The WB
With The Vampire Diaries‘ spin-off The Originals, sci-fi fantasy The Tomorrow People and Mary, Queen Of Scots period piece Reign all set to debut on The CW next month, the US teen drama genre appears to be just as popular as it always has been. But will any of the new arrivals be able to provide a theme tune as memorable as the five entries below?
Paula Cole – “I Don’t Want To Wait” (Dawson’s Creek)
A tribute to her World War II veteran grandfather, the subject matter of Paula Cole’s “I Don’t Want To Wait” initially seemed an unlikely to choice replace Jann Arden’s breezier original theme. But its emotionally-charged alt-rock sound proved to be the perfect warm-up for the angst-ridden trials and tribulations of Dawson, Joey and the rest of the super-wordy gang.
The Dandy Warhols – “We Used To Be Friends” (Veronica Mars)
After “Bohemian Like You” landed on the soundtrack to a Vodafone commercial, The Dandy Warhols will have no doubt angered their underground frenemies The Brian Jonestown Massacre even further when this falsetto-led slice of fuzzed-up synth-pop ended up as the theme to UPN prime-time teen detective show Veronica Mars.
The Pierces – “Secret” (Pretty Little Liars)
Around the same time that Coldplay’s Guy Berryman offered to produce their fourth album, New York sisters The Pierces received another major boost to their previously flagging career when the makers of mystery thriller Pretty Little Liars chose this suitably noirish chanson to open its adaptation of Sara Shepard’s mystery novels.
The Charlatans – “One To Another” (My Mad Fat Diary)
A hugely under-rated classic from the Britpop era, the thrilling mix of pounding piano keys and Chemical Brothers-produced drum loops of The Charlatans’ “One To Another” was introduced to a whole new generation earlier this year when it featured on the opening credits to the charming British ’90s-set comedy drama, My Mad Fat Diary.
Phantom Planet – “California” (The O.C.)
Avoiding the fate of Keanu Reeves’ Dogstar, Jason Schwartzman and Alex Greenwald proved that not every moonlighting actor’s guitar band automatically sucked with a sun-kissed emo-pop ode to travelling on U.S. Route 101 which would later soundtrack four series’ worth of the Orange County’s most self-obsessed teens.
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