Two strangers can instantly become besties in seconds over their shared love of hip-hop, and many love stories have been birthed from jamming together to The Beatles. So it goes without saying that music helps foster a close connection between viewers and TV shows that they’ve spent a lifetime addicted to or even the ones binged over the weekend. Any time The Rembrandts’ “I’ll Be There For You” comes up on the radio, it immediately reminds us of Friends with instant flashbacks of Ross’ “We were on a break!” and Joey’s “How you doin’?”
Soundtracks in movies and TV shows are the intangible aspects that enable viewers to relive the essence of these stories while going about their day. They remind viewers of adorable moments that touched their hearts or badass scenes that conjured an adrenalin rush. Sometimes, a fan-favorite song added to a show or movie instantly enhances the viewing experience. For instance, needle drops like Taylor Swift’s “The Way I Loved You” evoked memories from The Summer I Turned Pretty, and Lizzo’s “Truth Hurts” brings back scenes from the 2019 rom-com Someone Great. Let’s look at five TV shows whose soundtracks enhanced the watching experience and had viewers frantically adding them to their playlists.
1. Daisy Jones and The Six (2023)
Headlining the list is none other than Daisy Jones and The Six! The miniseries was adapted from Taylor Jenkins Reid’s novel of the same name, loosely inspired by the real-life story of Fleetwood Mac. With music as an integral part of the show and the novel, it’s no surprise that it features a banger soundtrack that viewers simply can’t get enough of. The series is set in the 1970s LA music scene and follows the tumultuous journey of the fictional rock band Daisy Jones and The Six. The screenplay comprises a back-and-forth between documentary-style interviews with the members and flashback footage of their story.
Sam Claflin and Riley Keough, who play the band’s lead vocalists, Billy and Daisy, deserve special props for singing the original music in the series. The show also stars Camila Morrone, Suki Waterhouse, Will Harrison, Josh Whitehouse, and Sebastian Chacon as the other band members. The band’s album Aurora is a romantic rock enthusiast’s dream come true. The 11-track album produced by Blake Mills was originally written for the series and was released by Atlantic Records on March 1, 2023. The movie’s soundtrack includes contributions from renowned musicians Phoebe Bridgers, Chris Weisman, Marcus Mumford, Taylor Goldsmith, and Tony Berg, among others.
The track “Look At Us Now (Honeycomb)” from Aurora is the soul of the entire series, with “Let Me Down Easy” and “Regret Me” being deeply impactful numbers. Daisy Jones and The Six also comprises original songs not found on Aurora, like “Stumbled on Sublime” by Daisy Jones and “Look Me in the Eye” by The Dunne Brothers, which transports one back to the 70s rock and roll scene. Timeless classics like “Love Is a Drug” by Roxy Music and “Shine A Light” by The Rolling Stones intensify the screenplay. Daisy Jones & the Six premiered on Prime Video on March 3, 2023, with Aurora published as vinyl records on March 2, 2023. It’s a series that music lovers cannot miss!
Watch Daisy Jones and The Six on Prime Video
2. Euphoria (2019)
Euphoria isn’t just a show — it’s a movement. The wildly popular HBO show is responsible for setting various fads on social media, from reels to makeup looks to its chilling soundtrack. It banks on its storytelling and edgy vibe, so naturally, the music had to live up to the hype. The original score by Labrinth is uniquely gospel-esque and brings to life the spellbinding, dark teen drama. Tracks like “Formula,” “When I R.I.P.,” and “Still Don’t Know My Name,” cement Euphoria as a show like none other as it adds oomph to the gripping script, breathtaking cinematography, and knockout performances.
Another piercing piece is “I’m Tired” by Labrinth and Zendaya, with lines like “Hey Lord, I’m on my way,” being open to various interpretations based on each character’s journey. The interpretative choreography for “All For Us” at the end of Season 1 was a musical representation of addiction. It won Labrinth an Emmy for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics.
Bursting at the seams with Gen-Z appeal, the show revolves around high schoolers in the fictional town of East Highland, California. It plunges into subjects like sex, addiction, homosexuality, and an endless plethora of teen-centric struggles in the most nuanced fashion. Euphoria primarily revolves around relapsed addict Rue (Zendaya) but doesn’t shy away from exploring the struggles and journeys of all its other main characters.
3. Hospital Playlist (2020)
A medical drama deeply dedicated to exploring good music, it’s no surprise that K-drama Hospital Playlist made its way to this list. The show follows the lives of five doctors in their 40s who became inseparable friends after their first interaction in medical school. The show’s soundtrack consists of covers and original music by the band Mido and Falasol. The band comprises the show’s lead actors Jo Jung Suk (vocals & guitar), Yoo Yeon Seok (drums), Jung Kyung Ho (guitar), Kim Dae Myung (keyboards), and Jeon Mi Do (bass). The main cast shines with their singing and acting prowess and profoundly enriches the wholesome aura of the series.
Heartfelt covers of “Aloha” by Cool and “At The Subway Stop In Front Of City Hall” by Zoo add meaningful depth to the episodes. Even the addition of Urban Zakapa’s, “Beautiful My Love” instills tear-jerking emotions into the brilliantly written script. Viewers thoroughly enjoyed the band’s cover of Bon Jovi’s “It’s My Life” which was unexpectedly thrown into the mix. The show’s exploration and referencing of cult-classic Korean music was nostalgia-inducing and highly educational for K-drama enthusiasts and music lovers. Hospital Playlist comprises two seasons, with the first season debuting on March 12, 2020.
Watch Hospital Playlist on Netflix
4. Riverdale (2017)
It’s safe to say that Riverdale was a weird show — in the most endearing sense. Premiering in 2017, the TV series is a creative interpretation of Archie Comics and is renowned for its out-of-pocket plots, talented cast, and pop culture references. The music on Riverdale played an integral part in setting the vibe of the teenage drama — much like Euphoria. The show boasts a diverse playlist ranging from trending pop music to old-school rock. From “Believer” by Imagine Dragons to a remix of Kelis’ “Milkshake” by Josie and the Pussycats, viewers were privy to a colorful genre of tracks throughout the show’s seven-season run.
The fan-favorite series was known for relentlessly incorporating original soundtracks and covers, resonating with saccharine teen emotions and the murderous tone prevalent in the show. That’s not all — the teen drama also surprised viewers by throwing in a musical episode here and there, which was seamlessly written into the storyline. The musical numbers were performed by Riverdale’s musically gifted cast including Camila Mendes, KJ Apa, and Ashleigh Murray, among others.
5. Nevertheless, (2021)
If you’re looking for spicy new additions to your sex playlist, look no further! When this sultry K-drama first aired in 2021, viewers were quick to add Sam Kim’s “Love Me Like That” to their Spotify playlists for its sensual tone and cheeky lyrics. Nevertheless, is a show brimming with ridiculously attractive leads and the most poetic depiction of exploring sexual desires.
Based on a popular webtoon of the same name, the show revolves around college students Yoo Na-bi (Han So-hee) and Park Jae-eon (Song Kang), who get into a casual relationship. Both are skeptical about love due to past relationship traumas, but things get messy when their feelings begin to surface despite their best efforts to keep things light. The drama’s soundtrack is fun and sexy, and perfectly compliments the screenplay. “Butterfly” by Junha Park is a standout upbeat track from the show. This K-drama is the perfect pick for Netflix and chill! Here’s a comprehensive soundtrack guide for the LGBTQ+ film Am I Okay.
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