Perhaps no television genre has grasped the importance of crafting a distinct musical identity more than the teen drama.
It’s impossible to talk about the intersection between YA television and music without talking about one of the most impactful music-driven television shows of the 21st Century: The O.C.
The soundtrack of The O.C. does more than just encapsulate the sun-drenched, Southern California sound of the early 2000s.
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The O.C.’s music supervision strategy focused on giving new, emerging artists the opportunity to have their music featured on a runaway-hit show.
In doing so, it launched the careers of many indie artists, cementing TV’s power as a unique force in a music ecosystem where artist popularity was primarily driven by radio play.
Credit must be given where credit is due: The O.C. was helmed by an incredible music supervisor, Alexander Patsavas, the mind behind the music of Gossip Girl, the early seasons of Grey’s Anatomy, and Twilight.
As we go through the top music moments of The O.C. that defined the show’s iconic sound, let’s give her the flowers she deserves!
Read on to reminisce about the most unforgettable music moments of the legendary teen drama.
“Into Dust” by Mazzy Star: The OC Season 1 Episode 7
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I am absolutely obsessed with the use of Mazzy Star’s “Into Dust” in The O.C. Season 1, Episode 7.
The song plays over what becomes the iconic visual of Ryan carrying Marissa in his arms, rescuing her from an overdose in a Tijuana alleyway.
The song’s haunting beauty amplifies the drama of the moment while enhancing the motif’s tragic visual power.
The dynamic between Ryan’s savior complex and Marissa’s desire to be saved becomes cemented in visual form, and this evolves into a core theme of their story throughout the first three seasons.
With lyrics about fading away and losing one’s identity, the song also perfectly encapsulates Marissa’s journey in this episode.
“Fix You” by Coldplay: The OC Season 2 Episode 23
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“Fix You” remains one of Coldplay’s iconic songs, but did you know this episode marked its global debut?
This song does a wonderful job magnifying the intensity of different important but very different emotional moments, which all overlap in this scene.
You have Summer and Seth reconciling at prom, Marissa succumbing to the sadness of feeling alone as she watches them, and Caleb having a heart attack, falling into the pool, and meeting his demise.
They’re three equally powerful parts of this montage, and the song seamlessly ties them all together.
“Champagne Supernova” by Oasis: The OC Season 2 Episode 14
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It doesn’t get much more quintessentially early 2000s teen drama than a combination of Oasis and a dramatic rain episode.
Couple it with the iconic Spiderman kiss between Seth and Summer? You have one of the most unforgettable moments of the series.
The song backs Sandy reconciling with Kirsten, as well as Ryan and Marissa sharing an emotional moment on the boardwalk.
Nothing captures the essence of The O.C. quite like “Rainy Day Women” — or this song.
“Hide and Seek” by Imogen Heap: The OC Season 2 Episode 24
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Love it or hate it, the chorus of “Hide and Seek” coming in right as Marissa shoots Trey is undoubtedly one of the most iconic uses of music in television history.
It is pure camp.
This moment is The O.C.’s melodrama encapsulated in its most potent musical form, and it is seared into my brain — and the cultural consciousness — forever.
For fans of this scene, I beg those of you who have not yet seen the SNL skit “Dear Sister” to give it a watch.
Starring Jason Sudeikis and Andy Samberg, this sketch takes all the latent comedy of this moment and dials it up to 100.
“Dice” by Finley Quaye & William Orbit: The OC Season 1 Episode 14
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Did Ryan and Marissa peak in “The Countdown” (AKA the New Year’s episode?)
This scene has you on the edge of your seat, rooting for Ryan to make it to the party on time, and rooting for Oliver to… disappear entirely.
“Dice” is a bit of a surprising song choice for the moment; the more obvious pick would be something overtly dramatic or romantic, with a sweeping crescendo.
The groovy, sultry beat pairs perfectly with the slow-motion of the scene, dialing down the cheesiness and dialing up the authenticity of the moment.
“For the Widows in Paradise, for the Fatherless in Ypsilanti” by Sufjan Stevens: The OC Season 3 Episode 15
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This song plays during Johnny’s funeral on the beach, and while I didn’t enjoy the Johnny x Marissa storyline, the scene carries real emotional weight.
It’s honestly a bit of a hack, because this song is fantastic in general.
You could add it to pretty much any scene, and it would probably feel like the perfect match.
You really feel the sorrow of this moment, and palpably sense the burgeoning rift between Marissa and Ryan that drives her into the arms of Volchok — which ultimately leads to her tragic end.
“I’m Shakin’” by Rooney: The OC Season 1 Episode 15
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We can’t talk about The O.C.’s music without talking about the live performance that kicked off the legacy of “The Bait Shop.”
The first live performance on The O.C. featured Rooney’s “I’m Shakin’,” and it marked the moment The O.C. officially became a platform for launching the careers of different indie bands.
The O.C. wasn’t the first show to take a set and turn it into a stage to feature live performances; Buffy the Vampire Slayer did that with The Bronze, and of course One Tree Hill adopted a similar model with Tric.
Both The O.C. and One Tree Hill drew on the same ethos, recognizing the importance of music in engaging diverse fans and fostering the broader music ecosystem that helped bolster and define the shows’ identities.
The two shows leaned in different directions — The O.C. toward indie rock, One Tree Hill toward pop rock — but this episode kicked off a 2000s trend that’s making a reappearance in teen dramas today.
“Hallelujah” by Jeff Buckley: The OC Season 1 Episode 27
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I would never leave off one of the best scenes of The O.C. — much less one of its best music moments — off this list: The O.C. Season 1 finale’s use of Jeff Buckley’s “Hallelujah,” when Seth sails off toward the horizon, and Ryan returns to Chino.
It’s a heartbreaking moment for every character. And in a callback to the pilot, we get one final shot of Ryan glancing back at Marissa as he drives away to his future.
The song is unexpectedly mournful, and amplifies each character’s different expressions of grief as they process Ryan’s departure.
It lets viewers sit with the immense impact Ryan has had on the Cohen family and Marissa, as they reckon with their terrible loss and imagine life without him.
“Hide and Seek” by Imogen Heap: The OC Season 3 Episode 25
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There’s nothing The O.C. loves more than a circular moment.
As Marissa gets into the car crash that leaves her dying in Ryan’s arms, the scene directly calls back to three of The O.C.’s most prominent scenes and music moments.
The show uses Imogen Heap, made iconic in The O.C. Season 2 finale, to resurface “Hallelujah” from the Season 1 finale. The scene is anchored with Ryan carrying Marissa one last time, prone in his arms, as she dies.
This moment is overlaid with flashbacks of all the other times he has carried her in this way, driving home the tragedy of her character once and for all: Marissa, for all she tried, was never able to fully get to the place of saving herself.
OK, The O.C. fanatics, what are your favorite music moments from the series? Are any left off this list? Let us know all your thoughts in the comments!
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From “Hallelujah” to “Hide and Seek,” we’re breaking down the unforgettable The O.C. music moments that defined a generation of TV sound.
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