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Tony Tells Us to 'Enjoy the Music' in 'Sopranos' Finale

In the final episode ever, Tony Soprano advised Paulie Walnuts (and, by proxy, us) to "enjoy the music" emanating from their car radio. And while many fans have been left scratching their heads due to the ambiguous ending of this ultimate episode of 'The Sopranos,' what it withheld in the script it revealed in spades musically.

As in the entire 86-episode run of the series, the series finale's songs were strategically placed to set scenes, offer commentary and even serve as misdirection or comic relief -- from a tense Tony and Paulie enjoying the music of Randy and the Rainbows' 1963 oldie 'Denise' in the aforementioned scene, to Paulie being spooked by the crew's new feline mascot to the tune of 'Pretty Little Angel Eyes' by Curtis Lee. The recently politicized youngsters A.J. and Rhiannon discover Bob Dylan -- as well as each other -- while listening to his 'It's Alright Ma, I'm Only Bleeding' before their SUV goes up in flames.

In the course of the exalted show's final hour, the soundtrack veered from Vivaldi to Vanilla Fudge, and from Sonic Youth to the Noisettes, concluding with the mob boss at a restaurant booth jukebox selecting Journey's 1981 anthem 'Don't Stop Believin'' as the series swan song, which blares through the show's final minutes. Instead of the song concluding into the credits, as usual, it ends abruptly and chillingly when the scene -- and the show -- cut to black, offering an ironic ending to a groundbreaking television series.

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Bellevue Hokie

3 years later and no one can conclusively say what the ending meant? The movie just goes on and on...

April 12 2010 at 5:17 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ev

Wow, what a wicked end to an awesome show. It just finished screening here in Australia so i am sorry if this post is a little delayed.
This feels like the end of an era for me. Feels like a part of my life has ended.

You really have to watch and know the show to appreciate this ending.

The Sopranos Theme Song
"Woke Up This Morning..."
This song was performed by Alabama 3 as "Woke Up"
"Seven Souls" by Material, which features a voiceover by William S. Burroughs

The last song in the final episode is by Journey - Don't stop believing.

October 30 2007 at 9:28 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
sid grant

who sings the theme song for the show? Is there a cd that is available to purchase of the song?

July 04 2007 at 11:33 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Laurie Walker

I'm going to miss the show but personally, and I know I'm not alone, I thought it was a lame ending to a phenominal series. I'm with you wes (#3)

June 16 2007 at 10:43 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
mommycarter617

I thought the ending was perfect. The tension was created to make us think Tony or another family member was going to be killed. However, I go back to the ending of the first season; remember the storm and Artie's? That season ended with the family, although not especially happy with one another at the time, together, eating their way through the storm. The final show has Meadow marrying into "the family." AJ has a job...sort of, and Carm's business is picking up. They are happy and prepared to face life, with or without Tony. I agree. The song at the end gives us all hope. Heck, if that family can weather the years and all they've been through, the rest of us should NEVR STOP BELIEVING! How I'm going to miss this show!

June 16 2007 at 9:34 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
robert j coyle

could anyone tell me the name of the song playing on the juke box when tony enters the diner in the last episode, tony then starts to scan the music selection?

June 14 2007 at 10:29 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Svetlana

The ending was very unique and very unexpected-My cable box actually shut down, and a lot of others experienced the same thing.
I think the song "Don't stop believing" is very symbolic here, because everyone thought Tony was going to get killed, but at the end he didn't- at least we did not see it happen, and this left the door open to hope. The song started right as Tony's wife walks in, another symbol of hope and his son actually talks about "remembering the good times". I think the ending had a message for all of us, that sometimes even when everything seems completely lost and all the odds are stacked against you, life can throw you a curveball, a total surprise... and a miracle can happen..like Tony getting a pass ;)

June 13 2007 at 12:46 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
locktonyup

There was no right way to end the Sopranos if Chase had ended it happy without the possibility of Tony about to be shot it would have been gay if he had ended it with Tony shot and dead lying on the ground then it would have been just as gay this way he leaves it open incase he decides to do a movie and if not then u get to decide who walked through that door and how it ended...

June 12 2007 at 10:21 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jim

anyone who was disappointed by the final episode doesn't understand what the sopranos is about

June 11 2007 at 8:10 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
wes

a perfect ending? no. leaving the "door open" to make a movie is a cheap way to make money. if you are writing the script for the last show ever .. give it closure ... people are arguing "life has many loose ends" .. i say -- we watch tv to escape life for a moment .. to be in a "fantasy land". And fantasies have endings.
Thank You, David Chase, for being selfish in your Art.

June 11 2007 at 6:48 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply