It was made even more poignant by the fact that it was Maurice Minnifield who spent the entire episode trying to get the tree cut down, so he could use the land -- and Maurice Minnifield who planted the new tree. Thus making the song doubly appropriate.

There was a brief mention upthread of the use of Iris DeMent's Our Town, but I'd like to say a little bit more about it. That was the final episode of Northern Exposure, and the quiet sadness of each character's taking some action that would indicate a chapter's ending in his or her life, and the life of Cicely, Alaska, while DeMent's haunting music and lyrics clearly but not overwhelmingly put point-counterpoint to the characters' actions is a musical five or six minutes that I personally don't think has been equalled in any program ever. It was so appropriate that lots of people thought it had been written just for the series finale, but 'tweren't so. In any event, I get misty whenever I hear it, and sometimes just by thinking about it. First verse:

And ya know the sun's settin' fast
And just like they say, nothing good ever lasts
Go on now and kiss it goodbye
But hold onto your lover 'cause your heart's bound to die
Go on now and say goodbye to our town, to our town
Can't you see the sun's settin'g down on our town, on our town
Goodnight

The opening to an episode of My So-Called Life where Angela is dancing to Blister in the Sun- Violent Femmes always struck me as really true. Just in being young and dancing because you can, to your favorite song and then collasping on your bed. Drama with your family and boys ends for a few minutes and everythings right.

I loved Our Town in Northern Exposure but at the time I had no idea who the artist was (pre-internet days, at least for me). A couple of years later a friend took me to see Dement, who I wasn't familiar with. As soon as she started singing I made the connection, and she did the song later in the set. Just one of those nice, satisfying moments when one of life's little mysteries is solved. It is annoying when you here a great song on a show and it isn't credited, I assume for royalty reasons.

From Friends I have to nominate the scene in the episode where Chandler breaks up with Janice and is listening to ‘Endless Love’ on his headphones, and Phoebe comes in and realises, and they both start singing along to the song together. It's such a cute moment, ans so funny when the two of them are trying to hit the notes that Diana Ross and Lionel Richie did.

Also, I loved the parts in the end credits when Phoebe would sing ‘Smelly Cat’ with a guest star. The Chrissie Hynde one was good, but the Chris Isaak one was the best.

HeeHee, Pooki.

I'd forgotten about Phoebe and Chris...which is surprising, considering that he's my musician boyfriend and all. You'd think I'd remember some blonde mackin' on my man.

Phoebe (laughing): You may want to choose a more masculine note....

Every single bleeding second of Once More, With Feeling. Well, every musical second, anyway; let's not get into the Xander character assassination, hmm? Especially "Standing in the Way." [tangent]Dude, if there's anybody out there who's as in love with ASH's voice as I am and hasn't yet, hit Amazon.com and look up "Music For Elevators." So. Cool.[/tangent] And then there's "Full of Grace" and "Prayer to St. Francis," of course, along with "Transylvanian Concubine," "Close Your Eyes" (And I don't even like Buffy/Angel!), and "Sacrifice." Especially "Sacrifice," the perfect song for when you just need to let yourself go all squishy for a minute.

For consistent excellence in song selection, I want to nominate both Scrubs and Joan of Arcadia. I don't really have an specific moments in mind for Joan because they're all great, but some of the best from Scrubs:
-the aforementioned "Overkill," and Dr. Cox smashing the guitar at the end
-the scene when J.D. is listening to Francis Dunnery's "Good Time" on his headphones, and everything in the hospital is corresponding to the beat
-Carla and Ted singing "Talk Dirty To Me"
-Ted's a capella group singing the "Underdog" theme

eta: Colombia, how could I possibly forget that one?! My only excuse is that I think it made me laugh so hard part of my brain melted.

My favorite Scrubs musical moment isn't on your list. It's when JD has a patient that only speaks German, and he imagines them dancing to "99 Luftballoons", and keeps doing so with different people throughout the episode. Absolutely hilarious.

Absolutely. I think the episode where Helen tells Joan she was raped, and they play Loves Glory was very effective. Also, the one with the little boy with Cystic Fibrosis used music well. First, when Joan is talking to the little girl God, and they play Lemon. And, then, later on the bus, when she sees God again, they play Blessed to be a Witness. (None of these songs which I knew about before, but immediately got afterwards). They all fit each moment of the episode.

X-Files. Home. Shudder

It's been years, but this one still tears me up. On Chicago Hope, Mandy Patinkin's overly talented, obnoxious doctor character, we find out, has a wife who has been in a catatonic state for a while and is institutionalized. He goes to visit her, and, as I remember it, sits down on the bed and strokes her hair as she stares out the window without acknowledging his presence. He begins to sing to her, in his resonant, expressive, Broadway caliber voice, oh-so-softly, this song from Les Miz:

I dreamed a dream in time gone by,
when hope was high, and life worth living.
I dreamed that love would never die.
I dreamed that God would be forgiving.
Then I was young and unafraid.
Then dreams were made and used and wasted.
There was no ransom to be paid,
no song unsung, no wine untasted.
But the tigers come at night,
With their voices soft as thunder,
As they tear your hope apart,
As they turn your dream to shame . . .

Beautiful use of a lovely piece of music in totally new context.

That whole plotline on "Chicago Hope", with Geiger's institutionalized wife Laurie [played by Kim Greist, btw], used music in wonderful ways. In addition to the beautiful, moving scene you mentioned, I can think of two others.

1] She has convinced him to help her organize a musical performance at the psychiatric hospital, and he himself will lead a 'house' band in the song 'And The Band Played On'. During the rehearsals Laurie gets increasingly frustrated by the ragtag efforts of the band. Geiger tries to reassure her but nothing less than perfection will do [It's a brilliant delineation of her mental state]. At the climax, they play - and Mandy Patinkin sings - a fine rendition of 'And The Band Played On' and the last shot is Laurie smiling at her husband and mouthing the word 'perfect'.

2] After a multi-episode arc in which Laurie refuses risky surgery that might kill her, and then declares her intention to marry a fellow inmate [brilliant stuff that is unfortunately off-topic here] Geiger and the Shutts attend their wedding, which is performed by a fellow patient [played by lanky, bearded actor Richard Libertini] who believes himself to be Evita Peron [some fine comedy ensues with Patinkin, who played Che in the original Broadway production of Evita]. The surprisingly moving ceremony concludes with the 'congregation' singing 'Don't Cry For Me Argentina'. Laughter and tears blended for at least this viewer...

TudorQueen, thanks for those two examples. I guess the lesson is, if you have a cast member with a terrific voice, find a way to use it (in an appropriate, not embarrassing way), and people will remember your show for the rest of their lives. (Enterprise, I'm looking at YOU.)

"With This Ring," the song that Khadijah & Kyle sang at Overton/Synclaire's wedding was beautiful, especially when Kyle sang/professed his love to Max.

Ainsley Hayes singing and dancing to Blame It on the Bossa Nova" on the West Wing is a favorite scene of mine (I love that song). Also, any Lenny and Squiggy duet on Laverne and Shirley. And 3 different musical scenes from Caroline in the City: 1) David Hyde Pierce as an IRS auditor audtioning for Cats using a song he has supposedly written himself; 2) Malcolm Gets (Richard) playing the piano and singing his own words to "One";
3) The entire cast performing "If They Could See Me Now" in Caroline's daydream.

When CJ on TWW would lipsync to "The Jackal" when they celebrated. I quote Toby when I say "Don't talk to me when CJ's doing 'The Jackal.'"

JUST remembered this one.

One episode of TAXI consisted of the gang sitting around the garage talking about what some of their various weird fantasies were (nothing overtly sexual, more "daydreamy"). Elaine's fantasy consisted of the entire garage spontaneously breaking into a full-out, top-hat-and-tails production number of "The Lullaby of Broadway", culminating with Latka Gravas jogging around the garage holding sparklers.

Oh, God, I remember that one! It was wonderful!!!

Of course, I'm a Broadway Baby at heart...

Just to add to the Peanuts love, in the special She's a Good (Great?) Skate, Charlie Brown, Peppermint Patty is entering a figure skating competition, and her accompanying music is Puccini's 'O Mio Babbino Caro', and when the day of the competition arrives, the tape stuffs up, and Woodstock whistles it for her while she skates. This still never fails to make me cry.

Wow. Incredible thread, and thanks to everyone who made me remember old TV moments that just floored me - like the music playing in "The Wish" when the Master kills Buffy. Beautiful.

Here are a few of my favourites:

QAF U.S

"Weapon" by Matthew Good as Brian and Justin have sex, is just such an eerily beautiful choice. (Here by my side, a new colour to paint the world/Never turn your back on it, never turn your back on it again)

"Save the Last Dance for Me" - I know someone else mentioned it, but it always makes me smile and sniffle. ("And then I knew why Debbie calls you Sunshine...")

Buffy

"The Final Fight" - it plays during "Chosen" as the Slayers descend into the Hellmouth to kill the UberVamps once and for all. I defy you not to feel ready for a good ass-kicking when you hear that.

"The Exposition Song" - All hail Joss for coming up with such a brilliant and funny way for Giles to explain what was happening with the First Slayer.

Alias

"God Put a Smile on Your Face" - the SpySex anthem and the very reason I love Coldplay as much as I do. There couldn't have been a better choice.

"Lover, You Should've Come Over" - perfect for the damage that Jack knows Noah is doing but not wanting to hurt his baby girl. ("Too young to hold on, and too old to just break free and run.")

"I Wanna Mmmm..." - plays as Sydney infiltrates a German sex club. The scene with Jergens was just too kinky and funny and the song is a perfect fit. Too bizarre...

Marva Whitney "What Do I Have To Do To Prove My Love To You?" plays as Jack, complete with bad New Yacka accent, breaks into a government building to steal blueprints to the fascility where Sydney is being held and tortured. Jack+soul=hawt and bwaha!

Another great QAF (U.S.) music moment was when Justin/Ethan had their first kiss to The Cure's "Love Song."

Bumping this up with Now, Voyager remix of "You Got the Love," by The Source & Candi Staton, which played at the end of the SatC finale. The song highlighted the girls & their relationships: the girls walking down the street together, Charlotte & Harry walking their dogs, Miranda & Steve with Brady, Sam getting her groove back (courtesy of Smith) & last, but never least, Carrie walking down the street talking on the phone to John, aka Big, who sold his Napa house & plans to return to NYC.

Does anyone know the song "Bookends" by Simon & Garfunkel? Can anyone recall a TV show moment where it was beautifully used? I remember watching and rewatching something that I must have loved, and that was the song used in the scene; but for the life of me I cannot remember the show! I do remember crying, though. I'm thinking the Wonder Years finale? It could easily have been a Felicity episode too. I know it's a shot in the dark, but does anyone know??

In the Party of Five (aka the most depressing show on TV) series finale, and in an episode of ER, shortly before the death of Mark's father, as the two of them spend some quality time together.
Speaking of ER:
Don Henley's beautiful "Taking You Home" playing over the scenes of Carol leaving the ER, racing through the airport, just barely making her plane, then arriving in Seattle, her approaching the docks, the music swelling as she sees you-know-who, him standing up, freezing in disbelief, then slowly approaching her. . .
Oh, my GOd, it's just all wonderful. I LOVED that.

Kyle singing "When I Fall In Love" & "My Funny Valentine" on Living Single. TC & Erika sold that interaction for all it was worth and TC sounded damn good IMO.

Max/Kadijah/Regine/Synclaire singing "Tell Him" & "Up The Ladder To The Roof" by The Exciters & The Supremes respectively. Queen Latifah really did well on both songs & Erika cracked me up on "Tell Him".

The entire Cosby family singing "The Night Time Is The Right Time" by Ray Charles to Russell & Anna on their anniversary. That's classic tv at it's finest.

The entire Cosby family singing "I Got The Feelin" by James Brown to Russell & Anna on their following anniversary. It's worth it to see lil Rudy do "The Snake" with the handkerchief.

Olivia doing "I'm A Woman" by KoKo Taylor on The Cosby Show. Raven nailed that one perfectly.

Cliff/Claire relaxing to "Candy" by Big Maybelle. The two of them paired with that particular song just flowed beautifully.

The Pointer Sisters singing "He's So Shy" on The Jeffersons. I feel in love with that song way back then and I was already a huge Pointer Sisters fan. *runs & hides*

Florida/Willona/Thelma doing "Stop In The Name Of Love" by the Supremes on Good Times. Esther Rolle singing & attempting to dance is one of the funniest things I think I've ever seen in my life.

Max/Kyle's breakup being set to "One Last Cry" by Brian Mcknight on Living Single. Oh man that was so sad.

The Living Single Christmas episode where the whole gang sings "Winter Wonderland". Kadijah beatboxes the first part and then Kyle comes in on the second line sounding just like Phillip Bailey. I can watch that part over & over again.

Kyle singing "Honeysuckle Rose" alone in the club he was trying to save so desperately also broke my heart on Living Single.

The final clip montage set to "Only Time" by Enya on the 10,000 General Hospital episode/clip show. Seeing Steve/Audrey, The Ice Princess, The Nurse's Ball, The Quartermaines, The Webbers/Hardys, The Spencers, The Baldwins, The Scorpios, The Jones, The Cassadines, etc. got dangerously close to almost making me cry too.

Faith Evans singing "You Are My Friend" in tribute to Patti Labelle on Patti Labelle's Walk of Fame awards ceremony. That was the night that showed me with the right songs that Faith could be a superstar.

Mary J. Blige singing "No More Drama" at the Grammy's. She totally just let go and the passion was tangible.

Patti Labelle rising out of the stage dressed in all red to sing "Lady Marmalade" with Lil Kim/Pink/Mya/Christina and she *shut them all down* vocally.

If they should bar wars,
please let Star Wars stay!
And hey, how 'bout that nutty Star Wars bar?
Did you see all those creatures in there?
And , Darth Vader with that black and evil mask,
Did he scare you
as much as he scared meeeeeeeeeeeeeee?

hee!


I've got to go with Gracelessly on my top pick: I have nothing but love for CJ when she's doing "The Jackal". Lucky for me, there are enough WW fans in my office that if I'm trying to get work done and I need to focus, all I have to do is say to people "You're talking to me during 'The Jackal'? NEVER talk to me during 'The Jackal'!" and they leave me alone...

Some of the few memorable moments in this year's Oscar snoozefest were three musical ones: "A Kiss At The End of the Rainbow"/"Belleville Rendezvous," two of the Best Song nominees, which I loved equally because the former made me cry while the latter made me smile. Either one would've been much more deserving of the Oscar than "Into the West," IMO. Plus, Jack Black's & Will Ferrell's "You're Boring," the touching/hilarious tribute to Oscar winners with long-winded acceptance speeches.

I have to add my vote for just about every piece of music on this show. One of my favorites is actually just a simple guitar piece during the VS episode, when Fraser is lighting the candles and staring out his window, and his father has a talk with him. Beautiful scene, beautiful music.

Also on DS: does anyone remember the Leslie Nielsen episode when a bunch of mounties are on a train, and Fraser sings? At first I couldn't stop laughing because it was a funny show, but he had a lovely voice. Only one line from that song has ever bothered me: We're gonna run like stink.... What the heck?

ITA with the Harry Belafonte mention on The Muppet Show. I recently bought the DVD and it continues to be my all-time favorite Muppet moment.

Honorable mention: Colin Hay from Men At Work singing an acoustic version of "Overkill" in the opening scene of the My Overkill episode of Scrubs

And last but not least, is there anyone out there who doesn't sing "Kill the waaaabit" every time you hear The Ride of the Valkyries? How about harecuts (groan) in The Barber of Seville?

Speaw and magic hewl-mit!

This is going to sound perfectly idiotic, and I can't believe I'm about to type the first part of this next sentence, but.

On OPRAH, there was an episode when she was winding up her book club (she revived it recently, but back then she didn't think she would be); and they ended it with a montage of happy clips from past book club shows. For some reason they did it as a montage set to Louis Armstrong singing "A Kiss To Build A Dream On." For some reason this worked, but I'm damned if I know why.

OMG - I was going to post this but didn't because I didn't know the same of the song. One of the few Scrubs I was able to see and I was delighted to no end.

Did anyone mention Moonlighting? Man, that show had some of the best musical moments and really turned me on to certain songs that I get warm fuzzies when I hear now.

There was the one when David reunited for an episode with his ex played by Dana Delaney. The meet each other in somed secluded area at night. The stand in the headlight beams from their cars for light and have this passionate kiss, This Old Heart of Mine by the Isley Brothers is playing in the background.

And then there was the episode that was a bar scene danced to Billy Joels, "Big Man on Mulberry Street". It was very much like the bar/dancing sequins of Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse back in the day.

Aw, man, melodic terrorism rears its ugly head. Now I'm going to be singing I killed the waaaaa-bit for the rest of the day.

Just thought of another Homicide music moment: I don't remember which episode it was, but one of them opened with a kid running through the mall - was he being chased? Anyway, the music was a primal drum thing that stays with me even though I don't remember any more of the episode.

Oh, and Johnny Cash's rendition of "Hurt" on Smallville, together with the shots of Lex being locked up, was unforgettable.

Let me add another hard rocking Oprah moment.
Melissa Etheridge and Dolly Parton singing "I'll always love you."

American Dreams consistantly has good music montages - Meg getting down to "Along Comes Mary" on a diving board filled me with such glee, lol.

Thank you so much, BondGirl! I think it was PO5!

On one of the older Simpsons (season three, I believe), Mr. Burns and his rendition of "Be My Guest" ("See My Vest"). Gets me every time.

ETA: Oh yes, and that episode of Whose Line when they're going the "Y-M-C-A" song ("H-O-W-A-R-D") and something happens to the piano and it goes double time, and they have to do it in psycho speed. Hee-larious.

Another Whose Line moment: Wayne singing about toasters as an entire gospel choir. He was amazing - I was applauding at home. I keep watching WL reruns on the Family Channel and haven't been able to catch that particular ep. When, oh when will ABC put the show out on DVD?

the best part of that song? Mr. Burns, doing the Betty Grable over the shoulder coy look, while singing about his "grizzly bear underwear".

Although "like my loafers? former gophers!" line is pretty hysterical too.

Oooh! Another -- doing a "songs of the [ ] CD" game. The CD was "songs of bus drivers," and one song Ryan Stiles introduced simply by saying, "And then there's that great country-western song, "pppffffffttttt."

Wayne then proceeded to do an entire song using onomotapoeia, somehow incorporating the sounds of both a jug band AND a bus. It was brilliant.

On Friends.....in the episode where Chandler and Monica get engaged, in the credits scene they dance to a gorgeous Eric Clapton song that I don't know the name of and it's driving me mad.

On Monday Night Raw in 2001....as part of their continuing effort to please Stone Cold Steve Austin, the Alliance has 'Stone Cold Appreciation Night' and caps it off with a group rendition of 'You Are The Wind Beneath My Ring.' The whole scene is broken up by Kurt Angle driving in in a milk truck and hosing down the whole group with milk. If you're not a wrestling fan, you're not going to understand the previous paragraph at all, but trust me, it was very, very, funny.

The Clapton song is "Wonderful Tonight." That's a good song.

What's funny about "Wonderful Tonight" (to me anyway) is that Clapton wrote it about his then-wife, who would fuss over what outfit to wear before they'd go out, and he would have to reassure her by saying she looked "wonderful tonight." It's the perfect song when you consider the Mondler relationship.

"Brothers in Arms" over the ending montage from The West Wing's "Two Cathedrals" is amazing. It seems like such a random song to have picked for that, but it works so perfectly.

"In the Air Tonight" over the scene from Fastlane's pilot when Van and Cassidy are driving. Nice homage, there.

"Wild Horses" by The Sundays for Angel and Buffy's dance during "The Prom". Let's do some living/After we die. Sniff. And I don't even like Buffy and Angel together.

"Out of this World" by Bush during the crypt door molestation scene in Buffy's... Dead Things? I think? Damn sexy song for a sexy scene, even if everyone wasn't on board the whole Spike mess.

Lindsey's "LA Song" on Angel's "Dead End". Brings the pretty, the talent, and the funny. "Is everyone drunk?"

The season finale of American Dreams, with Otis Redding's version of "Change is Gonna Come" over the scenes from the race riot. Haven't watched the show much recently, but that was amazing.

The music on the series finale of Sex & The City was amazing. The scenes where Miranda and Carrie are running are so amplified by MC Solaar's "La Belle et le Bad Boy".

Thanks for mentioning Due South, febutterfly!

I'm just here to voice my love of the music on Due South, too. Every episode's music was beautifully worked into the story. It was absolute perfection! Heck, even the main theme was utter magic. And, yes, that one song Fraser sings ("Ride Forever") is just a *little* weird. I didn't get it either. If I recall correctly, he sang a lot on the show (mostly silly stuff, though), which figures, since he's got a CD of country music out in Canada.

Anyway, great stuff!

I loved the Cosby Show ep when Cliff's dad Russell rejoined his old jazz band for a special tribute concert. One of the band members was the late, great Tito Puente. When it was Russell's turn to play, he'd not only gotten his groove back, he was at the top of his game.

The montage before Colin's second surgery on Everwood when they played "Cathedrals" by Jump Little Children". Beautiful.

Taura, I come here to post "Cathedrals" only to find that you think the same as I do. The song was perfect for the situation so haunting and delicate and beautiful.

ALLSSO "With or Without You" for when Ross tries to apologize to Rachel. And the screeching halt to the song when the dj finds out what he did.

Back in 1993 there was a weird miniseries called Wild palms.

One of the 'evil' characters was a lounge singer named Chap Starfall. He was played by Robert Morse. At one point he's singing a slow, languid song that sounded vaguely familiar. As I listened more closely I realized he was doing a lounge ballad version of 'All Along the Watchtower' (the Bob Dylan song that was a hit for Jimi Hendrix). Totally cool & totally creepy.

Now I gotta see if I can get 'Chap Starfall' as a screenname....

ETA: But, now I'm a 'Video Archivist'! Hurray! Is there a pay raise with this?

I'm joining the Due South music love with: "Lhasa - De Cara A La Pared" - when RayK dances with Stella in "Strange Bedfellows", a song by Loreena McKennitt (darn, I don't remember wich one) during the poker game in "Odds" and Sarah MacLachlan's Song for a winter's night while Maggie walks along the streets trying to find her husband's killers in "Hunting Season". Also Tara McLean's Holy Tears in "Call of the Wild."


Also OZ. While Beecher and Schillinger's Duet had me in stitches I cried when Beecher sang Janis Ian's "Days Like These" at the end of the episode.

Ooh! Which episode(s?) are you talking about? I'm new to Oz (the B/K Epic!Love stole my brain!), but I hear that it had some really great musical numbers.