Massive Attack Television

This morning, I had an inclination to play Massive Attack radio on Spotify. The group, whose first album “Blue Lines” started the Trip Hop movement in the early 90s, has been one of my favorites since I first heard Protection in 1994. When I think of Massive Attack, it’s hard for me to not also think of Portishead and the like. I suppose that may have been the same for those who used to, and still might, think of both The Beatles and The Rolling Stones in the same thought.

In the 90s, I went through a very huge Trip Hop phase. Besides Massive Attack and Portishead, there was also Tricky (who really hasn’t matched the brilliance of Maxinque), Hooverphonic, Lamb, DJ Cam and if I keep going I’m sure we’ll most certainly move into the Downtempo music category which has its similarities to Trip Hop but is indeed different.

Whether or not I can keep rambling on about this music, I still feel that Massive Attack are Trip Hop royalty. And Mezzanine, in my opinion, is their best album by far and still way ahead of its time.

So you get it, I’m a fan. I had no hesitation or second thoughts about playing Massive Attack on Spotify this morning. Not until the first track played. “Splitting The Atom” came on and suddenly I had a moment. I had recently heard this song and I have not listened to any Massive Attack in a while. I had to stop and think. It then hit me. It was on a Television show I had viewed sometime in the last week.

Now mind you, I watch a lot of TV. I had to do some research here. Originally I had thought it might have been Misfits, which I have been watching on Hulu. But alas, the theme song for that brilliant show is “Echoes” by The Rapture.

Yeah, give me a break. I know that sounds nothing like Massive Attack. I’m still drinking my morning coffee!

So that wasn’t it. Think, Aaron!

Then it hit me. I have watched three television shows in the past week and all of them use music by Massive Attack in their opening credit sequence!

I’m one of those nerds that really enjoy opening credit sequences on shows. Hell, I would even argue that the credit sequence for both American Horror Story and Game Of Thrones may even be better than the actual shows but I’m kind of nuts like that.

See!? Those are great.

Okay, where was I?

Oh yes, three shows. Well I’m going to run down the shows in chronological order of their air dates. The first, and obvious one, is House. As far as I know, House was the first ever television show to use Massive Attack’s music as their theme song. When I first saw the show in 2004, I had no idea what it was going to be about but based on the credit sequence alone, I had already decided the show was going to be awesome. For those who don’t know, the song featured here is “Teardrop” by Massive Attack from the album Mezzanine.

Last night, per suggestions by a bunch of friends of mine, I finally caught the first episode of Luther. Originally airing on BBC One in 2010, it stars Idris Elba…and that’s really all I needed to know to watch it. Long live Stringer Bell! Anyway, here’s the opening credit sequence featuring the track “Paradise Circus” by Massive Attack from the album Heligoland.

And finally, the most recent show (that I know of) to feature music by Massive Attack is none other than HBO’s brand new show Luck. Starring Dustin Hoffman…and really do you need any other reason to watch!? Long live Rainma…err….yeah. Luck centers around a variety of characters involved with horse racing. Directed by Michael Mann and written by David Milch, the first episode showed a lot of promise that HBO has already renewed the program for another season. I just can’t wait to see Dustin Hoffman run against Steve Buscemi during Awards Season next year. Below is the credit sequence for the new show and it features the track “Splitting The Atom” by Massive Attack also from the album Heligoland.

Now here is where I call on you fine readers (all 4 of you). I’d like to find more examples of Massive Attack’s music being used in Television. It can be as theme music or featured in an episode. Are any of you as nerdy as I am about this? If so, please sound off in the comments below!