Like The O.C. before it, Gossip Girl used music to its advantage when it came to adding the proper topping for the drama that was taking place on screen. In celebration of the show’s 10th anniversary, I’m breaking down the top 10 music moments of the series.
10. “Rolling In The Deep” (Season 4, Episode 22, “The Wrong Goodbye”) – Everyone loves a good Chuck and Blair moment and even though it’s exciting to watch their constant push and pull with each other, it’s also nice to see the couple happy and having fun. While Prince Louie waits for Blair at Constance, the couple ditches the Constance party and goes to a bar mitzvah where’s Adele’s chart-topping hit is played over the scene. The couple is genuinely having a good time and it culminates in them having sex while Prince Louie patiently waits for Blair to meet up with him. It’s not a truly deep moment on the show but the song is used well during the scene.
9. “Whatever You Like” (Season 3, Episode 9, “They Shoot Humphreys, Don’t They?) – Dan made great use of his college experience with the help of Lizzie Maguire. Hilary Duff guest starred as Olivia Burke during the third season and Dan is upset when Olivia contemplates leaving school for a movie project, so he and Vanessa take her out on the town with a list of all the things that a university would make up… including a threesome. The soundtrack for this moment is a cover of T.I.’s “Whatever You Like” by Anya Marina and it adds the right amount of sensuality to make the scene memorable. The episode aired in November of 2009 and The Parents Television Council wanted The CW not to air the episode because of the threesome scene, which is promoted heavily in the promos for this particular episode. The scene is tame by a lot of standards but for a network TV drama involving young adults, it pushed the envelope just enough.
8. “Believe” (Season 1, Episode 2, “The Wild Brunch”) – For some reason, the use of The Bravery’s “Believe” was when I decided I was all in on this show. Granted, this is only episode 2 of season one but I’m a sucker for a solid scene that is aided by great music. The end of the episode had just about everyone upset with Serena due to the bomb that she slept with her best friend’s boyfriend before she went away to boarding school. The scene has a few characters at a crossroads (Can Dan look at Serena the same way after finding out the truth, Can Blair forgive her or Nate?) and it ends perfectly with Serena walking the streets of NYC in perfect slo-mo and tossing her cell phone. Pitch perfect moment from the early days of the show.
7. “What Goes Around…Comes Around” (Season 1, Episode 1, “Pilot”) – Gossip Girl would prove to be a hot spot for music but what set it apart from other teen dramas, even in its first episode, was its ability to use contemporary pop hits of the moment. Justin Timberlake’s “What Goes Around…Comes Around” is a perfect musical moment for Serena’s return and sets the tone for the early uneasiness between her and Blair. There is palpable tension between the two and the song only intensifies the situation.
6. “With Me” (Season 1, Episode 7, “Victor/Victrola) – While several moments play out over this scene, the real favorite among fans involves Chuck taking Blair’s virginity in the back of his limo. It sounds very tawdry but the moment doesn’t play out that way and I would be a poor fan indeed if I left out the musical moment that begins the Chuck/Blair affair that had us enthralled for six seasons. I’m not even a fan of Sum 41 but this track is used quite effectively.
5. “Too Late” (Season 3, Episode 12, “The Debarted”) – Perhaps the best dramatic moments from the series dealt with Chuck and his complicated relationship with his father. This moment, which deals with Chuck wrestling with hallucinations on the one-year anniversary of his father’s “death”, is probably one of the best moments from the series’ run and “Too Late” by M83, is wonderfully used as Chuck has a heartfelt conversation with Blair and reveals to her that he regrets running away when his father died. Blair tells him that he only ran away from his feelings, and Chuck decides to visit his father’s grave. It’s a pivotal moment of growth for the character who very well may be the most nuanced character on the show.
4. “Secret” (Season 1, Episode 10, “Hi, Society”) – What could easily be a throwaway moment, is elevated to great heights due to the song “Secret” by The Pierces, who actually perform the song in the scene. During the debutante ball, Chuck convinces Nate that it’s Carter who is having an affair with Blair and although the scene is relatively short, it definitely leaves its mark.
3. “Fell In Love Without You” (Season 2, Episode 1, “Summer, Kind Of Wonderful”) – While fans love a great Chuck and Blair moment, a lot of us rooted for Dan and Serena, especially after their breakup during the season one finale. Although these characters seemed to be the foundation of the series during their initial union, their romance would ultimately prove to fraught with complications. The moment between them at the end of episode 1 of season 2, provides some hope for the couple and is wonderfully aided by “Fell In Love Without You” by Motion City.
2. “Whatcha Say” (Season 3, Episode 11, “The Treasure Of Serena Madre) – No one does Thanksgiving like Gossip Girl and this moment from the Thanksgiving episode one of the reasons fans loved to show for six seasons. Truth bombs are dropped at the dinner table and “Whatcha Say” by Jason Derulo provides the perfect soundtrack for the moment. Rufus learns that Lily has been lying to him about her mother, Cece, and of her whereabouts for the summer. Chuck tells Nate that he has some potentially damaging information about one of their friends. Jenny learns that Eric was behind her very public embarrassment at Cotillion and can’t pass up a chance to get even. Serena is put in a very awkward position when her mother invites Tripp and his wife Maureen to join them for Thanksgiving dinner at their penthouse. Thanksgiving clearly brings these characters all together to create pitch-perfect drama.
- “Apologize” (Season 1, Episode 10 “Hi, Society”) – This musical moment easily tops my list because I can honestly remember how strong the moment was when it first aired. Rufus tells Lily he shouldn’t have let her let him go and Lily stares down at Serena and Dan and ponders what could’ve been between her and Rufus. The moment also has Nate and Blair finally sleeping together, even though he’s unaware she has already lost her virginity to Chuck. It’s a moment that is just as strong now as it was 10 years ago and “Apologize” by OneRepublic is the proper icing on the cake.
Editor’s Note: Keep checking back today and tomorrow, September 19th, for more Gossip Girl as we continue our tribute to our favorite Upper East Siders.
