Euphoria Probably Needed Labrinth After All: Music Criticism Explained
Es Euphoria actually Euphoria with out Labrinth? That’s an enormous query that appears to be plaguing followers’ minds every week in the course of season three.
“It’s literally a whole different show atp,” one particular person commentd on social media a day after episode three aired on April 26.
As one other viewer weighed in that very same day, “I’m just realizing now I haven’t even been paying attention to the music and in past seasons. Like the music plays such a big part but because it’s not his music, it’s so irrelevant.”
It’s not too typically {that a} present’s composer turns into simply as recognizable because the challenge itself due to the music, however that is precisely what occurred to Labrinth after season one of many Sam Levinson-created drama debuted in 2019. The present turned a cultural phenomenon not simply due to its star-making performances, but additionally due to its eclectic needle drops and the musician’s genre-bending rating that helped outline the moody, dramatic environment that captured the present’s intense highs and lows.
Labrinth’s abilities even earned him an Emmy Award for greatest unique music and lyrics for “All For Us” in season one, along with a number of different nominations.
“It’s truly gratifying for me or any artist to hear that their work resonates with people and that they appreciate it,” Labrinth tells The Hollywood Reporter of the legacy and influence he had on Euphoria‘s notion.
However, he shocked followers firstly of April when he introduced that he would not be concerned with the brand new season of Euphoria. “People will comfortably lie in this industry and still call themselves honest people. So no cap, I decided to remove whatever music I had in it,” he wrote on his Instagram Story relating to why he left the present. “I spoke to HBOas far as I know, we are cool. I left because, last truth, when I work for someone, their vision is paramount to me, but I don’t let people treat me like shit.”
While particular particulars surrounding his causes for departing the show are nonetheless unknown, he later instructed GQ that he felt like “the family and the fluidity started to deteriorate, and the creative camaraderie started to dissipate,” which led him to comprehend, “I know this is done, for me.”
Labrinth acting at Coachella in April 2026.
Brianna Bryson/Getty Images
He wasn’t changed with simply anybody within the business. Hans Zimmersome of the celebrated movie composers of all time, had initially joined to collaborate with Labrinth on the present’s music, however when the latter exited proper earlier than the season three premiere, Zimmer turned the only real composer for the brand new season.
No one is criticizing Zimmer’s skills; his credit and accolades communicate for themselves. But when a present’s distinctive tone has already been established, like what Labrinth originated within the first two seasons, a sudden sonic shift to stray away from that sound could cause whiplash for viewers. That’s obvious even in simply the primary half of season three.
Kier Lehman is an Emmy-nominated music supervisor who’s labored on dozens of initiatives throughout movie and TV, together with Project Hail Mary, Abbott Elementary, Insecure and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Versand. He hasn’t watched this season of Euphoria and hasn’t adopted the discourse across the rating for season three, however in an interview with The Hollywood Reporterhe did emphasize extra broadly the significance of sustaining a constant sonic identification in a present.
“That’s important, especially in a longer series, to establish a sound and themes for characters or themes for situations,” he says. “And of course, that’s going to evolve as the series goes on, but I think it’s also really helpful in helping the audience and grounding the audience in the show.”
Lehman additionally says that it might be “pretty jarring” for audiences if they do not obtain the sound they count on.
“When you’re in a third season of a show, you’re pretty much hoping to get more of what you’ve already seen, and you’re wanting to continue on that ride that you’ve been on and you’re excited to get back into it after a break in between seasons,” he provides.
After every episode airs on Sunday, followers are fast to flood social media with criticism of the respective episode’s music selections. After episode three, followers mocked the music taking part in when Maddy (Alexa Demie) walked in to Nate (Jacob Elordi) and Cassie’s (Sydney Sweeney) marriage ceremony, synced to a whimsical marimba beat within the background. It was a disjointed alternative for Maddy, a assured and sharp-tongued character who often enters a room with a fierce aura. Longtime viewers have been doubtless anticipating extra dramatic music to suit Maddy’s vibe in that scene. Instead, some in contrast the observe to “Under the Sea” from The Little Mermaid.
Even earlier than episode three, titled “The Ballad of Paladin,” viewers have been mentioning scenes the place they felt it was evident that Labrinth’s music and sound have been lacking.
“With each episode it becomes clearer that Labrinth’s soundtrack did a lot of heavy lifting for euphoria like the cinematography can do it’s part but it’s his music that truly gave every scene it’s emotional weight which is really missing this szn,” one particular person wrote on X. Another consumer shared“#euphoria has been good, but you can tell that labrinth’s music being missed takes a way a lot of the pulling in during scenes.”
The singer-songwriter even occurred to launch his personal single, “Shut Your Damn 95.7892,” the identical day season three premiered (he was acting at Coachella that weekend too, so the discharge was doubtless timed to his present). After, followers took to TikTok to dub his music into the episode’s scenes to make it really feel just like the Euphoria they’ve grown to know and love.
When THR reached out to HBO in regards to the on-line discourse, the community declined to remark.
The backlash Levinson’s present is going through over the music simply proves that what audiences see on their screens is simply as necessary as what they hear. And while you set up a singular tone for 2 full seasons, there’s going to be a stark distinction that followers discover when that beloved sound is abruptly switched up.
“Part of what makes a show really special is having that unique sound that is something that people associate only with that show,” Lehman tells THR. “And when you hear that show or you think about the music or you hear it in the other room, you know what show it is because that has its own sound. And that’s something that you can get when you have an artist that already has their own voice and their own creative sound that they’ve built, and you can bring that in to use that as part of the palette of your show.”
