When one thinks of the sitcom Friends, it’s hard to remember any song other than the theme tune.
As with many American shows of the era, it opened with a tune than became synonymous with the six twenty-somethings from New York. It was by a band called the Rembrandts; titled I’ll Be There For You, it was perhaps intended to convey a message of friendship. As the show grew to become a phenomenon, it catapulted the band and the song to worldwide acclaim.
Friends was a phenomenon throughout the late nineties and early noughties. It penetrated many aspects of digital media, and although it didn’t spawn a film, there was a recent 25-year reunion show that Variety suggests drew significant viewers. Warner Brothers also released an app called Friends 25, which celebrated 25 years of the show in conjunction with the reunion, and that isn’t the only depiction on digital devices. There is also a Slingo title on Foxy Bingo called Friends Slingo, which uses the familiar branding that brought joy to so many. There was also a trivia game released on PlayStation 2, named ‘The One With All The Trivia’, which is as fun today as ever. Friends was everywhere in the nineties and is still popular today despite some rather dated attitudes with some plots.
There is a reason it was so revered and continues to be. It found the perfect blend of great stars, wonderful guests and cameos, and slow-burning storylines that lasted for a whole series, despite each episode being watchable as a standalone show. It also incorporated some great music throughout the ten series run, the best of which we’ve picked out below. Enjoy!
David Bowie – “Space Oddity”
The music tastes of the group were rarely explored in any depth, but there are hints that both Chandler and Joey were big Bowie fans. Chandler is seen singing it on VHS at the end of series five, whilst Joey uses it as an apology to Phoebe at the start of season six. Released in 1969, Space Oddity was first seen as a novelty record, and only after a couple more studio albums and a rerelease did it become the hit it is known as today. Bowie was a trendsetter and influential musician, and it’s hard to imagine this song being disregarded as a novelty track in the same vein as Lily The Pink, Two Little Boys and In The Year 2525.
U2 – “With or Without You”
With or Without You was used three times during Friends and always connected with Ross and Rachel’s on/off relationship. It appeared in series two when Ross realises Rachel is in love with him, and again in series three, in the infamous ‘we were on a break’ episode. In real life, it was the third track from U2’s album The Joshua Tree, which became the fastest-selling album in British history in 1987. It was their first number one in both the US and Canada, although it only reached number four in the UK.
Hootie and the Blowfish – “Hold My Hand”
The group rarely went to a gig; instead, they just ate ‘someplace nice’ on more than one occasion. They did attend a single live music event, watching Hootie and the Blowfish in series 2. The band had one of the biggest selling albums of 1995, so their inclusion in the show was topical. The band didn’t feature, but their music did, and we see the gang enjoying the gig. The song peaked at number two in the mainstream US top 40 but struggled to impact worldwide, which is probably why UK fans might not be familiar with it.
Interpol – “Untitled”
One of the least known tracks on the list comes from post-punk revivalists Interpol. They were formed in New York in 1997 and appeared in season nine of the show. It was during the bizarre Joey and Rachel hook up, one of the storylines viewers tend to prefer never happened. It was the first track from their 2002 album Turn On The Bright Lights, hailed as a seminal album of the noughties.
