You hear a song on the radio. Maybe it’s about a steadfast partnership, me-and-thee against the world. Or maybe it’s about losing faith in the system and questioning your place in the world. Does it make you think of Starsky & Hutch? It does for us! In this episode we pick eight songs and discuss what makes them perfect songs for this show.
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Track List:
Play all songs as a YouTube playlist here. If we get suggestions for more songs, we’ll add them to this playlist.
How Deep Is Your Love by the Bee Gees
I Won’t Let You Go by Snow Patrol
Trouble Town by Jake Bugg
Right Down the Line by Bonnie Raitt
I’ll Never Find Another You by The Seekers
Shades of Gray by Billy Joel
How Your Love Makes Me Feel by Diamond Rio
Nightwatch by the Shondes
Wonderful! I only knew a couple of those songs and enjoyed being introduced to new music. I have two songs that come to mind—( I will link them separately since I Amon my phone.) the first is really only about Hutch and Vanessa but I have always thought it commented on their relationship. Don’t think Twice, it’s Alright by Peter, Paul and Mary. Then, Starsky and Hutch as a couple: They don’t know about Us by Tracy Ullman. ( side note, the vid is delightful).
Those are fantastic additions, and I’ve added them to the YouTube playlist! I’d never heard Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright before, but I can totally see Hutch listening to it and hoping for a clean break as his divorce finalizes.
That Tracy Ullman music video is delightful! I like that the lyrics have that “Who do we trust? Like alway, me and thee,” vibe to them, but set to such upbeat catchy music.
Thanks for contributing!
–Monica
A little soapy (Gen or Slash) and I don’t know if has a S&H vid, but:Kenny Rogers’ Through The Years http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJhkCl8EX-A
Not for S/H (unless it’s a nhe) but John Blaine: Jim Croce’s Dream’ Again http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPhdnjtdgYs
Finally, for (AU) Sweet Revenge: Sam Smith’s acoustic version of Lay Me Down http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVJcLcuQdOw
Yes, Through The Years is perfect! They are committed to each other for the long haul. ♥
Dream Again as a Blain/Whitelaw song is painful, but yeah, I can see it.
And gosh, you must be in an angsty mood tonight to picture Hutch thinking those lyrics to Lay Me Down while laying down next to Starsky. I’d not heard it before but you’ve convinced me this is a Sweet Revenge song. I’ve added all three to the YouTube playlist. Thanks for the suggestions!
–Monica
I’ll recommend something a little happier – the song I Am What I Am (I prefer John Barrowman’s version) for Huggy. I could see a vid highlighting all his outfits and careers to this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uknT_yeVpHw
Oooh, I really like that for a Huggy song! And as a Torchwood fan I’ve long been a fan of Barrowman’s covers, but that one is especially good. Added to the list!
For some reason, I have always thought of Gordon Lightfoot’s song “If You Could Read My Mind” when I watch the Starskyl Vs Hutch episode.
Of course I think they were fighting for each other… not her! LOL
I’d walk away like a movie star
Who gets burned in a three-way script
Oh yeah, that’s Starsky Vs. Hutch alright! I can totally read that episode as Hutch trying to keep Starsky’s attention. Great pick, I’ve added it to the playlist!
–Monica
I love fanmixes! I really enjoyed listening to your picks, I think they’re all wonderful choices.
Since you asked, I’m going to put my 2¢ in. Get comfortable, this may take a while YMMV, of course. In no particular order:
Let’s Get It On – Marvin Gaye https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VESDp-HEQFs
I can see Starsky putting his moves on Hutch (or vice versa, I’m not fussy) with this classic seduction song:
Givin’ yourself to me can never be wrong
If the love is true, oh baby ooh…
If the spirit moves you, let me groove you
Something to Talk About – Bonnie Raitt https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJ58TVYNFro
This whole song is about Oblivious Boys being Oblivious and I am totally here for that:
they keep saying
We laugh just a little too loud
We stand just a little too close
We stare just a little too long
Maybe they’re seeing something we don’t
In My Life – Beatles, Bette Midler cover https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siAVlUxpJXQ
Older boys, looking back on lives well lived; celebrating an anniversary, perhaps? I have nothing against the Beatles, but Bette’s version is gorgeous. Plus, bonus Jake Shimabukuro ukulele accompaniment!
Though I know I’ll never ever lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I’ll often stop and think about them
In my life I love you more
In It For Love – England Dan & John Ford Coley https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqNWJIN0BnQ
Many of my favorite ED&JFC songs are contemporary with S&H’s original run, so they already feel a bit like a ‘soundtrack’ to my head canon, if that makes any sense. This one is an upbeat ‘me and thee’ shipper anthem all the way 😀
In a world of push and shove
I’m in it for you
You’re in it for me
We’re in it for love
Some Things Don’t Come Easy – England Dan & John Ford Coley https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVO1AxApZTU
Another one by ED&JFC, but this one is more angsty, well suited for S4 feels:
Cause to leave you now
Be the hardest thing to do
I’m gonna do everything
To regain the feelings that we had
Love you all the way
And forget the things that made you sad
We were made to be together
I’m Not In Love – 10 cc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STugQ0X1NoI
Denial ain’t just a river in Egypt–it’s also this song! Another oft-explored trope in S&H fic; feel free to apply to the gentleman of your choice (mine is Starsky):
I’m not in love, so don’t forget it
It’s just a silly phase I’m going through
And just because I call you up
Don’t get me wrong, don’t think you’ve got it made
Rainy Day People – Gordon Lightfoot https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnmFPFQd9CI
This one’s for the citizens of Bay City, and how S&H interact with them with compassion and dignity. The boys are rainy day people, too. Sweet, poignant song:
Rainy day lovers don’t lie when they tell ‘ya they’ve been down like you
Rainy day people don’t mind if you’re cryin’ a tear or two
Splendor in the Grass – Pink Martini https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6L-_DiZlrUI
Full disclosure: this last one is on the list mostly because it’s featured in a fic I wrote 🙂 But it’s a beautiful, beautiful song, and I think it works in the larger context of S&H coming to terms with life and love together, post-SR:
All these years of living large
Are starting to do us in
I won’t say it wasn’t fun
But now it has to end
Life is moving oh so fast
I think we should take it slow
Rest our heads upon the grass
And listen to it grow
Thanks for indulging me! I had a blast going down the YT rabbit hole. Keep up the great work on the podcast! xoxo
Oh, so you’re heating things up a bit, I see! Now I definitely want to read fic where Starsky is going classic seduction mode on Hutch! And I love Something To Talk About for S/H. I’ve watched Laura McEwan’s vid so many times I can picture it when I hear the song.
I’d never heard that Bette Midler cover, and I agree it’s gorgeous! And I like the idea of S&H looking back at their other canonical love interests with true affection but also loving each other more and more. ♥
I don’t think I’d heard In It For Love before, but wow, yes, very Me & Thee! Similar with Some Things Don’t Come Easy, but with that season four patina of discord. Spot-on choices!
I’m Not In Love now has me imagining Starsky using the excuse in the song for having Hutch’s photo on the wall. “Uh… it’s covering a stain on the wall. No, it’s not weird to have your partner’s picture in your bedroom! Look, I took the photo, I’m showing off my own work, this has nothing to do with you!”
Aww, I like Rainy Day People as a song for all of Bay City. And that catapults Gordon Lightfoot into Bonnie Raitt’s category of multiple-songs-per-artist in the playlist!
Splendor in the Grass is another one I hadn’t heard, but I think it’s my favorite of the songs I didn’t know already; it’s so beautiful. It promises such a nice, wistful rest for Starsky and Hutch, although it must be from Hutch’s POV because I can’t imagine Starsky wishing for a place where cars are “few and far”. 😉 And I don’t think I’ve read that fic of yours so you should link it…
I definitely want to read fic where Starsky is going classic seduction mode on Hutch!
Well, paraphrasing Toni Morrison, ‘If there’s a porny fic that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.’
catapults Gordon Lightfoot into Bonnie Raitt’s category of multiple-songs-per-artist in the playlist!
Both excellent yet very different, and it’s giving me a lot of glee that they are ‘top S&H song artists.’ I mean, who woulda thunk they’d share honors on *that* list?
it must be from Hutch’s POV because I can’t imagine Starsky wishing for a place where cars are “few and far”
Ahaha, good point! And in fact, the fic I mentioned is indeed from Hutch’s POV: Double Date https://archiveofourown.org/works/4172748
In ‘researching’ for these songs I may have permanently multi-earwormed myself but it was in a very good cause! Glad you enjoyed them
(hmm, I don’t see my emojis :-/ Please to be mentally inserting a bunch of 😀 and <3 in the above comment!)
In ‘researching’ for these songs I may have permanently multi-earwormed myself but it was in a very good cause! Glad you enjoyed them.
Yeah, that’s a hazard for certain when compiling playlists! And I very much enjoyed your fic, so I’m glad asking for song suggestions lead to you linking it!
(And thanks for all the 😀 and ♥ that yes, I have mentally added to your comment!)
–Monica, still.
Enjoyed this journey through music and how it really triggers our memories. A more recent song by the Jonas Brothers automatically makes me think of S&H!
We go together (like, every episode)
Better than birds of a feather, you and me (“Birds of a Feather”, literally?)
We change the weather, yeah (like in Shoot out?)
I’m feeling heat in December when you’re ’round me (like in Death In A DP?)
I’ve been dancing on top of cars (like every other episode)and stumbling out of bars (Moonshine?)
I follow you through the dark, can’t get enough (Blindfold?)
You’re the medicine and the pain (like every H/C episode), the tattoo inside my brain (like from Vampire?)
And, baby, you know it’s obvious (well duh)
I’m a sucker for you
You say the word and I’ll go anywhere blindly (like every episode!)
I’m a sucker for you, yeah
Any road you take, you know that you’ll find me (Survival, Bloodbath)
I’m a sucker for all the subliminal things
No one knows about you (about you) about you (about you) (like in the Game!)
And you’re making the typical me break my typical rules (every H/C episode!)
It’s true, I’m a sucker for you, yeah (Yeah!)
It’s funny you should mention Sucker by the Jonas Brothers, because when Jen and I heard it on the radio, we immediately thought of Starsky & Hutch, and for many of the reasons you listed here!
Like, they’re constantly walking on top of their cars (which is close enough to dancing if you ask me) and stumbling out of bars (Moonshine, like you said, but also Velvet Jungle) and following each other through the dark (I didn’t think of the Blindfold connection, but yeah that works!) and I like the h/c connections you found, especially the lyric that evokes Survival and Bloodbath.
I’ve added it to the list!
–Monica