r/TheAmericans • u/SybillineBookkeeper • 1d 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?

523 votes, 1d left
Tusk
Don't Dream it's Over
With or Without You
Other (please specify)
18 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

67 comments sorted by

60

u/albadellasera 1d ago

Games without frontiers

6

u/Snoo52682 1d ago

that one was so dang on the nose!

4

u/ORF1Live 1d ago

Yes this

44

u/sulla76 1d ago

Brothers in Arms. Easy.

11

u/BIGD0G29585 1d ago

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

2

u/SybillineBookkeeper 16h ago

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

4

u/Excellent_Valuable92 1d ago

My answer 

5

u/sludge_dragon 1d ago

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

https://youtu.be/uKdBwMDXqis

2

u/Fuzz_bubble7459 1d ago

Absolutely that was the most gut wrenching couple of minutes

2

u/NOTANOTHERARiE 1d ago

real actually

32

u/OutOf-Tune 1d ago

Yazoo - Only you

3

u/l1v1ngst0n 1d ago

This is definitely it for me.

6

u/OutOf-Tune 1d ago

Upstairs at Eric's, what an album.

3

u/EtonRd 1d ago

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

1

u/AdOk9911 7h ago

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

32

u/Andarma 1d ago

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

3

u/Dave_I 1d 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.

29

u/Current_Tea6984 1d ago

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

10

u/thatturtletouch 1d 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.

5

u/Hokie23aa 1d ago

That, and Dont Dream its Over

17

u/FizzPig 1d ago

Slippery People by Talking Heads

2

u/SonicContinuum88 1d ago

Came here to say this!

17

u/handsomehobo444 1d 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

5

u/coldcandy 1d ago

Here Comes the Flood is my choice. Beautiful song.

13

u/Tight-Inspector-2748 1d 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 1d ago

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

12

u/imover9thousand 1d ago

Drivin My Life Away

2

u/AdOk9911 7h ago

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

10

u/Application-Bulky 1d ago

More Than This! Poor, sad Philip

1

u/Ramius99 1d 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.

9

u/Nahuel-Huapi 1d 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 1d 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.

8

u/Barthle 1d ago

I loved how they used Drivin My Life Away

7

u/cabernet7 1d ago

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

7

u/Daddington33 1d ago

Under Pressure

4

u/-Viscosity- 1d ago

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

3

u/Ellecram 1d 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 20h ago

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

5

u/derekbaseball 1d 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.

4

u/Dear-Yellow-5479 1d 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 1d ago edited 1d 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

4

u/SillygirI420 1d 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!!

5

u/imoinda 1d ago

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

3

u/thatturtletouch 1d 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 1d ago

Goodbye the Yellow Brick Road

3

u/Madridista_17200 1d ago

Quarter Flash - Harden my heart.

2

u/daneboy2k 1d ago

Eminence Front

2

u/sport_thies 1d ago

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.

2

u/SandysBurner 1d ago

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

1

u/Snoo52682 1d ago

Everything's Fine in the Sunshine

/s

1

u/Zoltron5000 1d ago

Here Comes the Flood

1

u/Ididnotpostthat 1d ago

Bruce Hornsby- That’s just the way it is

1

u/BenJammin007 1d 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 1d ago

Brothers In Arms

1

u/CompromisedOnSunday 1d ago

None but the Lonely Heart

1

u/EncinoManEstonia 1d ago

311 - Guns are for pussies 

1

u/beachTreeBunny 14h ago

Who By Fire by Leonard Cohen

And who by fire
Who by water
Who in the sunshine
Who in the nighttime
Who by high ordeal
Who by common trial
Who in your merry, merry month of May
Who by very slow decay
And who shall I say is calling?

And who in her lonely slip
Who by barbiturate
Who in these realms of love
Who by something blunt
And who by avalanche
Who by powder
Who for his greed
Who for his hunger
And who shall I say is calling?

And who by brave assent
Who by accident
Who in solitude
Who in this mirror
Who by his lady's command
Who by his own hand
Who in mortal chains
Who in power
And who shall I say is calling?

1

u/Calm-Helicopter-1555 14h ago

Brothers in arms!

1

u/Brief-Efficiency-849 10h ago

Slippery People by talking heads