Honestly, the first thing you notice about Nobody Wants This isn't the chemistry between Kristen Bell and Adam Brody, though that’s obviously off the charts. It’s the music. It hits you fast. From the second Joanne and Noah start their "will-they-won't-they" dance across Los Angeles, the soundtrack to Nobody Wants This acts like a third character in the room. It’s messy. It’s cool. It feels exactly like a playlist your funniest, most slightly-stressed-out friend would send you at 2:00 AM.
Music supervisor Estera Dabrowska deserves a massive raise for this one. She didn't just dump a bunch of Top 40 hits into the background and call it a day. Instead, we got this weirdly perfect blend of Y2K nostalgia, indie sleaze, and some genuinely deep cuts that make the whole "Agnostic podcaster meets Hot Rabbi" vibe actually work. It’s a vibe. It’s a very specific, sun-drenched, slightly anxious Los Angeles vibe.
The Power of the Right Vibe
Most rom-coms play it safe. They use the same five acoustic covers you’ve heard in every elevator since 2015. But the soundtrack to Nobody Wants This takes risks. It uses Olivia Rodrigo’s "love is embarrassing" not just as background noise, but as a literal punchline for Joanne’s chaotic dating life. It’s relatable. It’s painful. We’ve all been there.
The show opens with "See You" by Casmira, which sets a tone that is both upbeat and incredibly fleeting. That’s the crux of the show, right? This idea that everything is great until it isn't. The music mirrors that tension perfectly. You’re vibing to a track, and then suddenly the lyrics remind you that relationships are basically a series of small, polite disasters.
Why "Walking on a Dream" Still Slaps
One of the standout moments involves Empire of the Sun. Now, "Walking on a Dream" is nearly twenty years old, which feels fake, but it’s true. Putting it in a show in 2024 (and 2025) could have felt dated. Instead, it felt like a homecoming. It captures that specific high of a new crush where you feel invincible and also like you might throw up.
There's a science to this. It’s called associative memory. When we hear a song from a specific era of our lives, our brains fire off dopamine in a way that makes the current scene on screen feel more "real." By mixing these older hits with newer artists like Remi Wolf or Haim, the show bridges the gap between the millennials watching it and the Gen Z characters roaming around the periphery.
Every Song Tells a Story (No, Seriously)
If you look at the tracklist, it’s not just a random collection of songs. It’s a roadmap. Take "Drive" by Clean Bandit and Topic. It’s sleek. It’s modern. It fits the aesthetic of a high-end podcast studio and a sleek silver car weaving through traffic.
📖 Related: Alfonso Cuarón: Why the Harry Potter 3 Director Changed the Wizarding World Forever
Then you have something like "Know That I Know" by Lake Street Dive. It’s soulful. It’s grounded. It represents the "Rabbi Noah" side of the equation—tradition, warmth, and something a bit more substantial than a viral soundbite. The soundtrack to Nobody Wants This balances these two worlds: the fast-paced, digital world of Joanne and the slower, more deliberate world of Noah’s faith and family.
It’s about contrast.
I noticed a lot of people on Reddit and TikTok scrambling to Shazaam the songs during Episode 4. That’s usually the sign of a hit soundtrack. When people care more about the song playing during a breakup than the breakup itself, you’ve done something right. Artists like Eloise and her track "You, Dear" bring a level of intimacy that dialogue sometimes can’t reach.
The Deep Cuts You Might Have Missed
While everyone is talking about the big names, the real gold is in the smaller artists. "Bye Bye Bye" might get a laugh because of the Deadpool resurgence, but hearing tracks like "Mini Skirt" by Magneite or "Honey" by Coastal Elites gives the show a "cool hunter" edge. It doesn't feel like a corporate product. It feels like a mixtape.
- Casmira - "See You": The ultimate "I’m cute and I know it" anthem.
- Rilo Kiley - "Portions for Foxes": A classic for anyone who has ever made a bad romantic choice.
- Haim - "Now I'm In It": Because you can't have a show set in modern LA without the Haim sisters. It’s literally a law.
- Remi Wolf - "Cinderella": Pure, unadulterated chaos in song form.
How the Soundtrack Changes the Rom-Com Game
Let’s be real. The rom-com genre was dying. It got too sugary. Too fake. Nobody Wants This works because it’s cynical and sweet at the same time. The music reflects that. You’ll have a scene that feels like a classic Nora Ephron moment, but the music is jagged and indie.
It subverts expectations.
👉 See also: Why the Cast of Hold Your Breath 2024 Makes This Dust Bowl Horror Actually Work
When Noah and Joanne have their first real "moment," the music doesn't swell into a massive orchestral climax. It stays small. It stays human. That’s the trick. If the music is too big, the emotions feel unearned. By keeping the soundtrack to Nobody Wants This grounded in indie-pop and alternative R&B, the creators let the actors do the heavy lifting.
Finding the Full Playlist
If you’re looking to recreate the vibe of the show in your own life (minus the complicated family dynamics and religious dilemmas), most of these tracks are curated on Spotify and Apple Music under official Netflix playlists. But don't just stick to the official one. There are some fan-made lists that include the transition snippets and the incidental music that really captures the "Joanne" energy.
The show uses music to signal transitions better than almost any other comedy right now. Think about the way a bassline starts just two seconds before a scene cuts. It keeps the energy up. It prevents the "sitcom lag" where scenes feel like they’re dragging. It’s snappy. It’s edited with the rhythm of the music in mind, which is something a lot of directors overlook.
The Cultural Impact of the Music Selection
We are seeing a massive "Netflix Effect" on these songs. Just like Stranger Things revived Kate Bush, this show is giving a second life to tracks that might have been overlooked. "You Should See Me in a Crown" by Billie Eilish is a massive hit, sure, but in this specific context, it takes on a different meaning. It’s about power dynamics in a relationship.
It’s also interesting to see how the music handles the Jewish elements of the show. It doesn't lean into stereotypes. It doesn't use "wedding band" music every time Noah is on screen. It treats his world with the same modern musical lens as it treats Joanne’s. That’s a subtle but important choice. It makes his world feel accessible and current, not like a relic of the past.
The Joanne vs. Noah Musical Divide
If you pay attention, Joanne’s scenes are often backed by high-bpm, synth-heavy tracks. It represents her anxiety, her fast-talking podcast persona, and her constant need for stimulation. Noah’s scenes, especially when he’s away from her, tend to be more melodic and acoustic.
✨ Don't miss: Is Steven Weber Leaving Chicago Med? What Really Happened With Dean Archer
When they come together, the music blends.
This is most apparent in the middle episodes where the two styles start to bleed into each other. You get indie-folk tracks with a drum machine. You get pop songs with a soulful vocal. It’s a sonic representation of two people from different worlds trying to find a middle ground.
Practical Steps to Curating Your Own "Nobody" Vibe
If you want to pull this sound into your own life, you need to look for a specific intersection of genres. It’s not just "pop." It’s "Smart Pop."
- Start with the Staples: Get some Rilo Kiley and Haim on there. That’s your foundation. It gives you that "California Cool" base that doesn't feel like it's trying too hard.
- Add the Modern Edge: Look for artists like Remi Wolf, Olivia Rodrigo, and Billie Eilish. These provide the "bite" that keeps the playlist from getting too soft.
- Don't Forget the "Indie Sleaze": A little bit of early 2000s indie goes a long way. Think Metric or The Postal Service. It adds a layer of nostalgia that feels sophisticated rather than cheesy.
- Keep it Mid-Tempo: Most of the soundtrack to Nobody Wants This stays in that sweet spot where you can either dance to it or drive to it. Avoid the extremes—nothing too slow, nothing too aggressive.
- Focus on Lyrics: The songs in the show often comment on the action. Look for tracks that feel like they're telling a story about being a slightly messy adult.
The reality is that this soundtrack works because it feels curated by a person, not an algorithm. It has "flaws." It has weird jumps in genre. It has songs that shouldn't work together but somehow do. That’s the lesson here: if you want your life (or your content) to feel authentic, stop trying to make it perfect. Make it sound like you.
Listen to the lyrics of "Walking on a Dream" again. It’s about the uncertainty of the future and the thrill of the present. That is exactly what the show is about. It’s about two people who have every reason to stay apart but choose to walk into the dream anyway. The music isn't just decoration; it’s the heartbeat of the whole thing.
Stop skipping the credits. The best songs are often buried right at the end of the episode when the screen goes black and you’re left processing whatever emotional mess Joanne and Noah just got themselves into. That’s where the real gems live.
Actionable Insights:
- Search for "Nobody Wants This Official Playlist" on your streaming platform to get the direct licensed tracks.
- Check out the artist Casmira if you liked the opening vibe; her other work carries that same "Main Character" energy.
- Pay attention to the lyrics during the transition scenes; they often foreshadow the conflict of the next episode, making for a much deeper viewing experience.
- Follow Estera Dabrowska on social media or music platforms; music supervisors often share the "almost made it" tracks that didn't get licensed but fit the vibe.