It's amazing how many great songs from TV shows you can find if you listen closely to the soundtrack. Some of my favorite songs have come from some of my favorite shows – and my guilty pleasures. A couple of them are old, a great many are pretty recent, but they're all pretty great and they span several genres. These are just the songs from TV shows I've fallen in love with, so please be sure to share yours as well! And don't judge, because I just realized how much this post says about what I watch. I'd also apologize for all the Sons of Anarchy entries, but that show is awesome and its soundtrack is the best!
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1. “Running up That Hill” by Placebo on Bones
On iTunes at: itunes.apple.com
I've been a fan of Placebo since Black Market Music, but the first time I heard this haunting, unbelievably gorgeous Kate Bush cover, I was watching Bones. It appears in an equally haunting scene during “Judas on a Pole,” and the song makes the scene. I think Brian Molko's voice is perfectly suited to this song, to the point where I play it at least 10 times a day, still, and have it as a ring tone. You can also find it on several of their albums, including a bonus disc on Sleeping with Ghosts, their Covers album, and certain releases of Meds. This was actually my first indication that I could find some truly fantastic songs from TV shows – even the kind of inane ones.
2. “Ho Hey” by the Lumineers on Catfish
On iTunes at: itunes.apple.com
I know, I know. The Lumineers were hugely popular before Catfish: The TV Show started playing this feel good, whimsical ditty, but that's where I started paying attention to it, during the first season of that really phenomenal trainwreck of a show. I have no excuses, but I did fall in love, and this is still one of my favorite songs; it never fails to pick me up.
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3. “Passion for Publication” by Anarbor on Jersey Shore
On iTunes at: itunes.apple.com
I was vaguely aware of Anarbor through Heather, because coming from Michigan, the name of the band naturally appeals to her. I became aware of their music through Jersey Shore, I admit; within all the fake hip-hop songs and the tunes about partying, here's one that actually tells the truth. It's like an ode to hangovers and last night's regrets, and I admit, I love it. It got me listening to the rest of the band's songs, which are even better. I suggest “Where the Wild Things Are,” “The Brightest Green,” and “Always Dirty, Never Clean” among many, many others.
4. “Crash This Train” by Joshua James on Sons of Anarchy
On iTunes at: itunes.apple.com
Joshua James shows up in SOA quite a lot; “Coal War” is another inclusion, and while I love it as well, this one is amazing. It sounds so sweet, but when you listen closer, it's a little darker – just like the scene it represents in “Sweet and Vaded,” which is just full of treachery. This is the first of an SOA glut, but I just have to tell you, that show has opened me up to so many new artists, not to mention new music genres.
5. “Family” by Noah Gundersen on Sons of Anarchy
On iTunes at: itunes.apple.com
This played on the SOA episode “Burnt and Purged Away,” and again, it was perfectly chosen. Noah Gundersen has a rough, gritty, whiskey-warm kind of feel, and all of his songs are amazing. He's well suited to this particular show, but he's a joy to listen to at any time. Start with “Family,” which speaks to the families we all create, and then check out some of his other musical masterpieces.
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6. “the Lost Boy” by Greg Holden on Sons of Anarchy
On iTunes at: itunes.apple.com
This song is drop dead gorgeous, and as resulted in an ongoing love affair with the soulful Greg Holden. Part of it is the scene in which it plays in SOA: when the boys are giving Opie his final sendoff. Tears, tears, tears, sobs. Greg's voice is both plaintive and melodic, and he makes you feel what he's singing; you empathize, even if you've never felt that kind of pain.
7. “Honey, Let Me Sing You a Song” by Matt Hires on Teen Mom 2
On iTunes at: itunes.apple.com
I'm almost ashamed by the amount of good music you can find on reality shows, especially those on MTV, but Matt Hires is a revelation. This is a recent find from Teen Mom 2, and it's just so pretty. It hit me immediately, because I'm always especially attuned to songs that make me think of Heather. I know, but Matt Hires is honestly amazing; check out some of his other songs as well, such as “Restless Heart,” “When I Was Young,” and “Wishing on Dead Stars.” This boy is a poet.
Seriously, please don't judge me on the shows; I know that Jersey Shore and Teen Mom 2 are not the height of haute TV, but they do (or did) have pretty awesome soundtracks. And even if you don't like Sons of Anarchy, I strongly suggest snagging one of the many soundtracks; the music is so often integral to the plot lines, especially with “The Lost Boy” – that is a gorgeous tune, right there. Are there any shows or even movies that helped you find a new favorite song or artist?
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