Queen of Fucking Everything
Lauri Porra
" It does offer a good score by Lauri Porra. "Written by Joep de Bruijn - Review of the download only release
Queen of Fucking Everything (Aluevaltauksia) is 2025 a Finnish series directed by Tiina Lymi. The series marks the introduction of New8, a new initiative from a fairly large number of European public broadcasting channels joining forces, financially and creatively. However, in terms of distribution, it contradicts everything New8 should represent; the Netherlands, as co-producing partner, has just begun airing the series in May, five months after its release in Finland.
The series tells the story of successful realtor Linda Saarniluoto, who, due to severe debt she inherited from her fleeing husband, spirals down into the world of crime. Overall, the series results in a miscellany of comedy, crime, drama, and thriller that does not offer anything new; ''mikä klisee/what a cliché'' is a brief piece of dialogue that captures it all. However, it is entertaining enough, but could just as easily be made as a two-hour-long, still mediocre film. It does offer a good score by Lauri Porra.
Its music features splendid performances of a string quartet, solo cello, bass, flamenco percussion, and some electronics. The score accentuates the theme of the absence of love, and how this makes a person make decisions, that contrast previous beliefs and feelings of the protagonist, leading to uncertainty and criminal acts. It is - minus references in the strings section- especially rewarding through an evocative piano theme that supports flashbacks of both Laura' youth and recent events, while supporting present circumstances.
In all its humour, ranging from black, to almost slapstick and more generally pleasing, interconnected with other particles of the series, the composer uses a different ideas. They range from tongue in cheek, bouncy and plucked strings, to more classical, elegant cues addressing both the protagonist' lifestyle and statue - in demise - gives these pieces an ironic comment on things on display. The flamenco stylized pieces both serve moments of slapstick (fighting a homeless person over valuable aluminum cans) to aiding the aforementioned general amusement, are very effective, and to some extent, serve as 'transitioning' pieces of music at other times.
In regard to the crime element of the series, there are some darker, and relatively more atmospheric pieces, but it is especially the union of a climbing string motif with a 'harsh' electric guitar, as heard in cues such as Candyman, that stands out.
As the series progresses, and Laura continues her games of deceit, in her personal life and the world of crime, the level of success, as she comes closer to realizing a large building project, is best presented in cues such as Victor's Spoils and Good Day. Yes, they are 'mikä klisee' optimistic power anthems of crime and human-felt emotions, but they are still memorable.
The digital release by Platoon offers a good overview of the score. There are approximately a dozen different musical ideas that recur a lot throughout the series, which are well presented on the digital release, offering a fine overview of a good score by Lauri Porra.
Tracklist
1. Queen of Fucking Everything 1:17
2. 00700 Hustle 1:43
3. Pawnshopping 1:55
4. Luxury and Lies 1:45
5. I Never Haggle 2:17
6. Finders Keepers 1:04
7. Good Olives 1:42
8. Frozen Lake 1:49|
9. Queen's Move 2:10
10. Warning Lights 2:17
11. Candyman 2:01
12. The Echo of Us 1:51
13. Victor's Spoils 1:50
14. Queen's Lament 1:02
15. Good Day 3:04
16. Bad Piano 2:05
17. Sad Sine 3:29
18. Point of No Return 2:35
19. Sine and Bass I 2:48
20. Sine and Bass II 2:34
21. Day Spa 1:39
Total duration: 42:57
(16-05-2025)
The series tells the story of successful realtor Linda Saarniluoto, who, due to severe debt she inherited from her fleeing husband, spirals down into the world of crime. Overall, the series results in a miscellany of comedy, crime, drama, and thriller that does not offer anything new; ''mikä klisee/what a cliché'' is a brief piece of dialogue that captures it all. However, it is entertaining enough, but could just as easily be made as a two-hour-long, still mediocre film. It does offer a good score by Lauri Porra.
Its music features splendid performances of a string quartet, solo cello, bass, flamenco percussion, and some electronics. The score accentuates the theme of the absence of love, and how this makes a person make decisions, that contrast previous beliefs and feelings of the protagonist, leading to uncertainty and criminal acts. It is - minus references in the strings section- especially rewarding through an evocative piano theme that supports flashbacks of both Laura' youth and recent events, while supporting present circumstances.
In all its humour, ranging from black, to almost slapstick and more generally pleasing, interconnected with other particles of the series, the composer uses a different ideas. They range from tongue in cheek, bouncy and plucked strings, to more classical, elegant cues addressing both the protagonist' lifestyle and statue - in demise - gives these pieces an ironic comment on things on display. The flamenco stylized pieces both serve moments of slapstick (fighting a homeless person over valuable aluminum cans) to aiding the aforementioned general amusement, are very effective, and to some extent, serve as 'transitioning' pieces of music at other times.
In regard to the crime element of the series, there are some darker, and relatively more atmospheric pieces, but it is especially the union of a climbing string motif with a 'harsh' electric guitar, as heard in cues such as Candyman, that stands out.
As the series progresses, and Laura continues her games of deceit, in her personal life and the world of crime, the level of success, as she comes closer to realizing a large building project, is best presented in cues such as Victor's Spoils and Good Day. Yes, they are 'mikä klisee' optimistic power anthems of crime and human-felt emotions, but they are still memorable.
The digital release by Platoon offers a good overview of the score. There are approximately a dozen different musical ideas that recur a lot throughout the series, which are well presented on the digital release, offering a fine overview of a good score by Lauri Porra.
Tracklist
1. Queen of Fucking Everything 1:17
2. 00700 Hustle 1:43
3. Pawnshopping 1:55
4. Luxury and Lies 1:45
5. I Never Haggle 2:17
6. Finders Keepers 1:04
7. Good Olives 1:42
8. Frozen Lake 1:49|
9. Queen's Move 2:10
10. Warning Lights 2:17
11. Candyman 2:01
12. The Echo of Us 1:51
13. Victor's Spoils 1:50
14. Queen's Lament 1:02
15. Good Day 3:04
16. Bad Piano 2:05
17. Sad Sine 3:29
18. Point of No Return 2:35
19. Sine and Bass I 2:48
20. Sine and Bass II 2:34
21. Day Spa 1:39
Total duration: 42:57
(16-05-2025)