You may not have heard of music supervisor Alexandra Patsavas, but you’ve probably heard her, or at least the influence she’s had on some of the most formative T.V. shows for millennials’ music tastes. Remember Rooney? Lady Sovereign? And let’s not forget Death Cab for Cutie, Spoon, Of Montreal, and countless more indie artists got added exposure from being featured on the early ’00s teenaged über-drama The O.C. The newest addition to that show’s production company, Fake Empire (which also helmed Gossip Girl), is period mini-series The Astronaut Wives Club — about the women behind the men who went into space — which Patsavas is soundtracking as well.
To celebrate the boost she’s been giving to artists’ licensing paychecks for the past decade, Patsavas picked her ten favorite musical moments on T.V. Of her selections, she says, “I have been lucky enough to work with [producers] Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage for over ten years on Fake Empire Television projects: The O.C., Gossip Girl, Chuck, The Carrie Diaries, Cult, Hart Of Dixie and currently Astronauts Wives Club. The Fake Empire shows always have a musical signature, and Stephanie Savage has decided to combine covers, classic songs from the ’60s, and new tracks to create a modern but classic musical signature.”
Relive the magic below.
Imogen Heap, “Hide and Seek”
The O.C. “The Dearly Beloved” (Season 2, Episode 24)
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“This Imogen Heap track was mesmerizing at first listen, and scored Marissa shooting Trey to save Ryan. Cue Saturday Night Live!”
Youth Group, “Forever Young”
The O.C. “The Road Warrior” (Season 3, Episode 16)
https://youtube.com/watch?v=u3i1g_wwZO4
“Youth Group covered this song for us (selected by Stephanie Savage and Josh Schwartz). It was the ultimate break-up song for the final curtain call of Marissa and Ryan’s relationship.”
Finley Quaye, “Dice”
The O.C. “The Countdown” (Season 1, Episode 14)
“This is still one of my favorite songs; it might have been on my own wedding playlist. Ryan manages to find Marissa by midnight amidst a veil of dreamy, slow motion confetti.”
Bon Iver, “Skinny Love”
Chuck “Chuck Versus the Breakup” (Season 2, Episode 3)
“Sarah and Chuck break up to this deceptively simple, but oh so devastating, track by Bon Iver. So well acted and raw.”
Frightened Rabbit, “Keep Yourself Warm”
Chuck “Chuck Versus the Fat Lady” (Season 2, Episode 7)
“This terrific song by Frightened Rabbit lulls the listener with the sweet, lilting, soaring melody until closer examination of the acidic lyrics.”
Florence and the Machine, “Cosmic Love”
Gossip Girl “Panic Roommate” (Season 4, Episode 14)
“We were all so thrilled to have Florence Welch appear on the Gossip Girl set.”
One Republic, “Apologize”
Gossip Girl “Hi, Society” (Season 1, Episode 10)
Goosebumps all around. Ryan Tedder’s hit ballad scores both romance and regret.
Snowed Out/No Doubt, “Stand and Deliver”
Gossip Girl “Valley Girls” (Season 2, Episode 24)
“The legendary No Doubt (appearing as Snowed Out) did a version of Adam and the Ants’ “Stand And Deliver” especially for Gossip Girl. I remember being on location that day transported back to the ’80s by the set design and costumes and mesmerized by the band’s performance.”
Bleachers, “Reckless Love”
The Astronaut Wives Club, Episode 103
“This song by Jack Antonoff’s band is a serious but somehow still playful accompaniment to a moment in the series where so much is beginning and ending.”
Andrew Bird, “Three White Birds”
The Astronaut Wives Club, Episode 106
“This track shows off Andrew Bird’s impeccable songwriting and classic delivery and it scores a montage of the wives and their loved ones after truly devastating news.”
