20 TV shows with iconic soundtracks

The Gossip Girl producers wanted every episode to serve as a magazine of sorts, showcasing what was popular at the time in fashion, TV, and culture at large. They applied that same principle to music, and the songs — many of which come from Frank Ocean, Florence and the Machine, and other heavy hitters of the time — play just as well on rewatch as they did when the episodes first aired. 

The O.C. and Gossip Girl share a creator. Though very different in tone and setting, the two shows shared many similarities, including iconic soundtracks. The soundtrack to The O.C. is an alt-music lover’s dream for anyone alive in the early 2000s. 

Euphoria has some of the wildest plotlines in teen drama history, and maybe TV history. But what it lacks in logic, it more than makes up for with performances, makeup, and music. Drake's role as an executive producer certainly strengthened the series’ case in the music department. His hit “Nonstop” is one of the most notable songs from the soundtrack.  

If you want a cozy playlist for a fall day, turn on the Gilmore Girls soundtrack. Before you know it, you’ll be on the couch, wrapped in a blanket, sipping a hot cup of coffee, and watching the show to hear the soundtrack in real time.

Breaking Bad is an iconic TV show in every sense of the word, and when looking specifically at its soundtrack, the series doesn’t get any less iconic. Its biggest moments were all matched with the perfect song.  

Sitcoms don’t often have great soundtracks. Many of them don’t have soundtracks at all (unless you count the silence of Jim Halpert giving his signature look to the camera). But Schitt’s Creek broke the mold, and every time a song played onscreen, whether it was from Stevie Wonder or Elton John, it was excellent. 

Ted Lasso is worth rewatching for the soundtrack alone. The producers just had a great sense of what music needed to play when. We even got some great karaoke moments, notably Hannah Waddingham singing “Let It Go” in one episode. 

For years, television was created without the knowledge that one day we’d all be able to rewatch these shows whenever we want, as many times as we please. Now, certain series are time capsules for specific moments in history. My So-Called Life is a time capsule for music from The Cranberries, Sonic Youth, Violent Femmes, and more. 

This Is Us was designed to make viewers cry. Of course, the producers kept that in mind when crafting the soundtrack. Watching the show or listening to its soundtrack will bring you to tears. 

Donald Glover, a.k.a. Childish Gambino, created Atlanta. The show having a great soundtrack was a given. Between the Atlanta artists rapping and the iconic R&B singers crooning, the series was worth watching just to hear the music.  

Honestly, Succession could’ve just let its theme song play nonstop in the background of the show, and it still would’ve been good. Instead, the producers used other songs as the official soundtrack, and it made for one of the most iconic of all time. 

Russian Doll doesn’t get enough credit for how good it is. It has fantastic writing, great performances, and an iconic soundtrack. Casual music listeners might not immediately recognize the songs, but they’re all excellent pieces of music that fit perfectly into the scenes. 

Scandal is one of those shows you wish you could watch again for the first time. It was so good, and its soundtrack was spectacular. It would make a great playlist for anyone who loves ‘60s and ‘70s soul and R&B. 

The music from the Suits soundtrack wasn’t dissimilar to that of Scandal. According to television execs, ‘60s and ‘70s R&B is the official soundtrack to American law. And we will not be making a counterargument. 

Empire was about a music company. Of course, it had a great soundtrack. Week after week, the show delivered spectacular original songs, making it a great watch for anyone who just appreciates good music. 

Mad Men nailed the aesthetic of the 1960s. It also happened to nail the sound. The soundtrack to that series included hits from Nancy Sinatra, Miles Davis, Dusty Springfield, and many other artists who defined the times sonically. 

If you want to spend a summer in the city with your friends and lovers, you need a good soundtrack to do it. And you can look no further than the Sex and the City soundtrack to meet your needs. 

What makes the Twin Peaks soundtrack so good is that it perfectly matches the show. If you want (for some strange reason) to have an eerie day, turn on the Twin Peaks soundtrack. 

There was so much that we were robbed of when they canceled Freaks and Geeks after one season. But at least we have the 18 episodes we do have. And we have a great soundtrack full of bona fide 1970s hits. 

Leave it to HBO to produce a show with a great soundtrack. Big Little Lies clearly had a big budget, spending it on rights to music by Elvis, Otis Redding, Sade, and Frank Ocean, just to name a few. And the series was better for it.