Netflix’s Big Mouth boasts of a lot of amusing concepts that make it a class apart from its other adult-animated contemporaries. Essentially a coming-of-age show, Big Mouth’s opening montage sums up the concepts of puberty that it tackles, while Charles Bradley’s “Changes” sets the mood, pointing out that the surreal comedy has its share of dramatic moments too.
Bradley’s song, in fact, has been popularised to a great extent, thanks to the opening credits. Even though it was a cover of a Black Sabbath song of the same name, the soul rendition has become synonymous with the late Bradley’s musical legacy.
The Original Song Plays In “Nick Starr”
Even though Bradley’s rendition of “Changes” plays at the start of every episode, the sixth episode of season 4 features the earliest recorded version of the song written and performed by English rockers Black Sabbath. For a change, the credits of this episode (titled “Nick Starr”) appear with a different montage, as the titular character is shown as an extremely wealthy yet lonely adult in the year 2052.
A pretty mellow song on heartbreak, “Changes” was quite different from the band’s otherwise energetic discography. Singer Ozzy Osbourne and bassist Geezer Butler penned the lyrics after drummer Bill Ward’s split with his first wife.
Other Versions Of “Changes”
Apart from lending his voice to the original on Black Sabbath Vol. 4, the band’s former frontman, Ozzy Osbourne, covered the song again decades later, this time with his daughter, Kelly Osbourne. Recorded in 2002, the single ranked at number one on the U.K. charts, but couldn’t build up the same reception as the band’s 1972 single.
Before Charles Bradley offered his spin on it, the song was sampled by Detroit rapper Eminem for his track Going Through Changes on his 2010 album, Recovery. Complementing the introspective themes of the album, Eminem’s track touches upon the disadvantages of fame and how he feels trapped as his life changes with this fame.
Coach Steve Opened The Show Once
Coach Steve, the naïve sports teacher (voiced by Nick Kroll) finally gets to have his first sexual experience in the episode, “Steve The Virgin.” As he himself goes through changes in this episode, he decides to sing the opening song, this time resulting in an effortlessly funny version of the theme.
Some viewers might have missed out on Coach Steve’s performance if they hit the “Skip Intro” button on Netflix. By the time Steve finishes singing, he asks in a singsong voice, “Did you fast forward through the credits?”
“Changes” Was Heavily Personal For Charles Bradley
Even though the lyrics were originally written by members of Black Sabbath, Bradley resonated with the lyrics to “Changes” on a personal level, especially after his mother’s death. In fact, he hadn’t even heard of Black Sabbath initially when fellow musician Tom Brenneck floated the idea of covering it.
“The verse that really stuck to me was, ‘It took so long to realize/That I can still hear her last goodbyes/Now all my days are filled with tears/Wish I could go back and change these years.’ Because it was like my mom saying she was sick and she was leaving me and something about that song … I got stuck on it,” he said in an interview with Rolling Stone.
The “Changes” In Missy’s Voice Actress
Jenny Slate, who used to voice Missy for the show’s first three seasons, stopped playing the character in the wake of the George Floyd Protests of 2020. The showrunners held Zoom auditions with many actresses and comedians, finally choosing Ayo Edebiri as the new Missy.
However, a majority of season 4’s episodes still feature Jenny Slate’s name in the credits, as she had recorded her lines before her decision to step down from the role. In the episode “Horrority House,” the transition is finally made, as Ayo Edebiri debuted her run on Big Mouth towards the episode’s third act.
The Song’s Producer Was A Close Friend Of Bradley
Tom Brenneck was a long-standing companion to Bradley, having produced “Changes” and many of his other tracks. The singer was also Brenneck’s son’s godfather and it was Brenneck who convinced him to cover “Changes” in the first place.
Otherwise, Brenneck has donned several hats as a producer, session guitarist, and writer for artists like Amy Winehouse, Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green, and Lady Gaga. He has also been an integral part of instrumental and funk/soul outfits like The Budos Band and Menahan Street Band.
One Of Mark Levin And Jennifer Flackett’s Many Collaborations
The final still of the credits reveals the name of the show’s four creators. Nick Kroll is arguably the most popular figure in this regard, considering how he voices not only the protagonist but also a dozen other characters in the show. Andrew Goldberg (on whom John Mulaney’s character is based) is the other co-creator and previously used to write for Family Guy.
Then, one can spot the names of Mark Levin and Jennifer Flackett. For the ones unacquainted with the married couple, the duo has worked on several projects before Big Mouth. As directors, they have joined forces on children’s filmsLittle Manhattan and Nim’s Island, while also sharing writing credits for Journey To The Center of Earth.
“Changes” Is Almost A Metaphor For Charles Bradley’s Career
As Nick Kroll’s caption in an Instagram video reads, Charles Bradley “was a bit of a late bloomer himself.” After spending his years impersonating James Brown and doing small-time gigs, he finally gained worldwide fame in his 50s.
His rendition of “Changes,” along with his album of the same name, contributed to his popularity as a soul singer, even before the song won over new listeners with Big Mouth. Hence, in a way, the release of Changes marked a significant coming-of-age in his own professional life.
Maya Rudolph Sang An Alternate Version
“Everybody’s Going Through Changes” was an original track written and recorded for the Valentine’s special, “My Furry Valentine.” Maya Rudolph’s Connie croons the song toward the final scenes, revealing the trials and tribulations that each character is going through, while Jordan Peele’s ghost of Duke Ellington plays the piano.
The song signifies several changes, such as Jenny’s parent’s divorce and Nick’s refusal to accept Connie as his hormone monster. It also appears on the show’s compilation soundtrack, Super Songs Of Big Mouth Vol. 1. Connie shares several musical moments throughout the seasons, with Rudolph contributing her vocals to six other songs on the soundtrack.
Black Sabbath’s Lyrics Foreshadow The Future Episode
As mentioned before, the Season 4 episode “Nick Starr” is set in the future and opens with Black Sabbath’s original recording of “Changes.” This version seems very apt as the credits let the entire verse play out, while viewers get a glimpse of Nick’s solitude in the future.
“I feel unhappy/I feel so sad I have lost the best friend/That I ever had.” This line perfectly coincides with the fact that Nick and Andrew hardly talk to each other in this timeline. Instead, Nick’s only companion is his robot, Andrew 3000. The line that follows (“She was my woman I loved her so/But it’s too late now I’ve let her go”) reveals how his selfish ways ruined all the chances he had to spend his life with Jessi.
