IP Democracy: It's Time to Stop Believin'

Whatever you think of David Chase’s weird ending to “The Sopranos,” there’s no denying that the final song, Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin,” was a catchy, slightly kitschy choice of music. So catchy that one might be tempted to buy into the theory that Chase’s bizarre final scene was in fact a giant practical joke.

Here’s supporting evidence that “The Soprano’s” finale was designed to mess with our minds: One problem I’ve had since watching the final episode is the continued looping in my head of that iconic 80’s power ballad. It seems I’m not alone, although most people have been hearing it through their ears and not through their imaginations. Radio airplay of the tune jumped 192% in the four days following the final episode, while downloads of the song via iTunes rocketed 482% in the two days following that episode.

Surprisingly, this sudden burst of popularity for the song has happened several times before when it was used on MTV’s “Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County,” Fox’s “The Family Guy” and “Scrubs.”

The surge in demand, however, will die down as memories of “The Sopranos” controversial concluding chapter fade away. Let’s hope the continued replay of the song in my head also fades away.

Posted by Cynthia Brumfield on June 18, 2007 12:30 PM to IP Democracy