Best use of a song or music in a single episode in TV history

[Mizzougrad96]

Sopranos had some awesome uses of fairly obscure songs, maybe not obscure, but songs that were not considered popular...

There was one where they used "Affection" by The Lost Boys (Little Steven's band) that was just awesome...

Another one I loved was "I Saved the World Today" by the Eurythmics that they played over the end credits in one of the earlier seasons...

 

[bumpy mcgee]

From the goofy files: Bust A Move, Grounded for Life; Ghostbusters, It's Always Sunny; Victoria from How I Met Your Mother

 

[dreunc1542]

Since you mentioned It's Always Sunny, the best use of a song in that show is clearly: .

 

[bumpy mcgee]

Since you mentioned It's Always Sunny, the best use of a song in that show is clearly: .

I didn't know we could nominate an original score, but clearly you are spot on.

 

[wedgewood]

Steve Earle's 'I Feel Alright' at the end of S2 of the Wire. Come Sail Away is a good call on Freaks and Geeks. Also loved the final episode where Lindsay runs off with the deadheads. I think it's Ripple by the Grateful Dead that's playing. Bummed me out for 2 days.

 

[LongTimeListener]

Lots of people have mentioned Scrubs, which I think is the best at this kind of thing. The one that sticks with me is "The Book Of Love" on the scene where J.D. leaves the hospital, and then they fast-forward the film reel to when his and Turk's kids are playing together as they grow up.

I have also always felt How I Met Your Mother does a very nice job with its score but I can't recall any particular episode/song right now.

 

[dreunc1542]

It's been so long since I watched those episodes, but I remember the early seasons of Rescue Me doing a good job with songs at the end of episodes.

In the past few years, though, I've grown to appreciate the shows and movies that use songs playing over montages sparingly, if at all. Most of the time it's either manipulative or a way to sum up the message or theme of an episode as opposed to just doing the job of making sure one can understand the theme without the crutch of a song explaining it.

There are definitely times where I think it works, but like I said, I now prefer when it's used very sparingly as a storytelling device.

 

[Roscablo]

I've always loved the last scene of Six Feet Under. Sia's Breathe Me makes it that much better.

 

[Uncle.Ruckus]

I've always loved the last scene of Six Feet Under. Sia's Breathe Me makes it that much better.

I had that on page one.

 

[Versatile]

Lots of people have mentioned Scrubs, which I think is the best at this kind of thing. The one that sticks with me is "The Book Of Love" on the scene where J.D. leaves the hospital, and then they fast-forward the film reel to when his and Turk's kids are playing together as they grow up.

I think the reason Scrubs is so good is because its identity played into that so well. When Scrubs uses The Fray, it comes across as knowingly melodramatic. Most comedies can't get away with taking themselves that seriously, but the entire concept behind Scrubs was that the show was based on how J.D. viewed the world, so the melodrama makes sense.

More or less, Scrubs played into its element by picking schlocky, overwrought songs for the emotional moments and using music in other weird and unique ways. Scrubs had boundless confidence in its identity. It worked.

 

[Bubbler]

C'MON GUYS! EVERY COLD CASE EPISODE ENDS WITH A SONG!

(I think that's so hackneyed.)

 

[Rufino]

No show was consistently better at using music than Homicide: Life on the Street. Best single example is Peter Gabriel's "No Self Control" during a scene where they were hunting a fugitive in a train station. Couldn't find that one on Youtube, but this is one of many excellent ones...