Editorial
TEEN WOLF
& T H E D I S T I N C T I V E S O U N D O F 2011
Fall 2020
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Like any era in musical history, the sound of the early 2010s is very distinctive. Categorized by everything from the rise of EDM to Rihanna’s “Loud,” the early 2010s were a very interesting time for musical audiences. Not only did the music from this time period combine influences from music of the previous decades–like the mixing of a soulful sound with pop in Adele’s “21”–, but also laid the foundation for growth and experimentation in the music industry during the later 2010s and early 20s. Though the sound of the early 2010s ranges depending on genre, one could argue that there is a specific sound that is inherently one of the 2010s–dancey, indie rock. Many TV shows and movies
during the time utilized the music of the era in their productions. However, one show stands out because of its use of this distinctive indie rock style of music. The MTV teen drama Teen Wolf, which was first released in 2011, has an exceptional soundtrack for its first season that not only ties perfectly into the show itself, but also encapsulates the energy and sound of the early 2010s. Teen Wolf, the MTV drama, aired from 2011 to 2017. It’s a remake of the 1985 film of the same name featuring Michael J. Fox and follows the story of Scott McCall, a high school teenager that gets bitten and turns into a werewolf. Scott, who is played by Tyler Posey, must learn to control his
abilities while simultaneously dealing with deadly forces working against him. The songs used throughout Teen Wolf were picked with such precision that they fit seamlessly into the scenes they’re in. All the lacrosse and party scenes feature dubstep or EDM music, typically from artists like deadmau5 and Wolfgang Gartner, which contributes to the overall high energy nature of these scenes. While the characters on screen are feeling an adrenaline rush from the lacrosse game or the biggest party of the year, the audience is also feeling an adrenaline rush just by listening to the intense music that is paired. These songs are juxtaposed with the lighthearted love songs which are
