This is not where I extol the virtues of songs I learned to love after hearing them on a program. Nope. This is me talking about songs I already loved and was pleasantly surprised to hear on my programs.
10. “Special Death” by Mirah, featured in American Horror Story, 1×01, “Pilot,” 1xo2, “Home Invasion”
A very pleasant surprise. This one has been one of my favorite songs for years. Not just favorite of Mirah’s, favorite period. So having it show up? Well, I giddied a bit.
9. “The Perfect Crime 2″ by the Decemberists, featured in Gilmore Girls, 7×04, “‘S Wonderful, ‘S Marvelous”
A favorite of mine, too; this song is just morbid and messed up and delightful. So it appearing anywhere? Amazing.
8. “The Infanta” by the Decemberists, featured in Mad Men, 2×06, “Maidenform”
A daring choice, really. The Decemberists are a contemporary band, Mad Men is a period piece, and setting a montage of Betty (January Jones) and Joan (Christina Hendricks) and Peggy (Elisabeth Moss) looking at themselves in their underclothes to a weird baroque song about a Spanish or Portuguese baby princess? Yep, strange choice. But one I commend.
7. “Fuck Was I” by Jenny Owen Youngs, featured in Weeds, 2×01, “Corn Snake”
I will admit here and now that I don’t actually know the rest of Jenny Owen Youngs’ work. But I once heard this track on a podcast, and I think it’s adorable and brilliant.
6. “Ghost of Corporate Future” by Regina Spektor, featured in Weeds, 2×10, “Mile Deep and a Foot Wide”
Regina’s songs turn up everywhere, but a lot of her soundtrack credits are on shows I… don’t watch. She’s featured quite nicely in (500) Days of Summer, too, and a bunch of other films, and… yes. This song is perfectly Weedsy, though.
5. “Girl Anachronism” by the Dresden Dolls, featured in Weeds, 3×05, “Bill Sussman”
The Dresden Dolls. You can never go wrong with them. Occasionally, they’re jarring… always, they’re perfect.
4. “With Arms Outstretched” by Rilo Kiley, featured in Weeds, 1×01, “You Can’t Miss the Bear”
They’re. Always. Perfect. And they show up everywhere.
3. “Portions for Foxes” by Rilo Kiley, featured in Dollhouse, 1×07, “Echoes”
Okay, this song has appeared on like… every television show, basically, but it’s perfection. And the lyrics really are very Caroline.
2. “Pictures of Success” by Rilo Kiley, featured in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, 6×14, “Older and Far Away”
Since I’ve already dropped the f-bomb this entry, ’cause if it’s lyrics I feel less weird about it (for the children, ‘course), I’ll point out that if you listen closely, you can actually hear the lyric “and Mexico can fucking wait” in the episode, even though it was on network. Smug points.
1. “Goodbye to You” by Michelle Branch, featured in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, 6×08, “Tabula Rasa”
This song was my groove when I was twelve. And it’s just so utterly depressing. And it’s perfect and beautiful and this song used to make me want to cry and it’s even worse now.
–your fangirl heroine.
