Where Did All The ‘Empire’ Songs Go?

Whoo! How about that performance of “Trapped” on last night’s fall finale of Empire? Seeing Jamal (Jussie Smollett) and Hakeem (Bryshere Y. Gray) up on that stage doing what they do best, in tuxes and backed by an orchestra, was a welcome excitement for fans of the Fox hip hop drama. Because the thing about season four is that the series has made a clear pivot away from the music and it’s been a big old noticeable bummer.

As the Lyon clan continues to battle Diana DuBois (Phylicia Rashad), who is on a clear mission to take them down one by one, the first part of this season certainly had no shortage of drama. But there was a clear drought on the jams, and the show has lost its way because of it.

As Hakeem battled for custody of his toddler daughter, Bella, and as Jamal fell very deep in and very hard out of love, and when Lucious (Terrence Howard) struggled to get his memory back…none of them seemed to truly turn to music to filter out their feelings. Previously, the show used studio sessions and on-stage performances in the form of powerful ballads and head-nodding hits as a way for the characters to pour their hearts into the music, to vent, to let our their frustrations, and to express their love. Now, they’ve got them using their hands instead of their harmonies.

Jamal uncontrollably punching Warren (Terrell Carter) after he finds out he’s been betrayed? That should’ve been the hottest track of the season, not just a face beat to a pulp. Yes, “Trapped” was fun — but it’s only one in a handful of songs that Empire has put forth this season.

The most confusing part about all of this, is that the show set up Empire’s 20 for 20 celebration — a plan to release 20 albums from artists on their roster — as the focal plot point of the season. So why, why, were the characters spending all their time in courtrooms and offices instead of singing like their lives depended on it in the studio or at hot parties? Even Forest Whitaker joined the cast this season as music industry vet Eddie Barker, responsible for overseeing the recording and production of these albums, so where was that?

Empire seemed to remember that music was an essential part of the show as a total afterthought, offering up Rumer Willis’ Tory Ash to sing a cappella to a group of employees striking outside the offices. Not quite the hottest stage in town now is it? Hell, where is Tiana (Serayah)? We can’t even get a slick, dancey r&b track from her once in a while?

We can all appreciate a backstory, and not that they haven’t been at least minimally insightful, but spending so much time on Cookie’s prison flashbacks is a waste of Taraji P. Henson, to say the least. Where are all the meme-able moments this season? We haven’t gotten nearly enough of her clap backs and sick burns. She’s been rocking some super stylish outfits and even a fierce blue eye shadow, but we need to see much more of that boss bitch side of her: bring back the Cookie that’s cheering on her sons and shutting down her haters.

Empire was wise to use their fall finale to send many characters on their way, most of which have already overextended their time on the show as it is. Who ever knew we’d get to a point where we’d be sick of seeing Taye Diggs’ beautiful face? Sadly, this does not seem to apply to Demi Moore, who plays the deranged Claudia, and will return in March for the second half of the season, which seems to be going for a very Black Snake Moan meets horror/thriller vibe? Like, a cabin? That preview…does not bode well for the inclusion of more jams. While it was noted as a “regular occurrence” for the show to take a production break, which they did last month, we can only hope that break included a lot of sick new beats. Because Empire, you’ve got to get your groove back.

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