Supernatural Song-to-Scene Final Round
16 days, 64 nominees, and it's down to the last two - Renegade and O Death. The heavy favorites going in are finally against each other. Renegade made it into the finals by defeating Can't Find My Way Home, Man in the Wilderness, Silent Lucidity, Knockin' on Heaven's Door, and Back in Black (65%). O Death beat Fell on Black Days, Space Oddity, Simple Man, A Well-Respected Man, and Wanted Dead or Alive (61%). While only one can be crowned the best song-to-scene, it is my opinion that both are great examples of how music can enhance a scene for TV in general. There are no better songs-to-scene in TV for me. Whichever one prevails today represents Supernatural well.
Thank you to everyone who voted, explained your favorites, and campaigned for your choices. I've done a lot of hiatus polls but this has been my favorite. I've loved our discussions and now look at some scenes in a different way. That's always a welcome surprise when you've seen each scene 100+ times. I've enjoyed spending the hiatus with you all. Thanks for being the best part of the hiatus. Until the summer hellatus, I wish you a happy second half of season 8 and look forward to hashing out your favorite scenes each week. Happy voting!
Scene Videos: (Remember this is NOT favorite scene but which song matches the scene best)
Renegade
O Death
Screencaps by Home of the Nutty
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I think both songs-to-scene are incredibly powerful and important. They embody exactly what a perfect song-to-scene should be for me. The tone of the piece matches the mood of the scene. The lyrics work with the situation. Most importantly, the combination of both the music and the scene are greater than either would be on its own. In this way both are perfect. So in the end it comes down to which one worked harder for that perfection for me. In a way, these two choices mirror the contest for me. The left side of the bracket was really hard. There were a lot of great song-to-scene choices there. The right side had it a lot easier, especially in the lower half. In the same way, O Death was an easier scene to match to its song. It's about as near to perfect a song match as you can get (with just a bit more video editing and a line tweak or two to truly make it perfect) and arguably the best character entrance of them all. In fact the song feels like it was written for this scene. Having never heard it before, I originally thought it was. The whole thing feels effortless and that's why I'm voting for Renegade. Yeah, it may not make any sense but I think Renegade is as near perfect as O Death but it got that way with some serious editing work. Not that you see it in the scene itself - that is flawlessly meshed together - but you know it when you hear the entire song. Again a bit of video editing and some line tweaks would have made it even closer to perfection but that's the same with every nominee in the final four. For me, it's the gap in the music where we only hear heartbeats and we know the brothers' hearts are racing. It's the "We are so screwed" that matches the premise of the song. It's the change in tempo that made it feel like I was holding my breath with the brothers until the music just exploded forth and we were suddenly on the run. Renegade actively put me into the scene with the brothers. I swear sometimes I still hold my breath in that gap and it heightens the tension. I live this scene through this song and that's why it gets my vote.
ReplyDeleteI picked Renegade.
ReplyDeletePicked O Death.
ReplyDeleteI would like to say this poll has been fabulous! I've had so much fun, even the boyfriend got involved and he won't even watch Supernatural with me. But when I'd play the YouTube links, and there he'd be on the couch checking in and commenting. It brings us all together and that is great. Thanks for the work Dahne!!!
Wow. I knew it would come down to these two.
ReplyDeleteBoth incredible choices, really hard to pick one. I went with o' death because it really was Just so perfect. I thought the sing had been written for the show. Thanks for the competition !
Un freaking believable. I picked O Death
ReplyDeletethroughout this entire contest I have believed and said a couple of times that I would pick Renegade. But I re-watched both scenes....and it was that visceral thing. I actually picked O Death.
The last four times I've voted, I've been the person who puts the songs in that category at a dead tie. That said, "O Death" should win overall.
ReplyDeleteThis will be a close one. I had to sit back and remember how both scenes occurred and how the music fit them. I had to go with Renegade.
ReplyDeleteAlthough both songs are great S to S, I'm voting for Renegade because it's a great ending and because both brothers are in it, good and happy with each other and for me that gives it a little advantage over O Death.
ReplyDeleteYay for Spn returning tonight, and thanks for running this poll to make the hiatus more bearable. It was a great experience.
ReplyDeleteVery tough choice for the finale. I'm expecting it to be real close, and either scene deserves to win. As you said, they both represent the show so well. In the end I went with Renegade, for the very shallow reason that the scene has the Winchesters in it, and although Death is one of the most compelling recurring characters I have ever seen the boys are the heart and soul of the show.
well i took the O Death, and it is fitting that they are still tied with 50% of the votes, if there ever was a time to make an exception and declare two winners, i think it should be in this poll :)
ReplyDeleteAnyway also would like to thank Dahne for running this poll.
It's looking like this is going to be freakishly close.
ReplyDeleteI am also watching scenes differently in all my shows, listening more closely to the songs, but no one has music done as well as my show, SPN. I have been thinking about which to vote for since yesterday, so when I cast my vote was a little surprised that my very hard pick was losing..went with Renegade.
ReplyDeleteO Death introduces a very important character in the Supernatural Universe. (You out there Lillith?) It is the perfect song for that scene BUT Death has only been around for four (?) episodes.
ReplyDeleteRenegade slowly builds to its climax and it is slow enough for you to sit back and realize that the s*** heap that Sam and Dean were on just got monumentally bigger. It adds an adversary albeit tangentially. And drops them even deeper down the rabbit hole.
Gotta go Renegade. (Plus I can't play air drums on O Death.)
Sorry, Dahne, I went with O Death, I've always thought that was the most perfect character introduction on a show ever! Plus, it has to do with Death and well, you know how I feel about Julian Richings. But a little part of me hopes it's a 50/50 tie all the way to end. Great job with this poll!
ReplyDeleteyesterday i got season 6 on dvd im verry happy;)) i am going to eventually buying season 7 too but not yet:((
ReplyDeleteAs much as I love O'Death and as important as it is, I've always felt that Renegade was THE best use of song to scene that I've ever seen in a TV show. Everything fit. The mood of the song. The lyrics of the song. Everything about that scene was perfect...and well, just flat out cool!
ReplyDeleteRenegade - When i watched first time (and not have idea what about song is) i felt that song is perfect for that scene. And now (when i understand lyrics) songs seems to be more perfect for scene than was before (if that is possible :D). The song edit fits so perfectly with was going in scene and gives me every time chills.
ReplyDeleteO Death - another perfect song-to-scene. That was in my opinion best character introduction on the show. Maked me feel afraid of the last horseman - Death. This song-to-scene gives me chills every time too. After reading comments looks like i not the only one who thought that song was written for this scene. :)
I went with Renegade. For me both song-to-scene is worth to be winners, so if polls votes be close, i will think of both song-to-scenes as winners first place.
Thanks Dahne, for running these polls.
I'm on the "hope they tie" side of things. Hard to choose between them.
ReplyDeleteThe slow build up is why Renegade is my choice too. I love how well they used the change in tempo.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. This is one contest where I won't mind at all if my choice loses. That's how awesome both of them are.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much. I love hearing Supernatural bring people together even if it's just for a poll. Who knows, maybe he will one day check out an episode with you.
ReplyDeleteI also thought O Death was written for the show originally. I wonder if the music people suggested the song before they created the scene or if it was the other way around.
ReplyDeleteWow, that is a shock! I too have changed my mind about a poll where I just knew what I would vote beforehand. Not this round but in some pretty big ones. I'm not-so-secretly rooting for a tie myself.
ReplyDeleteI think it is awesome that so many polls were incredibly close. Shows how awesome the nominees were and just how well the Supernatural crew does with music. They are an often under-appreciated part of the show.
ReplyDeleteJust from this contest alone I think I have watched the Renegade and O Death scenes about 50 times. They never get old and I re-appreciate them whenever I hear music in another show.
ReplyDeleteRenegade does evoke a nostalgic feeling in that the conflict came from the plot and other characters and not from a rift in the brothers' relationship itself. I too would like to go back to that. However, even without that nostalgia I think I would still vote Renegade due to how the song helped the scene play with my emotions. My heart beats faster when the music kicks in and that always adds a bit of an adrenaline rush while I'm watching it. Perfect for feeling hunted down by the FBI.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you joined us. Hiatus is always more fun when you can discuss the things you love about Supernatural and for me that very much includes the music. By the way, I love your profile picture. Peter looks great there.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for participating and adding your insight. It's been fun to dissect these scenes together. I think it would be fitting if they tied.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing how much the music can influence my feelings for a show now. Supernatural is proof that a good song choice can enhance a scene immeasurably. Sadly many shows do not use music to its fullest. Cold Case and Supernatural are still the best to me. I'll be eagerly awaiting the song choice for the previously tonight and hopefully we will get more classic rock in the actual episode. I'm finely tuned into it now.
ReplyDeleteNo need to be sorry. It is an excellent song-to-scene. It will also be a final four contestant in the eventual best character introduction contest - thinking that will be in summer hellatus unless I can figure out how to include other shows in it too.
ReplyDeleteCongrats. There was a lot about season 6 that I loved. RoboSam made me laugh, I liked Lisa and Ben as characters and we had Jensen's directorial debut, more Crowley, Ellen back, and some good action and comedy episodes.
ReplyDeleteCannot underestimate the cool factor. When I think of song-to-scene, Renegade is the first thing I think of. Supernatural rocks music in all ways. I wish more shows would emulate that.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for participating. I loved hearing your thoughts. Death is one of the coolest characters ever created for any show and this was the best way to show his gravitas. Not just the music, but the car, shoes, and cane helped emphasize Death's power before he ever killed the guy or spoke a word. To be able to ratchet up the tension that quickly and that high without words was brilliant on everyone's part.
ReplyDeleteyeah i know i have watched ep 1,2,3,4 and 6 i jumped 5 right now because i am going to sleep after watching this ep and of ep 5 and 6 i think that ep 6 is better than 5:) its night here in Norway i dont want to sleep but i have to go to work tomorrow:((
ReplyDeleteI'm really happy that Renegade managed to pull ahead and win.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the time you've dedicated to this poll. It's been very pleasurable. :)
Have you heard the original version? Ralph Stanley I think. It's on the "O Brother Where Art Thou" soundtrack. Very haunting. He actually sang it at the grammy awards that year and the audience was completely silent. It was very interesting to watch the reactions of hip-hop and pop artists.
ReplyDeleteNo I haven't. I had to turn off O Brother Where Art Thou because I couldn't stand it anymore. Don't think I got to that part. I will look for it on YouTube.
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked it. I am bittersweet happy on the Renegade win. Both are winners in my book even if I voted for Renegade myself.
ReplyDeleteFair fight.... Glad Renegade won happy to see it was so close though...
ReplyDelete