'Girls,' ' Dallas,' 'Vampire Diaries,' 'Glee': EW's TV Jukebox
J.R., MDMA, and a song from ZZ Ward are all part of this week's A-one TV Jukebox. So, if you've been wondering "What's that song?" while watching your favorite shows, we're here to tell you. Check out our picks and the Spotify playlist below. (Warning for those still catching up on DVR: SPOILERS ahead!)
DEGRASSI (TeenNick)
The song: Salme Dahlstrom, "So Delicious"
The episode: "Ray of Light (2)" (1234)
The hook: Emo angst, be damned! Aspiring auteur Eli (Munro Chambers), who's been grappling with Bipolar Disorder for several seasons, took a break from reality last Friday when he popped a little MDMA and dropped trou. As he tripped through the halls, Big Apple-based EDMer Dahlstrom's bouncy track conveyed his "Delicious"-ly loopy state of mind.
DALLAS (TNT)
The song: Alison Krauss, "Down to the River to Pray"
The episode: "J.R.'s Masterpiece" (208)
The hook: When Larry Hagman, the actor who played oil magnate J.R. Ewing, passed away last year, so ended the epic run of one of TV's most iconic characters, who gave us countless laughs, tears, and memories over Dallas's two iterations. Country songbird Krauss's mournful, gospel cover about sinners cleansed and "that good old way" provided a fitting eulogy for the late, great Texan. J.R. and Larry, you'll be missed!
GIRLS (HBO)*
The song: Fiona Apple, "Valentine"
The episode: "On All Fours" (209)
The hook: We're still too busy cringing to confront Marnie's (Allison Williams) super-awkward work party serenade — a ballad version of Kanye West's "Stronger." (Seriously.) Instead, we'll focus on the beautifully complex moment when Apple's moody piano piece (does she make any other kind?) overlaid a fraught dance between Adam (Adam Driver) and his new girlfriend Natalia (Shiri Appleby). Just after recovering alcoholic Adam ran into ex-girlfriend Hanna (Lena Dunham), he succumbed to his emotional upheaval and leapt off the wagon, courtesy of several Jack and Gingers. Adam's frantic dancing contrasted with the tune's down tempo was exquisitely disorienting, and Apple's tale of anguished self-destruction and stagnation — "I stared at you and cut myself… I root for you, I love you" / "I'm a tulip in a cup, I stand no chance of growing up") — seems like it was written about Hanna and Adam's dysfunctional relationship.
THE FOLLOWING (Fox)
The song: Danzig, "How the Gods Kill"
The episode: "Welcome Home" (108)
The hook: Monday's ep reached yet another thrilling… er… climax. After homicidal cult leader Joe Carroll (James Purefoy) fatally stabbed one of his supplicants, who succumbed to death with an orgasmic gasp, Joe gave into temptation with the show's resident murder-minx Emma (Valorie Curry). As they bowed down to the altar of flesh in one room, two more Followers engaged in choking as foreplay in another. Just in case it wasn't abundantly clear (witness: the Feb. 11 installment and the Jan. 28 one), sex = death, y'all.
THE VAMPIRE DIARIES (The CW)
The song: Garbage, "Control"
The episode: "Bring It On" (416)
The hook: While rowdy partiers at the Salvatore homestead worked up a sweat to Ra Ra Riot's "Dance With Me" and "Professional Griefers" by Deadmau5 feat. Gerard Way, we were still wiping our brows from an earlier scene. Backed by Shirley Manson's throaty growl, Klaus (Joseph Morgan) and Hayley (Phoebe Tonkin) signaled the successful negotiation of their uneasy alliance by dropping their guards — and their clothes — to have freaky hybrid/werewolf sex.
THE GOOD WIFE (CBS)*
The song: Tonebenders, "Lucy, Suzy, Cindy"
The episode: "Runnin' With the Devil" (416)
The hook: Alicia Florrick (Julianna Margulies) was riding a power high this week. The North Carolina rockers' reverbing tune sounded out her strut as she took her place on Lockhart/Gardner's Steering Committee at the beginning of Sunday's ep, then bookended a victorious week as the case against client Lemond Bishop (Mike Colter) was dismissed. How the Bishop saga (riddled with intimidation and shadiness) will play out is uncertain, but — if the Tonebenders' confident thrummer is any indication — Alicia has hit her stride for now.
PRETTY LITTLE LIARS (ABC Family)
The song: Dionne Warwick, "I'm Your Puppet"
The episode: "I'm Your Puppet" (323)
The hook: Tuesday in Rosewood was, as ever, mired in couples' drama. Hanna (Ashley Benson) and Caleb (Tyler Blackburn) hashed out a family problem to Duffy's "Hanging On Too Long," while "Run Away Heart" by The Strange Familiar accompanied yet another break-up for Aria (Lucy Hale) and Ezra (Ian Harding). But the most unexpected pairing — and the titular inspiration for this week's ep title — came as Alison (Sasha Pieterse) dropped the needle on Warwick's 1969 single and shared a spooky slow dance with Spencer (Troian Bellisario). With a 59th-minute reveal that Spencer may have betrayed the Liars by joining the cabal of vengeful, sometimes unwilling schemers known as 'A' team, the song's title took on ever creepier meaning.
THE CARRIE DIARIES (The CW)
The song: The Pretenders, "Brass in Pocket"
The episode: "The Great Unknown" (109)
The hook: Monday's extended musical gag of Mouse (Ellen Wong) prepping for a Rubik's Cube face-off to Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger" was far too ridiculous not to mention. However, the hour-ending inclusion of The Pretenders' 1979 anthem of individuality provided a charming capper as Carrie (AnnaSophia Robb) stopped trying to change herself for boyfriend Sebastian (Austin Butler) and accepted her own quirks. Sing it with us now: "I'm special! So special!"
THE CLIENT LIST (Lifetime)
The song: ZZ Ward, "Put the Gun Down"
The episode: "Till I Make It On My Own" (201)
The hook: Ward's saucy tune underscored a scene Sunday when Riley (Jennifer Love Hewitt) welcomed a new client (Brian Howe), who'd earned the nickname "Mr. Louboutin" thanks to his fancy footwear fetish. How can we not support a girl's right to shoes? A man's right to buy her them to use as foreplay? What the heck… why not?
GREY'S ANATOMY (ABC)
The song: Cold War Kids, "Miracle Mile"
The episode: "Transplant Wasteland" (917)
The hook: The Long Beach indie rockers' hit had double-barrel exposure last night when "Miracle Mile" popped up at a The Vampire Diaries house party before kicking off a new Grey's. In both cases, this kicky stomper was just what the doctor ordered.
GLEE (Fox)
The song: "Super Bass," originally by Nicki Minaj
The episode: "Feud" (416)
The hook: What? Was? That?! A be-wigged and choreographed production number by Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch) was such a bats— bit of network cross-promotion, we'd be remiss not to include it. Also, Sue, where ya been, girl?
*Readers' Choice! Thanks to @KtLuWho, @gabeboyd, and @bertrandsmusic for their suggestions!
Want to be featured in the next TV Jukebox? Tweet your pick using the hashtag #tvjukebox to @EW!
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