Anthony Bergamini
The Following Article contains spoilers for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3.
A constant motif throughout all of James Gunn’s films is the use of music to punctuate the themes of the narrative. Whether we are talking about Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain” representing the narrative breaking apart and regrouping of the Guardians family in Vol 2, or Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues” playing behind the opening shots of prisoners in Suicide Squad, Gunn loves to use music to reinforce whatever is on screen. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 is no different, with many of the song choices revealing more than you may notice at face value.
The film opens with Rocket walking through Knowhere listening to the live version of Radiohead’s “Creep.” The obvious parallels here are shown when you remember that back in the first Guardians, Rocket gets drunk, telling the team that he feels like a monstrosity, something that will be explored later on in this film. The use of the live version of this song also hits home when you hear the emotion and authenticity from the band. All of this sets up a personal narrative about the character while reminding us that he still is haunted by his past even though he’s found this new family.
A couple of songs, such as Heart’s “Crazy on You” and Rainbow’s “Since You’ve Been Gone” are love/break-up songs, mirroring the grief Peter Quill feels about the death of Gamora. “Since You’ve Been Gone” is particularly poignant since this is a break-up song, but most fans will know that Peter and Gamora never broke up. The subtext here implies that Peter’s grief likely stems from the lack of closure, something common with most break-ups. Gamora was taken from him and now he has no idea what life would have looked like if she was still there. Later on in the film, the time displaced Gamora confronts Peter about this, questioning his motives and mental state. “Since You’ve Been Gone” is the first song in the film that seems to peak into the minds of the characters more so than surface level reiteration. In a way, the themes behind the song mirror the entire plot surrounding Peter throughout Vol 3.
Rocket, being the focal point of Vol 3, has a lot of songs dedicated to him that really dig deep into his character arc. Alice Cooper’s “I’m Always Chasing Rainbows” plays for Rocket while he is in a coma, and also mirrors his brief journey into near death. The song is about someone who is too busy chasing the end of their story that they didn’t spend enough time living in the moment. There’s a lot to break down here, Rocket has always been avoiding his past, looking for the next score, and has had trouble making connections. His “End of the Rainbow” was the family he found within the Guardians. This is something he says in Avengers: Endgame, reiterating that he has finally found his purpose in life. The song builds on that and serves as a reminder that even though you may have found your goal, you cannot just grow complacent. Interviews with Gunn also revealed that the entire trilogy is Rocket’s story, which is revealed in the film when Lyla tells Rocket that this story has been his all along, prompting his return to life. All of this ties up in the end of the film where we see Rocket leading his own team, showing that there is still so much more for him to do in life.
The song that plays before the credits is Florence and The Machine’s “Dog Days are Over.” This song is about finding happiness after a rough time. This song pretty much sums up the entire film trilogy, sending the Guardians off on their merry way. The meaning behind this song, while directly apparent, also hits home when you look at how all of these characters have progressed since their introduction. Peter, for example, lived in fear of going back to Earth since he couldn’t bear to lose someone else in his life. Throughout the trilogy, he learns that death is inevitable and that running from your past is only going to cause inner turmoil.
The last song that plays before the final end credit scene is Bruce Springsteen’s “Badlands,” a song about a guy who is trying to live a better life after being down on his luck. Like “Dog Days Are Over,” this song summarizes the adventures of the Guardians, but “Badlands” actually does something more interesting. Instead of the song serving as a sparkling finale, it takes us back to the Guardians roots, reiterating most of their origins. The song depicts someone who wants to turn their life around, not someone who has already turned it around. It serves as a reminder that this entire trilogy is about redemption, a theme that is interwoven throughout each entry.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 is here, and you can look no further than the soundtrack to help summarize the themes of the film. The trilogy ends with a bang and much like the first two, this soundtrack will likely be played everywhere. As with all of Gunn’s works, the soundtrack serves a more important purpose than just random needle drops. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 and its soundtrack are out now.
