From tales of star-crossed romance to the escapades of drug dealers and con artists, the past year brought the world some seriously good television. The most beloved series came with equally outstanding soundtracks, reminding audiences of classic hits from bygone eras and introducing some to new songs and artists that couldn’t be ignored. With this playlist, Queue pays homage to a few of the songs that made this year’s shows sing.
Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) and Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan)
BRIDGERTON
“Give Me Everything” by Archer Marsh cover of Pitbull
Bridgerton fans have been waiting many seasons for Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) and Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) to leave the friend zone and start a romantic relationship. Many might not have expected that when that time finally arrived, it would be to the tune of an orchestral cover of Pitbull’s “Give Me Everything.” The cover by Archer Marsh met the moment of the long-lusted-after kiss between the two fan-favorite characters.
THE GENTLEMEN
“I Wish a Bitch Would” by Delilah Bon
The soundtrack to Guy Ritchie’s The Gentlemen boasts a premium mix of classical, mid-century crooning, and grime songs to accompany the frenzied world of Eddie (Theo James) and Susie (Kaya Scodelario). One of the standout music moments comes when Eddie commits his first murder to the tune of Delilah Bon’s “I Wish a Bitch Would”; the aggressive vocals perfectly pair with the action sequence.
Prince Charles (Dominic West)
THE CROWN
“Torn” by Natalie Imbruglia
The tension between Prince Charles (Dominic West) and Prince William (Ed McVey) as they drive through the English countryside at the start of the episode “Willsmania” could be cut with a knife, underlined by the use of Natalie Imbruglia’s 90s hit song “Torn” playing over the radio. Charles’s attempt to bond with his son over the piece of pop music and William’s steely look tell the audience all there is to know about the state of their ruptured relationship.
Mina (Hildegard De Stefano)
RIPLEY
“Il cielo in una stanza” by Mina
As Tom Ripley (Andrew Scott) and Dickie Greenleaf (Johnny Flynn) sit at a café in Naples in the second episode of the standout miniseries, just after Tom sees his first Caravaggio painting, Mina (Hildegard De Stefano) appears, singing her hit “Il cielo in una stanza” (“The Sky in a Room”). Just as Tom had been overcome by the grandiosity of the Caravaggio paintings, he is taken by the music, a moment of genuine emotion flickering across the face
of the enigmatic con man.
Griselda Blanco (Sofía Vergara)
GRISELDA
“For Your Love” by Chilly
In the premiere of the gripping limited series, Griselda (Sofía Vergara), splattered with blood after being caught in a shoot-out when she goes to sell the cocaine she’s smuggled into Miami from Colombia, strides across a nightclub floor to make a second effort at getting drug dealer Amilcar (José Zúñiga) to try her product. While clubgoers dance to disco anthem “For Your Love” in the background, Amilcar decides to take a chance on her as his supplier — and a drug lord is made.
"Esperando Pelitos"
BIG MOUTH
“Esperando Pelitos” by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Robin de Jesús, Big Mouth Cast
In a Season 7 Big Mouth episode celebrating puberty around the world, the Hormone Monsters check in on adolescents experiencing the body transformations that the series has dealt with each season. In the segment set in Puerto Rico, a young man prays for body hair to appear, set to the tune of a song written by Hamilton virtuoso Lin-Manuel Miranda and performed by Miranda, Robin de Jesús, and the series’ cast. The song is so catchy that it might just have you singing “little hairs.”
Dexter Mayhew (Leo Woodhall) and Emma Morley (Ambika Mod)
ONE DAY
“These Days” by Nico
One Day’s soundtrack exquisitely places its characters in a different time and place in each episode, pulling from songs of the era as well as retro hits on rotation then and now. One such throwback is Nico’s 1967 song “These Days,” which is heard as Dexter (Leo Woodall) and Emma (Ambika Mod) head down the side of Arthur’s Seat after spending the night and day together. The warmth of the guitar and Nico’s voice tap into the budding feelings between the duo, making the song the perfect choice for a sunny, aimless day.
A coyote in L.A.
EVERYBODY’S IN LA
“To Live and Die in L.A.” by Wang Chung
John Mulaney’s talk show brings the energy of the City of Angels to the screen as he interviews comedians and an eclectic range of experts on the burning topics around town — alongside everyone’s favorite delivery robot, Saymo. With musical performances from the likes of Weezer, St. Vincent, and Beck, there are too many magical moments to choose from, so we’ll call attention to the recurring track that plays in the opening credits, “To Live and Die in L.A.,” by 80s New Wave band Wang Chung. The track sets the tone for the wild ride each episode has in store for the live audience.
