Think about some of the most iconic things you take away from a film or a show. What makes you think it was good? The emotions it made you feel or how the visuals brought the message of the show to life? One of the most important elements of film and television comes through in the music choice. Whether it be a uniquely and specifically created soundtrack just for the film to fit its unique themes, or a specially curated selection of songs that just fit the vibe of the overall film.
Take, for example, 2022’s Stranger Things season 4 that took the world by storm. More than Vecna’s immeasurable power, people were more drawn into the film by the layer of depth and intensity that Kate Bush’s spectacular track ‘Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)’ brought to that iconic scene. In this list, we take a look at a handful of memorable needledrops and how they shaped the scenes and films that they were featured in.
The Creator : Radiohead — 'Everything In Its Right Place'
The story:
The story is set in a dystopian universe where an epic war between humans and Artificial Intelligence rages on. The protagonist Joshua, who has lost everything to the war, walks away from it, only to be dragged back into the crossfire in an endless pursuit of tracking down the world-ending AI weapon.
The music:
As they circle the airspace to find a place to land before infiltrating the enemy’s AI creation lab, the faint notes of Radiohead's ‘Everything In Its Right Place’ chime in. The track’s haunting and eerie melody alludes to the almost sinister motion that the war is escalating between the two races. The heavily edited and cut vocals that fade in at the beginning of the song give it an almost digital sonic texture that makes it the perfect fit for the scene. The juxtaposition between the quiet impact of the track stands out from the action-packed visuals of the scene, escalating the tension as we look at the world crumbling around Joshua.
Everything Everywhere, All At Once : Son Lux, Mitski, David Byrne — 'This Is A Life'
The story:
As everyday begins, do you ever start the day asking yourself if you choose hope and joy, where consequences didn’t exist, or a life of grey, mundane routine that makes you feel imprisoned? Evelyn faces that exact fork in the road as she plunges into the multiverse trying to stop a variant of her daughter Joy who threatens to tear apart the fabric of the multiverse. Her constant scrutiny and critique of the way Joy’s life unfolds plunge her into a spiral where she questions all her decisions in life, thinking about Everything Everywhere, All At Once.
The music:
Eventually, as the story unfolds, Evelyn realises her daughter’s mindset, as between hope and despair she chooses despair, believing that nothing matters. As the story crescendos, Evelyn understands that hope, kindness, and love are the true key to overpowering that appealing mindset of believing “nothing matters”. In an epic adventure of instilling hope into every version of herself, bringing love to each dimension, ‘This Is A Life’ brings a new depth to the story.
As its shimmering notes play in the end credit scene, it perfectly bookends the spectacular film that has just instilled a sense of hope and light into each audience member. The lyrics perfectly depict the core essence of the film as they say, “This is a life, free from destiny, not only what we sow, not only what we show”. It ties in another moral of being happy with what you have; thinking about what could’ve been and fantasising about how life could be better creates a haze that blocks you from seeing the true purity and positivity of what lies before you in the present, in this universe.
The Batman : Nirvana — 'Something In The Way'
The story:
“I am vengeance”. A darker, more moody take on the iconic hero Batman. As Bruce Wayne descends into a war against the evil that’s seeped into every path and alleyway in Gotham, the broody and aggressive streets stare back at him with a sense of defiance. Batman seeks to tear apart the Riddler as he navigates. Struck with a damning choice between love and justice, as Selina Kyle reveals her secrets to him, Bruce has no choice but to sink deeper into the darkness cloaked by his raging passion for revenge on the Riddler, Penguin, and Falcone.
The music:
“Wednesday, November 6th, the city is underwater…” As scenes of the city after the pursuit for vengeance flash on the screen set to the dark monologue by Batman after he was forced to confront his tragic past, the eerie guitar chords of Nirvana’s ‘Something In The Way’ captures the raw evil that ran rampant in the streets of Gotham, tainting anyone who walks down its roads. As the movie ends on a cliffhanger with Selina Kyle leaving him reluctantly, as The Penguin stares into the sunrise marking a new day for crime, ‘Something In The Way’ acts as a solemn war song signalling the beginning of something much bigger and much worse than what The Batman stopped in this film.
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou : David Bowie — 'Life On Mars'
The story:
A wild expedition of claiming retribution for a friend's untimely death by hunting down the exact jaguar shark that dealt the fatal bite. Steve Zissou and his crew go to insane lengths like fighting off pirates, stealing equipment from rivals, forming alliances, and of course, fighting for love.
The music:
As Zissou strives to find the jaguar shark, struggling to execute this voyage to find it after years without a successful documentary, the story takes viewers along as part of “Team Zissou” as we sail the seas on the Belafonte. In one of the earlier scenes, Ned Plimpton explains that he might be Zissou’s long-lost son. As Zissou silently ponders his next steps with this new and surprising news, David Bowie's 'Life On Mars' bursts in as he smokes a wistful cigarette on the helm of the ship, looking forward at the voyage ahead of him, now with a new crew member that could very well be his own son.
A lyric from the track perfectly sums up the vibe and energy of the entire film as it says, "Sailors fighting in the dance halloh man, look at those cavemen go, it's the freakiest show" capturing the eccentric and bizarre touch the film has.
Trainspotting : Iggy Pop — 'Lust For Life'
The story:
A wild rollercoaster of dependence, addiction, and desperation is what Danny Boyle’s Trainspotting shapes up to be. Following the life of Mark Renton, a hopeless drug addict who tries to quit his deep-rooted heroine addiction, we witness how the people around him and his experience influence his journey to sobriety.
The music:
As the police chase after Renton, his feet slam against the pavement with each step, desperately trying to outrun them so his stash of heroin does not leave his possession. The booming drum beats of Iggy Pop’s ‘Lust For Life’ soundtrack the scene, making it even more engaging and drawing audiences.
Its bright and radiant melody tricks listeners into believing that what’s in store in the rest of the film is even just a smidge positive, while the jarring lyrics talk about raging addictions and vices and the desperation to kick the habits. With words like, "Yeah, I'm through with sleepin' on the sidewalk, no more beatin' my brains, no more beatin' my brains, with the liquor and drugs, with the liquor and drugs", 'Lust For Life' enriches the journey that Renton takes the audience on.
American Horror Story Coven : Fleetwood Mac — 'Seven Wonders'
The story:
The fight for power shines bright as a coven of witches fight to emerge as the supreme after a series of tests. Along the way, they face extremely sinister hurdles and experiences that only fuel their fire to become the strongest witch.
The music:
Living up to the nickname of “The White Witch”, Stevie Nicks makes an appearance in episode 10 as she twirls around the foyer of the coven’s house singing the hit track ‘Seven Wonders’ by Fleetwood Mac. She gives a sense of richness and depth to the season’s extremely whimsical undertones with her reinterpretation of the glittering track. One of the witches, Misty, who is established as a big Stevie Nicks fan, even faints after shaking the rock legend’s hand in the scene.
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World : Metric — 'Black Sheep'
The story:
“If we’re gonna date, you may have to defeat my seven evil exes”. What would you do for love? Would you defy the laws of physics to fight off the past evil relationships that your partner dated? Effortlessly taking down a renowned action star, the bassist of a rock band, and so on. Scott Pilgrim goes through all that and more as he fights for the love of Ramona Flowers.
The music:
As Ramona and Scott stand in a crowd at his ex-girlfriend Envy Adams’ concert, her voice booms on the speakers. Ramona turns to Scott as she reveals that the bassist Todd is one of her seven evil exes. Scott gulps as he realises he’d have to defeat the raging health nut if he truly wanted the chance to continue dating Ramona. As Brie Larson’s explosive and edgy cover of Metric’s searing rock banger ‘Black Sheep’ plays, the anticipation builds, as we see Scott fights against Todd to win Ramona over.
Derry Girls : The Cranberries — 'Dreams'
The story:
Set in 1990s Northern Ireland during the final years of the Troubles, Derry Girls follows five teenagers navigating Catholic school chaos, family squabbles, and the everyday absurdities of growing up in Derry. Amid political tension and the looming hope of change, Erin and her friends obsess over crushes, exams, and the dream of a life bigger than their small city, capturing that strange mix of innocence and unrest that defined the era.
The music:
When ‘Dreams’ by The Cranberries swells in the background, it feels less like a soundtrack choice and more like a love letter to 90s Ireland. The song’s bright, soaring optimism mirrors the girls’ unshakable belief that something better is just around the corner as Erin and Orla look forward to their joint 18th birthday, even as history unfolds around them. Dolores O’Riordan’s airy vocals carry both yearning and hope, perfectly echoing the show’s balance of teenage naivety and a country on the cusp of transformation.
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