‘Paradise:’ How Music Supervisor Tom Wolfe Built the Show’s Soundtrack Using Elvis and Phil Collins Cover Songs

Hulu's "Paradise" Season 2, set in Memphis, Tennessee, features a soundtrack curated by music supervisors Tom Wolfe and Manish Raval, incorporating cover songs by Elvis Presley and Phil Collins. Showrunner Dan Fogelman informed the supervisors of Graceland's inclusion in the new season. The season's narrative unfolds prior to a planet-altering extinction-level event, exploring the characters' lives in a pre-apocalyptic setting. The music choices aim to reflect the show's dystopian themes while grounding the narrative in familiar cultural touchstones. Wolfe and Raval's work on "Paradise" highlights the intricate process of selecting music to enhance storytelling in television, particularly in a genre that blends science fiction with dramatic character development. The use of iconic artists like Elvis and Phil Collins in cover versions suggests a deliberate effort to evoke specific moods and historical contexts within the show's fictional world. This approach to soundtrack creation is crucial for establishing the atmosphere and emotional resonance of the series, especially as it delves into the lives of characters facing an impending global catastrophe.