Top 10 Teen Shows With the Best Soundtracks
teen shows, TV soundtracks, One Tree Hill, The O.C., Gossip Girl, The Vampire Diaries, Freaks and Geeks, Dawson's Creek, Veronica Mars, Gilmore Girls, Beverly Hills 90210, Friday Night Lights, music in television, teen drama, indie rock, 2000s music, TV music, soundtrack, teen series, pop culture, TV, Drama, Streaming, watchmojo, watch mojo, top 10, list, mojo,
Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re looking at the best teen comedies and dramas that made us rock along to the music with our favorite characters.
When you think “Freaks and Geeks,” you think music. The teen show may have only lasted one season, but it quickly became a cult classic – in large part because of its killer soundtrack. The creators of the show, including Paul Feig and Judd Apatow, made it a point to use early 1980s tunes that would lend the show real authenticity. And from the moment Joan Jett’s “Bad Reputation” starts blaring across the opening credits, authenticity is what you get. The soundtrack also features hits from Van Halen, The Cars, and other 1980s hot shots and rockers. Only the best shows put that much work into maintaining their era so perfectly.
A good soundtrack can help capture the time period of a TV show. But it can also help capture the story. On “Dawson’s Creek,” executive producer Paul Stupin, music supervisor John McCullough, and co-producer Drew Matich made sure the songs did just that. These three oversaw the musical decisions on the teen drama and went about picking songs in a way that put plot and character first. Thus, every song you hear playing under a romantic scene between Joey and Pacey or an argument between Dawson and Jen is chosen particularly for that moment. The trio was meticulous in which songs made the cut, sometimes watching different scenes multiple times with new songs playing under the dialogue to make sure they got it just right.
If you’re a fan of old school noir with a twist, then this is the TV soundtrack for you. The creators of “Veronica Mars” knew they wanted the show’s music choices to encapsulate the mystery of the series. They picked The Dandy Warhols’ “We Used to Be Friends” as the theme song, but for the third season they made a few changes. This version is darker than the original version, setting the stage for what you’re about to see. The rest of the music on the “Veronica Mars” soundtrack follows suit. The music that underscores the show is alternative and grungy, giving us the punk, crime-solving vibe we were all looking for.
When a show opens with a Carole King standard, you know you’re in good, musical hands. But soft rock icons didn’t just score “Gilmore Girls” – oh no. They played a direct role in the plot of the show itself. Music was always an important topic of conversation between Rory and Lorelai, whether it be The Bangles or David Bowie. To match the mother and daughter’s expert knowledge, the soundtrack had to also be filled with gems. A 2002 album featured tracks from The Shins, PJ Harvey, and even John Lennon himself. Those Gilmore Girls weren’t playing around.
Some TV shows release one or two soundtracks throughout their series run. But not only did “Beverly Hills, 90210” basically start the modern teen television trend, it set the standard for album releases too. From 1990 to 2000, the “Beverly Hills” creators released three soundtracks to chronicle the lives of our favorite teens as they moved beyond the Peach Pit. What’s great about analyzing these different offerings is you can see the trajectories of the characters embedded in the show’s music choices. We start with cheesy romance songs from artists like Brian McKnight, and we end with the likes of Foghat and The Kinks. It’s great to see our favorite characters grow up through music.
#5: “Friday Night Lights” (2006-11)
No teen show soundtrack embodied the mundanity and strife of small town life quite like “Friday Night Lights.” The football drama took place from the mid-to-late 2000s, and made it a point to highlight a variety of both popular and more obscure bands from the time. Fans will remember the expert use of Tony Lucca’s “Devil Town” in the first season, and how the lyrics captured the essence of Dillon. But “Friday Night Lights” also used music from The Killers, the Drive-By Truckers, OutKast, and other famous groups. It was an eclectic mix, but that only served to emphasize the diverse nature of that Texas small town and all its many facets.
Xoxo – the girls are ready to party. The CW’s “Gossip Girl” was a teen soap opera for the ages, allowing audiences everywhere to be swept away by the lives of the wealthy New York elite. If you really want to nail the aesthetic of Manhattan’s Upper East Side, however, you’ve got to make sure you have the right music. And “Gossip Girl” certainly did. Teen angst was more than represented on this soap – it was a lifestyle. The Ting Tings, Phantom Planet, and The Kills were staples of the “Gossip Girl” soundtrack. The overwhelming, teenage emotion of these songs only served to bolster the drama unfolding on our screens.
If we wanted to give an award for the sheer volume of songs used per season, we would probably have to give it to “The Vampire Diaries.” The fantasy teen drama used up to 199 songs for each of its seasons, stuffing every episode with as much instrumentation as possible. And what instrumentation it was! “The Vampire Diaries” often used popular songs from artists like The Fray and Ingrid Michaelson, but they never compromised tone for popularity. If “Give Me Love” was playing under a romantic scene, it wasn’t because it was an Ed Sheeran song. It was because it fit the mood.
There may never again be an opening theme so recognizable or fitting as the one from “The O.C.” As soon as that strident piano hits our ears, we’re ready – California, here we come! Creator Josh Schwartz said he wanted music to function almost like a separate character on the show and made indie rock a central focus “The O.C.” released six soundtracks over its run, filled with bands like Modest Mouse and Death Cab for Cutie. The show was so popular that it was even able to debut new songs from huge artists like U2 and Coldplay. I guess when you’ve got a music head like Seth Cohen on your show, what else can you do?
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
All television shows feature music in some shape or form. But in a lot of ways, “One Tree Hill” existed because of music. If you’re a huge fan, you might notice that the teen drama never had issues finding the perfect song to underscore a scene. That’s because most episodes are named after a band, a song, or an album, and each name has something to do with the theme of said episode. Bands would often perform on the show – including Gavin DeGraw, who sang the main theme “I Don’t Want to Be.” Honestly, we don’t know if we’ve ever come across a show – teen-focused or not – where music is so integral to everything that happens.
If we missed any of your favorite soundtracks, let us know in the comments below.
#10: “Freaks and Geeks” (1999-2000)
When you think “Freaks and Geeks,” you think music. The teen show may have only lasted one season, but it quickly became a cult classic – in large part because of its killer soundtrack. The creators of the show, including Paul Feig and Judd Apatow, made it a point to use early 1980s tunes that would lend the show real authenticity. And from the moment Joan Jett’s “Bad Reputation” starts blaring across the opening credits, authenticity is what you get. The soundtrack also features hits from Van Halen, The Cars, and other 1980s hot shots and rockers. Only the best shows put that much work into maintaining their era so perfectly.
#9: “Dawson’s Creek” (1998-2003)
A good soundtrack can help capture the time period of a TV show. But it can also help capture the story. On “Dawson’s Creek,” executive producer Paul Stupin, music supervisor John McCullough, and co-producer Drew Matich made sure the songs did just that. These three oversaw the musical decisions on the teen drama and went about picking songs in a way that put plot and character first. Thus, every song you hear playing under a romantic scene between Joey and Pacey or an argument between Dawson and Jen is chosen particularly for that moment. The trio was meticulous in which songs made the cut, sometimes watching different scenes multiple times with new songs playing under the dialogue to make sure they got it just right.
#8: “Veronica Mars” (2004-07; 2019)
If you’re a fan of old school noir with a twist, then this is the TV soundtrack for you. The creators of “Veronica Mars” knew they wanted the show’s music choices to encapsulate the mystery of the series. They picked The Dandy Warhols’ “We Used to Be Friends” as the theme song, but for the third season they made a few changes. This version is darker than the original version, setting the stage for what you’re about to see. The rest of the music on the “Veronica Mars” soundtrack follows suit. The music that underscores the show is alternative and grungy, giving us the punk, crime-solving vibe we were all looking for.
#7: “Gilmore Girls” (2000-07)
When a show opens with a Carole King standard, you know you’re in good, musical hands. But soft rock icons didn’t just score “Gilmore Girls” – oh no. They played a direct role in the plot of the show itself. Music was always an important topic of conversation between Rory and Lorelai, whether it be The Bangles or David Bowie. To match the mother and daughter’s expert knowledge, the soundtrack had to also be filled with gems. A 2002 album featured tracks from The Shins, PJ Harvey, and even John Lennon himself. Those Gilmore Girls weren’t playing around.
#6: “Beverly Hills, 90210” (1990-2000)
Some TV shows release one or two soundtracks throughout their series run. But not only did “Beverly Hills, 90210” basically start the modern teen television trend, it set the standard for album releases too. From 1990 to 2000, the “Beverly Hills” creators released three soundtracks to chronicle the lives of our favorite teens as they moved beyond the Peach Pit. What’s great about analyzing these different offerings is you can see the trajectories of the characters embedded in the show’s music choices. We start with cheesy romance songs from artists like Brian McKnight, and we end with the likes of Foghat and The Kinks. It’s great to see our favorite characters grow up through music.
#5: “Friday Night Lights” (2006-11)
No teen show soundtrack embodied the mundanity and strife of small town life quite like “Friday Night Lights.” The football drama took place from the mid-to-late 2000s, and made it a point to highlight a variety of both popular and more obscure bands from the time. Fans will remember the expert use of Tony Lucca’s “Devil Town” in the first season, and how the lyrics captured the essence of Dillon. But “Friday Night Lights” also used music from The Killers, the Drive-By Truckers, OutKast, and other famous groups. It was an eclectic mix, but that only served to emphasize the diverse nature of that Texas small town and all its many facets.
#4: “Gossip Girl” (2007-12)
Xoxo – the girls are ready to party. The CW’s “Gossip Girl” was a teen soap opera for the ages, allowing audiences everywhere to be swept away by the lives of the wealthy New York elite. If you really want to nail the aesthetic of Manhattan’s Upper East Side, however, you’ve got to make sure you have the right music. And “Gossip Girl” certainly did. Teen angst was more than represented on this soap – it was a lifestyle. The Ting Tings, Phantom Planet, and The Kills were staples of the “Gossip Girl” soundtrack. The overwhelming, teenage emotion of these songs only served to bolster the drama unfolding on our screens.
#3: “The Vampire Diaries” (2009-17)
If we wanted to give an award for the sheer volume of songs used per season, we would probably have to give it to “The Vampire Diaries.” The fantasy teen drama used up to 199 songs for each of its seasons, stuffing every episode with as much instrumentation as possible. And what instrumentation it was! “The Vampire Diaries” often used popular songs from artists like The Fray and Ingrid Michaelson, but they never compromised tone for popularity. If “Give Me Love” was playing under a romantic scene, it wasn’t because it was an Ed Sheeran song. It was because it fit the mood.
#2: “The O.C.” (2003-07)
There may never again be an opening theme so recognizable or fitting as the one from “The O.C.” As soon as that strident piano hits our ears, we’re ready – California, here we come! Creator Josh Schwartz said he wanted music to function almost like a separate character on the show and made indie rock a central focus “The O.C.” released six soundtracks over its run, filled with bands like Modest Mouse and Death Cab for Cutie. The show was so popular that it was even able to debut new songs from huge artists like U2 and Coldplay. I guess when you’ve got a music head like Seth Cohen on your show, what else can you do?
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
“My So-Called Life” (1994-95)
The Punk Life Is For Us“Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (1997-2003)
Getting Michelle Branch on Your Show Is a Big Win“Riverdale” (2017-23)
Their Soundtrack Is Just as Good as Their Musical Episodes“90210” (2008-13)
Took the Original & Updated the Tunes for a New Generation“Felicity” (1998-2002)
Indie Vibes That Are Perfect For College#1: “One Tree Hill” (2003-12)
All television shows feature music in some shape or form. But in a lot of ways, “One Tree Hill” existed because of music. If you’re a huge fan, you might notice that the teen drama never had issues finding the perfect song to underscore a scene. That’s because most episodes are named after a band, a song, or an album, and each name has something to do with the theme of said episode. Bands would often perform on the show – including Gavin DeGraw, who sang the main theme “I Don’t Want to Be.” Honestly, we don’t know if we’ve ever come across a show – teen-focused or not – where music is so integral to everything that happens.
If we missed any of your favorite soundtracks, let us know in the comments below.
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