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Composer Bear McCreary's musical talents were called upon in the last episode of Battlestar Galactica, not just to fill BSG with the lovely voices of chanting ladies and drums, but to create a special ballad. McCreary's blog reveals the meaning and creation behind 'Gaeta's Lament.' Spoilers from the episode and song video after the jump.
To cope with the pain after his leg was amputated Gaeta cries out a lonesome song. McCreary explained that the lyrics in this sad tune helped to weave together several story arcs in the episode "Guess What's Coming To Dinner."
The actor who plays Gaeta, Alessandro Juliana, graduated with a B.M. in vocal/opera performance at McGill University in Montreal. The writers and producers decided to use his experience in the episode, "Guess," and create "Gaeta's Lament," which Juliana calls, "The Stump Serenade." The episode's writer, Michael Angeli, penned the lyrics and talks about what he wanted to do with the music inspired by the his wife's piano tune.
He [Producer Ron D. Moore] wanted it to be sad, about a lost lover. In a sense we were creating a back-story through the song. And 'opera' was probably the wrong word. He wanted more of a ballad, with a minor key feel to it. So I wrote the lyrics with the lost lover in mind. But knowing how the show would end - with The Hybrid awakening - I wanted the lyrics to relate to that moment as well. I also felt that the "story" in the song should be an allegory for the cold reality of Gaeta losing his leg and there's nothing that can be done about it.
McCreary took the ballad worked with Juliana to make it the beautifully sad song it is now. He even used a little inspiration from hit previous work on Gaeta's original melody.
To create the melody for the Lament, I started with a melody conceived for Gaeta in Season 1, an idea that ultimately never developed fully. However, in this context, it fit perfectly....Many of my melodies on Galactica are extremely reliant on their underlying harmonies to have meaning (Baltar's theme is a extreme example: without the interesting chordal progression, the melody itself is quite inane).
Interestingly when Gaeta sings, it isn't the first time we hear the Lament. It played without lyrics in last weeks episode, and as Gaeta goes under Doc Cottle's bone saw. The song actually flows throughout the entire episode crescendoing with the lyrics 'To have her, please, just one day wake,' which land on the wakening of the Hybrid and the surprise jump.
McCreary spills a little dirt and promises this won't be the last we see of music being brought to the front of the series. He is even overseeing on-set instrumental performances. Oh, methinks it's time for another barn dance on BSG.
Poor Gatea he's everybody's bitch in BSG. First he took crap from Baltar, then he was almost thrown out the airlock, now his leg has been sawed off by Doc Cottle. Call this a shot in the dark, but if cylons have the ability to create mechanical people, couldn't they make a mechanical leg for our pal Gaeta? Bring Gaeta a love interest stat, he's so sad it makes me cry. [Bear's Battlestar Blog]
Comments
Gaeta has a love interest: Baltar. That's why he was so mad at him after the exodus from New Caprica.
This lends even more credence to my theory that Gaeta is the 5th Cylon.
Not to judge, but the Headline is kinda false advertising. Cause the song didn't really lead to any clues, the lyrics just reflected and underscored the plot of the episode.
I mean if Gatea sang; "Earth is just 5 parsecs away/Frell until that day" then we'd have some clues.
Also a sick crossover.
It's too early to fit him w/ a prosthetic leg. You have to wait until the wound heals. It's been less than a day. You people are tough on the infirmed! You want him to walk right after getting his leg cut off. Have some compassion! ;)
Gaeta's a fraking cylon. He can just weld on another leg, or you know whatever.
His special cylon power is always being present whenever funky shit goes down, and you know... singing weird songs. I bet we catch him humming "All Along the Watchtower" before the end of the show.
Especially since he's the fifth cylon. All the clues point to it.
I'd really like it if Gaeta never sings again. I love the character, and really wanted him to keep his leg, and I hope he is the 5th, and think he has a lovely singing voice, but boy did that episode drag....
@NerD!!!: Kind of like when Mike Rowe(Dirty Jobs, ex-opera singer) sings. Yeah it's funny, but I wanna see him do something disgusting.
Anyone think there's a connection to all the Opera House stuff and Gaeta's rather operatic singing?
Billy's the Fifth!
@jabedoben: Duh.
Possible: Gaeta dies of his infection next week. Deanna is woken up on the Resurrection Hub, walks over to the special "Final Five" section, and finds a new Gaeta. . .
Lovely song, great singing.
But ... LESS IS MORE! 99% less would have made me 99% happier!!!! GAWD!
That would be cool, Gaeta as the androgenous Cylon/human leader. But if they do that, they need to bump up his show involvement, or it will feel like a bait and switch.
I hope he uses a cane, kinda like Tigh with an eye patch, maintaining the humanity of physical illness.
Anders and Baltar watching Gaeta at the hospital had slash potential (Run! Run for your lives!)
I still think there's a 13th model.
@Velireon: I agree. The first time I watched the episode it slowed things down so much I couldn't be bothered to pay attention to the lyrics. But now that I've watched it again, I'm quite fond of the song. I hope they release a Gaeta Opera on the soundtrack because I would buy that. Just a little less in that episode.
@Daveinva: I approve.
@Git Em SteveDave: It's so much better to watch him complain about the smell of pig.
@EBone: Nice reply, smartass.
I was referring to the fact that everyone seems to be focusing on the song lyrics and that he's singing because of his leg.
What if he is the 5th, and is singing because everyone is having all these Opera House flashes? Like something has awakened inside of him?
GALACTICA is the fifth.
I've edited this sentence:
> the beautifully sad song it is now
into a more accurate statement.
> the astonishingly annoying song it is now
@Spideyrex:
"I hope he uses a cane, kinda like Tigh with an eye patch, maintaining the humanity of physical illness."
He could also develop a cynical side and pop pills. It's House M.D...in space.
His voice didn't sound that good to me.
The opera house is the Galactica and Baltar is the 5th. Easy enough. He died on Caprica in the nuclear explosion and the one that hitched a ride with Helo is another incarnation.
ehh, a little pig powder for him too, fix him right up.
@shokk: The writers have said several times that the 5th cylon is not Baltar. I think Gaeda may be though.
Is there any information on when, if at all, Sci Fi is going to post this episode online? Unusally it's on within 12 hours, but it's still not there.
@jabedoben: That was exactly my point. I was just kidding. I didn't mean to be a dick.
Something has awakened in Gaeta, the singing is a sign, and somehow the gunshot wound or the near death experience triggered it. Music is the key - All Along The Watchtower being heard by the 4 of 5, Leoben telling Kara in the Raptor last week that music and melodies are the key to finding god and her destiny, the fact the opera house plays such a key role, etc.
Writers, by definition, are liars. Look it up. I'm sure somebody said that, somewhere, someone.
@parvax: It is known, from Ronald Moore himself, that the final cylon does NOT appear in the last supper tableau photo that was released. He admitted this after a careless slip of the tongue.
Baltar is in that photo, as are the President and Adama. Ergo, they are not cylons. (The Chief is, but he was known as a Cylon at the time.)
Gaeta is not in that photo, but he is too obvious now. It's a diversion.
I'm certain his name Alessandro Juliani, not Juliana.
@Gyrus: Yeah, do people not think Gaeta loves Baltar? It's pretty simple.
Seconding the idea that it's really Gaeta the final Cylon model, it would be really grate IMO.
On a side note, do you know that Gaeta is a very fine little italian city??
[maps.google.it]
See for yourself :)
...is he the fifth!?
@Shiryu: That's what we're all wondering!
@Shiryu: Up until now, my money was on Roselynn (Starbuck's too obvious). But after this last episode... who knows?
When Gaeta's leg grows back BY ITSELF, then the jig will be up and I too will believe he is the 5th. Until then, Madaam President gets my vote for the 5th.
Well, for whatever it's worth, my money has always been on Zarek for the final cylon. He's always around, manipulating things behind the scenes, sometimes in power, sometimes just influencing those that are. How perfect is that for someone who is trying to manipulate the destinies of two peoples? And, on top everything else, it just seems somehow right that the actor who played the original Apollo to be, what is in the end, the most powerful character of this reincarnation of the series he helped make great.
I don't know who is the final Cylon, but I do think that Starbuck is the 13th god of Kobol in human form, like Jesus. That or the first human/cylon child. ooohh what if another Gaeta was her father?
@Lester56: I kept waiting for the camera to pull back and see that Gaeta's leg had grown back. A regular Charm of Making, that lament. But no, since Tigh's eye hasn't come back I don't think Gaeta's leg will either.
@McSkippy: And, on top everything else, it just seems somehow right that the actor who played the original Apollo to be, what is in the end, the most powerful character of this reincarnation of the series he helped make great.
I don't know, but I keep wondering if this was the promise that turned Richard Hatch's attitude around about the re-imagined series. Didn't he hate it in the beginning?
@Gouda: I don't know who is the final Cylon, but I do think that Starbuck is the 13th god of Kobol in human form, like Jesus.
It would make sense for her to be the avatar of Aurora.
@Insomnia Bob: It's not Roslin.
@McSkippy: God I hope that Richard Hatch doesn't have a central role in this story. I've never gotten over his obsession with the old Galactica, and the bad-mouthing he did on this one.
@dangrgirl:
I'm not quite as up on my Richard Hatch interviews as I should be, but if you're saying he wanted the same type of agreement as EJO that he wouldn't be an Cylon, I guess anything can change over the course of a series. Hell, you could even make the argument that he manipulated the whole attack on the colonies from his prison cell so that the survivors would flee into space. Using the humans to lead the cylons to Earth.
Singing was good - a bit too much of it though.
Episode did drag a bit in the beginning, but wow what a finish. Nice one Mr. Moore.
I agree about Zarek being the final Cylon. Didn't the hybrid in Razor say the fifth was striving for redemption or something like that? Seeing as how he started off in season one in prison as a convicted terrorist, I think Zarek definitely fits the bill. If Gaeta were the fifth, I would be horrbily disappointed in RDM and co., since he's been such an obvious candidate right from the start. After all the buildup to revealing the fifth's identity, that would be positely anticlimactic:(
But yes, please, no more singing. By anyone. Ever. It rather spoils the atmosphere...
As far as Gaeta's leg, I think it was done solely to give Anders guilt to obsess over. After all, Tigh murdered his wife, Tyrol blames himself for what he thinks was his wife's suicide, Anders needed SOMETHING to hate himself for! Gaeta's lucky to have made it out alive.
I wish I were joking...
Since this will be my first comment on this website and could very well be my only and last, which is giving me performance anxiety--thank the gods for xanax and vicodin ("morpho" i'm sure to you nerds)--I'm telling you now that I am going to take this opportunity to be verbose AND, hopefully, insightful...even though bagging on Gaeta's voice and calling him a fag is the "insight" a lot of you are bringing to this forum so, sweet...
1. QUESTION: WHO ARE THE SEVENS?
I apologize if this was already discussed and if so then illuminate me because this has been nagging me for a while. One of the Final Five HAS to be a Seven cause the Sharon's are Eights, no? How do we reconcile this detail? Am I being too detail-oriented? Just say so because this has red flags all over it what's driving me fucking insane is that neither Adama nor Roslyn said fuck-all about it in their negotiations with the rogue six with the honey-brown hair. Which brings me to my next question:
2. WHY DOES EVERYONE CALL THAT PARTICULAR SIX "Natalee"?
When the fuck did she say her name was Natalee and why would it be? Sixes and all Cylons for that matter have human names when they've infiltrated human society, i.e.-Gina from Pegasus. Among Cylons they're their model #s. HOW does everyone know to call her that? And don't say the interactive billboard cause that don't mean SHIT unless she says it in an episode.
3. GAETA IS THE FIFTH CYLON (for the following reasons):
Calling this the "Seconds (2nds) Theory" as in Seconds-In-Command. Follow me:
All of the Final Five share a theme of being subordinates to the most significant characters in the mythology. They are all "2nds": Tori is Chief of Staff to the President (Roslyn); Col. Tigh is Executive Officer to the Admiral (Adama); Tyrol WAS, before his demotion, Deck Chief which in my estimation equates to Senior NCO/Chief Petty Officer aboard the Galactica--essentially the XO of the enlisted ranks and therefore, like Tigh, a 2nd to Adama; Anders has been a 2nd to Starbuck--read: "sidekick" not to mention husband AS WELL AS jockeying for Kara's love against Lee in a different but significant "secondary" role...which brings me to Gaeta.
A "2nd"? Absolutely and since the Pilot to Baltar as assistant, aide, adversary...on New Caprica he was the Resistance's inside man, and the Resistance was led by 3 of the Final Five Cylons so it seems almost impossible for him not to be the fifth in light of all that. Who'd be a more satisfying fifth? Not Roslyn. Too outspoken. Same for Zarek.
What do you think? Please feedback.
And I agree: there's a 13th Cylon. And it created the rest.
Triskadekaphobia, bitches.
Well, I think I am a bit late to get in on this, but heck here goes.
I have thought for a while that the 5th was the Doc. The final 5 have placed themselves/been placed in positions around the remaining humans in key areas. Anders-rebellion leader, Tigh-#2 and friend of Adama, Tori-aid to the president and Tyrol-Chief on the flight deck. That also makes it redundant for the president, Adama, Cally or Starbuck to be cylons. (I wanted it to be SB or Baltar, but I don't think it will be).
I now think it is Gaeta. True, his presence on the bridge makes 2 there, and redundant, but he WAS the VP on New Caprica (another key position). Gaeta has been striving for redemption ever since he got back from New Caprica and everyone hated him -- to the point where he was almost "Airlocked". So, that makes him a really good candidate right there.
Richard Hatch was lucky to even BE in the show, so no way he is the 5th. My favorite remark up top was that the GALACTICA was the 5th. Awesome.
While I am geeking out, I thought someone's comment about the 13th was poignant. There are 12 greek gods, 12 colonies in the main group, 12 cylon models. I think the 12 cylons are clearly made to represent those colonies, perhaps the gods. The 13th colony is Earth, cylons have one God, the most common God where BSG is made is God...I have often thought how cool it would be if Starbuck were what the cylons refer to as God. Baltar would want that too much, so I think it ain't him.
BTW, just a note, Starbuck is the harbinger of death, and brings the END to humans (the hybrid on Razor said so) but END doesn't mean death, and death does not mean end. (Meaning she leads the humans to Earth "The End" and a lot of people die along the way.)
Thanks for letting me get that out. Hahaha.
@kaze750: I've always suspected Doc because there's no way an old man like him could smoke as much as he does and NOT get cancer, emphysema, etc. WITHOUT being a cylon