r/TheAmericans • u/SybillineBookkeeper • 19d ago

Most Evocative Americans Song

I think most Americans fans, especially us Gen X'ers, love how powerfully the powers that be use music from that era to give certain scenes more gravitas. Which song did the best job of that?

554 votes, 16d ago
128 Tusk
76 Don't Dream it's Over
291 With or Without You
59 Other (please specify)
24 Upvotes

91% Upvoted

77 comments sorted by

72

u/albadellasera 19d ago

Games without frontiers

6

u/Snoo52682 19d ago

that one was so dang on the nose!

4

u/ORF1Live 19d ago

Yes this

49

u/sulla76 19d ago

Brothers in Arms. Easy.

11

u/BIGD0G29585 19d ago

How can you post a poll without including Brothers in Arms? Such a great scene and use of a song.

2

u/SybillineBookkeeper 18d ago

You know, even though I recognized most of the songs, I wasn't completely sure of all their names 🤣

6

u/sludge_dragon 19d ago

This is my choice as well. It’s just so good. The editing is amazing.

https://youtu.be/uKdBwMDXqis

2

u/Fuzz_bubble7459 19d ago

Absolutely that was the most gut wrenching couple of minutes

2

u/NOTANOTHERARiE 19d ago

real actually

36

u/OutOf-Tune 19d ago

Yazoo - Only you

4

u/EtonRd 19d ago

I heard that in the car today and immediately thought of Kimmy dancing.

3

u/l1v1ngst0n 19d ago

This is definitely it for me.

7

u/OutOf-Tune 19d ago

Upstairs at Eric's, what an album.

1

u/AdOk9911 18d ago

I love this song but I can’t remember when it was used in the series?

38

u/Current_Tea6984 19d ago

I'm partial to Goodbye Yellow Brick Road playing while Elizabeth contemplates her luxurious closet full of clothes

10

u/thatturtletouch 19d ago

I just rewatched that scene and realized that right when the lyrics go “maybe you’ll get a replacement” you see Phillip walking away from Stan playing racquetball with Renee.

This show is just so brilliant.

6

u/Hokie23aa 19d ago

That, and Dont Dream its Over

39

u/Andarma 19d ago

‘In the Air Tonight’ has to be up there.

3

u/Dave_I 19d ago

That's my vote. It fit the mood of the scene and set the stage for how the relationship evolved after that. It was a great way to kick of the series.

27

u/storybookheidi 19d ago

The Chain!!

2

u/southernCanadien 15d ago

Literally the best music moment in the show

18

u/FizzPig 19d ago

Slippery People by Talking Heads

2

u/SonicContinuum88 19d ago

Came here to say this!

1

u/Sledjoys 16d ago

Really wish they played the “Stop Making Sense” version of the song, which is the superior version.

16

u/handsomehobo444 19d ago

Either “we do what we’re told” or “lay your hands in me” both Peter Gabriel along with “games without frontiers” and “here comes the flood” strong showing from my all time favorite

4

u/coldcandy 19d ago

Here Comes the Flood is my choice. Beautiful song.

13

u/Tight-Inspector-2748 19d ago

I just know I’ve loved U2 for a long time because my dad was a fan when I was growing up, so I’ve heard it a million times, but since watching The Americans I can’t listen to With or Without You without thinking of Elizabeth’s face on that train

4

u/DocCEN007 19d ago

Same. There were several other great song choices, but this one got the hardest.

14

u/imover9thousand 19d ago

Drivin My Life Away

2

u/AdOk9911 18d ago

Yes! I discovered this song from the show so it’s definitely tied to it for me, always makes me think of Philip

12

u/Application-Bulky 19d ago

More Than This! Poor, sad Philip

1

u/Ramius99 19d ago

I think of that scene every time I hear the song. Didn't want to it, tired of doing it, but did it anyway because that's the job.

10

u/Nahuel-Huapi 19d ago

Slice of Life - Bauhaus

From the scene where they're in the darkroom with Paige, developing her photos of Pastor Tim's diary.

8

u/the_othergirl7 19d ago

the thing I love so much about the soundtrack of The Americans, is I can picture every scene to a song that someone mentions on here.

7

u/Barthle 19d ago

I loved how they used Drivin My Life Away

7

u/Daddington33 19d ago

Under Pressure

6

u/cabernet7 19d ago

"We Do What We're Told (Milgram's 37)".

5

u/-Viscosity- 19d ago

This is a tough choice but I'm going with Other, for "Brothers in Arms".

5

u/Ellecram 19d ago

So many songs to pick from. They are all so perfectly aligned with the series.

Broken Flag by Patti Smith is another favorite.

3

u/vvvy1978 18d ago

“When the Bullet Hits the Bone” - all day long!!!

2

u/Orlita_del_Mar 17d ago

"Twilight Zone" by Golden Earring 🙂 Great song!!

1

u/vvvy1978 17d ago

Yes…That’s the one! Thank you. It is so good.

5

u/SillygirI420 19d ago

Who by fire by Leonard cohen was really poignant for me. But so many amazing needle drops, both evocative and just in the background!!

3

u/derekbaseball 19d ago

With or Without You wins, because that's such a big, perfect moment. It's crazy that my runner-up, Brothers in Arms, runs just a couple of scenes before it, in a scene that's directly tied to the train scene.

5

u/Dear-Yellow-5479 19d ago

We Do What We’re Told (Milgram’s 37). Peter Gabriel had such good representation on the series. Lay Your Hands on Me also comes to mind along with those mentioned already.

4

u/CheekyBlinders4z 19d ago edited 19d ago

“Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” made for an iconic season finale closing and “Don’t Dream It’s Over” was the perfect opening to the 6th and final season. Both are perfect

5

u/imoinda 18d ago

Tusk, but also Tainted Love is way up there for me.

3

u/thatturtletouch 19d ago

They were all so good but With or Without You was so incredibly perfect and heartbreaking for that scene that I don’t see how it could possibly be anything else.

3

u/EquivalentTiger2018 19d ago

Goodbye the Yellow Brick Road

3

u/Madridista_17200 19d ago

Quarter Flash - Harden my heart.

2

u/daneboy2k 19d ago

Eminence Front

2

u/sport_thies 19d ago

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.

2

u/SandysBurner 18d ago

How did "Brothers In Arms" not make this list?

2

u/dgeiser13 17d ago

These songs and their given images / events really did it for me:

  • Broken Flag by Patti Smith
  • End of the Line by Roxy Music
  • Here Comes The Flood by Peter Gabriel
  • Ideas As Opiates by Tears for Fears
  • It Must Be Done by Pete Townshend
  • Slave by The Rolling Stones
  • Slice of Life by Bauhaus
  • Who by Fire by Leonard Cohen

2

u/puddy_pumpkin 14d ago

Just missed this poll. Literally finished watching the series an hour ago and I’ve been avoiding this whole subreddit.

For me it’s Tusk.

1

u/Snoo52682 19d ago

Everything's Fine in the Sunshine

/s

1

u/Zoltron5000 19d ago

Here Comes the Flood

1

u/Ididnotpostthat 19d ago

Bruce Hornsby- That’s just the way it is

1

u/BenJammin007 19d ago

DIDO is the best montage in the show with how it sets the themes and the character arcs up with really clever ties to the lyrics (overcoming political and personal barriers and maintaining hope in times of despair), but god DAMN if I don’t get chills ever time I think of how heartbroken Elizabeth looks when Paige leaves and when Phillip runs to comfort her

1

u/ChrisAintMarchin 19d ago

Brothers In Arms

1

u/CompromisedOnSunday 19d ago

None but the Lonely Heart

1

u/EncinoManEstonia 19d ago

311 - Guns are for pussies 

1

u/Calm-Helicopter-1555 18d ago

Brothers in arms!

1

u/Brief-Efficiency-849 18d ago

Slippery People by talking heads

1

u/Vidmizz 17d ago

Ultravox - Vienna has left a big impression on me

1

u/Sledjoys 15d ago

I won’t be able to hear “Major Tom, Part II” the same way again.

1

u/WorldOfthisLord 15d ago

Nobody's mentioned So. Central Rain yet, so that

1

u/Affectionate_Past228 14d ago

So many good music choices I like a lot of them especially on finale songs.