Much like movies, TV soundtracks can help create unforgettable moments by taking iconic songs and presenting them in new contexts. We're always blown away when we hear one of our favourite songs featured in a TV show, especially when it's used in a way that transforms or elevates the meaning of the song.
We've taken a look at some of our favourite TV moments and how they've made the most of music to elevate the scene. While these moments are memorable for different reasons, they're all equally iconic. We do have to warn you: there are most definitely spoilers ahead!
Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) - Kate Bush - Stranger Things
Kate Bush's 1985 single Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) is rocketing up the charts thanks to the track's masterful use in the most recent season of Stranger Things. During the fourth episode of Season 4, the track is used to pull Max out of the Upside Down, as it's a significant track for her. She's been using the track to help distract her from the events of Season 3.
Speaking about using the track in the pivotal scene, Nora Felder, Stranger Things' music supervisor, told Vanity Fair that upon hearing the track she "immediately felt a surge of excitement. The more the song marinated in my conscious awareness, I realized this was something that could be special.” It's a timeless track that's just been discovered by a new generation of music fans, and the rest of Kate Bush's discography is just as exciting!
Whatcha Say - Jason Derulo - Gossip Girl
Gossip Girl used Jason Derulo's Whatcha Say to soundtrack a particularly heated Thanksgiving lunch, and it's one of the show's most iconic scenes. If you've ever watched Gossip Girl (or even if you haven't), then you might be aware of just how messy the show could be at times.
This scene from Season 3, Episode 11, features multiple fights breaking out, and it's worth a watch to see just how dramatic Gossip Girl could get. The Van Der Woodsen's dining table was not a calm place to be that day...
Holding Out For A Hero - Bonnie Tyler - Regular Show
This might be the most "low-stakes" moment on the list, but that doesn't make this scene from Regular Show any less exciting. Bonnie Tyler's Holding Out For A Hero soundtracks Mordecai's training montage, which sees him preparing to win a local restaurant's "Eggscellent Challenge", a promotion that challenges people to finish their 12-egg omelette.
It's a fun scene that summarises why so many people love Regular Show. Mordecai's putting himself through this for his friend Rigby, who earlier in the episode had an allergic reaction to the eggs after attempting the challenge. However, he still wants the prize for eating the omelette, which is a hat with the phrase "I'm Eggscellent" on it. Isn't that what life is all about?
You've Got The Love (Now Voyager Mix) - The Source (feat. Candi Staton) - Sex And The City
You've Got The Love elevates the final moments of Sex And The City's TV show, which sees the iconic quartet celebrating the journey they've all been on throughout the show. The track, created by British songwriting team The Source and American singer-songwriter Candi Staton also features in the finale of Gossip Girl.
The 1997 Now Voyager Mix of the track is the perfect backdrop for Carrie's voiceover, which brings the show to a joyful close. It holds a special place in the hearts of many SATC, as it plays while Carrie walks off into the future. It also underpins the moment that we finally found out Big's true name. At the time, this was a seismic reveal!
This Modern Love - Bloc Party - How I Met Your Mother
How I Met Your Mother contains many musical moments, but we had to go back to Season 1 to pick one of our favourites. Bloc Party's This Modern Love plays during the show's Season 1 finale, as Ted runs to tell Robin that he was the one that made it rain.
It's a sweet moment, encapsulating the tension between the pair that lies at the heart of the show. This Modern Love's uplifting guitars capture the heightened emotions present during this scene, and it's a track that many HIMYM fans consider to be one of the best songs to feature in an episode of the long-running show.
READ MORE: 7 Milestone Moments From Thelma Plum's Career So Far
All For Us - Labrinth and Zendaya - Euphoria
Euphoria's Season 1 finale makes prominent use of All For Us, a collaboration between Labrinth and Zendaya. It's fitting, then, that the track plays while Zendaya's character Rue appears to be possessed. The scene features Rue surrounded by a maroon-robed choir while she performs the track. It finishes with the dramatic "'til then" as Rue collapses.
At the time, the scene left fans with many questions, as it could be interpreted in many ways. It's a fitting end to a season of TV that captivated so many people, and this scene might just convince you to go and watch the show.
