As a busy mom, I seldom sit down to watch tv – between homework and dinner and laundry… who has time to veg in front of the television!? There are a few shows that I enjoy and will record to binge watch if I have time, but am very rarely caught up on because I’m too busy. And then there are a couple of shows that I literally stop what I am doing and sit down to watch because I love them so much.
One of those shows is This Is Us.
Most of you watched along with me last season and know why everyone loves the show so much. If you weren’t watching, you need to get caught up now. Like right now. Because the second season is about to start and you are going to love this show. The characters, the story line, the emotions – all of it – you will love this show.
Besides being a huge hit because of the story and the acting, This is Us has something that many other shows simply don’t have. Something that I loved in every episode of the first season and that I’m looking forward to in the upcoming season. Something that makes the show powerfully emotional, that pulls you in and tugs on your heartstrings every week – and that’s the music.
The music for This is Us has both recognizable hits and classics, as well as less well known songs, all chosen for the way they fit perfectly into the story. There are songs that clearly define the feeling and emotion of a moment and others that serve as a gentle background during the family’s emotional story. I recognized the voice of Nick Drake right away in one episode and loved the feeling that his song “Northern Sky” added to the scenes of Jack and Rebecca finding out that they were having triplets. And something as simple as seeing the family dynamics change through the many years that they’ve used an appliance was made more powerful and emotional when set to the beautiful song “The Wind” by Cat Stevens.
I also looked up several of the songs last season online to see what they were because I was so moved by them during the show. As it turns out, I don’t have to search for the most popular songs any more because I’ll be able to get them all this Friday – with the release of This is Us (Music From the Series).
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 – Song on YouTube here
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
This Is Us (Music from the Series), a companion to the show America loves, is available this Friday, September 15 via UMe. This Is Us: The Complete First Season on DVD was also released this week, so fans can relive all the special moments along with the music from the hit show’s first season.
Nominated for 10 Emmy Awards including Outstanding Drama Series, “This Is Us” chronicles the Pearson family across the decades. Jack (Milo Ventimiglia) and Rebecca (Mandy Moore) are young parents of three children in the 1980s and 1990s. We watch their story unfold in present day with the lives of their now adult children, and we flash back to how their lives unfolded in the past. The story reveals how events in our lives – both big and small – impact who we become and the connections that we hare with each other. “This Is Us” Season 2 premieres Tuesday, September 26 at 9pm on NBC.
This Is Us (Music from the Series), featuring Top Songs from the hit series, is available Friday, September 15th.
