Behind the Music Selection Process for Sylvie's Scene in Loki Season 2 Episode 5 Revealed by Head Writer

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The selection of The Velvet Underground's "Oh! Sweet Nuthin'" for Sylvie's music scene in Episode 5 of Loki Season 2 was influenced by the creative direction and desired ambiance of the directing duo. Despite the MCU's departure from licensed music, the success of scenes like this one in Loki and the Guardians of the Galaxy films indicates that reintegrating licensed music could have a significant and compelling effect.

While tracks like the Avengers theme and Loki's theme song are widely recognized, there is still an opportunity for licensed music to amplify the mood and sentiment of scenes in upcoming MCU projects such as the Blade reboot and Deadpool 3.

In a gripping moment from the second-to-last episode of the season, Eric Martin sheds light on the selection process behind the song featured in the music scene involving Sylvie in episode 5 of Loki season 2. With the failure to mend the Temporal Loom within the given timeframe, all characters except for Loki find themselves transported back to their original timelines, their memories of the TVA wiped clean. Determined to reverse the situation, Loki endeavors to reunite everyone, while Sylvie remains hesitant due to her retained memories and unwillingness to assist. Ultimately, Sylvie is persuaded when her beloved record shop and timeline face catastrophic distortion, narrowly escaping the chaos and joining forces with Loki and the rest of the group.

Our website recently had an exclusive interview with Eric Martin, discussing episode 5 of Loki season 2 titled "Science/Fiction". When asked about the impactful music scene featuring Sylvie and the song choice of The Velvet Underground's "Oh! Sweet Nuthin'", the Head Writer revealed that the directing duo, Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead, believed it was the perfect fit for the scene. Martin further shared that there were several discussions about the track selection, but ultimately, Benson and Moorhead independently arrived at this decision.

The MCU Doesn't Turn To Licensed Music Enough

While the Marvel Cinematic Universe initially incorporated licensed music, notably with the Iron Man movies that featured AC/DC soundtracks, the franchise has since veered towards utilizing original scores in their various films. This decision may be logical for certain contexts, such as the fantastical realm of Asgard which lends itself more to traditional musical compositions rather than filmmakers' preferred tracks. Nevertheless, there are compelling instances that suggest a reconsideration of incorporating licensed music in future MCU endeavors.

The Loki season 2, episode 5 scene featured the haunting use of Velvet Underground's 1970 song, creating a chilling atmosphere as reality crumbled. This further proves James Gunn's mastery of incorporating licensed music for maximum impact, as seen in his Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy of movies and Disney+ Holiday Special. A similar success was achieved with the first Black Panther movie, where the soundtrack composed by Ludwig Göransson, combined with original songs curated or performed by Kendrick Lamar, reached remarkable milestones. The Black Panther soundtrack debuted at No. 1 on the US Billboard Top 200 and received multiple nominations, including three Golden Globes, eight Grammys, and two Academy Awards. It went on to win two Grammys for Best Rap Performance ("King's Dead") and Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media, as well as the prestigious Oscar for Best Original Score.

Without composed material, audiences would miss out on iconic tracks like Alan Silvestri's Avengers theme and Natalie Holt's energetic Loki theme song. However, there is still plenty of room for more licensed music to be used in various titles. The sequence in Sylvie's season 2 exemplifies how a song's lyrics can resonate with the scene. The Velvet Underground track can be interpreted as embracing living with nothing or lamenting over having nothing, which ties in perfectly with Sylvie's almost peaceful life before everything falls apart. With projects like the Blade reboot and Deadpool 3, there are great opportunities for matching licensed music to their atmospheres. Hopefully, Marvel will continue to allow its filmmakers to do so.

The Loki season 2 finale premieres on Disney+ on Thursday.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z fan, I appreciate the careful consideration that went into selecting the music for Sylvie's scene in Loki Season 2 Episode 5. The use of The Velvet Underground's "Oh! Sweet Nuthin'" created a haunting and memorable atmosphere that perfectly complemented the visuals and storytelling.

I also find it interesting that the MCU has largely moved away from using licensed music in recent years, but the success of scenes like this one and those in the Guardians of the Galaxy films suggests that there is still a place for it. I would love to see more licensed music used in future MCU projects, as it can add a lot to the overall experience.