‘Avalanche‘ accompanies the scenes where Nolan flies into space devastated he almost killed Mark
The touching opening scenes of the new episode of the animated series Invincible are musically illustrated by a haunting song that is equally stirring.
That song playing on Invincible, Season 2, Episode 4, “It’s Been a While‘, as Nolan flies into space after almost killing his son, and then saves a Thraxian spaceship as it is about to crash into the sun, is Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds’ ‘Avalanche‘.
A track that, while it may sound depressing and sad as it looks at love and loss can actually be deemed to be hopeful, as the lyrics elude to being down but not out:
You strike my side by accident
As you go down for your goal
The cripple here that you clothe and feed
Is neither starved nor cold
He does not ask for your company
Not at the centre, the centre of the world
When was Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds’ ‘Avalanche’ released?
With the way the track seems to perfectly suit Nick Cave’s melancholic vocals, you could easily surmise it was written by Australian musician Cave and recorded as an original.
Nothing could be further from the truth, as the writer of ‘Avalanche‘ is iconic Canadian singer songwriter Leonard Cohen, who wrote the song long before Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds released it as a song on their debut studio album.
Cohen himself released ‘Avalanche‘ in 1971 on his third album Songs of Love and Hate, and since commented he based the lyrics on a poem he had previously penned.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds’ cover of ‘Avalanche‘ was recorded as the first track on their debut studio album From Her to Eternity, which came out in early 1984.
It was an interesting choice as the album’s first track, as it was so completely different than the music Cave used to release with his previous post-punk band The Birthday Party.
Maybe something he wanted to point out about his new venture right from the get-go.
Listen to Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds’ ‘Avalanche‘ as heard on those lovely first scenes of this week’s Invincible in the video, and via the band’s From Her to Eternity album.
Season 2 of Invincible is streaming now on Amazon Prime Video.