Soundtrack For Sons Of Anarchy
Okay, confession time. When it comes to the Sons of Anarchy soundtrack, I have a bit of an… unpopular opinion. Most folks will tell you it’s all about the raw, gritty, outlaw anthems. They rave about the whiskey-soaked folk and the howling blues.
And sure, that stuff is in there. It’s the sonic equivalent of leather and engine grease. It sets the mood perfectly for a bar brawl or a tense chase scene. You can practically smell the exhaust fumes.
But for me? The real heart of the Sons of Anarchy soundtrack, the stuff that makes me want to crank the volume and sing along (badly, I might add), is… well, it’s a little different. It’s the stuff that makes you think, "Wait, is this really SOA music?"
Let’s talk about the unexpected. The moments where the show throws you a curveball with its musical choices. These aren’t the obvious biker anthems. These are the songs that sneak up on you. They’re the ones that make you tap your foot and wonder what’s going on.
My absolute favorite example? It has to be “Build Me Up Buttercup.” Yes, that song. The sunshine-y, pop-infused, pure 60s earworm. You hear it, and your brain does a double-take. Jax is probably in some deeply troubled state, contemplating the meaning of life and brotherhood. And then… BAM! “I’ll never let you down…”
It’s brilliant! It’s jarring. It’s hilarious. It’s everything that’s secretly wonderful about the show’s musical taste. It shows they weren’t afraid to be a little… quirky. They weren’t just aiming for "tough guy soundtrack."
Then there’s the “Gimme Some Lovin'” scene. Another classic. Another absolute bop. Suddenly, amidst all the chaos and violence, you’re treated to this burst of pure, unadulterated energy. It’s like the show is winking at you, saying, “Yeah, we know this is intense, but let’s have a little fun too, shall we?”
These moments are the gold. They’re the sonic palate cleansers. They’re the proof that Sons of Anarchy understood the power of contrast. They knew that sometimes, the most effective way to highlight darkness is with a little bit of light, even if that light comes in the form of a ridiculously catchy old pop song.
And let’s not forget “Son of a Preacher Man.” Okay, this one is a little more on the nose for the show’s themes, but Dusty Springfield’s smooth, soulful delivery is just… chef’s kiss. It’s got a melancholy undertone that perfectly captures some of the characters' inner struggles. It’s not just about the outlaw life; it’s about the baggage that comes with it.
I know, I know. The purists will be shaking their heads. They’ll say I’m missing the point. They’ll insist that the true SOA vibe comes from bands like The White Buffalo or Lord Huron. And those bands are great! They absolutely nail the gritty Americana sound.
But you know what? There’s a time and place for everything. There’s a time for the haunting melodies and the road-weary lyrics. And then there’s a time for a song that makes you want to do a little dance in your seat, even if the character on screen is contemplating murder.
It's like the showrunners were secretly big fans of guilty pleasures. They peppered the soundtrack with these unexpected gems that just made everything more interesting. They weren't afraid to be a little bit mainstream, a little bit poppy, a little bit… happy. And in the grim world of SAMCRO, that’s a bold choice.
Think about it. When Jax is wrestling with his destiny, and the camera pans out, and suddenly you hear “Howling at the Moon” by Ramblin’ Jack Elliott… that’s powerful. That’s the primal scream of the outlaw. That’s the iconic SOA sound.
But then, a few episodes later, someone’s in a reflective mood, and they play “House of the Rising Sun.” It’s a classic for a reason. It’s melancholic. It’s a story of downfall. It’s fitting.
However, for me, the truly unpopular opinion is that the soundtrack wasn't just about the obvious choices. It was about the delightful detours. It was about the moments that made you smile, even when things were bleak.
It’s about the feeling you get when a surprisingly upbeat song plays during a pivotal, dramatic scene. It’s a sonic juxtaposition that’s both brilliant and, dare I say, a little bit fun. It’s the soundtrack equivalent of a biker wearing a brightly colored bandana.
I’m talking about those songs that make you think, “Okay, SOA, you’ve got range!” You’ve got the dark, brooding stuff, and you’ve also got the stuff that makes you want to roll down the window and feel the wind in your hair, even if you’re not on a motorcycle.
So, while everyone else is dissecting the lyrical meaning of a grim folk ballad, I’ll be over here humming “Can’t Get You Out of My Head” by Kylie Minogue, thinking about how surprisingly perfect it was for that one particular moment of emotional turmoil for Opie.
Okay, maybe not that specific example, but you get the drift. The soundtrack was more than just a collection of biker jams. It was a carefully curated mix that understood the complexities of its characters and the show’s overall tone. It knew when to lean into the darkness, and when to offer a little unexpected brightness.
It’s the kind of soundtrack that, if you were to make a playlist, would be a wild ride. You’d have your Johnny Cash and your Tom Waits, for sure. But you’d also have your The Foundations and your The Animals. It would be eclectic. It would be surprising.
And that, my friends, is why I love the Sons of Anarchy soundtrack. It wasn’t afraid to be a little bit of everything. It understood that even in the roughest of worlds, there’s room for a little bit of joy, a little bit of pop, and a whole lot of excellent musical taste. Even if that taste is a little bit… unpopular.
So next time you’re rewatching Sons of Anarchy, pay attention. Listen for those unexpected musical moments. Those are the ones that truly elevate the show, in my humble, and perhaps slightly insane, opinion. They’re the secret sauce that makes the whole thing so wonderfully, addictively watchable.
They prove that even a show about a motorcycle club can have a surprisingly sophisticated and downright fun musical ear. And that, to me, is a victory. A small, pop-song-infused victory in a world of endless strife.
And if you still don't agree, well, that's okay too. Just promise me you'll at least crack a smile when “Build Me Up Buttercup” comes on. It’s just too good to resist. Right?