When TV Music Hits Speak to Your Soul

This month sixteen years ago this month, the man who raised me, my Uncle Danny passed away. It’s not something I’ve talked about often publicly as the circumstances around his death were anything but usual. My uncle, the man who helped raise, my sole father figure, was murdered in a highly publicized LGBTQ hate crime. A death that ricocheted through the sleepy, conservative bedroom town of my youth causing strife, stigma, and turmoil for years to come. 

His death has impacted me in ways that I can’t even begin to describe. Making this time of year very difficult for me on a personal level. And it’s at this time each year that I also often find myself reflecting on what could have been and should have been in his final years of life. How I’d give anything to have had him cheer me on as a graduated from high school, college, art school, or law school. For him to have been able to give me away at my wedding. To be able to pick up the phone to relish in his always sage advice. Or just to sit in his presence and his laugh again. 

This year also marks the season of my life where my uncle has since passed the same number of years I knew him. A measure almost too painful for words.

It’s also during this time of year that I try to seek solace in my down time at home. Including new shows on tv each fall. It was this time last fall that I watched the NBC show, This is Us. And loved it! Truly. The show touched my heart. I particularly loved the story lines involving the passing away of the main characters father. I was especially touched at how well the production team seamlessly tied in the show’s amazing score. A mix of old and new that spoke to soul each and every episode I watched! 

This Is Us (Music from the Series):

I’m also happy to announce that the This Is Us (Music from the Series) Season 1 album is being released this Friday. This past week, while listening to a preview of this album I was able to again reminisce and reflect on my uncle while listening to the songs of the soundtrack. I am particularly drawn to the track, “We Can Always Come Back To This,” the original song composed by Khosla and Chris Pierce, performed by Brian Tyree Henry.

It was played during the season’s memorable“Memphis” episode about a trip between Randall and his birth father, William, a Stage 4 cancer patient. During the episode, the pair travel to Memphis to make amends with a band leader William jilted decades prior, while battling an addiction to drugs. The song reflects on how a child sees the vulnerability of their parents through collective moments of shared memories. 

This scene and this song became very personal to me. As we are witness to a what could have been a moment. A moment wrapped in a beautiful song that really triggered for me the emotion – both for the characters and for the audience, like myself, watching This Is Us. 

The This Is Us (Music from the Series) season 1, is a companion to the show America loves will be available September 15th via UMe. With instantly recognizable hits, oldie but goodie classics, and an original song by Mandy Moore, this compelling score of 20 songs curated by This Is Us Creator & Executive Producer Dan Fogelman, and his team, music supervisor Jennifer Pyken, and composer Siddhartha Khosla. This soundtrack is one to download this coming season! 

While I haven’t watched this episode since it aired, I still remember it vividly. It felt me remembering my own childhood and despite all its complications, grateful to have started my formative years having been blessed enough to have met a man as amazing as my Uncle Danny. 

I was glued to TV set each week for season one of This is Us, and I expect the same when the new season starts on September 26th! I’m looking forward to not just the compelling storytelling, the charming characters, and relatable and emotionally moving situations- but also the amazing music. 

Some of my favorite songs from the season were Peter Gabriel’s Come Talk To Me, Willin by Mandy Moore, and so many favorites from my childhood. All of which reminds me of my uncle. The soundtrack also features an original song and score, making each of the albums 20 carefully curated songs thoughtful, poignant, and mindful. 

                   (THIS IS US – “What Now?” Episode117 -Photo by Ron Batzdorff/NBC)

Here is the list of songs from the This Is Us (Music from the Series):

1.  Death With Dignity – Sufjan Stevens 
2.  You Can Call Me Al – Paul Simon
3.  Willin’ – Mandy Moore
4.  Can’t Find My Way Home – Blind Faith
5.  Uptight (Everything’s Alright) – Stevie Wonder
6.  The Calvary Cross – Richard Thompson & Linda Thompson
7.  Watch Me – Labi Siffre
8.  The Wind – Cat Stevens
9.  Come Talk To Me – Goldspot
10. Blues Run The Game – Jackson C. Frank 
11. If Only – Maria Taylor (featuring Conor Oberst)
12. Northern Sky – Nick Drake
13. If I Ever Was A Child – Wilco
14. Because Of You – Gene Clark
15. Evergreen Cassette (Tape Mix) – Goldspot
16. Without You – Badfinger
17. The World’s Smiling Now – Jim James
18. Photograph – Ringo Starr
19. We Can Always Come Back To This – Brian Tyree Henry
20. This Is Us Score Suite – Siddhartha Khosla

You can get a sneak peek of the album below. Check out Willin by Mandy Moore! 

Friends, I encourage you to check out the This Is Us (Music from the Series) available September 15 from UMe and for preorder now, which you can check out here! Now I have to ask, what song most moves you from this soundtrack? And do you plan to watch Season 2 of This Is Us later this month? If so, I’d love to hear about it below!