James Joseph Gandolfini, Jr.
September 18, 1961 - June 19, 2013

Even the immortal Tony Soprano died at last.

James Gandolfini was Tony Soprano. Even if he acted in a line of movies (Carol's voice in the magnificent Where the Wild Things Are to name one of the stranger ones), the classic TV series was his domain and his rise to stardom. He made the series into a classic epic. He gave life, depth, and warmth to the character - a character dealing with unlimited, violent brutality. A sociopath with a big heart.

So, why write an film (and TV) world obituary here from the LK HQ's music nest? Well, The Sopranos had a lot of music in it. The opening credits, where Tony Soprano drives out of the tunnel, passing the NJ turnpike, driving through his Jersey neighbourhood till he glides up his driveway, stops and steps out, guided by the cool and chilling "Woke Up This Morning" by Alabama 3 is almost a music video. No, it is a music video.

The list of songs from the series' soundtrack is a long one, actually it's a huge jukebox-full (and I'm not counting the music at the Bada Bing! club...): "The Beast in Me" (by Nick Lowe); "Complicated Shadows" and "High Fidelity" (by Elvis Costello & the Attractions); "Look on Down from the Bridge" (by Mazzy Star); "White Rabbit" (by Jefferson Airplane); "Frank Sinatra" (by Cake); "Buena" (by Morphine); "I Feel Free" (by Cream); "State Trooper" (by Bruce Springsteen); "Viking" and "The Valley" (by Los Lobos); "White Mustang II", "The Deadly Nightshade", and "Fisherman's Daughter" (by Daniel Lanois); "My Lover's Prayer" (by Otis Redding); "You Can't Put Your Arms Around a Memory" and "Pipeline" (by Johnny Thunders); "Thru and Thru", "Moonlight Mile", and "Undercover of the Night" (by The Rolling Stones); "Living on a Thin Line" and "I'm Not Like Everybody Else" (live) (by The Kinks); "Black Books" (by Nils Lofgren); "I'm a Man" (by Bo Diddley); "I (Who Have Nothing)" (by Ben E. King); "Affection" (by Little Steven and the Lost Boys); "Inside of Me" (by Little Steven & The Disciples of Soul); "Blur" (by Aphex Twin); "Kid A" (by Radiohead); "Dawn (Go Away)" (by The Four Seasons); "My Rifle, My Pony and Me" (from the movie Rio Bravo) (by Dean Martin and Ricky Nelson); "Blood Is Thicker than Water" (by Wyclef Jean feat. G & B); "Baubles, Bangles and Beads" and "It Was a Very Good Year" (by Frank Sinatra); "Take Me for a Little While" (by Dave Edmunds); "Oh Girl" (by The Chi-Lites); "Surfin' U.S.A." (by The Beach Boys); "It's Bad You Know" and "Shuck Dub" (by R. L. Burnside); "Heaven Only Knows" (by Emmylou Harris); "The Blues is My Business" (by Etta James); "Bad 'N' Ruin" (by Faces); "If I Were a Carpenter" (by Bobby Darin); "Return to Me" and "Gotta Serve Somebody" (by Bob Dylan); "Three Times a Lady" (by Commodores); "Mystic Eyes" (by Them); "Glad Tidings" and "Gloria" (by Van Morrison); "When It's Cold I'd Like To Die" (by Moby); "One of These Days" (by Pink Floyd); "4th of July" (by X); "I'm Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town" (by Ray Charles); "Let It Rock" (by Chuck Berry); "This Magic Moment" (by Ben E. King and The Drifters); "Evidently Chickentown" (by John Cooper Clarke); "Goin' Down Slow" (by Howlin' Wolf); "Space Invader" (by The Pretenders); "Minas De Cobre (For Better Metal)" (by Calexico), "Running Wild (Extended Instrumental)" and "Tiny Tears" (by Tindersticks) -- and "Don't Stop Believin'" (by Journey) To name most of them.

R.I.P. James Gandolfini. And Tony Soprano.

Copyright © 2013 Håvard Oppøyen