Volume 1
Edition 3
Marty Deeks – The Music Man
by Gayle @ghartler
Music is to the soul what words are to the mind. – Modest Mouse
This quote is a wonderful descriptor of the inner workings of our beloved Marty Deeks. In “Patriot Acts” (3×20) we learn Deeks played the violin growing up; in “Ravens and the Swans” (4×22) we further learn Deeks was “the front man and lead guitarist” for his teen rock band. While there has been no demonstration of these abilities (yet?!) and since both of these “confessions” were made to Kensi, we must believe he was telling the truth. (Other than forced undercover, he’d never lie to Kensi – out of both respect and fear.) So accepting these facts into evidence, how might music have become an integral part of Deeks?
The Guitar & the Rock Band
Kensi & Deeks (NCIS LA) Facebook Fan Page
This most recent discovery is the simplest to consider and the most believable. A young (then & now) Deeks mind likely goes something like this: Teenage boy + Rock Band = Girls. In fact, Deeks confesses to this very basis of the bands existence. And then there’s the name of the band. “Touching Wood”?! Only a teenage boy would come up with this! Yet, more importantly, how/why was his old high school shirt in the Armory?! Hmm…
Based on the tiny example of Deeks’ singing (using that term very loosely), we can presume 1) either he is quite terrible, or 2) he was faking with Kensi in an effort to simply appease her and move off the topic. (BTW, if you want to actually catch ECO “singing”, check out his appearances on “Community”. Personally, I hope they never write something like this into NCISLA! Now a “Say Anything” moment serenading Kensi… that’s a whole different issue!)
Anyway, this is a plausible, and quite probable, piece of Deeks’ background. After all, it’s easier to learn a second instrument after you’ve learned the first….
The Violin
In a stunning revelation, Deeks admits he “grew up playing the violin”. As a musician myself I can, remarkably, picture this – even if it was completely unexpected. Knowing what we currently do about Deeks’ childhood, it is quite likely a teacher, neighbor, community center staffer, friend’s parent, etc. saw something in Deeks – a talent, a need, or an undiscovered ability.
Learning to read music and tackling an instrument, particularly one as challenging as the violin, requires focus. Perhaps this helped tamp down Deeks’ perceived ADHD? Perhaps he saw this as a challenge to overcome? Perhaps the person who introduced Deeks to the instrument served as a safe-haven mentor to escape his unhappy childhood environment?
While any and all of the posed situations could be true, the one this writer is betting on is true for just about anyone who has ever been a student of music. Music provides the opportunity to focus on what one is thinking or feeling, either by internalizing the emotion music produces or by expressing emotion through the generation of music. We can all probably agree the best music is that which congers feelings and emotions. (A prime examples is “Arms of a Ghost” from “Neighborhood Watch” (3×22). Or just consider your favorite Densi video!) Such an experience would have provided a young Deeks with a physical and mental escape from his painful childhood.
Further, this is the one thing he could completely control – when and how frequently he would play, what he would play, what emotion he could choose to express depending on the piece and his mood. In essence, this would serve as a place where Deeks could deal with his feelings and emotions in a healthy, yet individual way.
Back to the opening quote, “Music is to the soul what words are to the mind,” describes all the Deeks is. With rarely a filter, Deeks has no hesitation to speak his mind and work to connect with others through seemingly endless talking. In short, he regularly thinks out loud. The music, however, would be like an internal heartbeat, keeping him in focus and grounded. If the show ever expounds on this background trait, I personally hope they do it in a heart-felt and meaningful way. This would show us more of Deeks than we could ever likely imagine.
How/why do you think Deeks became a musician?
We would like to welcome Gayle to Decidedly ‘Team” Deeks! She will be a regular contributor to this feature! For more on Deeks check out Gayle’s tumblr: www.densiland.tumblr.com
Come on…Make us Laugh Caption Contest!
This week we launch a Caption Contest! Add your caption to this picture and we’ll announce the winner next week. For your caption, be fun, humorous, or real, but stay clean and keep it Deeks!
See you next Thursday at Decidedly Deeks for a very special contest where you can win an autographed picture of Eric Christian Olsen! Come back next week for more details!
Really great insight into Deeks’ possible musical background!
In 3×04 Martin speaks with Eric of musical groups Pantera, Poison, Possessed and Pentagram. Their music is hard rock, death, doom and heavy metal.
In 4×07 he talks about Donny & Marie. Martin says that they feel the country and rock.
He loves musicals. He quotes Kenny Rogers.
Martin speaks quickly. He seems like a rapper!
He likes different musical genres. I think that Martin has an important musical culture.
The study of a classical instrument like the violin opened her mind and her spirit.
Martin know how to play the piano? This is something possible. I would not be surprised.
About Community: Vaughn composes and sings “Annie ‘Song”.
My name is Anna.
I have “Annie’s Song” as the ringtone to my phone.
Beautiful.
Wow
Hi from Roma.
Monty
P.S. the song “Good time lover” (2×17) is perfect on him.
Sorry for my english.
Creo que Marty Deeks tiene una comprencion y un gusto por la musica muy amplio y particular ,parece gustarle el rock pesado y al mismo tiempo se burlan de el porque le gustan los musicales creo tambien que tiene una hermosa voz! yo tambien escucho muy seguido la cancion de Annie ,imagino que tal vez la musica haya sido su escape a la violencia de su entorno familiar y un desahogo en su adolescencia ,una forma de expresar su busqueda de afecto o entendimiento y de canalizar la frustracion que causa el desamor de un padre violento y una madre resignada a vivir de esa forma ,no se pero espero ver mucho de Deeks esta nueva temporada ,me intriga saber como van a mostrar ese lado de Marty tan personal y probablemente tan doloroso ,conozco una persona con un pasado similar al de nuestro pesonaje favorito ,es un hombre de 41años ya y todavia se emociona asta las lagrimas recordando a su padre el hoy dia es un pintor y escultor,asi desahogo su ira; con la pintura ,por eso creo que el desahogo de Deeks podria ser la musica ,Dios los bendiga ,besos!!!
First, shout out to “Monty”! I’ve seen these episodes so many times, but somehow missed adding these. Great catch! I remember in (3×4) thinking “Oh no! He’s into hard rock!” I so appreciate the consistency the writers bring to these characters!
Second, yes it is definitely true that just about anyone who studies music gains an appreciation for most genres.
Finally, wouldn’t it be incredible if they worked this into an undercover op?! So many possibilities!
I liked your analysis of Deeks’ musical background which made a lot of sense.
There was also some mention of music that Deeks listened to as well as a little bit of him singing in Vengeance – Episode 3.19 where he apparently threatens to play his CD’s or always sings the same song in order to get the car to himself.
I think that Deeks is one of those naturally musical people that if he wants to play an instrument he can, depending on the instrument.
When you learn to read and play music, you don’t have to learn how to read each time you start a new instrument, you don’t have to get another sense of rhythm.
Until Deeks tells us, we have no idea where he learnt to play and his appreciation of music. School could have started and nurtured the beginning of it, leading to a mental escape from the horrors of home. His father could have beaten him to force him to play well. He could have been learning the guitar on the beach at night after surfing from older surfers.
A lot of times once you have learnt to play an instrument, you develop an appreciation of other types of music which is what I think Deeks has. Of course he could have figured out what Kensi hates to listen to and plays that to annoy her.
I found it interesting that Deeks “singing” in 4×22 was designed to be so bad, because when we heard him sing “Whenever I call you friend” (ever so briefly) in 3×19, he actually carried a tune very well.
A little error in character continuity? Or like you alluded to, simply Deeks hiding his true talents from Kensi?
I love the fact that he loves musicals! I would so love to hear him play the violin too.
Great article Gayle…terrific comments all!
phillydi
I think Deeks s trying to channel his inner rock star in front of Callen and Kenzie