Television series' have developed over the years in narratives, settings and even camera work. The range of genres covers everything from comedy to sci-fi, catering to the interests of all audiences. But it's not just the likes of characters and costumes that can make a show what it is.
Music is also an important aspect in screen work and can really set the tone, whether the songs are set amongst an episode or used as the theme tune. Many tracks were already released prior to the program their used in, but have found further fame for being featured in a show.
The power of music can help to tie together the themes and/or plotlines of an episode. The Fray's "How To Save A Life," became Grey's Anatomy's signature sound after the show's music supervisor saw the band perform (per Hypable).
The song was later used for trailers and advertisement to the third season, leading the track to have a firm association with the show and an increase in its popularity. The tune is far from being overpowering, yet is the epitome of powerful, with a piano intro directing listeners to feel the emotion that Grey's Anatomy encompasses.
When a show is so utterly brilliant from costume to writing, the music has to follow suit as the finishing touch that sets the mood. Of course, the creatives of Peaky Blinders were never going to miss the mark and chose a perfect, atmospheric song to introduce each episode.
"Red Right Hand" by Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds has seen a resurgence in interest thanks to the drama, and perfectly represents the cold yet fearless nature of the Shelby family. The tune is the theme song of the show and is also used within various episodes, including covers from other artists. The modern soundtrack to Peaky Blinders was masterfully selected, with superb choices that include "Do I Wanna Know" by Arctic Monkeys, but it's the haunting sound of Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds that has remained in the minds of every fan.
Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" became a classic rock tune of the early '80s, known as the band's most recognized track. It was a part of Glee from the outset, appearing in the first episode of the first season.
The song was later performed multiple times throughout the show, with the Glee version reaching higher in the charts than Journey's original. Although Glee included some of the best mash-ups, the feel-good track gave the show's performers the opportunity to showcase their abilities and give audiences a chance to connect with the characters.
Although the concept of The Office UK was far from mundane, the focus was on the mundanity of an office job at a paper merchants. In between the hilarious scenes where David Brent was cringe but hilarious, the show would drive home the sense of a repetitive, slow job that some workers were stuck in.
"Handbags And Gladrags" was originally released by Chris Farlowe and covered by other artists through the years, but was arranged by Big George for the show. The slow, melancholy track sets the tone of The Office, following the sense of a dreary job, and is renowned for being part of the series.
"I Don't Want To Be" by Gavin DeGraw was selected to be the theme tune to the early 00s drama One Tree Hill. After gaining attention from its place in the series, the song made it to number 10 in the US charts.
The track very much suits the era and the theme of teens finding their way through life. As well as providing the theme song, DeGraw appeared in the series finale, to sing "I Don't Want To Be" on stage, with which the characters joined in, proving the significance of the song for One Tree Hill.
Based in Southern California, The O.C. focuses on the adoption of Ryan, a troubled young man. Due to the nature of his new life in a wealthy family, he struggles to fit in as an outsider.
"California" by Phantom Planet was initially heard on telly during an episode of Fastlane, but gained further publicity once it became the theme song for The O.C. Because of the momentum it had garnered with fame, the song was later re-released and became acknowledged as the track known for accompanying The O.C.
The 00s saw some of the best shows including Lost and Breaking Bad, but Gavin And Stacey truly represented the early 00s in every aspect. From outfits to hairstyles, the show was certainly of an era and the music was a further reflection of it.
"Tell me tomorrow, I'll wait by the window for you," is an iconic line from "Run" by Stephen Fretwell, which plays immediately after every episode. Originally released in 2001, the track became synonymous with the British sitcom, finding fame alongside it.
Many series like The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air have songs written specifically to be used as the theme tune and others use songs that have already been released. In Supernatural's case, "Carry On Wayward Son" by Kansas was an unofficial theme song that fans happily took to.
Following two brothers on a journey to investigate supernatural happenings, the song was used in the last episode of each season, except for season 1 in which it was played in the penultimate episode. The rock song suitably fits the action of the series, representing the dark fantasy that fans love.
The Wire has become highly regarded for its intricate plot lines that allowed audiences to view scenes from the perspectives of police officers and gang members alike. The intro was originally written and sung by Tom Waits, but there are things fans didn't know about The Wire theme song.
There were different versions of the song made for each season and sung by various artists, including Tom Waits himself. Each rendition gave a refreshing take on the sound, keeping up with the changes in each season.
House follows the titular M.D as he leads a team of diagnosticians in helping patients with their illnesses. The show had various songs used for the theme due to rights issues.
A shortened instrumental version of "Teardrop" by Massive Attack plays as the intro and the beat fits a medical sound, similar to that of a heartbeat. The vocals aren't included, but because of the emotive yet steady tune, it remains at the forefront of fans' minds, even though other songs were also used.
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