There are so many legendary aspects of The Sopranos that it’s hard to pick just one. Between the masterful storytelling, deep character development, and incredible acting, everything comes together to create a show that has been beloved for over two decades now. However, the most artistic aspect of the package might just be the use of music, especially the unique songs handpicked by creator David Chase himself and played during the end credits of each episode.
From oldies, country ballads, jazz compositions, and pure instrumentals, the variety is staggering and could keep you exploring the series’ playlist for days. We’ve narrowed down all the end credits songs to 15 of the best from the series, listed in chronological order. Enjoy!
“Look on Down from the Bridge” by Mazzy Star A great father-son moment between Tony and A.J. The ending of this episode is accompanied by this beautiful song by Mazzy Star. A.J. sees his father in a whole new light after Meadow tells him he’s a mafia member, but a simple smile and wink from Tony reassures the youngest Soprano that he’ll definitely still be “looking down from the bridge” and consider family his only priority in life, no matter what kind of criminal career he tries to hide on a daily basis.
Season 1 Episode 7: Down Neck “White Rabbit” by Jefferson Airplane This episode follows the show’s pattern of choosing to play a song earlier in an episode and then playing it again during the final scene and intro. The Jefferson Airplane hit alludes to drug use and intoxication, thus changing a person in the process. The song plays when Tony is taking prozac mid-episode and in the final scene when Tony and A.J. share an ice cream sundae and some whipped cream. No matter how therapy and medication try to change Tony’s life, he’ll still be the same man: a depressed mafia don and a soft-hearted father to his children.
Season 2 Episode 10: Bust Out “Wheel in the Sky” from Journey If you haven’t noticed by the time you finish watching the show, The Sopranos loves to point out how all the characters are stuck in the lifestyles they’ve chosen or been forced into. Tony has betrayed him at every turn by the end of season 2: Richie and Janice plot to get rid of him, Carmela falls for a painter who’s working on the family home, and Pussy’s tip-off to the FBI comes to a head. But “the wheel in the sky keeps turning.” Tony ends the episode having fun with A.J. on the Stugotz, saying he “doesn’t know where I’ll be tomorrow” but he’s going to enjoy the time he has now.
“I Saved the World Today” by Eurythmics Tony returns home after dumping Richie Aprile’s body after Janice shot him over a family dispute. After informing Carmela of the bloody events of the night before, she quickly moves on to laying out a list of chores and household responsibilities at Tony’s feet for the next week while she’s on vacation with Ro Aprile. This fitting Eurythmics song exemplifies everything Tony should be in the lives of his friends and family: always there to save the world for them.
