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In the dark and mysterious world of Yellowjackets, where teenage trauma collides with supernatural horror. The haunting melody of Yellowjackets theme song sets the stage for an unforgettable journey. Yellowjackets Season 2 premiered on Showtime on March 24, 2023, immersing viewers once again in the harrowing world of ’90s alt-rock and the haunting wilderness. Where a girls soccer team faced a horrifying plane crash and its aftermath.
With its gripping storyline, Yellowjackets pays homage to the ’90s era, featuring iconic alternative “it” girls Juliette Lewis and Christina Ricci, alongside a soundtrack that transports viewers back in time. At the core of Yellowjackets lies a theme song that evokes a sense of eerie beauty and foreboding, aptly titled “No Return.” Dive into the intriguing story behind the creation of No Return Yellowjackets and its profound impact on the show’s atmospheric landscape.
The Haunting Tale Behind ‘No Return’
In the thrilling and mesmerizing TV series Yellowjackets, set in the intense world of ’90s alt-rock, high school trauma gives way to a nightmarish journey of survival. The show takes us back to 1996 when a plane crash leaves a girls soccer team stranded in the remote Canadian wilderness for 19 harrowing months. As the first season unravels the mysteries of the woods, it also delves into the lives of four team members. Now in their forties as they grapple with their own demons.
At the heart of the show’s musical landscape is the haunting theme song, “No Return,” a composition that captures the essence of Yellowjackets‘ dark and supernatural atmosphere. Written and performed by Anna Waronker of the alt-rock band That Dog. and Craig Wedren of the glammy post-hardcore group Shudder to Think. The song showcases their prowess as seasoned film and television composers. Their previous collaborations include the music for Hulu‘s Shrill and The CW drama The Republic of Sarah, but Yellowjackets presented an opportunity to venture into even darker, gothic territories.
Theme Song Transcends Time and Genre
While each episode of the Yellowjackets season 1 unveils shocking revelations, it is “No Return” that stands as a remarkable testament to Waronker and Wedren‘s talents. As one of the few original compositions with vocals in the show, the song resonates with a haunting Breeders-like quality, evoking a sense of eerie beauty. After being released on streaming platforms, “No Return” has garnered significant attention, with fans anticipating a full-length version. However, as Wedren explains, creating a theme song is akin to crafting a hardcore track, where the challenge lies in encapsulating a full arc within a limited timeframe.
Anna Waronker and Craig Wedren Joined Forces
The collaboration between Waronker and Wedren began when they met through a mutual friend in Los Angeles. Sharing similar sensibilities in pop melodies, scores, and comedy, the duo found a creative synergy that led to their fruitful partnership. From Shrill to The Republic of Sarah, their projects together resembled albums by a special side band, each with its own unique sound and style. With Yellowjackets, they embraced the opportunity to explore a gnarly, scary aesthetic, even though Waronker herself admits she’s not a fan of the genre.
Their involvement with Yellowjackets came about through director and executive producer Karyn Kusama, who initially approached Wedren to compose for the show. Recognizing the need for a female voice in the music due to the nature of the series, Wedren brought Waronker on board, and together, they embarked on their musical journey. Their first major task was to score the opening scene of the second episode, which depicted the plane crash. Waronker, with her fear of flying, found it challenging but ultimately compelling to work on a scene that stirred such intense emotions.
From Concept to Crafting the Lyrics
The Yellowjackets theme song itself underwent an evolution during its creation. The creators initially contemplated whether a theme song was necessary for the modern landscape of television, but Waronker and Wedren convinced them otherwise. They fused various musical ideas into a cohesive whole. What emerged was a song that blended atmospheric, cinematic elements with snotty Sonic Youth-like qualities, creating a hauntingly captivating sound that perfectly matched the show’s themes and tones.
Crafting the lyrics for “No Return” was an exhilarating process for Waronker and Wedren. They aimed to capture the immediate, stream-of-consciousness nature of ’90s lyrics that often left listeners with a sense of intriguing ambiguity. Channeling their teenage selves, they tapped into the invincibility of youth and the emotional intensity of that period in their lives. For Waronker, who had released a new album with her band that dog. after a long hiatus, it was a powerful experience to revisit her earlier songwriting mindset.
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Wrap Up
Yellowjackets, with its enigmatic theme song “No Return,” takes viewers on a captivating journey into the depths of psychological warfare and survival. Anna Waronker and Craig Wedren‘s musical collaboration brings a blend of haunting melodies, ’90s alt-rock sensibilities, and a touch of the supernatural. As the Yellowjackets seasons continue to captivate audiences, the evocative compositions of Waronker and Wedren intensify the suspense and unease.
It added an eerie layer to the nightmarish scenes and enhanced the viewing experience. While immersing viewers in a world where teenage trauma evolves into a surreal horror show. With “No Return” remains a standout composition, the duo’s original score throughout the series contributes to its spine-chilling atmosphere.
