10 Songs for Fans of Nobody Wants This

A truly great television show does more than just tell a story; it creates a world with a distinct, undeniable vibe. It’s a feeling that lingers long after the credits roll, a specific blend of humor, heart, and aesthetic that you wish you could bottle up and keep. Netflix’s smash hit Nobody Wants This is one of those shows. The story of the whirlwind, unlikely romance between Joanne (Kristen Bell), a sharp-tongued, agnostic writer, and Noah (Adam Brody), a thoughtful, charming rabbi, has captivated audiences with its brilliant wit, emotional depth, and refreshingly honest take on modern love. The show’s vibe is a perfect cocktail: one part intellectual romantic comedy, one part heartfelt drama, with a splash of chaotic, existential angst.

Once you’ve finished binging the series, the immediate question becomes: how do I keep this feeling going? On platforms like TikTok and Pinterest, the trend of creating playlists for a favorite book, character, or show has become a beloved way to extend the narrative experience. It’s about curating a sonic world that captures the essence of the story. This list is exactly that. It is the official unofficial soundtrack for Nobody Wants This, a carefully selected collection of ten songs that mirror the show’s themes, its characters’ internal worlds, and the beautiful, complicated messiness of their relationship. From witty indie rock to soulful, contemplative ballads, these are the songs that Joanne and Noah would have on their respective playlists—and the ones that define the magic of them coming together.

1. "This Life" by Vampire Weekend

The Vibe: The Witty, Existential Rom-Com

This song feels like the internal monologue of the entire series. Vampire Weekend, fronted by Ezra Koenig, has built a career on crafting incredibly catchy, jaunty pop songs that are secretly Trojan horses for deep, often anxious, philosophical questions about faith, love, and identity—a perfect match for a show about a rabbi and an agnostic falling in love. "This Life" is a sun-drenched, deceptively upbeat track that explores the pain and absurdity of navigating relationships in a world that offers no easy answers.

The lyrical content is a direct parallel to the show’s central conflict. Koenig’s repeated, almost cheerful, admission that "pain is as natural as the rain" feels like something straight out of Joanne’s cynical but clear-eyed worldview. The central couple in the song grapples with their own baggage and religious differences ("You've been cheating on, cheating on me / I've been cheating on, cheating on you / We've been cheating on ourselves"). Yet, despite the existential dread, the song is undeniably a love song, an acceptance of the beautiful messiness of it all. The blend of a buoyant, almost beachy guitar riff with deeply complicated lyrics perfectly mirrors the show's ability to be both a laugh-out-loud comedy and a poignant drama. It’s the perfect opening track for the Nobody Wants This experience. The show’s incredible writing is a key part of its success, a quality shared by the greatest HBO dramas of all time.

Listen to "This Life" on Spotify here.

External Link: For a deep dive into the lyrics and their references, the Genius page for "This Life" is an excellent resource.

2. "The Sound" by The 1975

The Vibe: The Chaotic, Self-Aware Pop Hit

If Joanne had a personal anthem, this would be it. "The Sound" by The 1975 is a glorious, unabashedly pop-infused track that is brimming with self-aware, almost sarcastic, intelligence. It’s a song that is both a celebration and a deconstruction of a modern relationship, with a frantic, infectious energy that perfectly matches Joanne’s fast-talking, slightly chaotic personality. The song is driven by a pulsating house piano riff and a driving beat, creating a sound that is both euphoric and relentlessly anxious.

Lyrically, Matty Healy captures the feeling of a relationship built on intellectual sparring and witty banter. Lines like, "We're all just a self-obsessed, post-ironic, mess of a generation," feel like a direct quote from Joanne's podcast. The song is about the noise, the chatter, and the constant need for validation in the modern world, but it’s also about finding one person who understands your specific brand of cleverness. It’s a song that is deeply in love with the sound of its own voice, in the most charming way possible—a perfect match for a protagonist who makes her living with her words. It’s a track that would feel right at home in a different kind of witty, dialogue-driven show, like one of these rewatchable Gilmore Girls episodes.

Listen to "The Sound" on Spotify here.

3. "Work Song" by Hozier

The Vibe: The Sacred and Profane Devotion

After the frantic energy of the first two tracks, "Work Song" shifts the mood to something deeper, more soulful, and almost spiritual. Hozier is a master of blending the sacred and the profane, and this song is a perfect representation of the profound, almost religious devotion that Noah feels for Joanne, a love that transcends their different belief systems. The song is a bluesy, gospel-tinged ballad, a work chant from the perspective of a man who finds his heaven and his absolution in his lover.

The lyrics are breathtakingly romantic and perfectly capture the show's interfaith themes from Noah's perspective. When he sings, "My lover's got humor / She's the giggle at a funeral," it's impossible not to think of Joanne's irreverent charm. The central, powerful declaration of the chorus—"No grave can hold my body down / I'll crawl home to her"—is a statement of a love so powerful it defies death itself. This is the song that plays in Noah’s head when he looks at Joanne. It acknowledges the darkness and the struggle ("I was born sick, but I love it"), but finds ultimate salvation in the sanctuary of another person's love. It’s a song of deep, unwavering commitment, a core theme in any strong and lasting relationship.

Listen to "Work Song" on Spotify here.

4. "Love You For A Long Time" by Maggie Rogers

The Vibe: The Pure, Uncomplicated Joy

While much of Nobody Wants This is built on witty conflict and complex emotional terrain, at its heart is a simple, beautiful, and deeply joyful love story. "Love You For A Long Time" by Maggie Rogers is the perfect sonic representation of that pure, uncomplicated joy. The song is a breezy, banjo-driven, and utterly infectious folk-pop anthem about a love that feels both exhilaratingly new and comfortingly timeless. It’s the sound of running through a field in the sunshine, the feeling of finally letting your guard down and surrendering to happiness.

The song perfectly captures the moments in Joanne and Noah’s relationship where the cynicism and the complications fall away, leaving only a simple, profound affection. The lyrics are a straightforward declaration of enduring love: "Oh, I'm in love, I'm in love / And I'll love you for a long, long time." Maggie Rogers’ soaring, joyful vocals are full of a radiant warmth that is impossible to resist. This is the song for the montage of their best moments—the shared laughter, the stolen kisses, the quiet moments of understanding. It’s a blast of pure, heartfelt optimism, a reminder that even the most complicated relationships are built on a foundation of simple, happy moments. It's a song that would feel at home in a classic, feel-good movie, like one of these cozy Disney+ favorites.

Listen to "Love You For A Long Time" on Spotify here.

5. "New York" by St. Vincent

The Vibe: The Smart, Heartbreaking Modern Ballad

Annie Clark, the brilliant artist behind St. Vincent, is a master of crafting music that is intellectually sharp, emotionally complex, and sonically innovative—much like Joanne herself. "New York" is a beautiful, melancholic piano ballad that perfectly captures the specific, adult heartbreak of losing the one person who was your everything in a big, lonely city. It’s a song about a shared history, inside jokes, and the gaping hole that is left when your "only hero" is gone.

This song represents the dramatic, emotional undercurrent of the series. While the show is a comedy, it never shies away from the real pain and vulnerability that comes with falling in love. The lyrics are a series of intimate, specific snapshots: "You're the only motherfucker in the city / Who can handle me." It's a line that feels like it could have been written about Noah from Joanne’s perspective. The song is a beautiful and devastating tribute to a singular, irreplaceable connection. It’s a reminder that the same relationship that brings you the greatest joy can also bring you the greatest pain. It’s a sophisticated, heartbreaking, and utterly beautiful song for a sophisticated and heartbreakingly beautiful show. The song's ability to tell a profound story in a few short minutes is a testament to its artistry, a quality shared by some of the greatest MCU masterpieces.

Listen to "New York" on Spotify here.

External Link: The music publication Pitchfork's review of the album Masseduction provides a great critical context for this incredible song.

6. "Holocene" by Bon Iver

The Vibe: The Quiet, Contemplative Vulnerability

If "The Sound" is Joanne’s anthem, then "Holocene" is Noah’s. This breathtakingly beautiful and atmospheric song from Bon Iver is the sound of quiet introspection, of grappling with your own significance in a vast and overwhelming world. The song is built around a delicate, cyclical guitar pattern and Justin Vernon’s ethereal falsetto, creating a sense of intimate, almost fragile, beauty. It’s a song for the quiet, contemplative moments, for the periods of doubt and vulnerability that both characters experience.

The lyrics are a series of poetic, fragmented images that culminate in the devastatingly humble realization, "And at once I knew I was not magnificent." This is a sentiment that speaks directly to Noah's character—a man who, despite his position of authority as a rabbi, is deeply thoughtful, humble, and aware of his own flaws. It’s a song about finding a strange beauty in your own insignificance. For a relationship between two people from such different worlds, there are bound to be quiet moments of doubt and introspection. "Holocene" is the soundtrack to those moments, a beautiful and haunting song that captures the quiet, emotional depth of the series. It’s a song that pairs perfectly with a quiet evening and a compelling story, like one of these 10 fall romances.

Listen to "Holocene" on Spotify here.

7. "The Steps" by HAIM

The Vibe: The Fiery, Independent Frustration

This Grammy-nominated track from the sister-trio HAIM is a blast of sun-drenched, Fleetwood Mac-inspired rock and roll, and it perfectly captures Joanne’s fiery, independent, and often frustrated spirit. The song is a powerful anthem about being in a relationship with someone you love but who doesn't seem to understand you. It’s about the frustration of feeling like you are always one step ahead, or at least on a completely different path.

The lyrics are a direct hit: "Every time I think that I've been taking the steps to walk away / I find myself wanting to stay." This perfectly encapsulates the push-and-pull dynamic of Joanne and Noah's early relationship. The chorus, a powerful cry of "And you don't understand me / And you don't understand me," is a universal feeling in any relationship that is struggling to bridge a gap in communication or understanding. It’s a song that is both a declaration of independence and a vulnerable admission of wanting to make it work. It’s a perfect, rock-and-roll-infused addition to the soundtrack of a complicated, modern love story. The song celebrates a strong female voice, a quality we also praised in our ranking of the best Gilmore Girls characters.

Listen to "The Steps" on Spotify here.

External Link: The official music video for "The Steps" is a brilliant, stylish, and funny piece of art that perfectly captures the song's energy.

8. "I Need My Girl" by The National

The Vibe: The Aching, Overwhelming Need

This is the song for the moment in the romantic comedy when it stops being funny. "I Need My Girl," by the indie-rock band The National, is a simple, repetitive, and absolutely devastating song about the profound, aching loneliness of being separated from the one person you need most. The song is built around a simple, cyclical guitar line and Matt Berninger's signature, melancholic baritone. The lyrics are a sparse, desperate mantra repeated over and over: "I need my girl."

This track represents the emotional climax of the series, the moment when both Joanne and Noah must confront the undeniable, terrifying depth of their feelings for each other. It’s the soundtrack to the dark-night-of-the-soul moment, where the witty banter and the intellectual defenses fall away, leaving only a raw, vulnerable need. The song's hypnotic, almost obsessive quality perfectly captures the feeling of being completely consumed by your love for another person. It’s a beautiful, heartbreaking, and deeply romantic song that speaks to the powerful, emotional core of the show. It’s a song that taps into the kind of deep emotion that defines the best HBO dramas.

Listen to "I Need My Girl" on Spotify here.

9. "Dog Days Are Over" by Florence + The Machine

The Vibe: The Euphoric, Life-Changing Breakthrough

After the darkness comes the light. "Dog Days Are Over" is a song of pure, unadulterated, and explosive joy. It’s a euphoric, gospel-tinged indie-pop anthem that perfectly captures the feeling of a sudden, life-changing breakthrough. The song builds from a simple, ukulele-and-harp intro to a massive, thundering crescendo of drums, handclaps, and a full choir. It is the sound of happiness arriving like a freight train.

This song is the perfect musical representation of the moment in the series when Joanne and Noah finally, truly commit to each other, a moment of pure, uninhibited joy. The lyrics, "The dog days are over / The dog days are done / The horses are coming / So you better run," are a declaration of a new beginning, a call to leave the past behind and run headfirst into a brighter future. It’s a song of pure, cathartic release, a perfect, celebratory anthem for a love story that has overcome its obstacles. It’s a song that makes you want to dance, to sing, and to believe in the power of a happy ending. It's a song that would be the perfect finale for any great story, from a TV show to one of the best movies of the year.

Listen to "Dog Days Are Over" on Spotify here.

10. "Suzanne" by Leonard Cohen

The Vibe: The Spiritual and Romantic Foundation

Finally, we end with a foundational text. Leonard Cohen, the legendary poet and songwriter, was a master of weaving together the spiritual, the sensual, and the romantic, and his iconic song "Suzanne" feels like the patron saint of a story like Nobody Wants This. The song is a beautiful, hypnotic, and deeply poetic folk ballad that tells the story of a deep, almost mystical connection with a woman who "touches your perfect body with her mind."

This song, with its allusions to Jesus and its deeply spiritual tone, is a perfect musical touchstone for the character of Noah, the thoughtful rabbi. But it’s also a song about a love that transcends the physical, a deep intellectual and spiritual connection, which is the foundation of his relationship with Joanne. The line, "And you want to travel with her / And you want to travel blind," perfectly captures the leap of faith required to fall in love, especially with someone from a completely different world. It’s a song of incredible beauty, depth, and intelligence, a quiet masterpiece that speaks to the profound, soulful connection that makes Joanne and Noah's love story so special.

Listen to "Suzanne" on Spotify here.

Conclusion

The ten songs on this playlist are more than just a collection of great music; they are a sonic journey that mirrors the emotional arc of Nobody Wants This. They capture the witty banter, the chaotic energy, the profound devotion, and the heartfelt joy of Joanne and Noah's incredible love story. Like the show itself, this playlist celebrates the beauty of opposites attracting, the power of a true intellectual connection, and the simple, radical act of choosing love in a complicated world. So, put on this playlist, close your eyes, and let the vibe of one of the best new shows on television wash over you all over again.

Stream Nobody Wants This now on Netflix.

External Links

1. Spotify: The world's largest music streaming service, where you can find all the songs on this list.

2. Genius: A massive database of song lyrics and crowdsourced musical knowledge.

3. Pitchfork: A leading online music publication known for its in-depth reviews and critical analysis.

4. Rolling Stone - Music: A legendary magazine with news, reviews, and lists covering all genres of music.

5. AllMusic: A comprehensive database of information about albums, artists, and songs.

6. Bandcamp: A great platform for discovering and supporting independent artists directly.

7. Hozier's Official YouTube Channel: Watch music videos and live performances from the acclaimed artist.

8. NPR Music's Tiny Desk Concerts: A wonderful series of intimate, live performances from a wide range of artists.

FAQs

1. What is the genre of the music on this playlist? The playlist is primarily indie pop and indie rock, with elements of folk, soul, and R&B. It reflects the eclectic, intelligent, and contemporary feel of the show.

2. Who is the music supervisor for Nobody Wants This? While the specific music supervisor for a 2025 show would be speculative, a real-life supervisor like Alexandra Patsavas (Grey's Anatomy, The O.C.) or Jen Malone (Euphoria, Atlanta) would be known for this kind of character-driven, indie-heavy soundtrack.

3. Are there any official playlists for the show? Netflix and services like Spotify and Apple Music often release official playlists for their hit shows. You can search for "Nobody Wants This Official Playlist" on your preferred streaming service.

   
   

4. I loved the witty, lyrical songs. Which artists should I check out? If you love witty lyrics, definitely dive deeper into the catalogues of Vampire Weekend, St. Vincent, and The 1975. You might also enjoy artists like Father John Misty, Courtney Barnett, and Phoebe Bridgers.

5. What does "Indie Sleaze" mean? "Indie Sleaze" is a social media aesthetic trend that romanticizes the look and sound of the indie rock and party scene of the late 2000s and early 2010s. It's characterized by a certain kind of messy, chaotic, and effortlessly cool energy.

6. Are there any Jewish artists on this playlist? Yes, Ezra Koenig of Vampire Weekend and the three sisters of HAIM are all prominent Jewish artists who often explore their identity and culture in their music. Leonard Cohen was also from a Jewish family, and his work is deeply informed by religious and spiritual themes.

7. What is a "Sad Girl Autumn" playlist? "Sad Girl Autumn" is a popular seasonal playlist trend, particularly on Spotify and TikTok. It typically features moody, atmospheric, and emotionally introspective music from artists like Bon Iver, The National, Taylor Swift (her Folklore and Evermore albums), and Phoebe Bridgers.

8. Where can I find other fan-made playlists for TV shows? Spotify is the best place for this. Simply searching for the title of your favourite TV show will almost always bring up dozens of user-curated playlists designed to capture the show's specific vibe or the personality of a particular character.

9. I love the song "Suzanne." What other Leonard Cohen songs should I listen to? If you love "Suzanne," you should definitely listen to other classics from his early career, like "So Long, Marianne," "Hallelujah," and "Famous Blue Raincoat."

10. What is the significance of the "Work Song" by Hozier? "Work Song" is beloved by fans for its powerful, romantic lyrics and its soulful, gospel-like feel. It’s a song about a love so powerful it transcends even death, a theme of almost religious devotion that makes it a popular choice for romantic and thematic playlists.