The four main characters of Seinfeld generally stayed busy in the middle of the show’s intricately plotted madness. They didn’t have the time to sit around and listen to records, at least not that the audience ever saw.
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There were, however, a few times when music played a key role in the show’s plots. Let’s look back at four songs that made appearances, often in unusual ways, in memorable episodes.
“Wind Beneath My Wings” by Bette Midler, from ‘Seinfeld’ Episode “The Understudy”
In one of the more bizarre plot twists, even by Seinfeldian standards, Bette Midler, appearing as herself, gets bowled over at home plate during a celebrity softball game by George. (He’s playing to win, as usual.) Luckily for her, she has a guardian angel in Kramer. He comes rushing to her aid and touchingly sings the refrain of “Wind Beneath My Wings”, Midler’s signature song. The episode was meant as a commentary on the Nancy Kerrigan/Tonya Harding kerfuffle that took place at the Winter Olympics in 1994, just a year before it aired. But the most memorable moment (perhaps aside from George tearing down the third base line) is Kramer gently cradling a confused Midler in his arms and serenading her.
“Believe It Or Not (Theme From ‘Greatest American Hero’) by Joey Scarbury, from Episode “The Susie”
Yes, there was a time when TV theme songs could do major damage on the pop charts. Joey Scarbury’s rendition of the theme to The Greatest American Hero soared to No. 2 in 1981. And it clearly left a big impression on George Costanza in Seinfeld. The 90s were a boom time for people putting jokey messages on their answering machines. We find out George has done his own take on the theme song (“Believe it or not, George isn’t at home / Please leave a message at the beep”) because he’s screening calls to avoid his latest girlfriend breaking up with him. Jason Alexander, who plays George, is actually an excellent singer. But, in character, he delivers an absolutely tuneless take on the song for his machine.
“Downtown” by Petula Clark, from Episode “The Bottle Deposit”
Performed by the legendary British chanteuse Petula Clark and written by her producer Tony Hatch, “Downtown” proved that the British Invasion didn’t need to be dominated by beat groups. The song shot to No. 1 in 1964, propelling Clark to an excellent international career. It also led to one of the funnier coffee shop conversations between Jerry and George. Mr. Wilhelm on Seinfeld, George’s immediate superior in the Yankees organization, recommends that George go “downtown” to complete a mysterious project. Hoping to figure out what that project is, George assumes it has something to do with the song. He and Jerry dissect the lyrics in a futile attempt to figure it out. As it turns out, the project was just a figment of the crazed Wilhelm’s imagination.
“Desperado” by The Eagles, from Episode “The Checks”
“Desperado” helped establish the songwriting tandem of Don Henley and Glenn Frey. It also turned into one of The Eagles’ most enduring and moving songs. So moving, in fact, that Elaine’s new boyfriend goes into a trance of sorts every time he hears it, completely ignoring her. Some great jokes tied to the song and the lyrics appear. Elaine complains that the guy is “out riding fences,” and Jerry wonders if he listens to the “All-Desperado channel.” Eventually, Elaine attempts to establish “Witchy Woman”, another Eagles classic, as a song for the couple, only to be rebuffed. This poor sap ends up hospitalized after Jerry hits him with an axe (you had to be there). But there’s something familiar in the plot otherwise. Most of us music fans have songs like that, ones where we don’t want to be disturbed when they randomly appear.
Photo by Bob Riha Jr/WireImage
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