The Song That Makes The Trailer

We all know songs that become almost intractably linked with their use in cinema: “Layla” in GoodFellas, “Sister Christian” in Boogie Nights. Like that.

I’m also been fascinated by songs that seemingly become de rigueur in trailers. I have trouble hearing The Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back” or Pete Townshend’s “Let My Love Open the Door” without thinking, “Touchstone Pictures proudly presents! Julia Roberts/Drew Barrymore/Kate Hudson!” (The A.V. Club also recently commented on this trend.)

But that’s not what I want to talk about today. Lately, I’ve been obsessed with the song “Trouble with Dreams” by Eels. I became acquainted with this song through the trailer to one of my favorite films of late, Harold Ramis’ The Ice Harvest. Watch it below; the Eels song begins at the 1:36 mark.

Note that this song does not appear in the film The Ice Harvest. (It is, however, on the soundtrack CD.) Nevertheless, one of the key appeals this song holds for me is that captures the film so well, with its holiday-spirited fatalism. In a weird plot twist, the full song might even capture the film better than the trailer, which emphasizes the wacky caper aspects.

Truth be told, this isn’t the first time the trailer-song has found itself elevated somehow. The trailer for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind featured “Mr. Blue Sky” and probably went some way towards recent re-appreciation of Jeff Lynne (to Epluribus’ delight, no doubt). And again, that song appeared in the trailer and the soundtrack but not the actual film. But many people — certainly many of us who are part of the RTH universe — were already well-acquainted with “Mr. Blue Sky”.

This Eels song is a bit more obscure. I realize it may not appeal to everyone, certainly not if you have an aversion to the Jon Brion School of Pop Production. But it’s too late for me. As far as I’m concerned, The Ice Harvest begat “Trouble with Dreams”; the two are forever linked and I wouldn’t have it any other way.