Six great songs used in iconic TV moments

All good scenes need a bop

Kate Bush is running up the charts and Metallica are getting a well-deserved new audience thanks to their songs being used in some crucial 'Stranger Things' scenes.

With that in mind, we wanted to look back at some other iconic scenes where the song is the real star. Here are six of our favourites from years gone by.

'Wild World' by Cat Stevens - Skins

If you're in your mid to late twenties and only shopped in River Island in your teens then you're probably familiar with the Channel 4 coming-of-age drama that defined a generation of party-starting hipsters.

The seasons of 'Skins' declined steadily in quality as they went on until the show's inevitable demise in 2013. However, despite the somewhat problematic nature of a lot of it, the first couple of seasons still hold a special place in some people's hearts. One scene in particular that stands out is the season 1 finale showpiece. The ensemble cast sing a rendition 'Wild World' by Cat Stevens, as all the teenage angst and drama of the season culminate in a shocking moment where Tony (Nicholas Hoult) is hit by a car.

'Winter' by Joshua Radin- Scrubs

Oh, Scrubs. It could have it's own exhaustive list, it really could. But if we're going to have to pick one song out of the many memorable musical moments within the show, it's got to be 'Winter' by Joshua Radin in the episode 'My Screw Up' from season 3.

The emotional scene depicts Dr. Cox speaking to his old friend Ben (played by Brendan Fraser) at what he thinks is his kid's birthday party. However, when JD interrupts the conversation and utters the line "where do you think we are?" Ben disappears from view and it turns out they were, in fact, at his funeral.

It's there that the lovely 'Winter' kicks in and things get very emotional, to say the least. Honestly, try watching this scene without tearing up.

'DLZ' by TV on the Radio - Breaking Bad

OK, the obvious choice for any mention of 'Breaking Bad' would probably be 'Baby Blue' by Badfinger. The song plays out the series finale as Walt lies dying on his laboratory floor and is as poetic an end to an epic drama that you can get.

However, we're going to go for a different choice, one closer to the start of Walt's transition into Heisenberg. In episode 10 of season 2, Walt is shopping at a home improvement store and at bit of a crossroads in his double life. He bumps into a dealer clearly buying products for making meth and Walt initially lectures the kid and gives him some 'cooking' advice. However, while waiting at the checkout, something snaps in Walt and his criminal alter ego comes to the fore. He walks out to the carpark to confront the group of dealers and tells them, in the most spine-chilling way, to stay out of his territory.

The song, by the excellent TV On The Radio, perfectly layers the scene with the apprehension and slow-burning anger that Walt is feeling. It's a pivotal scene in the series as a whole and remains one its most badass moments.

'I Will Wait for You' by Connie Francis - Futurama

If we tell you the most emotional scene in this entire list involves a cartoon fossilised dog then you may have some questions. However, the iconic scene from Futurama could make the even the most cold-hearted individual shed a tear.

Fry, the show's main character, travels to the future, leaving his loyal dog, Seymour, behind suddenly. But the dog is determined to wait on his owners return, which, as we know, never comes. We get a heart-wrenching montage of Seymour waiting outside the pizzeria his owner worked in until his final days. All of this, of course, is back up by the morose vocal stylings of Connie Francis' 1966 song 'I Will Wait For You'

'Hide and Seek' by Imogen Heap - The OC

This scene from the noughties drama series is probably its most memorable over its four seasons. Not just because it culminated in the death of Trey Atwood at the hands of his brother's girlfriend, but because of the iconic music cue which complimented the scene.

The line "Mmm Whatcha Say" from Imogen Heaps' song 'Hide and Seek' became a pop culture yardstick which is still referenced today. The infamous scene and song combo were so popular that it even culminated in an SNL parody skit starring Andy Samberg and Bill Hader.

'Dreams' by The Cranberries - Derry Girls

We're not crying, you are. In the final episode of the incredible comedy sensation, we see the gang voting in the 1998 referendum, sealing the Good Friday Agreement and heralding a new era in Northern Ireland. Juxtaposed with Erin and Orla's 18th birthday, the wonderful voice of national treasure Dolores O'Riordan in the background and scenes of the aftermath of the Troubles throughout, we get an emotional but ultimately uplifting ending to one of the best sitcoms of our time.