I watch a lot of TV.  NBC, Fox, HBO- I don’t discriminate when it comes to networks.  But when it comes to gorgeous men, great clothes, drama, and music, I’m a CW girl from way back.  Music is such an important part of a tv show.  It helps sets the mood.  It makes you feel.  It can even gloss over annoying characters whose story-lines you want to erase.

Over the years, shows like One Tree Hill and The Vampire Diaries have expanded my musical horizons by miles.  I mean, they actually pay people to find that perfect mix of mainstream and obscure artistry that is music today.  One Tree Hill is especially known for having had many amazing artists as guest stars, including Kate Voegele, Wakey!Wakey!, and Jana Kramer.  And as a major plus, the CW website has a music section with the soundtrack for every episode of every show, so you can easily find that cool song even if it was only in the episode for 10 seconds.

I listen to the mellow songs to help me relax, and the sad songs when I’m feeling sorry for myself.  And of course, I belt out the feel-good songs when I’m driving in my car…

• Coffee and Cigarettes by Michelle Featherstone – One Tree Hill

The song for that one person you can’t quite seem to quit… See also: Whiskey by Jana Kramer

• Almost Everything by Wakey!Wakey! – One Tree Hill

The most uplifting breakup song with some awesome piano

• Wish You Were by Kate Voegele – One Tree Hill

The link above is actually the version sung by the entire cast at the end of episode 509, when none of the characters seem to be in a good place.

• Come Around by Rosie Golan – One Tree Hill 

Sad song for sad lovers

• Skinny Love by Birdy – The Vampire Diaries

Okay, so this is Bon Iver.  But Birdy’s version is sadder and slower, and I kind of dig that.

• Family Tree by Matthew West – The Vampire Diaries

“Are you gonna be like your father was and his father was/Do you have to carry what they handed down?”  For every kid who worries about growing up into their parents…

• Holding On and Letting Go by Ross Copperman – The Vampire Diaries

“It’s everything you wanted, it’s everything you don’t/It’s one door swinging open and one door swinging closed” Dilemmas on dilemmas.

• Down by Jason Walker – The Vampire Diaries

I sing this beauty when I’m feeling sorry for myself.

• Never Let Me Go by Florence + The Machine – The Vampire Diaries

Moment of truth: I’m not a fan of “Dog Days.”  But between this song and her work on the Gatsby  soundtrack, Flo is all over my Spotify right now.

• Running Up That Hill by Placebo

This is actually a cover of a 1985 song by Kate Bush, but it’s very popular for dramatic TV moments.  The CW actually used it for the series premieres of both The O.C. and The Vampire Diaries, and it’s also been featured on Bones, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and NCIS: Los Angeles.