Severanceseason 2 has set the Internet afire with theories, memes, and reactions alike, and one moment in particular has captured the attention of audiences around the world. A particularly surreal moment in the finale was the surprise arrival of a full marching band led by Mr. Milchick, and the extended performance of a piece titled “The Ballad of Ambrose and Gunnel”. On top of immersing viewers in trademarkSeveranceweirdness, the piece and its performance in the show serve as a backdrop for some of the episode’s most decisive moments.
ScreenRantis thrilled to take you back to one of the standout moments of thefantastically-reviewedSeveranceseason 2 finalewith “The Ballad of Ambrose and Gunnel” by composer Theodore Shapiro. The track is one of 18 that will compose theSeverance: Season 2 Apple TV+ Original Series Soundtrack,which even includes a nod to the popular 8-hour YouTube videoMusic To Refine To feat. ODESZAin the form of another remix of the show’s music by the electronic duo. The soundtrack releases tomorrow, March 28, and can bepre-saved here.
Theodore Shapiro Has Always Been Ben Stiller’s Not-So-Secret Weapon
“The Ballad of Ambrose and Gunnel” was written by composer Theodore Shapiro, who scoredSeveranceseason 2’s opening title sequenceas well as the rest of the show. Shapiro’s music forSeveranceis captivatingly intriguing and often unsettling, complementing the unique world that director Ben Stiller, creator Dan Erickson, and the rest of the filmmakers have created. ButSeveranceis far from the only collaboration Shapiro and Stiller have had, with the composer providing a musical language for the actor-turned-director’s best films.
BeforeSeverance, and beforeZoolander 2, which Shapiro also scored, the composer did the music for Stiller’s underrated 2013 movieThe Secret Life of Walter Mitty, whichScreenRant’s reviewcalled“an inspiring and beautifully shot character adventure.”That movie boasted an impressive soundtrack full of music by the Swedish singer/songwriter José González and his band Junip, whose signature sound incorporates entrancing acoustic guitar and layered vocals. To keep the score consistent with the songs, Shapiro incorporated González’s style into his work, helping to elevate the uplifting and immersive experience of witnessing the titular character’s journey.
Shapiro also scored Stiller’s ambitious Hollywood satireTropic Thunder, which made waves upon its release in 2008 and earned Robert Downy Jr. an Academy Award nomination. In a score entirely different fromSeveranceandThe Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Shapiro wrote adrenaline-fueled action music that helped the movie’s unforgettable comedy and larger-than-life situations land with audiences in a way that has helped the film endure nearly 20 years later. Now, the question is whether or not Shapiro will scoreTom Cruise’sTropic Thunderspinoff movie.
Check out theSeverance: Season 2 Apple TV+ Original Series Soundtrack, courtesy of Lakeshore Records,here.
