Sam Levinson’s Euphoria has been a phenomenal success since it first aired on HBO. With the recent debut of season 2, there’s clearly no sign of the hype slowing down, drawing a series high point of 2.4 million viewers with the premier of season 2, which was much anticipated after some lead up episodes due to the break enforced by COVID. Euphoria follows a group of teenagers, and their struggles with navigating teenage life, dealing with addiction, romance and general teenage drama.
Music has proven to be an integral part Euphoria, with Lana Del Rey recently announcing she would be lending her musical talents to an upcoming episode. Euphoria’s first season made use of music as an accessory to the plot, enlisting the musical talents of Labrinth, as well as naming several episodes after songs, such as ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ (after the Jay-Z and Beyoncé song). It boasted a very strong playlist, so here’s a look at the best songs from HBO’s Euphoria season 1.
7 “You Should See Me in a Crown” by Billie Eilish
Billie Eilish is one of the most influential artists of recent years and has achieved huge popularity, so it’s only fitting for her music to be used in one of the most monumental and popular shows targeted at young people for a long time. The song is used to demonstrate a rebirth in Kat (Barbie Ferreira) as she walks around the mall in an outfit that would previously scare her, representing her growth as a character and movement away from insecurity for a moment. The song fits perfectly and adds a new layer to her character.
6 “Work” by Charlotte Day Wilson
Charlotte Day Wilson’s ‘Work’ is the perfect backing track to season 1, episode 3. The song plays when we see an interaction between Jules (Hunter Schafer) and Nate (Jacob Elordi) over a gay dating app. The track perfectly captures the tender but heart-breaking moment, where we can see the reactions of both parties and the bitter sweetness alongside Nate’s prescience that he isn’t gay, a moment all too familiar for queer youth.
5 “My Body Is a Cage” by Arcade Fire
‘My Body is a Cage’ by Arcade Fire is heartbreakingly appropriate for season 1, episode 8. The song is used alongside the depiction of Cassie’s abortion in the finale. The scene shows the beginning of the abortion, and then Cassie’s transportation into a mental fantasy of her as an ice skater, a passion she has lost in life. The finished shot is beautiful and perfectly demonstrates the strong relationship between euphoria’s music and action.
4 “Champagne Coast” by Blood Orange
Blood Orange’s music is beautiful in melody and lyrics, and the beauty of ‘Champagne Coast’ is amplified through an awkwardly familiar sequence between Rue and Jules in season 1, episode 3. Jules is asking for Rue’s advice on how to send nudes to Nate, and it’s obvious to the audience that Rue is in love with her. Champagne Cost accompanies this sequence well and makes it beautifully heart-breaking.
3 “Hold Up” - Beyoncé
During the title card scene of season 1, episode 1, Beyoncé’s ‘Hold Up’ plays, and it is the perfect ending to the first episode. The song encapsulates what would be the premise of Rue and Jules relationship over the first series, tumultuous, fueled by jealousy and passionate. It’s a great omen for what is to come and demonstrates how every musical decision in Euphoria is deliberate.
2 “Smalltown Boy” by Bronski Beat
Season 1, episode 6 exemplifies another strong use of music in Euphoria. The song is used as the soundtrack of a part where a lot of the character’s experience pivotal moments for their own and the series’ development. Everyone is in costume, and the song provides an ethereal, outer body feeling which accompanies the actions of the characters well.
1 “Fly Me to the Moon” by Bobby Womack
‘Fly Me to the Moon’ plays in episode 2 of season 1 and plays during a flashback after Rue is asked about her summer. Rue references listening to this song; however, the emotional impact of the summer is then depicted in a flashback of what really happened. The scene cuts to the day Rue got out of hospital after overdosing, singing the song in the car with her sister and mother.The beauty of featuring this song is the juxtaposition of the cheeriness of the song and the alarming nature of what Rue and her family have been through over the summer, with cuts flashing from happy family moments to Rue abusing drugs and her family falling apart as a result. It’s a haunting and clever choice that sets the season up for what is to come very well and demonstrates one of Zendaya’s best performances to date.
