Behind the Music: Felicity, The Real World and Now and Again

TV has been raiding record-company vaults to fuel its dramas—and igniting CD sales in the process. Here, three music mavens talk about how tunes make the scenes. — LM

Buck Damon, music supervisor, Felicity, The WB Philosophy: ”We use classics and up-and-comers to make it interesting.” Macy Gray’s ”I Try” ”We used it in a typical emotional Felicity scene.” Leon Haywood’s ”I Want’a Do Something Freaky to You” ”It worked brilliantly. Noel, Felicity, and Elena were having dinner and there was sexual tension between Noel and Felicity.” Meshell Ndegeocello’s ”Loyalty” ”For a bar scene. It has that old-school R&B sound, but she gives it new flavor, so it fits well for Felicity.”

Chris Burch, music supervisor, The Real World, MTV Philosphy: ”We’re a breeding ground for up-and-coming bands.” Natural Calamity’s ”Dark Water & Stars” ”It played in a scene where Colin floats in the ocean. Then he and Amaya end in the bedroom, so this is sort of their theme.” Havalina Rail Co.’s ”Let’s Not Forget Hawaii” ”For the finale. It’s contemplative and poignant.” Third Eye Blind’s ”Jumper” ”Teck jumps on the seawall and sings ‘Wish you would step back from that ledge my friend’ from this song.”

Glenn Gordon Caron, creator/exec producer, Now and Again, CBS Philosphy: ”We treat each episode like a little movie.” Janet Jackson’s ”Got ‘Til It’s Gone” ”The song’s melancholy was appropriate when John Goodman died.” AC/DC’s ”Hells Bells” ”We wanted ‘I Am the Walrus’ because the pilot introduces the character Eggman, but the Beatles’ rep was uncomfortable with all the blood.” Aerosmith’s ”Crazy” ”It’s obvious. A man invents a serum that removes fear, and people start ripping off their clothes.”