You know how some shows you watch with a soundtrack in your mind? You can hear what they sound like, in a way. Or how some songs just so profoundly remind you of a character that you’re forever convinced the song was written for them? I bet you do. It happens to all of us, especially with the shows we love.
It’s been happening to me with One Day At A Time, recently. And all the more fun, when it happens to me about this show, the songs that come to my head are NOT just in English. So you want my soundtrack? Get ready for some bilingual fun, and a mix of of some old songs for abuelita, and some new ones for Elena and Alex.
But before I get into my soundtrack, I just want to say that, above all things, this show always comes with it’s own music, because Gloria Estefan has made the theme song her own. And yes, I get up and dance every time I hear it. I also belt it out. I’m not ashamed.
So, let’s start with that – the theme song:
Did you get feels? I got feels. And then we can move onto:
“I Turn To You” by Christina Aguilera.
For a shield from the storm, for a friend, for a love to keep me safe and warm
(to keep me safe and warm, yeah)
I turn to you (I turn to you)
For the strength (for the strength yea)
To be strong, for the will to carry on.
For everything you do (everything you do)
For everything that’s true
For everything you do
For everything that’s true
I turn to you.
If that isn’t everyone in this family about pretty much everyone in this family – and that includes Schneider and even Dr. Berkowitz, then I don’t know what show you’re watching.
“I Hope You Dance” by Lee Ann Womack.
I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Livin’ might mean takin’ chances, but they’re worth takin’
Lovin’ might be a mistake, but it’s worth makin’
This seems to me to be sort of like the motto of the Alvarez family, and in a very real way, it feels like something that’s very big in latinx culture.
“Mi Tierra” by Gloria Estefan.
La tierra te duele, la tierra te da
En medio del alma, cuando tú no estás
La tierra te empuja de raíz y cal
La tierra suspira si no te ve más
There was no way this list wasn’t going to include another song from Gloria. There was just no way. And I chose this one because it’s a celebration of Cuba, the one she loves, the one that gave us these characters we love.
“Por Si Acaso No Regreso” by Celia Cruz.
Pero, tierra ya no sufras
Corazón no te quebrantes
No hay mal que dure cien años
Ni cuerpo que aguante
I also could absolutely not do this list without Celia Cruz, a singer who embodied Cuba and who died without going back – as she always suspected she would.
“I’ll Stand By You” by The Pretenders.
I’ll stand by you, won’t let nobody hurt you,
I’ll stand by you, baby even to your darkest hour,
And I’ll never desert you,
I’ll stand by you
This can be interpreted as a romantic song, but in my mind, and for this show, it isn’t. It’s a song about always being there for the people you love, and it’s a song about what that means – which is basically what the show is about.
“La Familia” by Pimpinela.
Ya lo ves, hablan todos a la vez
Y después se pelean por un mes
Pero cuando las cosas van mal a tu lado siempre están
Quiero brindar por mi gente sencilla
Por el amor, brindo por la familia
Because that’s what family is: a mess, and more often than not you want to strangle them, but they always, always, have your back.
“I See The Light” by Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi.
All those days watching from the windows
All those years outside looking in
All that time never even knowing
Just how blind I’ve been
Now I’m here blinking in the starlight
Now I’m here suddenly I see
Standing here it’s all so clear
I’m where I’m meant to be
This song just gave me Schneider vibes, okay? It can be interpreted as romantic, yes, but for me it’s about finding your family, which isn’t always blood. And isn’t that beautiful?
Agree? Disagree? Have any more songs you think I should add? Share with us in the comments below!
One Day At A Time has been renewed for Season 3, which will premiere on Netflix in 2019.