Ten Awesome Musical Moments in Television

I am partial to a good musical moment in a tv show, whether the show itself is a musical or not. I think I actually prefer random music moments in shows that aren’t strictly music based. I have a relatively small tolerance for some types of musicals/musical shows, but occasionally one will grab me and not let go.

1. Nashville: “No One Will Ever Love You”

Season one and two of Nashville were chock full of seriously good original tunes, helped in no doubt by the show bringing in top Nashville talent to write for them (this song was written by Steve McEwan and John Paul White of The Civil Wars). The show did a magical thing where they established characters, and their histories, in musical moments like this one.

Rayna and Deacon have a long, turbulent history, we only see them bicker before this moment when you realize why they can’t ever just be friends or bandmates. Had the show kept up the level of songcraft and storytelling it had in its first two seasons it would have been one of my all-time favorites. But it was perfect for a while.

2. My So-Called Life: “Red”

The magic of this moment in Angela Chase’s tortured pining for Jordan Catalano is almost too sweet to spoil, but I must! Basically, she thinks her infuriatingly inexpressive, cool boy crush is admitting his feelings for her, as he only can, in song. The all-too-relatable thrill of this (especially to anyone who has ever been a teenage girl!) overtakes all of her previous moody instincts and she is completely over the moon with joy. Later on, we find out he is really singing about his car! Oh, Jordan.

3. The Americans: “With or Without You” (U2)

Sorry to say this scene is spoiler-rific. Maybe skip this part if you haven’t seen The Americans.

This scene is the culmination of the entire series. Philip and Elizabeth and their daughter Paige are on the run, attempting to flee the country because their long-time deep cover as Russian spies has been blown. Paige has never been to Russia and was drafted into the family business by her parents.

The song “With or Without You” has been playing fairly low over the previous scene/buildup to this moment. They have already left behind their son Henry, and there is one final blow for the Russian wonder team. Their hearts have always been in their homeland, with a few bumps along the road, but now a huge piece of them is missing forever.

4. Halt and Catch Fire: “Velouria” (Pixies)

A wonderfully hard-to-define fictional-ish show about the humble beginnings of the personal computer and then the internet, Halt and Catch Fire has a decent amount of romance and heartbreak too. Cameron and Joe are soulmates who can’t quite get it together.

In this scene, they hadn’t seen each other in a long time after a bitter professional break. But they are drawn together like two goofy magnets, both near the peak of their success but secretly sad that it wasn’t together. The nostalgic joy (for my fellow Generation X people anyway!) of the Pixies at their poppiest, the house party style casual dancing, the authentic 90s fashion, this was a highlight of this underloved series for many. Watch this show!

5. The Gilmore Girls: Lorelei Sings “I Will Always Love You”

I cannot even go into the will they won’t they drama of Luke and Lorelei, they are both a headache, lol, but suffice to say this was a moment where a person who has blown it in a major way lays it all on the line, singing Dolly Parton's song in the stripped back style in which it was written and performed by Dolly originally. Confession it makes me cry, the sincerity, the sadness — hey, if you watch the show you might cry too! A rare singing moment from a cast member from a show that features bands/music heavily. Dive into the world of Stars Hollow if you like quirky comfort watches.

6. Glee: “Don’t Stop Believin”

I’m not going to pretend I didn’t watch this scene and get goosebumps like the rest of the world the first time I saw it. Journey’s iconic classic was ripe for dusting off for a new generation to discover. This pilot really hit in such a fun and cultural shift-type moment. Cory Monteith was the secret heart of this talented cast I think, sadly his tragic death at such a young age makes it all the more poignant.

7. Bates Motel: “Maybe This Time”

Ok, so confession. The version of this sung by Stevie in Schitt’s Creek is one of my all-time favorites. But I want to throw it back to Norma Bates's audition for local theatre in Bates Motel. This classic torch song from Chicago requires a personal stamp, stylistically, it can’t ever be phoned in, and Vera Farmiga knocks it out of the park. It’s so fitting for her character, which helps.

This blackly funny show was so much creepy fun, and truly great for much of its run. Vera Farmiga was perfect as Norma. We somehow keep rooting for her even though she is a mess, her own worst enemy, and her precious Norman a fatal flaw. The true antihero of the show. Not a loser!

8. Supernatural: “Don’t Fear The Reaper”

The first few seasons of Supernatural, the long-running drama about demon-fighting brothers Sam and Dean Winchester had some amazing classic rock music, always used creatively and with a sense of humor or drama. Here we have “Don’t Fear the Reaper” by the Blue Oyster Cult being played as we learn about reapers — yes it sounds a little on the nose but when you watched it for the first time and that unmistakable intro slowly builds when it hit you it was spine-shiveringly good fun!

9. Mindhunter: “Psycho Killer”

Ah, Mindhunter. So good, so cut short for no discernible reason. Anyway, this show about the beginning of the study and tracking of serial killers set in the 70s is fond of using music in often creepy and evocative ways. David Fincher is a master of suspense, no doubt.

I loved this relatively light/more humorous use of Talking Heads’ “Psycho Killer”. This is the moment in the show where the psychologist and the veteran agent have been told they are an official team with a recognized department in the FBI. Little moments of humor were interlaced throughout this unquestionably dark drama, a true masterpiece.

10. Better Things: “Tilted”, Christine and the Queens

I have only recently discovered Better Things, Pamela Adlon’s excellent dramedy based on her life as a single mom in L.A. This moment from the end of season 2 is a sweetly surreal recreation of Christine and the Queens’ famous dance from the video for the song . "Tilted"

This is a show about women with a rare honesty at its core, much of the writing is spectacularly accurate and “Oof” worthy (an in-joke for anyone who has seen it!). Here the family performs a surprise dance for the eldest daughter’s high school graduation.

The absentee father is almost always a letdown, as he is in this episode, and this moment felt like a “We got you”. I like the slightly surreal feel of it, the show is known to occasionally have mystical moments so we don’t question when something like this happens really (it’s better if you watch the show, go watch! It’s on the BBC iplayer now, for any UK readers!).

Do you have any favorite musical moments from tv shows? I know mine are all fairly recent, I was trying to think of older ones/some from when I grew up but drew a bit of a blank. Ah, wait, Fame! Of course!

There are many more I forgot I am sure. Thanks for reading. Also, you might like to read my article about tv musical cameos (from bands) if you liked this one!

* This article was originally published by the author on Medium.