We were recently put on to what seems to be the latest in a string of controversial programming on MTV, this time its the “Skins”. There was a huge launch party for the show recently held in NYC. Dubstep producer, Rusko, and Brooklyn’s very own, Drop the Lime, were some of the DJ’s that played at the event.

Some of you might be familiar with the risque U.K. version of the teen drama, which has already broadcasted four seasons. The original caught our attention mainly through its soundtrack, which includes Bloc Party (“Postive Tension”), Santigold’s “Shove it” featuring Spank Rock, Crystal Castles “Alice Practice”, and “Heart Broken Soca Cascade” by Bas Clef; to name a few. We were eager to see whether the American adaptation would have a similar approach towards the music selection.

On the one hand, I was pleased with the soundtrack in last week’s episode “Cadie”, however, I’m not so sure that I like the context in which electronic music is being used. It seems as if the music makes an appearance whenever our main character, the OCD plagued, pill popping Cadie, is going through a moment of anxiety. For instance, when she is bombarded by mental images of her most irrational fear (pigeons) at a friend’s house party, a dubstep track (“It’s Me” by Italian producer Aqua Drop) suddenly kicks in. Later on in the episode when Cadie musters up the coverage to get into the Jacuzzi (in an effort to get a boy’s attention), her friend’s creepy father climbs in and makes a pass at her. Yup, you guessed it; an electronic based track, “Viscera,” by the band Night Eyes is prevalent throughout the scene. Finally, towards the episode’s climax, the girl’s father approaches her (yet again) inside of a bedroom. Like clockwork, another Aquadrop dubstep track (“Tunnel”) drops. Cadie takes out a pill, and asks the man if he wants to get high, then begins to remove her clothes. The track gradually gets harder as the character’s actions become more taboo.

There are always going to be negative correlations drawn between EDM and drugs. There is simply no getting around that. After all, The Electric Daisy Carnival of last year is still very fresh in peoples’ minds. None the less, I’m afraid that the program’s use of the music is a negative reiteration of preexisting notions. It doesn’t help that teenage drug use is one of the more frequent themes on the show. Regardless, the drug/EDM correlation is something we can almost live with (in terms of the program), but must they draw parallels between our music and all things negative?

I’ll continue to watch the original just for keepsake.
Watch the Crystal Castles cameo in the UK version of Skins below…

Tweet