Soundtracks: Songs That Defined History - Season 1
Season 1
Episodes
The Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
The series premiere explores the music that kept the spirit of the civil rights movement alive following King's death–from James Brown's black power anthem, "Say It Loud (I'm Black and I'm Proud)" to Kendrick Lamar's searing protest song, "Alright," inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement. The music in the episode celebrates the strength and solidarity of the African American experience while reminding us how far we still have to go.
September 11th
Following the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, songs like Billy Joel's "New York State of Mind" took on a new and heightened meaning and politically charged country music took center stage.
Kent State and the Vietnam War
Following the killings of four Kent State University students during anti-Vietnam War protests, politically driven songs from Neil Young, Buffalo Springfield and others became popular.
Hurricane Katrina
Following Hurricane Katrina, international artists from U2 to Kanye West joined New Orleans musicians in benefit concerts to help ensure the city's rich traditions survived.
The Berlin Wall and the Fall of Communism
Charting the course of the Cold War in Berlin through music revealing how it helped to sow the seeds of rebellion.
The Space Race
Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin's moonwalk inspired musicians from David Bowie and the Byrds to Parliament-Funkadelic and Sun Ra to imagine a cosmic future for mankind.
Battle of the Sexes
Billie Jean King's win against Bobby Riggs in their tennis match was an incredible moment for the women's movement and ushered in music that delivered messages of female empowerment.
Out, Loud, & Proud
The episode tracks the beginning of the gay rights movement in America following the riots at Stonewall Inn and how music has played a vital role in celebrating and preaching tolerance of the LGBT community.
Recently Updated Shows
Next Gen NYC
Next Gen NYC follows a tangled web of friends raised in the spotlight — or at least close enough for good lighting — as they stumble into adulthood one brunch, breakup and spontaneous decision at a time. Whether stepping out of their parents' shadows or creating their own legacies from scratch, these twentysomethings are determined to conquer Manhattan — if they can figure out how to adult first. Together, they'll navigate friendships, careers and romance, proving that trouble runs on espresso martinis and questionable decisions.
Lioness
Lioness, inspired by an actual U.S. Military program, follows the life of Joe while she attempts to balance her personal and professional life as the tip of the CIA's spear in the war on terror. The Lioness Program, overseen by Kaitlyn Meade and Donald Westfield, enlists an aggressive Marine Raider named Cruz to operate undercover alongside Joe among the power brokers of State terrorism in the CIA's efforts to thwart the next 9/11.
Dark Matter
Hailed as one of the best sci-fi novels of the decade, Dark Matter is a story about the road not taken. The series follows Jason Dessen, a physicist, professor, and family man who – one night while walking home on the streets of Chicago – is abducted into an alternate version of his life. Wonder quickly turns to nightmare when he tries to return to his reality amid the multiverse of lives he could have lived. In this labyrinth of mind-bending realities, he embarks on a harrowing journey to get back to his true family and save them from the most terrifying, unbeatable foe imaginable: himself.
