Ashes to Ashes Series 3 (may contain Spoilers)
- Thread starter Capn Flukie
- Start date
I put ashes ashes on my spotify play list as soon as I finished watching the Final. And even though I did not recognise the song by name as soon has I heard it I recognised it.
Did someone use the tune in another song in the 90s?
Did someone use the tune in another song in the 90s?
So I was wondering, the truth Alex found out about her parents may not even be true?
Loved how they went into the plans of Life on Mars series 3 and how they kept the same idea for Ashes to Ashes. I thought they came up with the Gene idea this season only.
Ok, I'm exaggerating a bit, I'd heard it and recognise it when I hear it, but it's not something that springs to mind when I think 80s music.
Just read that interview I am glad the US got the crappy ending because otherwise I think it would have ruined our show if they both had the same ending.
I'm 52. Have been a huge Bowie fan since my first exposure to Ziggy Stardust.
Yet until these past few posts, it never really even occurred to me that the show was playing off another Bowie title. Even though I know and love the song, and even with all the "Scary Monsters" imagery of the Bowie-clown in series 1 and 2.
I think this is because unlike "Life on Mars" (the series) which used its namesake song almost everywhere, Ashes to Ashes didn't really do this, or at least not as overtly. LOM used its song in both its opening and closing credits, and snippets scattered liberally throughout just about every episode. But A2A? Not really. Bowie's A2A wasn't the show's title music, and frankly, I can't think of a single time they used the song in a particularly memorable way. If anything, the Bowie song they used most effectively during the show's whole run was "Heroes", particularly in the finale
BTW, what is the name and origin of the piece that actually does play during Ashes to Ashes' opening title sequence? Anyone know?
Yet until these past few posts, it never really even occurred to me that the show was playing off another Bowie title. Even though I know and love the song, and even with all the "Scary Monsters" imagery of the Bowie-clown in series 1 and 2.
I think this is because unlike "Life on Mars" (the series) which used its namesake song almost everywhere, Ashes to Ashes didn't really do this, or at least not as overtly. LOM used its song in both its opening and closing credits, and snippets scattered liberally throughout just about every episode. But A2A? Not really. Bowie's A2A wasn't the show's title music, and frankly, I can't think of a single time they used the song in a particularly memorable way. If anything, the Bowie song they used most effectively during the show's whole run was "Heroes", particularly in the finale
BTW, what is the name and origin of the piece that actually does play during Ashes to Ashes' opening title sequence? Anyone know?
^Life on Mars? Wasn't the title music to Life on Mars, and I don't remember them using it all that much in the series... I only watched it again before Ashes to Ashes series 3.
They used Ashes to Ashes in the final episode of series 1, Alex's dad played it before he blew up the car.
They used Ashes to Ashes in the final episode of series 1, Alex's dad played it before he blew up the car.
the themes for both LOM and A2A were composed for the shows and were not the Bowie tracks
I stand corrected. LOM wasn't the opening or closing credits music after all. I misremembered. And am pretty confused about this now. Hindsight may be 20/20, but hindsound is apparently not always so sharp.
Still, I'm pretty sure that LOM was used pretty heavily throughout the series itself, while Ashes to Ashes was really only featured in one episode of its series.
Still, I'm pretty sure that LOM was used pretty heavily throughout the series itself, while Ashes to Ashes was really only featured in one episode of its series.
Other than Sam listening to it when he got hit by the car I don't remember it being use, at least not prominently.
Hearts Filthy Lesson could work as the name for the 90s version. I know it's a stretch, but it's not as if they use the song in the theme anyway.1. OutsideThey couldn't do it anyway since Bowie didn't write anything good enough in the 90s.
I refer you to post 288.
Its use was often pretty subtle, but I'm pretty sure it was there a lot. Often when Sam was in contact with his "real" life via the television or some such, or when he made a connection between how his new life might be connected to the "real" world, it would waft into a scene.
And they did flash back to his arrival a bit, so it was there as well, first on the ipod, and then the car radio.
And it was used several times during the finale, once early on, again, and most effectively leading up to Sam's suicide, and later, leading up to the final shot where the young girl switches off the television.
In any case, LOM reminded from time to time us of it's musical namesake by actually playing it. A2A...not so much. There were visual allusions to the song, most notably the recurring appearance of Alex's tormenter dressed as the Bowie "Scary Monsters" clown, but not so much audibly.
And I think I may have just figured out why. BBC got a deal with SONY Music, for music clearances on the show. In turn SONY could capitalize on the series by releasing companion compilation cds of the music used in each series. I'm guessing there was some encouragement to not reuse pieces of a single artist, but to instead diversify and feature more artists of the period for inclusion in these companion albums.
And they did flash back to his arrival a bit, so it was there as well, first on the ipod, and then the car radio.
And it was used several times during the finale, once early on, again, and most effectively leading up to Sam's suicide, and later, leading up to the final shot where the young girl switches off the television.
In any case, LOM reminded from time to time us of it's musical namesake by actually playing it. A2A...not so much. There were visual allusions to the song, most notably the recurring appearance of Alex's tormenter dressed as the Bowie "Scary Monsters" clown, but not so much audibly.
And I think I may have just figured out why. BBC got a deal with SONY Music, for music clearances on the show. In turn SONY could capitalize on the series by releasing companion compilation cds of the music used in each series. I'm guessing there was some encouragement to not reuse pieces of a single artist, but to instead diversify and feature more artists of the period for inclusion in these companion albums.
Could pick up easily enough, right where it left off, with no jump to the 90s required. And what would be the point?
Well, none whatsoever if the continued ti play him just the same. That would indeed be a hollow sham.
But if Gene HAS been changed by the events at the end of A2A? Then not a sham. Old Gene had supposedly forgotten what was really going on. Was living in a deluded afterlife of his own making. Now, having been forced to face the truth, is Gene the same guy? I think not.
I'm thinking about a new Gene Hunt, who acts as a kind of spirit guide to freshly offed cops, and a foil for spirits like Keats, who would use the dead for their own purposes. Basically a series unlike either LOM or A2A, because the secret is no longer secret, but is out in the open, at least where Gene and the audience is concerned.
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Yeah, I was just arguing that you could get a decent Bowie song title for a 90s version. I certainly think they should leave it, of course. Ashes to Ashes wasn't nearly as good as Life on Mars, but we've had our conclusion now.
It was used to great effect at the end of series 1 and 2.
I can't see someone like Gene in the 90s police force.
It only gets worse from here on in.
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