2008 TV Show Music Awards

It's the moment you've all been waiting for, the best music uses of the past year.  We narrowed down the long list of nominees to these winners.  The winners have been selected by myself with consulting from Jodi.  You can see most of the matching scenes using the links provided.  Enjoy and let us know what you think!

Best Song Use

"Dice" by Finley Quaye (Chuck) (Watch) [Spoof on a scene from The OC (Watch)]

• Out of all the award categories, this is always the hardest one and this year is no exception. I was this close to giving it to "Rockers To Swallow" but then basically changed my mind because, out of either song, which scene are you most going to remember? That's right, "Dice". This song and the scene were meant to be together and it doesn't hurt that it is a direct parody of Josh Schwartz's other little show you may have heard of, called The OC. The scene makes us laugh and would never have worked with any other track. And that's why "Dice" is the song use of the year.

Best Song Use - Comedy Scene

"Down Under" by Colin Hay (Scrubs) (Watch)

• I admit this one was pretty easy. As much as I think all of the nominees were great uses, "Down Under" was the best. Rather than being a song to fit the scene, the scene fit the song. It must have been planed out all along to use the song and then to get the good ol' Colin Hay to make another guest appearance making this scene the best comedy music use of the year. P.S. Scrubs is so great at the comedic music uses. Our other nominee from the show, "Old Time Rock & Roll", is awesome even though it's only a single, repeated phrase.

Best Song Use - Sadness Scene

"9 Crimes" by Damien Rice ft Lisa Hannigan (Jericho) (Watch @ 3:18)

• This one was pretty easy too. While there are a plethora of Grey's Anatomy tracks nominated in this category, none of them really stood out this year. The only other highlight is "In The Sun" by Donna De Lory on Life, however it is very hard to come by because the episode had the music switched out after the original broadcast. You can only hear its replacement track on official websites. I highly recommend at least checking out the track, because it is such an awesome cover. But I'm getting off topic. "9 Crimes" is the winner in this category because it really put a sad note on the ending of this Jericho episode after Bonnie's death. Enough, I'm sure to rip out the hearts of fans.

Best Song Use - Happiness Scene

"Something To Believe In" by Aqualung (Eli Stone) (NA)

• What makes this scene so cool and generally "happy" are that it helps set up the rest of the show. This track helps create the entire basis for the show, in that Eli Stone is looking for, well, something to believe in. It doesn't get much more straightforward than that and who doesn't like the occasional in your face musical use?

Best Song Use - Drama Scene

"Rockers To Swallow" by Yeah Yeah Yeahs (Grey's Anatomy) (Watch)

• Here we have the winner of the best drama song use. Some of you may be wondering, "What? I don't even remember this scene." But that's wherein the greatness of this music use lies. This track fit the scene and editing perfectly because no other song would have had the same impact. I see a great deal of challenge in trying to find the right track that you may not remember exactly what the song was, but that it was an integral part of the soundtrack.

Best Song Use - Closing Song

"Jump" by Madonna (Ugly Betty) (Watch)

• This is a tough category, mainly because most shows place most of the best music uses at the very end of an episode. That's also why we added the category this year. It came down to nearly a toss up between "Apologize", "Pocketful Of Sunshine", and "Jump". But when I look back at the season, "Jump" will forever stand out as the end of the season for Ugly Betty and it fit to boot. Perfect lyrics and a great song make the track tell the story and leave viewers wanting more. All in all, a great closing song.

Best Overall Episode Song Use

"Hi Society" (1x10) from Gossip Girl

• "Hi Society" had everything going for it: a great story, a live performance, and an awesome closing track. Overall, the music fit well into the episode and seemed built for it specifically, thanks a great deal to The Pierces. The episode also ended with another nominated track, "Apologize", which helped provide the home run.

Best Overall Song Use By A Show

Gossip Girl 

• Josh Schwartz has the magic touch, of that there is no doubt. It's a good thing that he's also a music fan and works with the right people, which includes you Alexandra Patsavas. Gossip Girl provided us with numerous small and large music uses throughout the season and had the strongest performance of any of the nominated shows in this category. We all look forward to the new season and hope they will up the ante to keep their title as the best musical show.

That's it for this year!  And, in fact, starting in the next week or two, Best of the Week returns with new posts.  Don't forget Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill, 90210, and Bones start up again this week.

Write a comment

Name:
Email:
Subject:
Comment: *

Security Code:
 

Featured Free Download:

• "Get On With It" by Val Emmich
  (right-click, save as)