Radio on the TV: Top 10 Music/Television Moments

Occasionally, there is that rare moment when the unstoppable force: music meets the immovable object: television and, for a few glorious minutes, all is right with the world. When melded into one seamless medium of entertainment both benefit creatively and financially.

BeatCrave has gathered together the top ten moments in television/music history when magic turned a great show into a hit show, a small band into a stadium filling act, and a simple song into the foreshadowing of a career. Whether it is a series finale going out with a tune so perfect even grown men wept, a meta-television moment on one of the most inspired/influential TV shows of all time or a mysterious island castaway playing the somber song by an islander of a different sort, the following list celebrates the combinations two when artistic medias create greatness.

10. “The L Word” meets Freezepop, “Swimming Pool”

“The L Word” was, for six seasons was so much more than a show about lesbians.  “The L Word” was, loss, Los Angeles, lust, longing, ladies: basically, a long list of “l” alliterations. But, when Freezepop‘s delicately beautiful synth-pop song played in it’s entirety, the viewer finally realized that “The L Word,” at it’s core was about love. In this moment, “Swimming Pool” is the perfect backdrop for various scenes of intimacy: rekindled romance, first-time lovemaking and, for that reason, is the perfect television/song moment to start our list.

9. “Weeds” meets Regina Spektor

The only theme song to make our list, Regina Spektor’s rendition of “Little Boxes” during the Season 2, episiode 10 opener of “Weeds” proved, once and for all, that the show was pretty damn cool. All of season two had various popular recording artists singing the opening theme song but Spektor’s version was so perfect because of how well the songs lyrics were strikingly similar to the anti-folk genre of the singer/songwriter’s own. The combination of “Weeds” and Regina Spektor proved to be a match made in hipster heaven and, a perfect addition to our list.

8. “Felicity” meets Sarah Slean, “Blue Parade”

Before the CW, there was the WB: a network which understood how to tap into the teen/early twenty-something market and really cash in. They also saw how to melt two mainstream markets; cheesy melodrama and good music.  Regardless of the corporate reasons there were some great TV/music moments. None of them, however, compare to this scene from “Felicity” (the first of two J.J. Abram’s creations to make our list) where Ben says good riddance to Felicity due to her cheating-heart moment with Noel and Sarah Slean’s “Blue Parade” plays. And, in this TV moment, all gay boys and teenage girls thought: what song would have played in the background when I was crushed by my first crush?

7. “My So-Called Life” meets Buffalo Tom, “Late at Night”

“My So-Called Life,” (MYSCL for the cool kids) makes our list twice because it is not only one of the greatest, influential and, unfortunately, short lived shows to have ever graced the TV set it was also a forum for the great “grunge” age of music.  While Buffalo Tom is certainly no Nirvana, this song, played by the band playing themselves, playing a set on the MYSCL set, is so perfect because it says everything the viewer knows Jordan (Jared Leto) is thinking about Angela (Claire Danes) but because of boyhood lameness has the inabilty to say.

6. “Big Love” meets Rhonda (Daveigh Chase), “Luckiest Girl”

One of two moments on our list where an actual character from the show breaks into song and adds a layer of depth to the scene that is not soon forgotten (no, Joey singing Les Miserables’ “On My Own” on “Dawson’s Creek” is not on the list: the moment should be memorable in the non-cringe worthy kind of way).  This scene/song is particularly inspired due to the deep-rooted irony emphasized by the cut scenes on all the “Big Love” characters and the lyrics of “Luckiest Girl.” With this moment, Rhonda steps outside of her creepy, pseudo-manipulative self and becomes the (truly gorgeous) voice of the show for a few brief but indelible minutes.

5. “LOST” meets Damien Rice, “Delicate”

Lost – Delicate

What is one thing you would want with you on a “deserted” island? Aside from the essential water and food, music would be an obvious answer. Fortunately, LOST‘s Hurley found a CD player with a pretty good CD. Unfortunately, the portable CD player ran on batteries of which there seems to be a very limited supply.  In this scene, the music playing through Hurley’s headphones is also played for the viewer as they watch Sun, Michael, Sayid, Shannon, Charlie and Claire in various stages of love, acceptance and denial on the island. Damien Rice’s, “Delicate” is not necessarily the perfect song choice for this moment but it certainly manages to capture the tone of what is presently occurring on the mysterious island.

4. “South Park” meets Kanye West, “Gay Fish”

It’s amazing that in its 12th season “South Park” seems to be getting even funnier. The geniuses behind the cartoon have used song numerous times to garner laughter from their audience but, without a doubt, the song “Gay Fish” to the tune of Kanye West’s “Heartless” is one of their most hilarious. What makes “South Park” so funny is that it’s clever, smart and on-point and, when it comes to portraying Kanye West, they manage to capture the arrogant stupidity of an egotistical “singer” so fashionably well. For that reason, and because the song is super catchy, this moment easily makes our list.

3. “Grey’s Anatomy” meets Ingrid Michaelson, “Keep Breathing”

“Grey’s Anatomy” seems to have perfected the art of taking intensely dramatic scenes and adding a track that will skyrocket the career of any singer/band whose track goes along with the scene. While The Fray’s, “Chasing Cars” may seem an obvious choice for our list, that combination was simply a terribly sad moment paired with a very pretty song whereas Ingrid Michaelson’s “Keep Breathing” seems to be the mantra playing in the background of which we, as the viewer, wish our beloved characters could actually hear.

2. My So-Called Life meets Jordan Catalano (Jared Leto), “Red”

Where’s Tino? While he is not in this scene, the second time this amazing (did we say that already?) show graces our list, this moment gives viewers a glimpse into the future of  Jared Leto’s (Jordan Catalano) future. Not only does Jordan lean so nicely he also sings quite well: evidence of Leto’s potential which would flourish a near decade later with the formation of 30 Seconds to Mars. This scene does more than predict a music career, however, it also encapsulates the core of Jordan and Angela’s relationship: she is constantly misreading what he is saying while he’s simply trying to figure out how to get through high school without the ability to read.

1. “Six Feet Under” meets Sia, “Breathe Me”

This scene is the meeting of pure genius: the spectacular “Six Feet Under” and the incomporable Sia combine to not only create magic, they create one of television history’s greatest season finales. Within the brief six minutes of this scene, both the show and the song manage to evoke such raw human emotion and show everyone, that watching television can be more than a mind numbing form of entertainment; it can be a true reflection of humanity’s soul. This moment not only inspired our list, it is also one that will likely not soon be matched (if ever) although television writers and song makers should certainly try.

What is your favorite moment of televion/music magic?  Think we missed one that should have made the list?  Wish “Gay Fish” was number one instead of “Breathe Me?” Like always, let us know! We love hearing from you!