There is nothing quite like finding a new show that also has a banger soundtrack. The right song can elevate a scene to the point where you are left with goosebumps and the memory is stamped in your brain forevermore. For example, in the final scene of Fleabag season two, The Priest (Andrew Scott) walks away from the bus stop and leaves Fleabag (Phoebe Waller-Bridge) heartbroken and alone. When Alabama Shakes' "This Feeling" begins to play, the episode becomes a masterpiece.
We are living in the golden age of television and with that comes some pretty epic soundtracks. Thanks to the many streaming services, we are also inundated with content options. Even if you don't love the show, a good soundtrack can leave you feeling that at least you have discovered some awesome new music.
Sex Education
Sex Education is incredibly clever in the way it meshes fashion and pop culture trends to appeal to an international audience and the soundtrack is no exception. There is something for everyone, from a mix of classics like The Velvet Underground's "Pale Blue Eyes" and Wang Chung's "Dance Hall Days" to awesome new covers like Ezra Furman's "I Can Change".
Though every episode features a memorable music moment one of the most iconic has to be in the third episode of season three when Eric (Ncuti Gatwa) rocks out in his bedroom to Todrick Hall's "Nails, Hair, Hips, Heels". However, you can't talk about the Sex Education soundtrack without mentioning one of the most talked-about television scenes of 2021, the very sexually explicit, opening montage of season three set to The Rubinoos' "I Think We're Alone Now".
Euphoria
The HBO series has taken the world by storm with its aesthetic appeal, gritty storylines and critically acclaimed performances, and that's not all. The Zendaya led teen drama has also attracted attention for its incredible soundtrack featuring a number of original songs by the shows' composer Labrinth, one of which earned him a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics. Labrinth's award-winning ballad "All of Us" closes out season one in what is hailed as one of the most heartbreakingly beautiful scenes of the series thus far.
The way that Euphoria uses music to develop its characters can only be described as a triumph. This can be seen in "03 Bonnie and Clyde" when Kat (Barbie Ferreira) enters the mall to Billie Eilish's "you should see me in a crown" and later in season two's "Out Of Touch" when Lexi (Maude Apatow) is riding to meet Fez (Angus Cloud) and Laura Les's "Haunted" is blasting into her headphones. Other artists featured include, INXS, Lana Del Rey, A$AP Ferg and many, many more.
The Bold Type
The Bold Type's soundtrack is packed with banger after banger, each as inspiring as the show itself. Perfect for when you need to feel motivated, it features powerhouse artists such as Lizzo, Courtney Barnett, K.Flay and Selena Gomez.
G Flip's "I Am Not Afraid" closes out season four in one of the most powerful scenes of the series as Jane (Katie Stevens) checks herself into the hospital for a preventative double mastectomy, but who could forget the super sweet moment when Sutton (Meghann Fahy) and Richard (Sam Page) say "I do" to Astrid S' "Favorite Part of Me".
Big Little Lies
The Big Little Lies soundtrack is as important to the story as the characters themselves. Jane (Shailene Woodley) running throughout the series to Martha Wainwright's "Bloody Mother F***king A**hole" tells us more about her character's mental state than any dialogue could. Madeline (Reese Witherspoon) and Ed (Adam Scott) dancing to Leon Bridges' "River" communicates to viewers everything they need to know about their marriage.
The music in Big Little Lies season one builds as the tension does, until it peaks in the final episode with a series of performances by the characters at a school event that delivers some of the shows most memorable moments. This includes a haunting cover of Elvis Presley's "Don't" performed by Zoë Kravitz as Bonnie. The soundtrack also includes the likes of Charles Bradley, Fleetwood Mac, Neil Young, The Villagers, and Alabama Shakes.
Master Of None
Aziz Ansari's Emmy Award series, Master Of None features an eclectic soundtrack that includes music from all over the world. The second season begins in Italy, and is a feast for the senses with visually stunning scenery, delicious food and lots of upbeat Italian music by artists such as Mina, Ennio Morricone, and Pino D'Angiò.
"Thanksgiving" features some of the best music of all three seasons. The episode centers around Denise (Lena Waithe) and her family as they celebrate Thanksgiving past and present. Viewers are treated to various RnB classics like D'Angelo's "Brown Sugar". Another soundtrack highlight comes in season three when Denise and Alicia (Naomi Ackie) dance to Nina Simone's "Who Knows Where the Time Goes".
Dickinson
The Dickinson soundtrack is a character within itself, the lyrics are just as important to the storyline as the dialogue is. The juxtaposition between the time period and the modern music is what makes this show so interesting.
There may be no song more apt for a scene than Billie Eilish's "bury a friend" which plays for the first time that Death (Wiz Khalifa) enters the scene. Noga Erez's "Off The Radar" gives it a run for its money with lyrics like 'hear me, no one sees me, no one" playing as Emily (Hailee Steinfeld) unwittingly collects water from the well for her family. Other soundtrack highlights include Lizzo, Ecca Vandal, and A$AP Rocky.
The O.C.
No soundtrack list would be complete without including The O.C. The music was as iconic as the show itself and captured the hearts of a generation. Who can forget Jeff Buckley's “Hallelujah” playing in the season one finale as Ryan (Ben McKenzie) leaves Orange County, Kirsten (Kelly Rowan) cries into his sheets and Seth (Adam Brody) sails away into the sunset. Or even more gut-wrenching, when the song plays again in "The Graduates", this time performed by Imogen Heap, as Ryan says "goodbye" to a dying Marissa Cooper (Mischa Barton).
The show spawned six soundtrack albums during its four season run, with each one of them showcasing a range of indie artists to the world as well as some of the biggest hits at the time. The O.C. soundtrack is a music time capsule for Millennials featuring everything from The Killers' "Smile Like You Mean It" to Youth Group's "Forever Young" and The Dandy Warhols' "We Used to be Friends" just to name a few.
Better Things
Every scene in Better Things feels thoughtful and filled with purpose, and the soundtrack is a critical part of that. The music throughout the series acts as a device to evoke as much human emotion from each scene as possible. "Graduation" is a rollercoaster of an episode with Max (Mikey Madison) experiencing all the feelings that come with finishing school and being disappointed by her father yet again. It ends however, on an immense high with Sam (Pamela Adlon) and the rest of the family performing a well rehearsed dance to Christine and the Queens "Tilted" as a gift to Max, it's a major goosebumps moment and one of the best scenes in the series.
There are too many little brilliant music moments to count through the first four seasons. One that really stands out is in the season one finale when the crew sing along in the car to Alice Cooper's "Only Women Bleed". The epic soundtrack also features, John Lennon, Joni Mitchell and Florence + The Machine.