So last week’s episode of Ted Lasso featured The Rolling Stones’ “She’s a Rainbow”. The song was used perfectly in the show; the pace variations fit the actions and it made a great callback to an earlier conversation which in turn gave the ending such an emotional impact that I still feel my heart beating faster just picturing that sequence. That’s what a great song choice can do for a television show (especially when it comes to a montage). So with that in mind, I decided to list my Top 20 TV Music Choices. I restricted myself to shows that are not currently on the air, which also means there may be some really old spoilers for some of you out there. Let’s go from 20 to 1:
TITLE: Green Light
ARTIST:Lorde
SHOW: New Girl
EPISODE: S06E22: Five Stars for Beezus
SCENE: Nick and Jess are trying to confess their love to each other but keep missing each other due to a slow elevator.
WATCH THE SCENE: Click
here
WHY THIS SONG: The
song is catchy and fun as they run up and down the stairs. When the music stops
and then kicks in when the doors open to reveal Nick & Jess lip-locked and
together again is awesome. This was a possible series finale, so they ended it
on a such a great note.
TITLE: Devil Town
ARTIST: Tony Lucca
SHOW: Friday Night Lights
EPISODE: S01E22: State
SCENE: The victorious Dillon Panthers return home to a parade as the local DJs discuss the future of Coach Taylor.
LISTEN TO THE SONG: Click
here
WHY THIS SONG: While
there’s a celebratory nature to the song, the lyrics seems to contradict the
mood. It captures the fickle attitude of the town towards Coach Taylor. It’s a
nicely drawn out song to fit the first season ending montage.
TITLE: Forever
ARTIST: Chris Brown
SHOW: The Office
EPISODE: S06E05: Niagara, Part II
SCENE: The office staff copy a famous YouTube clip as they ‘walk’ down the aisle for Jim & Pam’s wedding. We also see Jim & Pam actually get married at the actual falls.
WATCH THE SCENE: Click
here
WHY THIS SONG: The
utter glee of Michael Scott and the rest of the staff make me smile as Jim
& Pam make faces to each other knowing that their actual ceremony wasn’t
ruined. A great use of a pop culture moment to add some flair to a sitcom
wedding.
TITLE: Games Without Frontiers
ARTIST: Peter Gabriel
SHOW: The Americans
EPISODE: S01E13: The Colonel
SCENE: In the season ending montage, each side gets new information about their enemy while Paige is getting more suspicious about her parents and checks the laundry room.
WATCH THE SCENE: Click
here (from a different country)
WHY THIS SONG: While
most people would pick the pilot opener ‘Tusk’ by Fleetwood Mac which does set
the mood, the show ends up using a lot more Peter Gabriel throughout their seasons.
This song has a more ominous tone to it as it pulls us along to see if Paige
will find out or not.
TITLE: Full of Grace
ARTIST: Sarah McLachlan
SHOW: Buffy, The Vampire Slayer
EPISODE: S02E22: Becoming, Part II
SCENE: Buffy runs away from home after sending Angel to Hell, while the rest of Scoobies wonder if the spell worked in time.
WATCH THE SCENE: Click
here
WHY THIS SONG: A
great emotional song that describes Buffy’s state of mind. The camera panning
to the Leaving Sunnydale sign while the line “It’s better this way” is sung is
just a perfect end to a great season.
TITLE: She Will Have Her Way
ARTIST: Neil Finn
SHOW: Sports Night
EPISODE: S02E01: Special Powers
SCENE: A three-month spanning montage of Casey trying to work up the nerve to finally ask out Dana.
LISTEN TO THE SONG: Click
here
WHY THIS SONG: A well-played
introduction to the second season. The song is light and lovelorn to match
Casey’s approach. I feel for the guy.
TITLE: Let Your Heart Hold Fast
ARTIST: Fort Atlantic
SHOW: How I Met Your Mother
EPISODE: S08E12: The Final Page, Part II
SCENE: Barney proposes to Robin as Ted is honored for his newly constructed building.
WATCH THE SCENE: Click
here
WHY THIS SONG: After
Barney explains an incredibly elaborate play to get Robin, finally gets her
along with Ted’s blessing. The song has a nice mix of love and regret as we see
Ted thinking about Robin and realizing he lost her.
13.
TITLE: No Man’s Woman
ARTIST: Sinead O’Connor
SHOW: Alias
EPISODE: S01E01: Truth Be Told
SCENE: Sydney completes her solo
mission and walks triumphantly into SD-6 returning to work and saving her
life.
LISTEN TO THE SONG: Click
here
WHY THIS SONG: The
confidence of this song radiates as Sydney takes matters into her own hands. It
set the bar high for this great series.
TITLE: Question
ARTIST: Old 97’s
SHOW: Ed
EPISODE: S04E09: The Proposal
SCENE: After years of will they-won’t they, Ed proposes to Carol Vessey.
WATCH THE SCENE: Click
here
WHY THIS SONG: This
song has been used for a number of television proposals but Ed’s takes the
cake. After numerous big romantic gestures, he goes all out to give Carol her
favourite things. His recreation of sun set always makes me smile. Such a
perfect song for a such a great scene.
TITLE: Passing Afternoon
ARTIST: Iron & Wine
SHOW: House
EPISODE: S04E16: Wilson’s Heart
SCENE: A closing montage with the cast reacting to the death of one of their former colleagues.
WATCH THE SCENE: Click
here (1:50 in)
WHY THIS SONG: As
House is partly responsible for the death, this causes a rift with his best
friend. The sorrowful song has a great pace that fits with the variety of
responses. Nicely done.
TITLE: Let My Love Open the Door
ARTIST: Luminate
SHOW: The Newsroom
EPISODE: S02E09: Election Night, Part II
SCENE: A wonderful closing montage for the season after Will announces his engagement to MacKenzie.
WATCH THE SCENE: Click
here
WHY THIS SONG: Relationships
are mended as the newsroom celebrates the announcement. The music and scene
culminates nicely with Maggie taking earlier advice and clicking on a story.
TITLE: Daydream Believer
ARTIST: Mary Beth Maziarz
SHOW: Dawson’s Creek
EPISODE: S03E19: Stolen Kisses
SCENE: Joey finally admits her feelings for Pacey and kisses him.
WATCH THE SCENE: Click
here (1:28 in)
WHY THIS SONG: This
song is played throughout the episode but is also played as Joey makes a move
to keep from losing Pacey. It’s a pretty cover and works well in this scene. I
always liked Pacey over Dawson.
TITLE: Rivers & Roads
ARTIST: The Head and the Heart
SHOW: Chuck
EPISODE: S05E13: Chuck vs the Goodbye
SCENE: Sarah has amnesia so Chuck recounts their life together.
WATCH THE SCENE: Click
here (1:33 in)
WHY THIS SONG: Love
how this song ends the series. It plays so well under a fun montage of Chuck
and Sarah moments from the previous five seasons. Not knowing if Sarah is ever
going to remember makes it also bittersweet. I well up a little when I watch
this scene.
TITLE: Hide & Seek
ARTIST: Imogen Heap
SHOW: The O.C.
EPISODE: S02E24: The Dearly Departed
SCENE: Marissa shoots Trey in order to save Ryan from getting killed.
WATCH THE SCENE: Click
here
WATCH THE SNL DIGITAL SHORT: Click
here
WHY THIS SONG: This
song is almost synonymous with The O.C.
because of this scene. The synth and slow motion gives the scene extra drama.
Of course, that drama was mocked well by SNL a few years later with a Digital
Short called ‘Dear Sister’.
TITLE: Baby Blue
ARTIST: Badfinger
SHOW: Breaking Bad
EPISODE: S05E16: Felina
SCENE: Walt takes one last look at a meth lab before the police arrive.
WATCH THE SCENE: Click
here
WHY THIS SONG: A
great last long for the series. Of course, the blue refers to the Walt’s
signature crystal meth. But that first line, “Guess I got what I deserve” is so
incredibly perfect. It’s a fitting song for one of the best series finales
ever.
TITLE: At This Moment
ARTIST: Billy Vera & the Beaters
SHOW: Family Ties
EPISODE: S04E02: The Real Thing, Part II
SCENE: Alex daydreams of Ellen during an important exam.
WATCH THE SCENE: Click
here
WHY THIS SONG: This
is probably one of the first times I heard a musical montage in a television
show. It’s not my favourite song but every time I hear it, I can picture Alex
and Ellen in a train station confessing their love to each other. I also like
that they are still together in real life.
TITLE: Make Your Own Kind of Music
ARTIST: Mama Cass Elliot
SHOW: Lost
EPISODE: S02E01: Man of Science, Man of Faith
SCENE: An introduction to Desmond, the guy in the hatch.
WATCH THE SCENE: Click
here
WHY THIS SONG: I
still remember listening to this song and wondering what the hell was going on.
Was this a flashback? Who is this person? Based on the surroundings and music,
it must be a flashback. Nope. Such a brilliant start to the second season.
(It’s also being used for humour in Free
Guy so the connection might be skewed from now on.)
TITLE: Brothers in Arms
ARTIST: Dire Straits
SHOW: The West Wing
EPISODE: S02E22: Two Cathedrals
SCENE: President Bartlet goes to a press conference. Will he talk about his MS or announce that he will seek a second term?
LISTEN TO THE SONG: Click
here
WHY THIS SONG: I’m
sad that this scene is not on YouTube (it’s a nice fan edited montage though).
The thunder of the song mixes perfectly with the tropical storm that ends the
fantastic second season. You can’t help but root for Bartlet as he makes his
way to the podium. It is brilliantly written, shot and accompanied.
TITLE: Winter
ARTIST: Joshua Radin
SHOW: Scrubs
EPISODE: S03E14: My Screw-Up
SCENE: JD accompanies Dr. Cox to his brother-in-law’s funeral.
WATCH THE SCENE: Click
here
MORE ON THE ARTIST & SONG: Click
here
WHY THIS SONG: The
show did a great Sixth Sense twist
with guest star Brendan Fraser and the capper is this song when we realize that
Dr. Cox has been talking to a ghost and is now attending the funeral instead of
a birthday party. The lyrics are hauntingly beautiful and the scene gets me
every time. (My runner up would be The Fray’s “How To Save a Life” where Dr,
Cox tragically loses three patients at the same time.)
TITLE: Breathe Me
ARTIST: Sia
SHOW: Six Feet Under
EPISODE: S05E12: Everyone’s Waiting
SCENE: As Claire drives away from the funeral home, we see the future and death of each main character
WATCH THE SCENE: Click
here then here
(it’s in two parts with French dialogue)
WHY THIS SONG: I wish
there was a cleaner version on YouTube; someone has an edited down copy but it
misses some powerful moments. While there may be better series finale episodes,
nothing compares to the ending scene of this series. In a brilliant
masterstroke, this drama about death shows us how each character dies. While I
will admit it also looks like a car ad, the scenes of the family are
breathtakingly beautiful. The song evokes emotion, drive and still manages to
make me well up with tears when I hear it. Perfection.
What TV music choices have moved you?
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