A look at my favorite non-diegetic music moments from TV shows and film. Don’t worry, the holiday festivities will be right back!
With the pandemic still ongoing in 2021, a lot of people maintained social distancing and soaked up some good couch time. After twenty-plus years spending Saturdays on a sofa, this pandemic was where my amateur couch potato lifestyle went pro. I’ve watched a lot of TV and movies this year!
Being a music enthusiast as well, I always notice when TV shows or movies use music efficiently. In an episode of “Parks and Recreation,” Ben Wyatt reflects that soundtracks are basically “your favorite directors making a mix tape just for you”.* April Ludgate scoffs at this idea, but that’s the exact way that I would say it! Ben Wyatt really is my soulmate.
I digress! Here are my favorite 2021 non-diegetic music moments, in no particular order.
2021 Non-Diagetic Music Moments
- Eclipse – Hans Zimmer, Dune. This track, written by Pink Floyd, was repurposed and re-recorded by Hans Zimmer for the trailer for Dune. For an epic in space about a prophecy to be fulfilled, this song feels like it was written specifically for Dune (it was not. I checked)! Shoutout, also, to the chant theme (that’s definitely NOT from “Portlandia”), for reminding me that Hans Zimmer also did Prince of Egypt.
- Harp Variation – Martin Phipps, The Crown. I do worry that the world has sensationalized the life of a very real person. However, this theme was used in “The Crown” for almost every moment that Princess Diana Spencer appeared on screen. Both variations are vulnerable, a bit dark, grandiose, and haunting. All this could be used to describe the life of Diana, as she went from being a normal girl in a whirlwind romance to the “People’s Princess.” It makes the dramatic irony of her story all the more tragic.
- Heat Waves – Glass Animals, Never Have I Ever. This was truly the song of the summer! I had heard this song before watching the new season of “Never Have I Ever,” but the use of this song was perfect. The song itself has been meme’d and Tik-Tok-tified, but I’ll always remember this song from a rainy night moment of romance (I’ll link, but spoilers!).
- Exile – Taylor Swift feat. Bon Iver, You. I don’t often get to hear Taylor’s music in movies and TV shows that don’t feature Taylor Swift directly (examples 1, 2, and 3). As a result, it’s a treat when people recognize! I think this song was chosen for the scene because of the lines “I think I’ve seen this film before, and I didn’t like the ending.” As Joe looks at his latest mess to clean up, I’m sure he thought those words. Again, spoilers!
- If I Go, I’m Goin’ – Gregory Alan Isakov, The Haunting of Hill House. Okay, this show came out before the pandemic was even a thing! Nevertheless, it took me three years to finally see it. This song plays at the end of the series. I had heard it before, but it was used so beautifully in this way. Once again, spoilers. That reminds me, I need to add “Midnight Mass” to that TV list!
- Paradise – Bazzi, Invincible. I don’t know how Bazzi does it! Every song he produces goes viral. In this case, this song plays as Mark flies home after a date with the girl he likes. The song captures the limitless bliss of the moment. Young love really does feel like paradise sometimes.
- Welcome to the Black Parade – My Chemical Romance, Mythic Quest. Maybe it’s a sign of the times, but I can’t believe I’m at the point that music from my childhood now concludes an episode of television. That happens to AC/DC or the Beatles! Have my guys joined the greats? I pray that “The Last of the Real Ones” gets used in a series at some point in my lifetime. DEEP TRACKS OF THE PUNKS WILL HAVE THEIR DAY. I digress. This song plays at the end of season 1 of “Mythic Quest” (which yes, did come out in 2020, but I didn’t start watching until a few months ago). As Poppy Li receives an unexpected career change, she takes on new responsibility. The lyrics sync perfectly to this new charge to lead. It was one of the most powerful moments of a series that I’ve watched this year.
- Dreams – The Cranberries, Derry Girls. Yes, again, another show that came out a few years ago, with a song that came out decades ago. The song wasn’t new to me, but the series is, and I loved it! In this context, the song plays as a juxtaposition. A period piece of sorts, the series takes place in Ireland in the nineties. As an IRA attack plays on the news, the eponymous Derry girls forgive themselves after a fallout, and join kooky friend Orla onstage at an embarrassing talent show dance. As violence collapses around their battle-torn town, these girls keep on dancing. The show itself is very funny, but this is one of the most poignant moments of the show (and the whole episode is very beautiful). I’m happy it got a third season!
- Sigh – Unloved, Killing Eve. Honestly, “Killing Eve” had some of the best music of any show I’ve watched this year. It regularly features themes written by alt band Unloved. This particular track is a bit creepy, but alluring all the same. It’s a perfect encapsulation of Villanelle, and plays throughout the show whenever Villanelle does anything that captures Eve’s attention. It’s delicious.
- Wandavision Themes – Christophe Beck, Kristen Anderson-Lopez, and Robert Lopez, Wandavision. Theme songs are, inherently, non-diegetic. However, when considering the plotline of “Wandavision,” these themes might qualify as diegetic (particularly the one for episode five, which contains a moment I can’t find anywhere on Youtube)! I think there’s arguments for both, so give me this one. As the series travels sitcom tropes through time, so does the theme song. From the Dick Van Dyke homages all the way through to the modern sitcom, the theme song for each episode perfectly captures the themes that dominated sitcoms of the decade. I loved the 1960s theme, and it seemed to be the favorite for everyone else! However, the note-perfect homage to my favorite show of all time inspired my first spark of joy since the beginning of the pandemic. I love the Marvel movies. I love sitcoms. A Marvel series about sitcoms? Sometimes the universe gifts us things we never knew we needed, with the best music to go with it.
I’ve always felt that music can make or break a moment, and I love when it’s executed well (“Scrubs” and “How I Met Your Mother” are masterclasses with this concept). These moments captured my heart! I want to give an honorable mention to “Elite” for having an incredible soundtrack in general. As well, I started “Shrill” in the final days of 2020, and while the entire show has great music, a pool party sequence featuring “One Last Time” by Ariana Grande was one of the most emotional moments of TV that I’ve ever experienced. I see now that I only listed one “movie” on this list! I feel like not many movies came out this year, so I have somewhat of an excuse. 2022, it’s on you to provide me with some juice next year!
*Works Cited: “How a Bill Becomes a Law.” Parks and Recreation, created by Daniels, Greg, season 5, episode 3, NBCUniversal Television Distribution, 2012.