![]() “Turn to Stone” (Ingrid Michaelson) – 5.22 (“What a Difference a Day Makes”): This is a song about finding a reason to live and to love in the fleeting amount of time we’re given. The end of the episode is still a truly emotional viewing experience, and so much of that comes from the power of this song. “Chasing Cars” (Snow Patrol) – 2.27 (“Losing My Religion”): “Would you lie with me and just forget the world?” the song asks as we see each central relationship on the show tested: Izzie sobbing over Denny’s body before being cradled by Alex, who clearly still loves her Cristina finally showing her support for Burke and Meredith caught between the man she should love and the man she loves. Bailey’s husband’s heart starts again to the lyrics “It’s no longer inside of me, threatening the life it belongs to,” as Meredith removes a bomb from a patient’s body, this is as perfect a match of song and scenes as you’re apt to find on TV. From the beats in the music matching the monitor noises as Dr. “Breathe (2 AM)” (Anna Nalick) – 2.17 (“As We Know It”): Playing throughout a montage of so many characters facing horrifically intense scenarios, this song fluidly complements what is going on in each scene. Those final lyrics speak to the fact that there are still rivers and roads for Chuck to cross to get his Sarah back, but he’ll cross all of them. It’s as beautiful as it is bittersweet, much like this finale. ![]() We’ll never know what happens to Sarah and her memories or if she and Chuck become what they once were, but this final moment is infused with hope, starting from the choice of music. “Rivers and Roads” (The Head and the Heart) – 5.13 (“Chuck Versus the Goodbye”): “Rivers ‘til I reach you.” With those simple, poignant lyrics, Chuck ended its run on a truly poetic note. The pacing of this intimate moment between Chuck and Sarah-moving so naturally from tentative to passionate-is perfectly matched with the pacing of the music. “Creature Fear” (Bon Iver) – 2.21 (“Chuck Versus the Colonel”): This scene is like a well-choreographed dance to an expertly chosen piece of music. And I told you to be fine,” Bon Iver sings as Sarah tries to push back her pain the anger and hurt in the song perfectly matching the moment. “Skinny Love” (Bon Iver) – 2.03 (“Chuck Versus the Breakup”): It’s hard enough watching Chuck tell Sarah that he can’t ever have a relationship with her because she’ll never be “normal.” To make matters worse, this heartbreaking speech is given while an equally heartbreaking song plays in the background. No dialogue is needed, just the voice of Jeff Buckley reminding us all that “love is not a victory march.” The pure longing in this song (which is one of my all-time favorites) perfectly encapsulates the mood of each character in the closing minutes of the finale. This is one of those moments where all that an episode needs is the right song to reduce audiences to a weeping mess. ![]() clearly had some phenomenal music choices. “Hallelujah” (Jeff Buckley) – 1.27 (“The Ties That Bind”): This episode of The O.C. The song is simple, and this moment is simple-free of the over-the-top drama this show was famous for but still heartbreaking in its own quiet way. This makes it the perfect accompaniment to a scene of love and loss for Marissa and Ryan. “Maybe I’m Amazed” (Jem) – 1.27 (“The Ties That Bind”): There is something hauntingly sad about this stripped-down version of such a classic love song. That moment perfectly set the tone for the show, and the use of this song plays a huge part in that. It was the show’s theme song, but it was also used brilliantly in the pilot episode, with the intensity of the song growing as Ryan leaves Chino and enters the world of Orange County. “California” (Phantom Planet) – 1.01 (“Pilot”): This song will always remind me of The O.C. You never know-maybe you’ll find some new music to add to your iPod thanks to these shows (I know I have!). For each series, I’ve picked three musical moments that best represent why the show made my list. Today at NGN, I want to take a look at five of the television shows I’ve watched over the years that I feel best use music to advance the story and enhance the emotional resonance of a scene. The right song choice has the ability to enhance a scene in a way that even the best writing or the most talented actors can’t accomplish. When those two things are put together in the right way, they create magic and have the potential to elicit incredibly strong emotions.
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