The last scenes of the first episode of the hit teen drama Dawson’s Creek featured yet another iconic song — The Pretenders’ ‘I’ll Stand By You’ — Dawson’s Creek, Season 1, Episode 1, “Pilot“.
A song that, just like every other song in that superb series, was the perfect choice for the scene it was musically illustrating.
The track was played on the episode after Joey asks the famous question “How often do you walk your dog? You know what I mean? How many times a day? How many times a week?“, Dawson tells her “Goodnight” and Joey climbs out of the window saying “See ya, Dawson”.
It continues playing as Joey walks across the lawn crying and climbs into the boat. As she does, Dawson leans out of the window and shouts “Joey! Usually in the morning. With Katie Couric” and Joey laughs.
The song stops playing as Joey sees Dawson’s mother kissing her co-anchor goodnight.
The Pretenders’ ‘I’ll Stand By You‘ was released in 1994 on the band’s sixth studio album Last of the Independents via the Warner Bros., Sire and WEA record labels. (article continues below…)
Listen to Say-So’s ‘Mercy Me’ from Dawson’s Creek, Season 1, Episode 1, “Pilot”
The track ended up being an enormous hit for the alternative rock band, hitting the top of the charts in more than 20 countries. Last of the Independents was eventually certified Gold in the U.S., UK and France.
The Pretenders’ ‘I’ll Stand By You‘ also spawned a popular music video with lead singer Chrissie Hynde taking care of a sick man.
Twenty-six years after its initial release, The Pretenders are still a band, although Chrissie Hynde and drummer Martin Chambers are the only two original members after the deaths of guitarist James Honeyman-Scott and bass guitarist Pete Farndon in the 1980s — both of them due to drug overdoses.
Listen to The Pretenders’ ‘I’ll Stand By You‘ from Dawson’s Creek in that music video below.
You can also hear it and every other song on the album on the Last of the Independents in the Spotify player.
Dawson’s Creek starts streaming on Netflix from November 1st.