aired along with the season finale. What was the filming of that like? When did you do it?
CC had the good sense to get a camera crew there for the weekend! We just documented the event. It’s all shot on location in New Orleans.
Tell me what you think of the song Evil and does it fit in any of those made up music categories?
It’s an amazing song. The Howlin’ Wolf version is simply untouchable. It can’t be improved. Hopefully, we showed our respect and merely put a 21st century spin on it.
It’s, as a song, as pure a Blues number as you can get. I think where we took it is maybe a little “post-modern”, if you will.
What do you think of when you hear the word “Evil”?
Besides Dick Cheney? I don’t know. There’s the cartoon version of evil; pitch forks, horns and the like. Then there’s the real-life evil; the crap we humans do to one another through selfishness, laziness, greed, and religious fervor.
I guess I prefer the pitchfork! Far more manageable! LOL!
What do you think of True Blood’s big success?
Well, having spent a little time with the creators, cast, and behind the scenes folks of the show, I couldn’t be happier for them. They are a good group of people. I think it’s a real hoot of a show. Funny, sexy, scary, addictive. Obviously, it’s been good for me, too. Here’s hoping for another 10 seasons and the 3D Imax movie in 2014!!
Do you and CC have any plans for future recordings together?
Nothing concrete at present, but it would certainly be something I’d like to do. We have a lot of similar taste in music, but still approach things a little differently. It’s a nice mix that I hope we’ll explore in the future.
Gary Calamar has already told me that his eight year old daughter, Zoe and two friends did backups for the song and it is their voices at the end saying “Evil”. He said that CC sent him a demo and that Zoe and her two friends recorded their part in LA and it was sent back to be added to the song. Is this the way it went? Do you have anything to add?
Yea, my bit was done by then, but I think that’s how it went down. you know, with modern technology, it’s truly astounding what can be done in the recording world. Napolitano deserves big kudos for wrangling it all together.
What do you think differentiates this version of the song from the original?
Well, it’s louder! CC had the conceit to make a record that a young hip-hop fan could dig. You know the blues of the ’50′s and ’60′s was, at the time, “race music”. It could be argued that hip-hop started that way. Now, of course, hip-hop is ubiquitous. From jazz, blues, rock and roll, rhythm and blues, and now hip-hop, black Americans have really invented the bulk of popular music. Then us crackers water it down a bit and make it safe! CC and I love the classic blues music. However, a lot of young black kids aren’t even aware of it. It became gentrified and adopted by white boys. I think CC wanted to bring the two worlds together. A lot of my friends in the hip-hop world are big fans of the show [True Blood] and I’ve gotten some really good feedback on the track from that angle.
Gary also mentioned that the acoustic recording of Bad Things would be available on Itunes, is this true? Or will it be elsewhere too, other than your acoustic album, Old New Borrowed Blues?
Yes, the acoustic version of “Bad Things” is also on the Season 2 soundtrack available at ITunes.
THE CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED
WIN A SEASON TWO SOUNDTRACK CD!
In honor of this collaboration, two True Blood fans will be chosen to win a CD of the Season 2 soundtrack. See contest rules below:
- leave a comment to this post by answer one of these two questions: Describe how important the music is for you in True Blood? – OR – Do you have a favorite song from the show and why?
- leave a valid email address, the 2 winners will be contacted by email.
- the 2 winners will receive an email to which he/she has to reply within 72 hours of the sending date. If you do not reply within that time frame you lose your right to the prize and the prize will be given to another random winner.
- the contest is open to fans all over the world, not just in the US
- comments must be posted by 11:59 pm PST on Friday, September 17, 2010 to be eligible
- the 2 winners will be drawn randomly from the eligible entries
Do you have a favorite song from the show and why?
answer: I have two favorite songs from the show:
Time Bomb by Beck and I Will Rise Up by Lyle Lovett…Both of these songs describe the 2 episodes that their named for in their own way and the way that the song is done is awesome down to the core.
Describe how important the music is for you in True Blood?
I think that the music in True Blood is what make it so special. The theme song is an example. It makes you understand immediately what the show is about. Even the songs used in the hbo trailers are awesome and I downloaded almost every one of them (Teeth, The Difference Between us, Home, Kiss with a fist ecc) also the song Evil by Jace Everett was used in one of the trailers.
I also have 2 fav songs from the show -
Episode 1X10 “I Don’t Wanna Know”
“Maison Creole” performed by C.C. Adcock and The Lafayette Marquis(during Arlene and Rene’s engagement party)
This was definitely one of my favorite music moments in the show. I love this song, it just makes you wanna shake your ass. Plus, it added a lot of energy and anticipation to the episode.
Also, “Bad Things” performed by Jace Everett has to get it’s kudos. This is the perfect theme song for True Blood, it’s sexy, seductive, raw, dangerous – everything that TB is about.
I would love to win this CD, there’s sooo much music w/in the show that I’d like to get into more.
Otep’s “Head” is up there at the top for me after that absolutely stunning end to episode 3.08. And I loved Bill and Sookie dancing to Jerry Lee Lewis’ “Before the Night is Over” in last year’s finale. But to this day my favorite song – from my all-time favorite episode – is “Cold Ground.” It’s a beautiful song, haunting in its simplicity, with a deceptively country twang that morphs into so much more as the song progresses. Kudos to Gary Calamar and everyone involved with the music on the show – they never hit a false note (pun intended).
Do you have a favorite song from the show and why?
My most favorite is “bad things” it just tells it all, it’s just the perfect song for the show.
I also love “beyond here lies nothing” by Bob Dylan and “Fresh Blood” by The Eels both songs sound dirty,gritty and sexy all at the same time just like the show!
I look forward each week to hearing the music choices and see how they mesh with the story. It is remarkable how well they mesh and help drive the story. It is hard to pick a favorite aside from Jace’s Bad Things theme but being a huge fan of Billie Holliday fan I loved hearing, I’ve Got a Right to Sing the Blues and that they showed Lorena actually play it on the old Victrola. “I do miss the 1930′s, such style, elegance” That song as background to her torture of my Bill made my head explode and I tear up to think about it. I felt sorry for her and wanted to kill her myself simultaneously. “There’s nothing left for me, I’m full of misery, I’ve got a right to sing the blues.” omg
Do you have a favorite song from the show and why?
My favorite song is the opening theme “Bad Things”. It fits with the series like a glove, a great theme song choice. The words and music itself depict the mood and essence of the series perfectly and that is why it has been on my iPod since I first heard it on True Blood.
I feel that the music on True Blood is very important because it sets the tone of whats happening.
I love the music that true blood has on it. it sets the mood and makes u wanna dance with them. i have bad things as a call and ring tone lol. my fav songs are bad things and fresh blood. awesome tunes
I know I can’t win and already have the CD, but I wanted to comment about what I think of the music in True Blood. When I first heard the title song of Bad Things, I thought it had been written specifically for True Blood and was astounded to learn that Jace wrote it before the show and Alan Ball had found it. I love CC Adcock and know that he also has a good “feel” for the show and the very first song we hear in S1, E1 is his Y’All’d Think She’d Be Good 2 Me. There are so many wonderful songs on the show that I can’t name them all here, but I can tell you that I have been turned on to so many different types of music because of this show and am really into music again for the first time in many years. Here’s a short list of some of my favorite TB songs, ones that made a scene or identified with it like those already mentioned above:
Cold Ground by Rusty Truck, Stumble and Pain by Joseph Arthur, Don’t Fear the Reaper, the Heaven 17 version, Red Eyes and Tears by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Snake in the Grass by Vallejo, New World in My View by King Britt, Beautifully Broken by Gov’t Mule, You Did by Chuck Prophet. My new favorites are Paradise Circus by Massive Attack and 9 Crimes by Damien Rice. I could go on and on, but this comment is getting too long. LOL! Check them out, you will be glad you did!
True Blood music is very important and totally rocks! I look forward to the music as much as I do the actual show! My two ultimate favorites is of course Bad Things by Jace Everett and Fresh Blood by Eels! I play both of them on the jukebox when I go out to shoot pool every Friday night! I think Evil Going On will become my third favorite from what I’ve seen on the Inside the Studio video! V”’V
My favorite song would have to be Bad Things. When I’m really stressed out, the music calms me down and put’s me in my own little zone to help me relax. When I’m not watching the series, it makes me picture it in my head…
I don’t have a favorite song. But the music is like the show, original, offbeat, different, strong, etc. Most of the episode theme songs I have not heard of before and has exposed me to music I would not otherwise have thought to listen to. I am amazed on how well the theme song ties into the episode. Just like in movies music can greatly enhance the experience. So thanks Alan Ball & company for not only making a brilliant TV show but also for brilliant choices in music.
I think the Music for True Blood Has such a huge Impact on the Show,
I love Bad things and fits the show like a glove,Any other song just wouldnt Fit,The Music for the show is well chosen-Love it!
It has made me experince different Music,
True Blood is Fang-Tas-tic!!!
The music is very important to “TB” I especially love the end songs they actually go with the episode and in many cases the end of the episode…I loved the ending with the death of the news anchor “And now the weather ..Tiffany”, the end song was awesome…..
Do you have a favorite song from the show and why?
I really loved the song Sex and Candy by Marcy Playground when it came on in the scene where Jessica and Hoyt first met. I felt it fit so well with the scene, the show, everything was great about it. The song is so catchy, and just plain sexy! Now everythme I hear it somewhere i think “True Blood is awesome!” haha. I fell in love with the show even more when i heard it. I love Sex and Candy and I love True Blood <3 I hope to hear more amazing music on my favorite TV show ever =]
My favorite song is Bad Things.I know that many people like it but it really is the best song in the series because it captures the essence of the show,the mood,the bad and dangerous.Plus,it’s very catchy:)
Describe how important the music is for you in True Blood?
I think the music in True Blood is important beacuse it is one of the things that makes the show unique. I think that the music is what gives it its special touch and yet it never gets old.It also represents part of the episode and in some ways it also describes it.
Otherwise, the music in each show is different so it gives it excitement to the episode as well as it gives it teh only thing that it needs to be just perfect for the scene and what is goind on during the show. Thank you for letting us comment and goodbye.
I can’t possibly choose a favorite song, so I’ll answer the other question. The music is important on the show because it helps set the mood and it enhances the plot. If the show were a hot fudge sundae, the music would be the whipped cream and cherry on top. The show is already awesome and along comes the music to be the that final touch to make it special. I love the fact that the songs are usually not well known or just off the beaten path. I have discovered many new musical favorites thanks to this show’s soundtrack. :-)
The music in the series is unique to the show and “Bad Things” is the top dog of the show! That song was written for the show only Jace Everett didn’t realize he was writing it for a hit show at the time. LOL. Perhaps a little super-natural spell was being cast prior to the show’s inception.
Nathan Barr’s erie musical sounds really help to heighten the excitemnet of the scenes – I love the visual and audio excitement of the show. For me, the Cat Power’s song, “Half of You”, will always have a special place in my heart becase that is the song that was playing when Bill and Sookie made love for the very first time. “Sigh”. In Season Three, Episode 3, one of my favorites is “9 Crimes” by Damien Rice. I’ve been a Damien Rice fan for years and love his sensual and moving lyrics and honestly was wondering when Alan Ball would pick a Damien Rice song for the show. Season Three, Episode 11 gave us the song “Fresh Blood” which was more than perfect for that particular Episode – there was a lot of BLOOD being lost, exchanged and talked about in Episode 3. The song, “Fresh Blood”, was especially poignant at the end of that Episode. The other really interesting thing about the music is that when I hear any of the songs from the show on the radio or while playing a CD it makes me think about the show and what took place when that particular song was playing.
The music is very important to me as i think it gives the show just that right kind of edge that it needs just brings it all together for me. I love the song at the start of the show as it builds me up to the climax
I believe the music is as important to the episodes as the the writing is. I have been moved to tears by many of the songs, but I hear the music played at Gran’s funeral in the back ground of so many other episodes, and it always reminds me of Gran, the first funeral I ever went to as a child in the south and the sadness of her death>leaving Sookie all alone. “Take me Home” was the perfect song and it was the only episode that did not have music at the end: fitting, silence because there are no words for that kind of pain. I love Jace Everett’s music, “Bad Things” runs thru my mind all the time. I think the picks for each episode/show have all been perfect, there has not been one single one that I would change. His last one, “Evil is Going On” was also phenomenal, perfect > he is so very talented! Love the music as much as I love the show!
I love the music cause it totally fits every seen. My favorite song is the won they use diring the virginity seen in season 1 epi6. I fit perfect to me. ” I want all of you ooo.” Part of you is mentioned at the same time. I loved it. He is getting part of her and she is getting part of him. Who ever pics these songs is a genious. I thought the nothing but the blood epi was genious cause of the music and the writing. The randy travis was so funny to put in there and sweet at the same time.
I love all the music, it helps with the mood of the show. I have to agree with some others that ‘Bad Things’ is my fav song, it really sticks in the mind. Also I find myself humming the song all the time. Plus it really does represent the main message of the show! Thanks and please enter me!
Do you have a favorite song from the show and why?
-I luuuuuuuuuuuuuv bad things, is the best one, but for me i luv “Head of Medusa” by Otep and Paradise Circus by massive attack…both are my favorite personal songs, they transporting me to the scene. *2 thumbs up* Thanks to everyone who made it possible to choose these songs so catchy!!! I luv it! ♫I wanna do bad things with YOU♪