Music Supervisor Hub · Curated Playlist
Scene Stealers — 50 Great Songs for Modern TV
Great music for openings, closings, intimate moments, city views, tension, celebration and unforgettable TV scenes.
50 songs · Listening and discovery only
Creative reference
For Music Supervisors
Browse this ranked creative-reference playlist by opening and closing scenes, love and intimacy, tension and conflict, grief and farewell, city and travel, party and celebration, reflection and transformation, radio or source music, and work or process.
Playlist inclusion is for listening and creative reference. It does not confirm that MRP or MFP owns, controls, represents, or can license the recording or composition.
Music For Productions
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MFP can assist with rights and licensing research for a specific production, territory, term, media, and budget. Playlist inclusion is creative reference only and does not imply MRP or MFP controls any rights.
Music For Productions verifies current master and publishing information for the specific use, territory, term, and budget.
Get Clearance Help from MFPSongs in this playlist
50 ranked songs
Browse by scene or context
- 1Wicked Game
Chris Isaak · 1989
Love & IntimacyReflection & TransformationScene context: Intimate scene · Recurring motif
- 2
Fade Into YouMazzy Star · 1990s
Love & IntimacyGrief & FarewellReflection & TransformationScene context: Intimate scene · Closing · Recurring motif
- 3Dreams
The Cranberries · 1992
Opening & ClosingLove & IntimacyReflection & TransformationScene context: Opening · Intimate scene
- 4Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)
Kate Bush · 1985
Tension & ConflictCity & TravelReflection & TransformationScene context: City view · Fight / argument · Recurring motif
- 5Karma Police
Radiohead · 1997
Opening & ClosingTension & ConflictScene context: Closing · Fight / argument
- 6Exit Music (For a Film)
Radiohead · 1997
Opening & ClosingTension & ConflictGrief & FarewellScene context: Closing · Funeral / death / grief
- 7Cornflake Girl
Tori Amos · 1994
Tension & ConflictRadio / Source MusicScene context: Fight / argument · Car radio / source music
- 8Glory Box
Portishead · 1994
Love & IntimacyTension & ConflictReflection & TransformationScene context: Intimate scene · Recurring motif
- 9Into Dust
Mazzy Star · 1993
Love & IntimacyGrief & FarewellReflection & TransformationScene context: Funeral / death / grief · Intimate scene · Closing
- 10
Dancing On My OwnRobyn · 2010s
Grief & FarewellParty & CelebrationRadio / Source MusicScene context: Wedding / party · Car radio / source music
- 11
Tainted LoveSoft Cell · 1982
Tension & ConflictParty & CelebrationRadio / Source MusicScene context: Popular culture · Lifestyle · Wedding / party · Car radio / source music
- 12I Think We're Alone Now
Tiffany · 1987
Love & IntimacyParty & CelebrationRadio / Source MusicScene context: Wedding / party · Intimate scene · Car radio / source music
- 13
Where Is My Mind?Pixies · 1988
Opening & ClosingTension & ConflictReflection & TransformationScene context: Identity · Chaos · Alienation · Closing · Recurring motif
- 14Never Tear Us Apart
INXS · 1987
Love & IntimacyGrief & FarewellScene context: Intimate scene · Hospital / reconciliation
- 15This Woman's Work
Kate Bush · 1989
Love & IntimacyGrief & FarewellReflection & TransformationScene context: Hospital / reconciliation · Funeral / death / grief
- 16The End of the World
Skeeter Davis · 1962
Opening & ClosingGrief & FarewellScene context: Funeral / death / grief · Closing
- 17Take Me Home
Phil Collins · 1985
Opening & ClosingCity & TravelReflection & TransformationScene context: City view · Airplane / airport / travel · Closing
- 18No Surprises
Radiohead · 1997
Grief & FarewellReflection & TransformationWork & ProcessScene context: Kitchen / work · Closing · Recurring motif
- 19Linger
The Cranberries · 1993
Love & IntimacyReflection & TransformationScene context: Intimate scene · Hospital / reconciliation
- 20Zombie
The Cranberries · 1994
Opening & ClosingTension & ConflictScene context: Fight / argument · Closing
- 21Down by the Water
PJ Harvey · 1995
Tension & ConflictGrief & FarewellScene context: Funeral / death / grief · Recurring motif
- 22Bullet with Butterfly Wings
The Smashing Pumpkins · 1995
Tension & ConflictRadio / Source MusicScene context: Fight / argument · Car radio / source music
- 23Glycerine
Bush · 1994
Love & IntimacyGrief & FarewellScene context: Intimate scene · Hospital / reconciliation
- 24Mayonaise
The Smashing Pumpkins · 1993
Love & IntimacyReflection & TransformationScene context: Intimate scene · Recurring motif
- 25Only Happy When It Rains
Garbage · 1995
Tension & ConflictRadio / Source MusicScene context: Car radio / source music · Fight / argument
- 26The Killing Moon
Echo & the Bunnymen · 1984
Opening & ClosingTension & ConflictReflection & TransformationScene context: Opening · Closing · Recurring motif
- 27Dreams
Fleetwood Mac · 1977
City & TravelReflection & TransformationRadio / Source MusicScene context: City view · Car radio / source music
- 28Love Will Tear Us Apart
Joy Division · 1980
Love & IntimacyTension & ConflictGrief & FarewellScene context: Fight / argument · Intimate scene · Closing
- 29
Don't You Want MeThe Human League · 1982
Tension & ConflictParty & CelebrationRadio / Source MusicScene context: Popular culture · Lifestyle · Wedding / party · Fight / argument · Car radio / source music
- 30
Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)Eurythmics · 1983
City & TravelReflection & TransformationRadio / Source MusicScene context: Love · Relationships · City view · Car radio / source music · Recurring motif
- 31
Every Breath You TakeThe Police · 1983
Love & IntimacyTension & ConflictRadio / Source MusicScene context: Popular culture · Lifestyle · Intimate scene · Recurring motif
- 32
Total Eclipse of the HeartBonnie Tyler · 1983
Opening & ClosingLove & IntimacyGrief & FarewellScene context: Love · Relationships · Intimate scene · Closing
- 33Friday I'm in Love
The Cure · 1992
Love & IntimacyParty & CelebrationRadio / Source MusicScene context: Wedding / party · Car radio / source music
- 34You Oughta Know
Alanis Morissette · 1995
Tension & ConflictRadio / Source MusicScene context: Fight / argument · Car radio / source music
- 35Don't Stop
Fleetwood Mac · 1977
Party & CelebrationReflection & TransformationWork & ProcessScene context: Kitchen / work · Wedding / party
- 36Toxic
Britney Spears · 2003
Tension & ConflictParty & CelebrationRadio / Source MusicScene context: Wedding / party · Car radio / source music
- 37I Only Have Eyes for You
The Flamingos · 1959
Opening & ClosingLove & IntimacyScene context: Intimate scene · Recurring motif
- 38
Every Rose Has Its ThornPoison · 1989
Love & IntimacyGrief & FarewellRadio / Source MusicScene context: Popular culture · Lifestyle · Car radio / source music · Hospital / reconciliation
- 39We Built This City
Starship · 1985
City & TravelParty & CelebrationRadio / Source MusicScene context: City view · Wedding / party · Car radio / source music
- 40
Paint It BlackThe Rolling Stones · 1960s
Opening & ClosingTension & ConflictScene context: Opening · Fight / argument · Recurring motif
- 41Goodbye Stranger
Supertramp · 1979
Grief & FarewellCity & TravelRadio / Source MusicScene context: Airplane / airport / travel · Car radio / source music · Closing
- 42
The ReasonHoobastank · 2004
Love & IntimacyGrief & FarewellReflection & TransformationScene context: Popular culture · Lifestyle · Hospital / reconciliation · Intimate scene
- 43Somewhere Only We Know
Keane · 2004
Grief & FarewellCity & TravelReflection & TransformationScene context: Airplane / airport / travel · Closing · Recurring motif
- 44All Is Full of Love
Björk · 1997
Love & IntimacyReflection & TransformationScene context: Intimate scene · Recurring motif
- 45Creep
Radiohead · 1992
Tension & ConflictReflection & TransformationRadio / Source MusicScene context: Fight / argument · Car radio / source music
- 46Space Song
Beach House · 2015
Love & IntimacyCity & TravelReflection & TransformationScene context: City view · Intimate scene · Recurring motif
- 47Save It for Later
Eddie Vedder · 2024
Opening & ClosingReflection & TransformationRadio / Source MusicScene context: Closing · Car radio / source music
- 48Strange Currencies
R.E.M. · 1994
Love & IntimacyReflection & TransformationScene context: Intimate scene · Recurring motif
- 49New Noise
Refused · 1998
Tension & ConflictWork & ProcessScene context: Fight / argument · Kitchen / work
- 50Have You Seen Me Lately?
Counting Crows · 1996
Opening & ClosingCity & TravelReflection & TransformationScene context: City view · Closing · Recurring motif
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