7 must hear songs from TV and movie soundtracks
Sometimes when you are watching a show or a movie, you stop in your tracks and think, ‘I HAVE to know what this song is.’ And following the somewhat embarrassing act of whipping out Shazam, they are instantly added to your daily rotation or hard-hitting playlists. From some unknown gems like Lily Kershaw to up-and-comers like Sun Room, this list has it all. So, whatever your choice of music listening platform, these are our must-add songs featured on movie and television soundtracks.
“Don't Delete The Kisses” - Wolf Alice
Featured in movies like “The Darkest Minds” and shows like “Baby”, “Get Even”, and “The Royals”, “Don’t Delete The Kisses” from alternative rock band Wolf Alice, leans into a synth-pop and indie rock genres. The song is from their second studio album, Visions of Life, and delivers questions about whether or not someone is meant for love. The song is a beautifully obvious love song about its subject trying to hide their feelings by deleting the kisses at the end of a text message, “That I know I'll never send.”
“Dover Beach” - Baby Queen
From alternative/indie artist, Baby Queen, “Dover Beach” tells a story of all-consuming love and the doubts that come with it. Featured in “The Hating Game” and “The Summer I Turned Pretty” season one, the song is used to highlight moments of pining and the summertime possibilities of a bright and shining romance. Even though the love interests, according to Baby Queen, “got incompatible star signs.” Season two of “The Summer I Turned Pretty” will be available on July 14th on Amazon Prime.
“I Want To Be With You” - chloe moriondo
In the queer hit television show “Heartstopper”, chloe moriondo adds weight to an already soul-stirring moment with “I Want To Be With You”. Closing out the episode, the rockier tone to this alt-pop hit fits the tension of the scene, the main character questioning himself and his feelings for his best friend. This, of course, is also reflected in lyrics like “Say what you mean, I want to be with you,” Cause darling you’re the one and fuck, I want you.” Make sure to catch what's sure to be another season filled with amazing music, coming August 3rd to Netflix.
“Soft Dark Nothing” - Lily Kershaw
Taking the prime spot as the last song ever played on “Criminal Minds”' iconic 15-season run, “Soft Dark Nothing” feels like closure. Lily Kershaw is a folk-pop artist and also the daughter of Glenn Kershaw, who directed several episodes of the show and had multiple songs featured throughout the show's run but it has to be the lyrics that make this closing track so special. While the final member of the team gets ready to walk away for good, lyrics like “All my friends at the end of the world I hope to see you again,” play in the back, leaving us all in tears.
“Crashed My Bike” - Sun Room
Unlike the show “Outer Banks”, where this was featured, Sun Room didn't magically rise to the top of the charts. From a garage in Southern California, Sun Room makes a modern-day surf rock like no other, making it no surprise that it was used to encapsulate the feeling of OBX and its teens. As most of Sun Room’s songs do, “Crashed My Bike” talks of summertime, fun, and “rolling the dice” on life. When playing live, however, they’re very literal, introducing it by saying, “This is a song about the time I crashed my bike.”
“Love Me” - The 1975
“Love, Simon” is proof that even cheesy teen rom-coms can have a great soundtrack, and separating the art from the artist, “Love Me” is a fantastic song. The song is featured in an almost quintessential high school movie car scene, with a group of friends all driving to school together. It’s alternative in all the right ways and it makes you want to dance, while still having meaningful lyrics that connect with its demographic.
“Heroes” - David Bowie
What movie or TV show has “Heroes” not been in? When talking about iconic movie and TV moments, this right here is the song and it would’ve been criminal to not include it on the list. Of course this song is so much more than a soundtrack but the moments that it’s created alongside the storyline. It gives this feeling of irrevocable joy, existential crisis, and bliss, all at once.
Honorable Mentions:
- Stay - Gracie Abrams: Dash and Lily
- Saturn - Sleeping at Last: Greys Anatomy
- Anchor - Novo Amor: Teen Wolf
- Tiny Dancer - Elton John: Almost Famous
With the year being more than halfway done, the movie and TV soundtrack scene has a lot more in store, with huge projects releasing before the New Year— including “Barbie” to release in late July. The film includes a loaded soundtrack with features from household names such as Billie Eilish, Tame Impala, Dominic Fike, and Haim, and its one that alt/indie listeners will not want to miss.
Cover photo by James Slater