Arno Booy Definitely! I love how the shadowing is used as a metaphor for Underwood, his corruption and greed slowly plunging the country into darkness. Very clever, clearly someone has put real thought into it.
Enouch Thompson Boardwalk... meh, Sopranos... BTW the Original House of Cards may not have the best theme tune, but it's a better program, I love Spacey, but he is no Ian Richardson...
+Pedro Barbosa I knew a guy from Morocco years ago who actually worked for, I guess whatever passed for the royal family, and he described the power of government as being "as big as the ocean", and would carry everything away if it just happened to want to, even the royal family and all the institutions of government, as though it was a big tide. The point, I'll bet he was trying to make that really no one is truly in control, almost as if it had a life of its own, long before anyone here today had anything to do with it at all. I told people here in Chicago that Mayor Daley was not the system, that if he didn't go along with the program in place for-fuckin'-ever, that it would have carried him away just like all the little people that have washed away for eons! And no one man or group of men would have been responsible. Only a total nuclear annihilation would ever end such a powerful old institution! It's like renting a building-you're in charge...........for now!
As someone who has worked in Washington as an undergraduate before earning a Ph.D. in political science and a career as a professor, I always found the power and cynicism striking and fits our era. The West Wing might be viewed as naive and well wishing today.
i get goosebumps when the trumpets start at 0:28. Usually i skip the intros on Netflix but i always watch the House of Cards intro just for the soundtrack
House of Cards, Game of Thrones, Cowboy Bebop, Vikings, Bojack Horseman, and Mister Sunshine for me. And Black Mirror for reasons that should probably be kinda obvious to anyone who's ever seen it.
It’s metamorphical. It doesn’t have to do with actual physical location, but rather how close are you with the people in power. The closer you are to the people in power, the more power you have. If you have a direct line to the POTUS, you can pretty much bail yourself out of any trouble
“There are two kinds of pain. Good pain - the sort of pain that motivates, that makes you strong. Then there’s bad pain - useless pain, the sort of pain that’s only suffering. I welcome the former. I have no patience for the latter.”
Not sure it is the best Political show ever, but ranks with those at the top...But HOC is a damn great show (can never exclude The West Wing though...still fun as hell to watch).
The high, descending motif by the strings at 1:19 -- brilliant, eerie. String harmonies are beautiful. No people shown in the opening, save for the statues. Power.
Frank Underwood also says that,"The road to power is paved with hypocrisy." I mean, how much more profound can you get?! One of my personal favorite quotes about power. And I totally agree with you about the song!
Ali Alyami No, it can't. After living in DC for almost 2 decades, I can tell you right now that money can't always buy power. Besides, money and power are dynamic and change with the times. Unfortunately, those who usually have either one, the other or both usually think otherwise...to their own detriment.
Plaq1423 If you listen to the commentary audio of the first season, you find out that they digitally removed the people from the footage that was used in the opening credits. Pretty interesting.
Aaron Reales The reason is that the empty grand Rome-style city structure gives you a sense of power. The same one full of people does not, but just a ordinary scene from a news program. Just feel.
One of the best intro themes of all time overall and in terms of how it matches the mood of the show and sets the dark tone right from the start, it is the best ever! First season's version was pure perfection and I prefer it to a slightly modified version in season 2.
Agreed. Although, this is worth a read/listen to understand the changes: www.slate.com/blogs/the_eye/2014/06/12/netflix_house_of_cards_composer_jeff_beal_on_how_he_wrote_the_theme_song.html
This theme is pure brilliance. It masterfully weaves every element of POWER conceivable - Intrigue, Treachery, Conspiracy, Secrecy, Corruption, Deceit, Intimidation, Ruthlessness and anything else that Frank Underwood represented. @Brad Turner - thanks for sharing!
Wow, great description @IntrepidClown. I wrote: I love the theme song to House of Cards - slightly ominous, futuristic, and dissonant as if something big is about to break
Haunting trumpets ,strings, male choir, big chord on elec guitar, bass jumping between 2 notes, great percussion, storyline leaving you freezing cold and aware of how wicked man is.
karankenZ It would be cool if Bryan's charactar walks up to Kevin Spacey in an episode and says "Stay out of my territory" Sorry I just had to let out that refrence.
"Hauntingly Beautiful", which can't be a better way to describe this score, as many others said before. It sets the tone for the series. This is the first show ever, from which a theme music I have on my play list! This should be nominated for Emmy! Netflix rocks-- please take my money to make the next season and other shows!!!
I'm always astounded by the ideas & creations music composers have when choosing music for tv shows and movies. This theme is, by far, one of the best music themes to a television show ever! It's beautifully done! Much deserved kudos to you, Jeff Beal! You are a musical mastermind!
Superbly directed by David Fincher. The music is pure genius. Match this drama with The Good Shepard and the real business of America starts to be revealed. Thanks for posting. Mr. Beal you are every bit the equal of Thomas Newman on this one.
I've only just started watching this show last week (at the last ep of season 1), but this has to be the best intro music to a TV show ever!! Gets me PUMPED for some POLITICS :D
Who is here still in 2020 feeling nostalgic for House of Cards? Such a shame Kevin Spacey's personal life choices had to ruin such an epic show :'( And just in case anyone reads this long in future, 2020 was a bad year to put it lightly we still not over this coronavirus mess :(
When I was frustrated at office, I always listen this theme and immediately calm down when the scene of Frank not getting the Cabinet show into my brain.
The last few times I cued so happily into a music score this good, it always turned out to be a Vangelis piece, but Jeff Beal hits all the chords for me in this one. I like this man's talent. Will pursue him, now.
I am very satisfied to see Spacey in this show, a second big actor in my memory to go on small screens and doing some fab job after Boardwalk Empire, Buschmi...
One of the best intro scores and it perfectly captures the tone of the show. Two Emmy nominations for House of Cards music are so well deserved: 1) Outstanding Music Composition in a Series and 2) Original Main Title Theme and Music. Thank you Netflix for bringing this fantastic series to us!
Great job on the loop!! The intro is just phenomenal as is the entire score. Thank you Jeff Beal. Best TV show ever. Brilliant writing, superb acting and directing, exquisitely photographed.....This team is clearly the most talented group of people in show business history. I could watch this for an eternity. Intelligent, interesting and compelling drama that is relentless in its pursuit of superlative story telling.
I came to hear the mesmerizing & haunting music.....but stayed to read the chit that has nothing what so ever to do with the music posting...but hey, who among us is able to turn away from a train wreck...even if it is in verbal form! Stay Hostile my friends! Cheers
This intro is FIRE. This is the only intro (asides GOT) that litereally captures the ruthless texture of the story itself. An evulgence of grandeur, superiority, gravitas, and POWER! Phenomenal! No pictures of the cast shown except the statues, which goes to reflect the grandeur of the show, and then the violins at 0:37, COME ON! that's the stuff dreams are made of!
Congratulations to Robin Wright for the Golden Globe! she's great in this show...everyone is. And Corey Stoll should have won supporting, he is a great actor!
Love this! When the violins come in, it's as mesmerizing as the show itself. I've been looking for this since the show started. Great job! Thank you so much.
it's perfect. perfect for the mood and tone of the show, perfect instrumentation, contemporary and modern as well as regal and sophisticated. I get chills just listening to it!
Six months ago I weighed 342lbs.....I know weigh 258. I always start my workout with this 10 minute version of this theme. It's so empowering and makes me feel I can do anything!!! 💪🤓👍
ivo lorca Breaking Bad honestly was not overrated. The final season was genius and the writing was always superb. Even the pilot was great. Plus it's pretty much the first time a tv show has had a main character that transforms over the show. People usually watch shows so they can see the same characters they love every week, not to see them change. But fair enough if it wasn't for you. That doesn't make it overrated though. HoC is so damn good though and there's no arguing with that.
***** I couldn't get into GoT, but from what I've heard it's got A LOT of substance. Apparently there are like 1000 characters each with their own stories and it's written really well. I know it's shot and produced really nicely. I don't see how you think it has no substance.
Something ethereal and eternal about this, and the genius is in the complexity of it's simplicity. The buildings, who really hearken form the Roman era, scale way up, beyond this reality, and though it's a TV program, the traffic flows are the real power, controlling and running this society. Perfectly looped.
