Soundtrack selections: more than the background buzz for your favorite scenes. Over the past few decades, some clever music supervision has turned scripted TV into a living, breathing mixtape. These shows resurrect forgotten bops and introduce chart-toppers that no one saw coming. You might think Spotify’s release radar rules your tastes, but frankly, you have Netflix, HBO, and even Fox’s legacy to thank for a few playlist obsessions.
Let’s crank up the volume and jump into the world of shows that sent songs rocketing up the charts — or summoned them from pop culture’s attic. Whether it’s an ’80s anthem, a punk band’s deep cut, or a high school choir’s cover, these moments prove that television and music fuel each other — and fans eat it up every single time.
Stranger Things: Kate Bush and the Year That “Running Up That Hill” Ruled Earth — Again
First, let’s talk about that wild ride for Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill.” Stranger Things Season 4 didn’t just use the song, it wove the sonic drama right into Max’s story. The scene where she bolts through the Upside Down as Bush’s haunting wails kick in? Instant goosebumps. Thanks to the Duffer Brothers’ impeccable taste, Kate Bush’s 1985 masterpiece skyrocketed back up global charts. The single became the UK’s official No.1 single 37 years after its original run, grabbing millions of young listeners in the process and becoming the biggest streaming week in Spotify UK history for a catalog track (grammy.com). Older fans got a nostalgia rush, while Gen Z TikTokers sampled the intro for everything from DIY hacks to cat reaction videos. Bush herself posted a thank-you to Netflix. Suddenly, 2022’s song of the summer wasn’t new at all.
But Stranger Things didn’t stop there. In the same season, metalheads got their due when Eddie Munson unleashed Metallica’s “Master of Puppets” on those sinister Demobats. Look, the scene crashed Metallica’s streams by over 400% and reintroduced a classic to a younger audience. Social media exploded, and Metallica even posted a thank you, calling the scene “completely epic” and inviting Eddie into their metal family.
Wednesday: The Cramps’ “Goo Goo Muck” Gets Zombie-Fied
Sometimes it’s not just 1980s pop getting a revive — sometimes it’s punk. Enter Netflix’s Wednesday and Jenna Ortega’s internet-breaking dance number to The Cramps’ “Goo Goo Muck.” She choreographed the scene herself, and the results? More than 1,940% spike in searches for the song, and TikTokers worldwide started copying her, vampire hands and all. Suddenly, The Cramps were trending in 2023 as if the 80s never left. TikTok memes absolutely devoured the original track. That’s not some background jingle — it’s a certified reanimation. Just like a certain Addams.
Glee: Don’t Stop Believin’, and Billboard Sure Didn’t
Switch gears to 2009. Fox launched Glee, and — let’s be real — no one could escape that red-clad New Directions gang. The pilot delivered a fresh, sincere cover of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’.” Instead of just a nod to stadium rock glory, Glee set off a sales and streaming stampede. Their rendition sped to No. 4 on Billboard’s Hot 100, overtaking where the original stalled decades earlier (en.wikipedia.org). Over 36 million digital singles from the cast sold by 2011, so we’re not talking a one-hit blip. The show put covers like “Teenage Dream” and “Valerie” into the charts, proving prime time still sets pop culture’s table.
What makes Glee different? It didn’t just slip classic rock into the credits. It made old hits brand new by unleashing a school choir on them. The underdogs of Lima, Ohio, out-pop-starred pop stars. People young enough to shudder at the mention of VHS tapes got hooked on Journey. That’s crossover power.
The Batman and Nirvana: Brooding Meets Billboard
Everyone loves an unlikely comeback, right? Here walks in Nirvana with “Something in the Way.” Back in 2022, The Batman took Kurt Cobain’s haunting ballad, dropped it smack in the middle of Matt Reeves’ broody Gotham, and re-lit a fire beneath a 30-year-old track. This was no casual background play. “Something in the Way” exploded onto the Billboard charts for the first time ever, pulling more than a million daily streams. Suddenly, 1991’s angst had a new superhero swagger. Digital streams soared, with fans old and young diving deep into Nirvana’s catalog. The Batman gave grunge a whole new costume.
Saltburn: Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s Dancefloor Gospel Gets Resurrected
Now, speaking of unexpected bops — can we please talk about Saltburn’s audacious use of Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s “Murder on the Dancefloor”? Fennell’s 2023 film closes with a wild scene, and that 2001 disco-pop hit pulses at the heart of the climax. You’d better believe it worked. The song surged straight back onto the UK Top 10, a hearty 22 years after it charted, and TikTok creators made it their unofficial party soundtrack. Ellis-Bextor scored her first chart-topper since 2007. All thanks to one movie’s flair for the dramatic (russh.com).
The Umbrella Academy: KISS Called, They Want You to Fight in Style
Not all legendary revivals require dance montages or tearful solos — sometimes they need superhero punch-ups. When Season 2 of The Umbrella Academy dropped KISS’s “I Was Made for Lovin’ You” into a fight sequence, the results were priceless. KISS snagged over 4 million U.S. streams in August 2020, with Spotify newbies asking, “Who are these guys with face paint?” A glam-rock classic found a fresh fanbase, and umbrella-toting heroes got a little extra swagger.
Never Have I Ever: Meet Glass Animals and the Lush Emotions of “Heat Waves”
While some series dig deep into the archives, others use TV clout to break new artists. Mindy Kaling’s Never Have I Ever sprinkled Glass Animals’ “Heat Waves” over its high school chaos. This moody, catchy anthem wasn’t a retro find: it hit the big time while the show aired, riding the emotional wave into meme territory and streaming charts alike. In this case, TV gave a rising hit a fresh context, and fans soaked up every angsty lyric.
How I Met Your Mother: “La Vie en Rose” Gets an English Twist
Now let’s settle into softer territory. During the bittersweet final season of How I Met Your Mother, Cristin Milioti’s character picks up the ukulele and sings “La Vie en Rose.” She delivers a dreamy, heartfelt version on the balcony, just for Ted. The performance brought a classic Edith Piaf tune — not to mention Milioti’s vocals — to the ears of millions who maybe had never experienced chanson before. French teachers everywhere probably wept.
Bonus Track: Shrek’s Reboot of “All Star” (Because, Why Not?)
Okay, this next one’s technically film, but it’s impossible not to mention: remember the year 2001, Smash Mouth, and an ogre named Shrek? “All Star” blasted from swamp to stadium and became a meme before memes as we know them existed. The song’s gentle mockery, feel-good vibes, and Shrek’s wild popularity filled dance floors for years. The tune lives on in TV flashbacks, TikTok, and every nostalgic house party playlist (lifewithoutandy.com). Songs from movies and shows? Absolutely connected.
Sopranos: The “Don’t Stop Believin’” That Ended an Era
No list would be complete without that Sopranos finale. June 2007, the world held its collective breath as Tony Soprano nursed a basket of onion rings in Holsten’s Diner. Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” blared on the jukebox and, boom — the scene cut to black. The sudden silence, the tension, the song’s stubborn optimism: it all trapped fans in a moment they never forgot. Journey’s sales and streams spiked, with millions rediscovering the 1981 anthem or hearing it for the first time. TV history made, using nothing but great music.
TV + Music: The Loop That Never Ends
So, what gives? Why do these moments work so well — over and over again?
- Emotional matchups: The right track locks into our feelings. Even a passing song in the background can make a scene unforgettable.
- Discovery power: TV isn’t just a visual feast; it’s a playlist generator for millions who then share, remix, and meme the experience.
- Instant nostalgia: One needle drop and you’re back in high school, or at your first concert, or dancing alone at 2 a.m.
- Cross-generational buzz: Forty-year-old tracks get TikTok love, while chart-toppers climb higher with shrewd show placement.
As streaming platforms balloon and producers keep aiming for that perfect pop-cultural sync, don’t expect this trend to vanish. If anything, the line between playlists and plots will blur even more. No matter what show you binge next, listen closely. That throwback, that indie gem, that weirdo cover by a fictional choir? It could be your next obsession — one play at a time.
Now’s your turn: what show scene made you hunt down a song and replay it? Drop it in the comments and let’s keep this jam alive.
