From Issa Rae’s, Insecure, to NBC’s, Songland, here are 8 TV shows with amazing soundtracks you’re bound to love!
If you’re a music enthusiast looking for TV shows to watch, we’ve got you covered! Music and television go hand in hand, and a soundtrack can truly make or break a show. Whether it’s a club banger, slow jam, or just a good ole pop hit, background music can enhance the setting of a scene. Lucky for you, we did all the research. Combining our love for music and TV, we found 8 TV shows with some of the best soundtracks.
Insecure
Issa Rae’s, Insecure, has one of the best soundtracks. She explained in an interview with Hypebeast that she, and Insecure music supervisor, Kier Lehman, work hand-in-hand when choosing music for the show. The majority of the music in the soundtrack consists of songs that resonate with Rae in some way, shape, or form, whether it’d be songs she already liked, suggestions from Kier that match her vibe, or up and coming artists she wants to highlight. Music within the popular series ranges between soulful, sexy R&B, and energetic hip hop.
Atlanta
Donald Glover’s dramedy, Atlanta, is all about navigating Atlanta’s rap scene, so it only makes sense that the soundtrack is stacked with some of the best hip-hop music. Glover, who also goes by his musical stage name, Childish Gambino, made sure to incorporate music from some of hip hop’s biggest stars such as Future, Young Thug, Usher, Migos, 2 Chainz, and many more.
Songland
NBC’s, Songland, isn’t your average music competition. It’s a songwriting competition. Rather than trying to become the next biggest popstar, contestants are trying to write the next biggest hit. The show’s three judges, Ester Dean, Shane McAnally, and Ryan Tedder, have impressive backgrounds, having written some of the greatest hits from your favorite artists. Not only does the show have an impeccable roster with guest judges like H.E.R, Usher, The Jonas Brothers, Luis Fonsi, and more, but it also showcases music from great up and coming songwriters.
Zoeys Extraordinary Playlist
If you’re a Glee fan, you’re going to love Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist. The musical comedy-drama series covers a wide variety of music hits that are bound to have you singing along. From Nicki Minaj to John Legend, Whitney Houston, Destiny’s Child and more, this TV series has song covers from all the best artists.
Euphoria
You probably saw this one coming, but you can’t talk about music and television without mentioning the Euphoria soundtrack! The singer-songwriter-producer, Labrinth, can be attributed for the majority of the show’s hit tracks. The songs range between hip-hop, electronic dance, house, and gospel. If you ever need a show with feel-good music that you can vibe to, Euphoria’s soundtrack encompasses all of that and more.
Rhythm and Flow
Calling all Rap and Hip-Hop fans, Netflix’s Rhythm and Flow is a must watch. While there’s only one season of the hip-hop competition show, it’s definitely one worth bingeing. Mega-stars, Chance The Rapper, Cardi B, and T.I, take to the streets of Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta, and Chicago to find the next best rap star. The show offers a refreshing look into music competitions, starting with the fact that it’s a rap competition. Viewers get to witness competitors push new limits, bringing their artistry to life as they write and rap their own original songs for various challenges.
Generation
HBO Max’s new show, Generation, has a song for every mood. Whether you’re angry, heartbroken, or having a feel-good moment, the show’s soundtrack can match your energy. Music plays an important role in the show as many of the songs are used to help narrate the storyline. The show—which aims to showcase the crazy world of Gen-Zers—uses a mix of top hits from this decade as well as music from various young LGBTQ+ artists.
Empire
Empire brings the spotlight into the world of hip-hop. As we navigate through the powerful and dramatic show, we get to listen to songs from some of our favorite hip hop artists. While the soundtrack is impressive on its own, the performances are truly what bring the show and the music to life. Between the performances from the characters, and the cameos from A-list celebrities (Snoop Dogg, Ne-Yo, Timbaland, and many more), Empire has some of the best musical performances on TV.
If you’re a music and television junkie, give these shows a watch and let us know your thoughts!
