Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
The soundtrack to 2020, if it were adapted into a movie or TV series, would look pretty dreary. Think “Everybody Hurts” by R.E.M. or perhaps “The Sound of Silence” by Simon & Garfunkel. Maybe Celine Dion’s “All By Myself” — but not in the same peppy vein as its needle drop in Clueless. This year has been one long nightmare for all of us. But the end is near, and with some much-needed comfort viewing from shows and movies like Never Have I Ever and Palm Springs, I’ve certainly found a little escape here and there. What 2020 lacked — parties, parades, rooms packed corner-to-corner with people — was made up for in films and TV series that made us feel good. Why not live vicariously through Harley Quinn, or through strangers dancing for hours at a party?
When I started drafting a list of 2020 pop culture gems, I realized I wanted to come up with a list that made me feel a little more ecstatic than 2020 has left me: hence, needle drops, which always offer a healthy boost of serotonin. A needle drop is whenever a pre-existing song starts playing in a film, television show, commercial, or any form of entertainment — but I’ve certainly skewed this definition for at least one moment on my list.
It’s no coincidence that most of these series and films are also my favorites of 2020: I’m a sucker for a good song and dance number. While this is a list spotlighting my favorite entertainment moments from 2020, it’s also a playlist of songs I enjoyed this year too — quarantunes, if you will. Listen, sing, dance, take your mind off of everything else happening in the world. It’s definitely helped me. Here are my favorite 2020 shows, movies, and more, told through their needle drops.
"Dancing on My Own" in 'Never Have I Ever'
Any TV show that features Robyn’s delightful pop song “Dancing on My Own” is destined for greatness (see Girls, Gossip Girl, etc.), and Never Have I Ever is no different. The first episode of the new Netflix series kicks off with the song as we meet Devi’s crush, the dreamy Paxton Hall Yoshida. Robyn made a song that fits any fun, coming-of-age moment. A brilliant start to a killer rom-com series.
"Cloudbusting" in 'Palm Springs'
“Cloudbusting” by Kate Bush was the perfect song to conclude the terrific sci-fi rom-com Palm Springs. When Nyles and Sarah finally find a way out of their time loop hell, the new couple walk hand-in-hand into the fiery cave of doom. Sarah has finally convinced him to leave the loop, so it’s a triumphant march to freedom paired with a grand song.
"Toxic" in 'Promising Young Woman'
I must confess, I have yet to actually watch Promising Young Woman, which is finally releasing digitally at the end of this year. But the trailer features a chilling orchestral rendition of Britney Spears’s “Toxic,” setting the tone of the riveting film to come. It’s featured in the film too — we’ll all be on the edge of our seats.
"In This World" in 'Bad Education'
Bad Education introduced us to the fascinating real-life scandal of Frank Tassone, a school superintendent responsible for years and years of fraud as a school superintendent. Hugh Jackman’s portrayal of Frank was unforgettable, especially in the climactic scene where Frank bolts from the authorities. In the last scene before he’s arrested, Frank dances with one of his old students at a club to Moby’s “In This World,” the song marking his final minutes of freedom. Honorable mention also goes to “White Flag” by Dido which plays over the credits, signaling Frank’s inability to retreat.
"I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)" in 'High Fidelity'
I still haven’t come to accept the loss of High Fidelity, nor the tragic fact that the second season was supposed to follow Cherise (the fantastic Da’Vine Joy Randolph). Release the Cherise cut! Especially since the first season ends with her smooth rendition of “I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)” with the guitar Rob’s (Zoë Kravitz) just gifted her. She accompanies Rob’s last fourth-wall-breaking quip to the audience, and then Stevie Wonder’s original version blasts into the credits.
"Time Will Tell" in 'We Are Who We Are'
Luca Guadagnino’s new series looks a lot like his other works: shot by the Italian seaside, a coming-of-age story, and a harmonious soundtrack. One new element reared its head in We Are Who We Are though, and that was Blood Orange. The singer actually composed the music for the entire series, but his tune “Time Will Tell” is repeated over and over again throughout the series. The two young leads burn the track onto their little Nokia phones, and eventually, they even attend his concert together in Bologna. The best needle-drop of the song comes when they remake Blood Orange’s original music video of “Time Will Tell” — the blissful moment comes out of nowhere, and it’s a blast.
"Barracuda" in 'Birds of Prey'
Round of applause for the fantabulous Birds of Prey ladies. This movie was one of the only in-theater experiences I remember from this year, and I’m so grateful I got to watch their epic amusement park fight sequence on the big screen. Harley whirls around on her skates, tosses a hair tie to Black Canary, and smacks the crap out of her attackers to “Barracuda” by Heart. Oh, how I wish 2020 would’ve given me the chance to learn some sweet fight choreography with the girls, all while listening to “Barracuda.” Too bad we were quarantined — though I doubt we would’ve done that anyways, when we could just rewatch the real thing.
"It's Gonna Rain" in 'I May Destroy You'
Michaela Coel’s semi-autobiographical HBO mini-series I May Destroy You was the highlight of the year for me. Coel wrote and played a version of herself, Arabella, a writer who experiences life-altering sexual assaults. The soundtrack bounces around from club music to popular rock songs, always a parallel to Arabella’s journey. The best moment comes in the penultimate episode, when Arabella begins to assemble her story. As she is pinning scraps of paper in order on her bedroom wall, the triumphant “It’s Gonna Rain” by Rev. Milon Brunson and The Thompson Community Singers symbolizes her epiphany. It’s a triumphant moment for both her and viewers: we get to watch her assemble the show we’re watching right now. Incredible.
"Get Back Up Again" at Quibi's Farewell
In the span of a year, we witnessed the rise and catastrophic fall of Quibi, a fun-sized version of Netflix founded by Jeffrey Katzenberg. There were many scandals, very few viewers, and founders who claimed to know exactly what younger generations wanted in a streaming service. Yes, as a member of Gen-Z, I can say that Quibi gave me exactly what I wanted: laughable drama. As he broke the news that Quibi would be shuttering forever, sources say that Katzenberg asked his employees to listen to “Get Back Up Again” from Trolls in an effort to lift their spirits. You can’t make this up. Here’s to the quick bites we won’t remember and Trolls song we’ll never forget.
Every Moment in 'Lovers Rock'
Nothing can top the tracklist of Lovers Rock. Music reverberates through the entirety of Steve McQueen’s short film, which follows a house party in 1980s London. Even when the characters take to the bus, they drag a speaker along to keep the playlist bumping. This short film had me yearning to attend a party crammed with friends, belting out or favorite songs and dancing until the sun came up. That may not sound like a good thing — but trust me, it is. Lovers Rock is a euphoric, needle-drop-filled experience.
Two moments stand out, though, as the needle drops to remember: “Kung Fu Fighting” by Carl Douglas and “Silly Games” by Janet Kay. The former begins, as you may be able to guess, and the exquisitely-dressed partygoers whip out their best martial arts moves. Punching, kicking, laughing, and singing along, they share a pure moment of joy together. Then, there’s “Silly Games,” which is all the rage. Every person at the party sings along, brushing the sky with ultra-high notes, slow dancing all the while. Lovers Rock has the best needle drops of 2020 by far, and it’s also my favorite movie of the year.
