Ever wonder what song played on your favorite television show? Every week, The Hollywood Reporter compiles the top songs featured on the small screen in the past seven days.
The Vampire Diaries, "I Know What You Did Last Summer" (Season 5, Episode 1)
Track: "Run Away" by Cary Brothers
Album: Let Me Be EP (2013)
Off the singer-songwriter's April release, the emotional ballad serves as the backdrop for Caroline and Tyler's breakup in the The CW drama's return. The song perfectly encapsulates Caroline's heartbreak, as she tearfully listens to Tyler's voicemail that officially ends their long-distance romance.
The Good Wife, "Everything Is Ending" (Season 5, Episode 1)
Track: "Daydreaming" by Groenland
Album: The Chase (2013)
Montreal-based indie outfit Groenland's light, ukelele-heavy song featuring airy vocals by Sabrina Halde is the soundtrack to one of the final scenes of the season-five opener of CBS' legal drama. The firm of Lockhart/Gardner has just successfully pulled its client off death row with mere minutes to spare, but the impending defection of fourth-years Alicia Florrick and Cary Agos brings even more weight to the scene. As it begins to sink in that Alicia will commit the ultimate betrayal, she mutters under her breath as firm partner Will continues his celebration: "Don't end up hating me ..." Little do they know.
The Blacklist, "The Freelancer (No. 145)" (Season 1, Episode 2)
Track: "Citizens" by Alice Russell
Album: To Dust (2013)
FBI Special Agent Elizabeth Keen, recruited by one of the FBI's most-wanted fugitives, has a choice to make. After learning her husband may not be the man she thought he was -- she discovers a hidden compartment with multiple passports and a gun stowed away -- Elizabeth decides to sweep her husband's secret under the rug. For now. English soul singer Russell provides the anthem for her internal dilemma. (Performance begins at the 0:06 mark.)
The Mindy Project, "Music Festival" (Season 2, Episode 3)
Track: "I Need My Girl" by The National
Album: Trouble Will Find Me (2013)
Indie rockers The National appeared in the Oct. 1 episode as headliners of fictional music festival Pennyfarthing. Even frontman Matt Berninger, an avid fan, had several speaking lines. But it's The Mindy Project's use of the somber "I Need a Girl" playing over Mindy's breakup with Casey that is most poignant.
Elementary, "Solve for X" (Season 2, Episode 2)
Track: "Sea of Air" by Portugal. The Man
Album: Evil Friends (2013)
Sherlock Holmes and Joan Watson's partnership has evolved substantially over the course of a year, and the closing scene of its second episode -- set to a tune from the Portland-bred band -- comes after Sherlock learns of Joan's past struggle with a patient who died. It's then that Sherlock extends an olive branch, offering to accompany Joan to the cemetery the next time around. Simple, yet significant.
Honorable Mention
Breaking Bad, "Felina" (Season 5, Episode 16)
Track: "Baby Blue" by Badfinger
Album: The Very Best of Badfinger (2000)
The day after the series finale, wherein the British rock band's 1971 classic was featured as a farewell to Walter White, saw a 3,000 percent gain in sales, according to Billboard. Songwriter Pete Ham, who died in 1975, had penned the track as an apology of sorts to a girlfriend. Producer Todd Rundgren talked to THR about whether the band thought "Baby Blue" would strike a chord, admitting, "Did we think this was a hit or that’s a hit or whatever? I recall it more being a question of, ‘Let’s just finish it somehow!’ ”
Did you hear a song this week on of your favorite TV shows that you want to know more about?
E-mail: Philiana.Ng@THR.com
Twitter: @insidethetube
