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'Girls' Music Recap: Jenny Lewis Satisfies...For Now

Cortney Riles |
January 13, 2014 | 3:58 p.m. PST

Executive Producer

 Hannah, Jessa, Shoshanna and Marnie of "Girls." (HBO)
Hannah, Jessa, Shoshanna and Marnie of "Girls." (HBO)

After the first two seasons of "Girls," two things were clear: normal doesn't exist and good music is a game changer. And after the season 3 premiere, those are still the facts. Prior to Sunday night's episode, music magazines and websites were flooding the internet with hints on which artists we could look foward to hearing throughout the season, while Songza created Hannah, Marnie and Jessa channels, allowing fans to channel their inner "Girls" character and rock out accordingly. Only two songs were featured in the first episode of the season, but true to form, they fit their respective scenes and characters perfectly. But, before we dive into the music let's back track (painful, I know) to where we left off. 

The last time we saw Hannah, she was losing it. Correction, she flat out lost it...only to be saved by Adam running [shirtless] to her while the two were Facetiming. After an entire season of messiness, Marnie and Charlie seemed to be back on the same page, and in the same bed. Meanwhile Shoshanna had called it quits with Ray, and Jessa did what Jessa does best - disappeared.

Season two left many fans frustrated, thinking, "It can only get better from here." It's too soon to tell, but one thing's for sure, Hannah and Adam are in a much better place. Almost in that lovey-dovey, makes you want to vomit place. Yep, you read that correctly, Hannah and Adam are madly in love and in a seemingly healthy relationship...for now. 

Don't worry, you're not the only one skeptical of (or disgusted by) that happiness. Five minutes into the first part of the premiere the couple run into Natalia at the beloved coffee shop where Ray, Hannah (and now Marnie) work. The run in was angrily ignited by Natalia's very rambunctious friend, but after she was riled up, Natalia was ready to give Adam—and Hannah by default—a piece of her angry and heartbroken mind. After all he did tell her he loved her, did some "dirty" things, and then left for good. 

“I hope you two just enjoy your urine-soaked life f*cking like the two feral animals that you both know you are. You’re gonna end up with a baby that you don’t know how to care for. You’re gonna f*cking kill your kid. You’re gonna give it spoiled formula,” she shouted before storming out. 

That was as crazy as things got last night. 

After living at home with her mom—still devasted by Charlie who up and left when they were suppsed to grill pizzas— Marnie is trying to get it together. First step, getting her own apartment. Shoshanna is living the college life, hooking up with a boy — who's really into cuddling — while his roomates types away on his laptop. Her MO is to be sexually active. Go Shosh. Jessa is in rehab, rebelling (in true Jessa fashion) in group and, well everywhere in the facility. Everyone hates her and rightfully so, as she harshly criticizes them. She goes so far as to out a fellow addict, to swiftly apologize and then give the girl (Sara) her first girl on girl action, which leads her to being kicked out. 

Maroon 5's "One More Night" kicked off the road trip [and the second half of the premiere] to pick up Jessa from rehab, until Adam shut it off, with his fist. 

Hannah's goal for the trip was to have more material to write about for her book. All she got was a lame truth or dare game with Adam (who had never played the game before, shocker) and Shoshanna, an argument with Shosh about how to pronounce Ryan Phillippe and a long sit in the woods as Adam and Shoshanna went on a hike. 

"It's really liberating to say no to sh*t you hate. You live your truth, I live my truth," she declared. 

When they finally get to Jessa, Hannah finds out that the dirve wasn't necessary, Jessa could have flown back to the city. But her anger was short lived as she was solely happy to have her friend come back home...and stay...for good. 

The second half of the season premiere ended, well, perfectly with Jessa's return to the gang as Jenny Lewis's "Completely Not Me" accompanied her homecoming. Take a listen over at Entertainment Weekly

The Girls Vol. 2 Soundtrack will be available February 11th —pre-order of the album begins January 14th— and includes brand new tracks that will air this season from artists like Beck, Lily Allen, Christina Perri and — I'm going to guess — a sexy tune from Miguel, as well as classic favorites featured in season 2 like Oasis's "Wonderwall." Get ready to dance, but also be prepared to cry...or do both simultaneously. 

1. Vampire Weekend – “I’m Going Down”

2. Jenny Lewis – “Completely Not Me” 

3. M Ward – “I Get Ideas”

4. Lily Allen – “Late Comer”

5. Beck – “Blue Moon”

6. Miguel – “simplethings” 

7. Christina Perri – “I Don’t Wanna Break”

8. Oasis – “Wonderwall”

9. Zero DeZire – “It’s My Birthday (Remix)” 

10. Aimee Mann – “How Am I Different”

11. Father John Misty – “Nancy From Now On”

12. Jake Bugg – “There’s A Beast And We All Feed It”

13. Cat Power – “Free (Gigamesh Remix)” 

14. Daniel Johnston – “Life In Vain (Live At Austin City Limits)”

15. Michael Penn – “Daisy (From One Man’s Trash)” 

Anything missing? Better yet, any predictions for this season? Between Manish Raval's chat with Radio.com and the unequivocally glorious music trends in seasons 1 and 2…I have a few. 

Justin Timberlake — "Strawberry Bubblegum"  

Daughter — "Get Lucky" (Daft Punk cover) 

Sara Bareilles — "Manhattan" 

Pharell — "Happy"

The Neighbourhood — "Sweater Weather"

BANKS — "Warm Water" or Niia — "Generation Blue"  

Passenger — "Patient Love" 

Lady GaGa/R. Kelly — "Do What U Want" 

Johny Mayer/Katy Perry — "Who You Love" 

The Staves — "In The Long Run" 

Miley Cyrus — "23" 

Picture the girls jamming (awkwardly and drunk of course) in Marnie's new apartment — or sh*thole as her mom likes to call it— to that last one. Just picture it. 

Let's pause there for now. It's a little too early to elaborate on guesses and suggestions of what should be played this season. Despite the breif music inclusion of this week's episdoes, I think we'll have more great songs to listen to. Riveting, calming, and straight up crazy tunes that remind us of why we love the artist in the first place, or introduce us to artists we wished we heard 10 years ago (Icona Pop). Keep watching, and keep those ears stretched, after all it's hard to pull away from a "happily never after" story line. 

Reach Executive Producer Cortney Riles here

Follow her on Twitter here



 

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