What does the Devil have in common with a pair of physicists? What about a mobster and a glee club or a duck and a ballerina? The answer is they all have the same taste in music.
When it comes to song selection, TV shows tend to think alike. It might be because they want all to feature the latest hits of the year.
19 Scenes Elevated by Song Choice
They may also be trying to create a certain mood during a scene, and some songs are so great at capturing that particular emotion, everybody starts using the same song for the same reason.
Below are just some examples of songs we just can’t get out of our heads because we hear them on so many different shows.
“Home” by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros – Gossip Girl
Only Blair Waldorf could make an upbeat song about home and love being played during Gossip Girl Season 3 Episode 6 sound sinister the moment she came onscreen. “Home” sounds less evil when you hear it in Community Season 1 Episode 9 and Raising Hope Season 1 Episode 22.
“Radioactive” by Imagine Dragons – The 100
The 100, Season 1, Episode 1 made “Radioactive” sound joyous as The 100 celebrated making it to Earth. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Season 14 Episode 3 and Arrow Season 1 Episode 22 used “Radioactive” more introspectively.
“Werewolves of London” by Warren Zevon – Community
Community using “Werewolves of London” during Jeff’s pool match against his P.E. teacher really accentuates … its homage to the movie The Color of Money in Season 1 Episode 17. The 100 Season 2 Episode 16, Supernatural 10 Episode 4, and Preacher Season 3 Episode 5 also got some fun use out of this Warren Zevon classic.
“Luck be a Lady” by Frank Sinatra – The Flash
Frank Sinatra’s cover of this Broadway standard accompanies Becky Sharpe as she robs a bank and sets off a chain of events that results in us getting the joy of seeing Barry in full Flash mode slip on some marbles in The Flash Season Season 4 Episode 3. “Luck Be a Lady” can also be heard in Timeless Season 1 Episode 3.
“Bad Reputation” by Joan Jett – The Muppets
Joan Jett and the Muppets gave a helluva performance as “Bad Reputation” became a war cry for pigs who no longer wanted to hide their curly tails everywhere. It also set the mood for Superstore Season 1 Episode 8 and Once Upon a Time Season 2 Episode 18.
“Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” by Cyndi Lauper – The Orville
Gordon had the right idea. An Old West bandit from challenging space explorers to a dance-off set to Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” is way more exciting than the usual gunfight. “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” can also be heard in Gilmore Girls Season 2 Episode 7 and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Season 2 Episode 7.
“Don’t Stop Believin'” by Journey – The Sopranos
Glee used “Don’t Stop Believin'” memorably throughout its run, but it’s the infamous, final scene from The Sopranos Season 6 Episode 21, deliberately shot and edited to the Journey song, that really haunts TV watchers.
“Istanbul (Not Constantinople)” by They Might be Giants – Tiny Toons Adventures
Plucky’s madcap treasure hunt set to “Istanbul (Not Constantinople)” in Tiny Toons Adventures Season 1 Episode 51 turned a lot of young cartoon watchers into They Might Be Giants fans. The They Might Be Giants’ version has also been put to inspired use in Bunheads Season 1 Episode 6 and The Umbrella Academy Season 1 Episode 1.
“White Rabbit” by Jefferson Airplane – The Handmaid’s Tale
It’s unlikely any other song could capture the surreal horror of walking into Jezebel’s better than Jefferson Airplane’s “White Rabbit” in The Handmaid’s Tale Season 1 Episode 8. The song has also been used in Big Little Lies Season 1 Episode 4, Queen of the South Season 1 Episode 3 and Supernatural Season 2 Episode 10.
“Maneater” by Hall & Oates – Will & Grace
Hall & Oates’ “Maneater” can be heard in Grey’s Anatomy Season 6 Episode 15, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Season 2 Episode 3, and Chuck Season 1 Episode 7, but it’s in Will & Grace Season 8 Episode 15 where the iconic pop duo shows up to play the song in person.
“Love Will Keep Us Together” by Captain & Tennille – DC’s Legends of Tomorrow
This Captain & Tennille song has a reputation for being a mushy love song, which suited the use of it in Arrested Development Season 1 Episode 1 and iZombie Season 2 Episode 19. DC’s Legends of Tomorrow Season 1 Episode 1 made it sound awesome as it played while some of the Legends got into a bar fight in the 70s.
“Never Let Me Go” by Florence + The Machine – The Vampire Diaries
As someone watching this scene without a horse in the Stelena vs. Delena wars, Damon and Elena kissing to Florence + the Machine’s “Never Let Me Go” in The Vampire Diaries Season 3 Episode 19 was hot. “Never Let Me Go” was also played in the opening of One Tree Hill Season 9 Episode 11 and the closing of CSI: NY Season 8 Episode 9.
“Baba O’Riley” by The Who – Life on Mars (UK)
“Baba O’Riley” unpacked teenage angst in One Tree Hill Season 4 Episode 13 and Dawson’s Creek Season 5 Episode 22 and regularly used it to introduce police angst as the theme song for CSI: NY. Series 1 Episode 1 of Life on Mars (UK) also milked “Baba O’Riley” for police angst and for being lost in time angst.
“What a Wonderful World” by Joey Ramone – Gilmore Girls
This was a close call, but Luke and Jess demolishing their apartment in Gilmore Girls Season 2 Episode 15 just edges out Dean mowing a lawn in Supernatural Season 2 Episode 20 in hilarity. Other scenes featuring this wonderful song can be found in Supergirl Season 1 Episode 4 and Young Sheldon Season 1 Episode 18.
“How to Save a Life” by The Fray – Scrubs
The Fray’s “How to Save a Life” scored emotional moments in Grey’s Anatomy Season 2 Episode 21, New Girl Season 3 Episode 11 and Cold Case Season 4 Episode 12, but the most heartbreaking was when it narrated Dr. Cox’s breakdown as he lost three patients in Scrubs Season 5 Episode 20.
“Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor – The Big Bang Theory
Lucifer Season 1 Episode 4, The O.C. Season 2 Episode 21 and Riverdale Season 3 Episode 20, use “Eye of the Tiger” to pump up a crowd and show someone training for a fight. The Big Bang Theory Season 3 Episode 4 proves “Eye of the Tiger” montages need not be limited to boxing.
“Modern Love” by David Bowie – Dynasty (2017)
For Cristal, walking down the aisle to “Modern Love,” in Dynasty Season 1 Episode 1 was a dream come true. It also showed 80s classics have a place in today’s world. Since you can’t overplay Bowie, you can hear “Modern Love” in A Million Little Things Season 1 Episode 2, Riverdale Season 3 Episode 4, and New Girl Season 1 Episode 3.
