I happened to stumble across a YouTube video earlier this week entitled “How The OC Saved Indie Rock.” That video and its title got me thinking about how unique and special the song selections in The O.C. were. 

Many popular teen dramas of the early 2000s incorporated music to enhance the storylines and elicit emotions from the audience, but The O.C. made music a character on the show. 

Music supervisor Alex Pastavas chose music for the show that reflected its creator, Josh Schwartz, and his music taste, bringing indie rock music to the mainstream.

Both Adam Brody and his character, Seth Cohen, deeply loved Indie and Alternative rock. Brody suggested his favourite bands, such as Death Cab for Cutie and Bright Eyes, be added to the soundtrack.  

Other Indie Rock bands were added to the soundtrack, including Rooney, Spoon, Nada Surf, The Dandy Warhols, and The Killers. The O.C. is definitely the reason I have a Rooney CD on my shelves. 

The O.C. did a fantastic job incorporating indie and alternative music with popular music. This was a great way to mix in artists that teenagers were more familiar with, like The All American Rejects and Black Eyed Peas, and introduce them to deeper-cut artists like Mazzy Star and Jeff Buckley in more heavy and emotional scenes. 

Music was so impactful on the show that a storyline incorporating more live music was added in season 2. The show introduced “The Bait Shop,” a concert venue on the pier in Orange County where the characters would regularly go to watch a band perform. 

Season 2 featured many iconic music moments, like Seth and Summers’ rainy Spider-Man kiss to “Champagne Supernova” by Oasis, covered by Matt PA, and the Marrissa and Trey fiasco with “Hide and Seek” by Imogen Heep in the background. SNL even spoofed that scene in the hilariously iconic “Dear Sister. ” People familiar with that skit might not realize it’s originally from The O.C. 

The O.C. helped popularize one of the biggest names in alternative rock, The Killers, with their guest-starring role in “The Bait Shop.” The Killers performed “Mr. Brightside” and “Smile Like You Mean It” from their album Hot Fuss, launching them to an American audience. Although they were American, most of their supporters had been from the UK. 

When the camera pans from The Killers singing “Mr Brightside” to Summer walking frantically through the crowd with Zach and Marrisa and then seeing Seth and Ryan with their new dates, you hear the iconic “Jealousy Turning Saints into the Sea” in the background… 10/10. 

All the music-related success on The O.C. was only possible because of Music Supervisor Alexandra Patsavas, who had an ear for the type of music that fit the show’s tone. 

The book Welcome to The O.C: The Oral History mentioned that during the album release of Coldplay’s X&Y, the band gave the show early access to choose a song for a scene. While Coldplay’s team wanted a more upbeat track to accompany the scene, Alex Pastavas heard something special in “Fix You,” which became one of Coldplay’s most-known songs. 

Artists wanted their music included in the show because it was a great platform. As an example, Rooney’s album sales went up 200% after the episode in which they were featured. 

Looking back at the soundtracks on Spotify, I see so many amazing artists, like The Smashing Pumpkins, Rufus Wainwright, Fountains of Wayne, and Damien Rice, who I love so much and who make this soundtrack unique. 

Without the music in The O.C., the show wouldn’t have been the same, and popular music history would be different.  

XX

Sadie 

* Cover photo from the book Welcome to The O.C: The Oral History*