The Affair | Main Title Sequence | Fiona Apple - 'Container'

Main title sequence from the new Showtime series, The Affair, with the brand new original song "Container" written and performed by Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Fiona Apple, who constructed a treatment for her previously unreleased song, largely inspired by the show’s narrative. Starring Dominic West, Ruth Wilson, Maura Tierney, and Joshua Jackson.

The Affair is the Golden Globe®2015 Winner for Best TV Series, Drama & Ruth Wilson is the Golden Globe®2015 Winner for Best Actress in a TV Series, Drama. Dominic West is a Golden Globe® 2015 nominee for Best Actor in a TV series, Drama.

At once deeply observed and intriguingly elusive, THE AFFAIR explores the emotional effects of an extramarital relationship. Noah is a New York City schoolteacher and novelist who is happily married, but resents his dependence on his wealthy father-in-law. Alison is a young waitress trying to piece her life and marriage back together in the wake of a tragedy. Set in Montauk at the end of Long Island, the provocative drama unfolds separately from both the male and female perspectives, using the distinct memory biases of both to tell the story. 2015 Golden Globe® Winner for Best TV Series, Drama.

[danadavis]

"Echoooo I created outlasted my last breath" gave me the goosebumps. I can't get that part out of my head 😍.Beautiful song Fiona.

[Thacarshee]

The Affair is one of the greatest shows I've ever watched

[amandacaldari]

I think this song is from the perspective of Gabriel, Alison and Cole's son. "I was screaming into the canyon at the moment of my death." This canyon is referring to the Hudson Canyon, an extension of the Hudson River that runs from the NY/NJ coast hundreds of miles out to sea. When Gabriel died from drowning it had major consequences on his parents as referenced in the lyrics "the echo I created outlasted my last breath." I think the "wave that buried a man I never knew" is about Cole. Cole is the man his son never had a chance to really know. Something in Cole died that day and separated him from Alison the "widowed bride." Then she met Noah and they had another child, which is who Gabriel is addressing in the lyrics.

[pan]

This song conveys the overall mood of the show so well and in its own right is such a philosophical song for a clip barely over a minute

[sunnyballet]

this is the most creative song/lyrics I've ever heard. Gives me goose bumps the first time I heard it.

[thomasmeeks]

Wow I thought I was the only one so utterly hypnotized by this song and this series—so nice to see others felt the same. I discovered both on a whim. They are both beautifully written, and have that same haunting, soul-aching quality to them. The song always prepared me to brace for the mix of beauty and angst that the series portrayed and that is in fact life.

[ER_Utube]

So many of her songs have this theme of confidence in self-acceptance (the good, the bad, and the ugly), and it's almost terrifying see someone have that kind of mental clarity and self-assurance because it's so uncommon. She is something special and otherworldly.
"I have only one thing to do and that’s
To be the wave that I am and then
Sink back into the ocean..."

[bouncyshak]

I think a theme of this song, and how it relates to the show, is actions having massive consequences. In this example literally life and death. A dying man's scream creates a death elsewhere which in turn creates another life. If the protagonist of the song is a man committing suicide by jumping into a canyon, it is a wholly selfish act, a choice, and he didn't consider the repercussions - (remember Noah witnesses someone jump to his death in the show, right before he jumps into the hugest decision of his life, leaving Helen). Now as part of the 'ocean', in an afterlife / ethereal state, the man in the song can see everything from all perspectives (kind of like us watching at home), and just how his choices affected others, for better or worse. The wave is also a metaphor for destructive impulsiveness; one unexpected wave can wash away a town, but it naturally recedes, leaving the inhabitants to deal with the aftermath. Great lyrics and meaning. Apple managed to convey all the themes of death, loss, fate, consequence, perception, sex and love all in just over a minute, with ocean imagery as well - totally fits the show.

[madameottenok]

I'm completely addicted to this. The sound of it, the melody, and the words.

[alekillerqueen]

Everytime i watched an episode of the affair... this song made me chills!

[bobbierutledge]

One of few intros I actually watched everytime I watched the show.

[Rodri_fm]

The song gives me chills and while quiet, is a rare conbinacion I've ever felt!!!

[olivefrisbie]

Fiona ....I just wish wish wish, she would write more music. She's truly, brilliant, I just wish we had more of her unique gift.

[thismyytbhandle]

Recently I read an analogy between anxious attachment style and being like a wave. This song instantly came to mind. To love like your life depends on it and then to doubt any and all foundations you built with someone. It's sad when the love recedes, and does not wash you over anymore.
Hopefully the next time, the wave will stay on the shore, and make me an island no more.

[SuperWolverine]

A fantastic theme song to an amazing, haunting and emotion-stirring series. I will miss "The Affair" on Sunday nights.

[Elmo]

"I was screaming into the canyon at the moment of my death; the echo I created outlasted my last breath. My voice it made an avalanche and buried a man I never knew, and when he died his widowed bride met his daddy and they made you. 
I have only one thing to do and that's to be the wave that I am and then sink back into the ocean."

[veronicaallmark]

I will always keep coming back to this song. It's hypnotising

[maryburrell]

This song is an earworm it's stuck in my head

[michiepooh]

Just read something that says this song holds clues to the show! Fantastic-- if that's the case.

These lyrics make me think the wave is singing this tune. I like that!

[samantha]

Amazing, as usual. Fiona Apple proves she will never stop impressing us.