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I messed up, kinda big time, with this week's episode. And I kinda did it twice.
The first was one of those "check to see if it's plugged in before calling customer service" kind of mistakes. It totally wasn't plugged in. For the top of the show, our editor Jenny Golden was way ahead of the game. The story was edited, and music was placed with plenty of time to spare. It was beautiful. For the first time, it felt like things were going smoothly. Until the moment I called Left/Right to triple-check the track names for the Prologue.
Wait—let me back up. I love RJD2. And I'm not the only one. This guy makes gorgeous hip-hop/electronic instrumentals that have been used in British denim commercials and movies starring Uma Thurman and stuff. He's big-time. So it took a lot of calling around and bothering people to get someone to finally agree to license little ole us his song "A Beautiful Mine" from Magnificent City Instrumentals. We felt so lucky.
The song was cleared, and I was just triple-checking, like I said. I'd watch each segment—the song begins with pretty synthesizers, which we placed under a shot of the sun during the Prologue—and then I'd listen to the CD to make sure we had the right track name and all that. I guess you could say I was "supervising the music," though I might slap you if you did. Anyway, I put in the CD, cued up the song, pressed play, and then proceeded to have a major freak-out, taking everyone along with me. There were no synthesizers. Anywhere. Just big strings and drums. No—huge strings and huge drums! OMG WE LICENSED THE WRONG TRACK! Come on, everyone! Let's FREAK OUT!
The next day, after yelling/begging/whining at everyone who would listen, I sat in my office, blinds drawn, and tried to figure out what the hell we were going to do. The CD was playing while I brainstormed—because I still like RJD2 even when he's torturing me—and eventually the song came on. Before I could turn it off out of sheer contempt, the strings and drums suddenly stopped, the melody changed...and the synthesizer came in.
I am such a spaz.
So that's not such a big mistake, right? But wanna know what is? Using a song with uncleared samples. Just ask Biz Markie. And you know what makes it worse? Not catching it until the whole show is finished, and there’s literally half an hour left to swap in another song before the episode goes off to Showtime and onto everyone's TVs. We did find a replacement in time, but that half hour was super-sweaty, and I almost cried while looking up creative Top Ramen salad recipes I could make while unemployed. I wish I could tell you the whole story, but I can't. I don't want to get anyone in trouble for putting out a song without first clearing a four-bar-way-obvious-to-everyone-but-me sample of a song by a Hall of Fame songwriter and performed by an obscure rock band that only happens to include three of the biggest rock stars of all time. (A Snickers bar to the first person who guesses correctly.) I personally love songs with samples, but that's the law. Do you hear me, Ira? Just stop with your "Why can't we use Kid Loco on the TV?" nonsense! IT'S... THE... LAW!
P.S. Kid Loco, I love you, too. Maybe next time.
Music used in this episode, in order of appearance:
Prologue
• The Elements—"Am"
• RJD2—"A Beautiful Mine"
• Jon Autry—"Peeling Petals"
Act One
• Infernal Bridegroom Productions—"Unused Theme 2"
• Nate Tucker&mdash"Radian Dub"
• Nathaniel Cavaletto—"Style Wars"
• Joshua Davison—"Fresh Produce"
• Anselark—"Evelyth"
• Bexar Bexar—"El Glass"
• Bexar Bexar—"Rosebud Theme"
• Rocketship—"Late Evening Walk"
• Ida—"The Sweetest Neck"
• Lucky Dragons—"Falling Problems"
• Madvillain—"Great Day"
• Lucky Dragons—"Time Division Multiplexing"
• Infernal Bridegroom Productions—"The Greatness I Am Capable Of"
Credits
• Tommy Guerrero—"The Underdog"
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