While the finale somewhat tarnished its reputation, How I Met Your Mother is widely regarded as one of the best and most creative sitcoms of the 21st century. The show consistently generated acclaim for its performances, writing, creative use of time, and the unique blending of comedy and heartfelt drama.
One of the most underappreciated aspects of the show's production is its incredible soundtrack. Like Scrubs, How I Met Your Mother always had a penchant for finding little-known songs and utilizing them to absolute perfection in a certain sequence. A great song choice can go a long way in perfecting a scene.
This Modern Love
Season one ended in spectacular fashion. Ted "made it rain" for Robin, and Lily called off her engagement to Marshall. While Ted makes his way over to Robin's, Bloc Party's "This Modern Love" begins playing in the background.
The song is used to perfection throughout the proceeding sequence - like rising when Ted and Robin finally kiss and fading out as Ted sits on the steps with a broken Marshall. It's a great song, and it caps season one in amazing fashion.
Shake It Out
Florence + The Machine's "Shake It Out" plays at the end of the seventh season episode "No Pressure", and it couldn't have made for a more perfect fit. Robin admits to Ted that she doesn't love him, and while Ted puts on a brave face, he is crushed by the admission. However, he admits that Robin's admission has allowed him to finally move on.
When he emerges from the bar, the street is filled with yellow umbrellas while "Shake It Out" rises to a triumphant crescendo. It's a gorgeous symbol, and it's paired with a gorgeous song.
The Funeral
The season eight premiere, Farhampton, ends with Klaus explaining the concept of "lebenslangerschicksalsschatz". As he explains, Band of Horses' "The Funeral" begins playing over a montage of the characters in their private lives.
Klaus then explains to Ted that if he has to "think" about finding The One, then he hasn't actually found her. The scene then flashes forward to when Ted meets the mother, as she arrives at the Farhampton station with her yellow umbrella.
Here I Dreamt I Was An Architect
It's a fittingly-titled song, that's for sure. Season two's Ted Mosby: Architect is primarily concerned with Robin's feelings toward Ted. She grows paranoid about Ted's behavior and begins to suspect that he is cheating on her.
As a means to make up with Ted, Robin brings donuts to his work and reaffirms her commitment to Ted and the relationship. The Decemberists's "Here I Dreamt I Was An Architect" plays while Robin walks to Ted's work, and it serves as a beautiful and touching little moment.
Prophets
How I Met Your Mother always knew how to end a season, and the fourth season finale is no different. Marshall decides to make the literal leap across buildings while Ted decides to make a metaphorical leap into his new job as professor of architecture.
A.C. Newman's "Prophets" plays in the background as the characters leap across buildings. The song is both tonally and lyrically fitting ("One by one by one by one"), and it sends the fourth season off in style.
I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)
Season two's Arrivederci, Fiero is a rather insignificant episode of How I Met Your Mother, but it's still a ton of fun thanks to some strong writing, good jokes, a relatable storyline (finally saying goodbye to a beloved car), and a killer soundtrack.
Part of said soundtrack is The Proclaimers' "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)". The song plays whenever the episode flashes back to Marshall's past, as the cassette was stuck inside the Fiero and it's all that he and Ted listened to on their road trips.
Oxford Comma
Vampire Weekend is a widely beloved band, and their song "Oxford Comma" made its way into the fifth season opener, Definitions. The song plays during the episode's opening sequence, which displays a quick shot of Columbia University and sees Ted beginning to write "professor" on the chalkboard.
The song certainly doesn't last long, and only the first couple of guitar notes are played. But it's still utilized well - especially the jarring cut to silence as Ted realizes that he doesn't know how to spell "professor."
Run Off The Road
The season six premiere, Big Days, concerns Ted briefly reuniting with an old fling named Cindy. Cindy is at MacLaren's with another female, and Ted believes that this female is her roommate. As Ted goes to introduce himself, Ola Podrida's "Run Off the Road" begins playing in the background.
The song has a beautiful acoustic tone, and it fits the touching scene wonderfully - especially when the music rises after Ted witnesses Cindy kissing the woman. He then explains that the woman was Cindy's girlfriend, not her roommate and that they went on to adopt a child together.
Nice Dream
The season three finale, Miracles, opens in a somewhat intense fashion. Ted is riding in a cab when the cab is t-boned by a speeding car. All the other characters get a call from the hospital, telling them that Ted has been injured.
They all stop what they're doing and rush over to the hospital as Radiohead's melancholic Nice Dream plays in the background. It's all very morose and somewhat depressing stuff. Of course, the tone is significantly lessened when the characters finally arrive at the hospital, as Ted is perfectly fine (and is even eating a tub of jello).
Murder Train
Murder Train was specifically created for the show, as it's performed by Simon's inappropriately-named band The Four Skins. The song is quite terrible, but it's utilized to perfection throughout the show. It typically plays whenever the show flashes to an act of violence, such as Marshall brawling with his brother and Ted battling the goat.
Perhaps the best utilization is found in Sandcastles In the Sand, as the song plays in-universe over an Adopt-A-Puppy segment. The segment actually proved successful, as many of the in-show viewers thought that the puppies were going to be murdered, leading to many adoptions.