I remember the very first time I saw a preview for NBC’s widely popular show This Is Us. The fact that I could be affected so deeply was compelling, and I found myself on edge each week anticipating the next episode. The show’s popularity stems from its relatability, raw human emotion, and capacity to make you feel. This Is Us portrays real people, who, in many ways resemble us. The situations they face are difficult and authentic. I can relate because either I or someone I know have wrestled through so many of these circumstances.
Thank you to #ThisIsUsMusic for sponsoring this post.
This Is Us
This Is Us debuted on NBC last Fall and follows siblings Kate (Chrissy Metz), Kevin (Justin Hartley), and Randall Pearson (Sterling K. Brown) as their lives intertwine. Born the same day, Randall is the adopted son of parents Jack (Milo Ventimiglia) and Rebecca (Mandy Moore), who lost the third child of their triplet pregnancy. As fate would have it, Randall was born the same day as Kate and Kevin and brought to the same hospital where they were born after his biological father abandoned him.
The series, which has been nominated for 10 Emmy Awards, weaves stories of the past and present and takes place in the 80s, 90s, and present day. Now adults, the show follows each sibling as they search for love, fulfillment, and healing. Through the characters’ stories and the show’s flashback scenes, we see how the events in our lives impact who we become, and how the connections we share can transcend time, distance, and even death.
Season 2 of This Is Us will premiere Tuesday, September 26th, 2017 at 9 pm on NBC. You can also purchase This Is Us: The Complete First Season to relive your favorite moments or binge watch the first season in advance of the coming season.
This Is Us (Music from the Series)
I grew up listening to music, and in our home, I assumed this was normal. My father had an affinity for “the oldies,” but on any given day his stereo would be playing bluegrass, music from the ’50s and ’60s, country, or Michael Jackson. Music can evoke a myriad of emotions, and I often find that what I listen to is highly dependent on my mood.
It wasn’t until I listened to This Is Us (Music from the Series) that I realized just how perfectly aligned the music is with the show. The compilation was curated by This Is Us Creator/Executive Producer Dan Fogelman and his team, music supervisor Jennifer Pyken, and composer/musician Siddhartha Khosla. The playlist features hits and classics that you know and love and an original song composed by Khosla and Chris Pierce and performed by Brian Tyree. Music is creatively used in the series to define a moment or serve as a guide through a complex emotional journey.
There are so many defining moments in the show, but one of the most moving was titled “Memphis,” where Randall and his birth father William set out on a road trip to visit the city which has particular significance for the two of them. I won’t spoil the episode for you if you have yet to see it, however, the song that is played during this trip, We Can Always Come Back To This, is so poignant and appropriate for the connection they shared.
You might recall that Sufjan Stevens’ Death With Dignity played during the debut episode of This Is Us. The compilation also includes a rare cover version of Peter Gabriel’s Come Talk To Me by Goldspot. Each song is intentional, and some, like Goldspot’s Evergreen Cassette, have a unique personal backstory. The song draws on composer Khosla’s early childhood experience of living in India with his grandparents while his parents were living and working in the US. His only form of communication with his parents was an evergreen-colored cassette tape, which featured his mother talking to him, singing songs, and telling him stories.
This Is Us (Music from the Series), features popular songs from the first season of This Is Us and is available on September 15th, 2017 from UMe.
This Is Us Music – Facebook Listening Party (Sept. 15 at 10am PT/1pm ET)
In honor of the release of This Is Us (Music from the Series), join fans everywhere for a global Facebook Listening Party on Friday, September 15th. You can listen to the songs from Season One of This Is Us and share your favorite moments.
Date: Friday September 15, 2017
Time: 10:00AM Pacific/1:00PM Eastern
TRACKLISTING:
This Is Us (Music from the Series)
- Death With Dignity – Sufjan Stevens
- You Can Call Me Al – Paul Simon
- Willin’ – Mandy Moore – Listen on YouTube here
- Can’t Find My Way Home – Blind Faith
- Uptight (Everything’s Alright) – Stevie Wonder
- The Calvary Cross – Richard Thompson & Linda Thompson
- Watch Me – Labi Siffre
- The Wind – Cat Stevens
- Come Talk To Me – Goldspot
- Blues Run The Game – Jackson C. Frank
- If Only – Maria Taylor (featuring Conor Oberst)
- Northern Sky – Nick Drake
- If I Ever Was A Child – Wilco
- Because Of You – Gene Clark
- Evergreen Cassette (Tape Mix) – Goldspot
- Without You – Badfinger
- The World’s Smiling Now – Jim James
- Photograph – Ringo Starr
- We Can Always Come Back To This – Brian Tyree Henry
- This Is Us Score Suite – Siddhartha Khosla
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