Right now, this isn't so much a list of Frequently Asked Questions as it is a list of Questions I Expect To Get. A QIETG list. This will be updated as events warrant.
Q: Why a music page?
A: Unlike a lot of shows,
Veronica Mars uses music incredibly effectively. Unlike a lot of shows,
Veronica Mars is clearly put together by people who love music and want to avoid the typical teen-heartthrob blahdy blahdy crap that record companies push on a lot of shows in the name of synergy. Unlike a lot of shows,
Veronica Mars doesn't bother telling us what the hell we've listened to at the end of the episode. Thus, we hunt.
Q: Why is this page on a blog instead of directly under marsinvestigations.net?
A: History and laziness. It started out as its own independent entity before getting acquired by Mars Investigations in a buyout. (I'm still waiting for that condo in Boca that I was promised.) And it's far easier to edit, publish and update within a single web interface than to use one program to create the page, another to upload it and a third to check the final result. The comments section also makes it very easy for folks (like you!) to fill us in if you know something we don't. Or send us down a hundred blind alleys. Seriously, don't do that.
Q: What's the theme song?
A: Check out the texty blurb underneath the picture at the top of this page.
Q: What's the song that plays over the closing credits?
A: The closing credit music is original score by show composer Josh Kramon. You can listen to a remixed version of that music at
Kramon's MySpace page.
Q: There's a song that you didn't list. Who performs it?
A: In most cases, you are not listening to a licensed song at all but instead to the fine musical work of Josh Kramon, who writes the score for each episode of the show. A lot of his work sounds like Air and Sigur Rós, but it is indeed original music, and you can check out a listing of some of his many, many music cues
here. There are a few non-Kramon score pieces that appear to come from the
MasterSource Music Catalogue, which appears to provide made-to-order music for TV shows and movies. We've identified as many of their music cues as possible, but it's possible that there are others that we've missed.
Q: Where can I buy a recording of the score?
A: Nowhere. Right this moment, there don't appear to be any plans to release a CD of Josh Kramon's instrumental backgrounds. If this changes, we'll let you know. In the meantime, you can download some of the score
here.
Q: What is the music that plays on the menu page of the season 1 DVD?
A: We do not, technically, know. Josh Kramon told us that he didn't write it, and he offered the following, which we suspect will be the last word on the subject: "As far as the music for DVD (I assume you mean the one playing during the menu part) that's actually a piece from a music library. There are companies that have a staff of composers that just put together these giant libraries of cues that are licensed out for different projects. The DVDs were put together by Warner home video and not many of us who work on the weekly show had much to do with the packaging."
Q: What was the album that Veronica was listening to when she was moping over a boy in episode 2-11 "Donut Run"?
A: The soundtrack to
The Virgin Suicides.
Q: Did you do all this yourself?
A: Nope. What you see here is in many cases the result of much fine work by folks contributing to the
"Music Of Veronica Mars" thread at
Television Without Pity. Most of what we've done is simply compile other people's work. Similarly, the sound clips linked to unidentified songs are hosted by
Veronica-Mars.org, and we take neither credit nor blame for them.
Q: What do you mean, "no info"?
A: We mean that searching Google, Amazon and allmusic.com reveals nada or, in a few cases, not enough solid information for us to determine (for instance) whether the band whose page we're reading is the band in question or simply a band with the same name. If it's not conclusive, it's not listed here. In some cases, this might just be a result of the fact that the show seems to have access to unsigned bands and songs that haven't actually been released yet. We'll update these as the information reaches me.
Q: Can I leave my email address in the comments so that you can contact me when you identify a specific song or find out more information about a release?A: No. We simply can't take the time to email every single person who wants an update. Also, it's probably best that you don't leave your email address just lying around these days. A handy spam-protection tip from Mars Investigations!
Q: Does anyone know where to find info for/downloads of [song x that was in episode y]?
A: If we did, we would tell you. Seriously. It's not necessary to ask. We're not withholding information until someone speaks up. If we know it, we share it. If you have it, please let us know. If you're looking for it... well, so are we.
Q: I have that same song on another album. Why'd you list that one? And what do "GH" and "VMS" mean?
A: Albums listed are the original releases where known. The abbreviation "GH" indicates that the song is available on a greatest hits album as well; the tendency for record companies to release multiple best-ofs for a single artist and constantly shift different collections in and out of print prevents us from trying to be more specific. "VMS" means that the song is on the
Veronica Mars Original Television Soundtrack album.
Q: What's with all the links? How do I know whether to click on the artist or the album?
A: Depends on what you want to know. Artist links will take you directly to their OFFICIAL website (note the capitalization there -- for a thousand reasons, we don't link to fan sites, and we're avoiding label sites to maintain our sanity if/when any of these bands change record companies and thus servers), while album links will take you to a site where you can purchase the album in question (usually Amazon). All links will open in a new window. For downloads, we recommend clicking "Save as..." rather than just clicking directly.
Q: Why Amazon? (BUT ALSO: see next question)
A: Because in addition to being (in most cases) the simplest way of directing you to a purchasable copy of the CD, it also provides you with oodles of information about that CD in the event that you would like to find out more. What Amazon
isn't is the only way of buying music, nor is it necessarily the cheapest. We simply can't, however, direct you to every single online music store so that you can check prices, in much the same way that we can't list every single CD that contains "Don't Fear The Reaper" or "Ventura Highway," for example. Similarly, we can't include information about sites like iTunes, MusicMatch, Napster, etc., though many of these songs may be available there as well. If you're smart enough to use those sites, you shouldn't need us to direct you there to begin with.
Q: Why don't the season 4 pages include album links?
A: Because, and I can't stress this enough, the way we bought music underwent seismic changes in the 12 years between seasons 3 and 4. To be fair, said changes were already well underway back in 2007. Nevertheless, by 2019 our modes of music consumption are so vastly different as to be largely unrecognizable. (For instance: What even was MusicMatch? I could not tell you.) There are now SO MANY ways to get and listen to music that focusing on one to link to will invariably be irrelevant to many, many people. In recognition of this, I'm just telling you the song, artist and (also increasingly irrelevant!) album title and leaving you to your own devices. You can do this. I believe in you.
Q: Why do you have downloads for some songs and not others?
A: Because the download links we've included have been made available by the performer on an official website. If we have missed one, we'll be happy to update it, but we'll only link to free, direct LEGAL mp3 downloads of complete songs (not clips).
Q: Okay, I know you just said "legal," but I totally know a not-quite-legit website or P2P network where you can download some of these songs for free. Can I use the "comments" section of the post to let others know about them?
A: No. We don't particularly care if copyright infringement's your bag, but as long as you're under our roof, you'll keep it to yourself. And, like the earlier discussion of legal, fee-based downloads, if you're smart enough to know about them, you're smart enough not to need my help anyway. We cannot stress this enough:
DO NOT USE THE "COMMENTS" SECTION TO DISCUSS ILLEGAL WAYS OF ACQUIRING THESE SONGS. If you do, we'll delete your comment. If it becomes a problem, we'll deactivate the comments function entirely.
Q: Dag. So what can I use the "comments" section for?
A: Praising the site, of course, but really, we've found the most interesting comments (and the ones we've left up and expanded upon, if needed) have been those that offer supplemental info regarding the music for a specific episode. For the posts proper, we have a specific format that we'd like to maintain, but things like downloadable clips that aren't the full songs, additional nonobvious places to buy CDs, other songs of interest by the performer, etc., are all welcome in the "comments" section. Similarly, feel free to post updates and song/artist identifications, but be warned that unless your post is devilishly witty, it'll probably be deleted once we update the listing.
Q: Why did you delete the comment that I left?
A: It's a mystery. Ask Veronica.
Q: I'm in a band. If I send you our CD, would you consider using our music on the show?
A: Absolutely. Since we have no connection with the show, however, consideration is as far as it will go. We'll take that CD, though.
Q: When are you going to add full lyrics to the songs?
A: That'd be never.
