Clean Slate Season 1 Soundtrack Guide: Every Song & When They Play
Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for Clean Slate.
Clean Slate beautifully tells a family reconciliation story set in Mobile, Alabama, and uses great songs that fit the empowering narrative like a ring. Norman Lear’s newest TV show follows Desiree, a New York artist who goes back home after not speaking to her father in 23 years. To his surprise, she proudly announces she is a trans woman, and expresses her desire to heal their relationship while she’s in town.
Laverne Cox and George Wallace lead the Clean Slate cast and are joined by a mix of old comedy veterans and emerging performers whose undisputed charm wins over the audience immediately. Clean Slate’s early reviews praise its joyful vibe, showing a narrative where growth and love inspire the characters to see beyond labels, old secrets, and generational differences. The Clean Slate soundtrack doesn’t disappoint, offering all-time classics, swoonworthy ballads, and new queer anthems that guarantee the show is likely to be quickly renewed.
Every Song In Clean Slate Season 1 | |
|---|---|
Song Title | Artist |
“For Once in My Life” | Stevie Wonder |
“What You See Is What You Get” | Daryl Hall & John Oates |
“Work for It (feat. LÒNIS)” | Daphne Willis & LÒNIS |
“I Got the Moves” | Devin Hoffman, Radicchio Nash & Dennis Padula |
“Going For The Juggler” | Daniel Holter & Mark Robertson |
“Insidious 8” | Robert Armani, Dolby D |
“Every Praise” | Hezekiah Walker |
“You’re The Best” | Joe Esposito |
“High Life” | SONNY OH! |
“Hard to Say I’m Sorry” | Chicago |
“Get Up and Get Out (1964)” | Clint Stacey |
“Boogie Night Bar” | Mazelo Nostra |
“Stick It To The Man” | Archie Thompson |
“Stand up and Be Counted” | Aaron Kaplan |
“Dynamite Feels so Right” | Blues Saraceno |
“Me So Horny” | The 2 Live Crew |
“Will the Circle Be Unbroken” | Aaron Kaplan & Jamison Hollister |
“Crescent City” | Lucinda Williams |
“When The Saints Go Marching In” | Lomax & Barker |
"Problématique” | Kim Petras |
“This Is How We Do It” | Montell Jordan |
“Now (Drumcomplex Remix)” | C. Y. B. |
“Padam Padam” | Kylie Minogue |
“I Wanna Go (feat. K. O. The Legend)” | Photronique |
“My Babe” | Art Neville |
“You’re the Best” | Joan “Bean” Esposito |
“Heart’s Content” | Brandi Carlile |
“Rain On Me” | Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga |
“Can You Handle My Love” | Nine One One |
"I Want Someone Badly” | Jeff Buckley & Shudder to Think |
Clean Slate Season 1 Episode 1 Songs
"Desiree. And Whatnot."
“For Once in My Life” by Stevie Wonder: Clean Slate opens with Harry driving around and saying good morning to his Alabama friends before arriving at work. “For Once in My Life” plays on his car stereo and keeps playing as he gives out stickers for his car wash business.
“What You See Is What You Get” by Daryl Hall & John Oates: Harry and Mack carry out their daily activities at Slate Family Car Wash. Mack asks Harry why they don’t have Wi-Fi, and Harry complains about having to modernize the establishment. Opal, who is “interning” at the car wash, talks about her big dreams.
“For Once in My Life” by Stevie Wonder: After Harry gets his daughter to stay in town, they visit her mother’s grave. Harry and Desiree agree that she will stay until he can write her 10-year-old self a letter. “For Once in My Life” plays again as they get back in the car to head home.
Clean Slate Season 1 Episode 3 Songs
"Opal's Day Off"
“Work for It (feat. LÒNIS)” by Daphne Willis & LÒNIS: At the beginning of Clean Slate’s episode 3, Opal, who’s managing Sign Up Career Day, takes assistance from the Slate Family Car Wash’s crew. Mack jokes that she can see them so they don’t need to claim assistance, but a stressed Opal threatens to follow through with searching for a new dad on Craig’s List. The scene shows the endearing dynamic between Mack and Opal, and how committed and anxious Opal is to fulfill her responsibilities.
“I Got the Moves” by Devin Hoffman, Radicchio Nash & Dennis Padula: Still outside the school’s Career Day, Desiree, Mack, Harry, and Opal hear music coming in from the school’s cafeteria. They take a glimpse inside to see their competitors, Stuckey’s Funeral Home, have put on music and have made the kids cheer up and dance.
“Going For The Juggler” by Daniel Holter & Mark Robertson: After Opal fights with a classmate because he tells her she’ll be a failure, Desiree takes her, Mack, and Harry to Jojo’s Down-home Hoedown. “Going For The Juggler” plays as Mack takes Opal to several games at the carnival, wanting to make her relax so she opens up to him about what’s really making her anxious.
“Insidious 8” by Robert Armani, Dolby D: Trying to get Harry to slow down and relax, Desiree pays a girl to leave them up in the air at a carnival game. The pair finally talk about how Harry’s focus on work damaged their relationship, making a young Desiree feel overlooked and neglected.
Clean Slate Season 1 Episode 4 Songs
"Chrome Jesus"
“Every Praise” by Hezekiah Walker: Desiree joins Harry, and they attend church on Sunday. Louis’s choir sings “Every Praise.”
“You’re The Best” by Joe Esposito: Having failed to attract customers to the car wash, Mack tells Opal a story of an underdog who never quit, and who had an Asian mentor. Funnily, it turns out he is talking about Daniel from The Karate Kid. He sings “You’re The Best” and lifts Opal’s spirits up.
“High Life” by SONNY OH!: Desiree arrives at the car wash seeking comfort after Pastor Hughes treated her like a man and Ella and Harry made the event all about themselves. Opal and Mack are sympathetic, and Opal offers to tell Desiree the story about Daniel LaRusso.
“Hard to Say I’m Sorry” by Chicago: As Louis felt pressured to confess his sexuality because Desiree showed up at the church, they fought. When Desiree decides to return to the church, Louis and his choir perform “Hard to Say I’m Sorry” as a way to apologize and stand by his friend.
Clean Slate Season 1 Episode 5 Songs
"Closer Than They Appear"
“Get Up and Get Out (1964)” by Clint Stacey: When Harry stops to chat with a neighbor, Desiree complains that she will be late for her hair appointment. They agree that Harry will teach Desiree how to drive so she can take herself places.
“Boogie Night Bar” by Mazelo Nostra: After some funny struggles, Desiree gets to park the car between some cones in the Slate Family Car Wash’s parking lot. Mack and Opal, who were watching the lesson, celebrate her.
Clean Slate Season 1 Episode 6 Songs
"Pillars"
“Stick It To The Man” by Archie Thompson: Ella, played by actress Telma Hopkins, gets herself ready for Election Day. She welcomes the Alabama crowd to step in and vote.
“Stand up and Be Counted” by Aaron Kaplan: Harry arrives at the voting center, greeting his neighbors and talking about what a sacred day it is. When he meets his archnemesis, Miguel, at the end of the line, the two bicker.
“Dynamite Feels so Right” by Blues Saraceno: Desiree and Mack stay to work at the car wash while everyone else is voting. Desiree prepares him a strange drink as part of a Truth or Dare game before he asks her about fine art being a total scam.
“Me So Horny” by The 2 Live Crew: Ella loses her temper after seeing people barbequing, playing songs, and fighting at the voting center. She reprimands Harry for acting like a child and bickering with Miguel. Instead, he tells her to do her job better, making her quit and naming him the official electoral inspector.
“Will the Circle Be Unbroken” by Aaron Kaplan & Jamison Hollister: Harry announces the arrival of the Dyalisis Divas, the old ladies that Louis had to pick up and drive to the voting center. After encountering a mishap with an officer that claimed the vehicle was not registered, the resilient women walked to the center. Ella and the rest of the voters celebrate them, calling them “the Pillars of our community.”
Clean Slate Season 1 Episode 7 Songs
"Mess and Magic"
“Crescent City” by Lucinda Williams: Louis takes Desiree to the coolest gay bar in town to spend Mardi Gras. Desiree doesn’t like Betty’s Bar’s sketchy, isolated, and small-town vibes.
“When The Saints Go Marching In” by Lomax & Barker: Ella and Harry drive at the Mardi Gras festival, having decorated a car to advertise the Slate Family Car Wash. A marching band plays as people cheer and clap from the sidelines.
“Problématique” by Kim Petras: Louis and Desiree attend Fluidity Ball, the queer party of the year. Desiree encourages Louis to meet up with his Grindr date and goes on her own to enjoy the masquerade.
“This Is How We Do It” by Montell Jordan: Desiree and Betty dance to the 90s hit song. The three younger women she met at the bar tease her when she receives a text from Mack.
“Now (Drumcomplex Remix)” by C. Y. B.: Louis sits with his date while people dance around them. He gathers the courage to take his mask off and they kiss.
“Padam Padam” by Kylie Minogue: Harry starts a dancing competition against a young man who calls him a grandpa. People at the Fluidity Ball and Ella gather to witness the showdown and cheer on Harry.
“I Wanna Go (feat. K. O. The Legend)” by Photronique: Harry spots Desiree kissing a man named Dave on the dance floor, and he runs to pull them apart. One of Desiree’s friends steals a bottle, and Desiree runs after her with Harry, Ella, and Louis close behind.
Clean Slate Season 1 Episode 8 Songs
"Born Again... Again"
“My Babe” by Art Neville: James and Louis are on a date on Sunday while Desiree and Harry are at church.
“You’re the Best” by Joan “Bean” Esposito: Desiree goes to Sunday school to prepare for her second baptism. Meanwhile, Miguel helps Mack look good for his date with Rhonda, the mother of Opal's new friend.
“Heart’s Content” by Brandi Carlile: Mack and Rhonda finish eating casserole, and he asks her to slow dance to “Heart’s Content.” Suddenly, Desiree knocks at the door and confesses her attraction to Mack without knowing Rhonda is there. Rhonda leaves and Mack gets mad at Desiree.
“Rain On Me” by Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga: Louis and the church choir sing “Rain On Me” at Desiree’s unconventional baptism at the Slate Family Car Wash. The original version of the song plays as Desiree gets sprinkled with colorful water.
“Can You Handle My Love” by Nine One One: After James breaks up with Louis because he is still closeted, Ella comforts him while Harry hides in the bedroom. Just as Desiree starts looking up art houses in Mobile to work at, Mack knocks on her door, asking to speak with her.
“I Want Someone Badly” by Jeff Buckley & Shudder to Think: Mack confesses he does want to start over with Desiree in Clean Slate and try being together. They finally kiss, only to be interrupted by a shocked Harry and the return of Desiree’s infamous ex-boyfriend, Gavin.
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