“I always wanted to be a Tenenbaum” says Eli Cash in “The Royal Tenenbaums” directed by Wes Anderson. It is also the name of my playlist encompassing the score for the movie. On my second viewing, I created this playlist as the movie developed with the hopes of recreating the story in my mind whenever I wanted.
Opening with “Hey Jude” by The Beatles sets up the story for one filled with desolation and redemption. The song, written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, reflects on Lennon’s son grappling with his parents’ divorce.
This is similar to the theme of the movie in which the Tenenbaum children struggle with the fallout of their own parents’ divorce. The line “take a sad song and make it better” reflects the perspective that going through hardships is inevitable, but your perspective is what makes all the difference.
Throughout the film, the characters struggle with things like depression, bad habits, and an inability to forgive. They learn how to push through these issues, redeeming themselves by the end. The music takes the viewer through these storylines, allowing them to feel closer to the characters and themselves.
The Velvet Underground and Nico are featured multiple times in the film’s soundtrack with “These Days,” “Stephanie Says,” and “The Fairest Of The Seasons.” “These Days” plays as Margot Tenenbaum (Gwyneth Paltrow) steps off a bus to greet her stepbrother Richie Tenenbaum (Luke Wilson). This is the moment I fell in love with the film. This beloved song by Nico beautifully casts the feelings of melancholic nostalgia. The first line of the song and the first featured in the movie mirrors Margot’s secretive suffering:
“I’ve been out walking, I don’t do too much talking these days, these days, these days I seem to think a lot about the things that I forgot to do.”
This plays before the sound fades into the background. This moment resonated with me because, while I may not be going through the same circumstances, I think everyone can relate to feeling sad or helpless at times. Margot’s intense expression fixed on Richie demonstrates a quiet struggle that no one quite notices, but still weighs heavily. The relationship between the lyrics and the way she presents herself mirrors when you’re drifting but can’t figure out why.
A surprisingly joyous moment comes with the song “Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard” by Paul Simon. Royal Tenenbaum and his two grandsons engage in mischievous activities as this playful song encourages them. There is a moment where they all hold onto the back of a truck as it passes my hometown park, reminding me of my childhood days with my grandfather. While we didn’t hijack trucks, the moments of him giving me candy while playing in the park are some of my fondest adolescent memories.
These joyful moments are short-lived, however, as perhaps the most tragic moment in the film comes when Richie Tenenbaum attempts to kill himself while “Needle In the Hay” by Elliott Smith plays. Smith is an artist I was introduced to when I was 15. I soon learned that the beauty of his songs is the ability to portray such heartbreak through a mellow tone. This is a perfect song to play during this intense and breathtaking scene as Richie simply says, “I’m going to kill myself tomorrow.”
The developing story of the Tenenbaum family would not be nearly as impactful without the music selection, completing the film. While I have my personal reasons for enjoying the songs and moments in the film, the choice of popular songs and artists allows the viewer to feel immersed in the story as if it were theirs.