What is Imogen Heap’s “Hide and Seek" doing in Normal People?

The Cut

It's been nearly 15 years since Imogen Heap’s “Hide and Seek" was famously used in The O.C. when Marissa shoots Trey to save Ryan, which inspired The Lonely Island's spoof on SNL. "So imagine my confusion when I ran headlong into 'Hide and Seek' during the second episode of Normal People, 2020’s Hulu adaptation of Sally Rooney’s 2018 highly acclaimed literary novel," says Claire Lampen. "Granted, Normal People does not go so far as to involve the line 'mmmmwhatcha say' in repurposing 'Hide and Seek,' but nonetheless, the track was the last thing I expected to hear in a cerebral setting: Encountering 'Hide and Seek' here, out of context, felt disorienting and distracting, like running into your dirtbaggiest ex with an elegant, academic new partner. What unhinged matchmaker decided this was a good idea? This is a song for audible gasps and overwrought blockbuster cliffhangers — music for shooting your nemesis to. It is not for award-winning fiction and stirring nuance."