Attack of the Killer Track! is a series that explores tracks from artists from a variety of genres. Some of the tracks were singles, some of them were obscure b-sides or long forgotten album tracks. One thing is certain – all of them are killer tracks.
Music can be the emotional anchor that drives the point home in television or movies. Often a scene becomes instantly memorable when it is tied to the right song. So it is with the series finale of Six Feet Under – a finale that some have called the best finale of all time. I agree with that sentiment. Since it aired in 2005, I hope it is OK to share some spoilers 11 years later. During the last few minutes of the episode, the youngest of the Fisher family, Claire, leaves Los Angeles behind and drives towards her future. As the scene cuts away it shows where each major character ends up and how they pass away (the show is called Six Feet Under, after all). Moments of joy, moments of sadness – many of them – are all encompassed in this montage. The song that plays is Breathe Me by Australian artist Sia. The song originally appeared on her 2004 album, Colour the Small One. Initially not a hit, the inclusion in the finale of Six Feet Under propelled Sia to breaking through in the US market and has made her a household name. The song starts off small before building to an epic conclusion. A torch song for the lost – or those trying to find themselves. A hypnotic, mysterious piano melody weaves its way through the song as Sia’s vocals work in tandem with the beat. It quite simply is a perfect song used with a perfect conclusion to a TV series. Strings swell, heartstrings are pulled – it never fails to move me. I can’t but help to relate to Claire driving away from Los Angeles, as I did the same in Philadelphia 14 years ago. Perfection. “Ouch, I have lost myself again / Lost myself and I am nowhere to be found”…”Be my friend / Hold me, wrap me up / Unfold me / I am small and needy / Warm me up / And breathe me”.