Inside Section One

La Femme Nikita was blessed with an amazing soundtrack. I adore a good 80% of the music used. I feel that it's that good. The Spotify playlist is on constant rotation for me at work. Thanks to the keen eye of music supervisor Blaine Johnson, so many memorable artists contributed to the sound of Nikita. However, there are several that, to me, stick out just a little bit above the others. When I think of La Femme Nikita, I automatically think of these artists. Now, in the interest of brevity I'm only gonna list five, but I could seriously expand this list. There are so many good ones.

• Depeche Mode: This is the first group I think of when my mind goes to LFN. Depeche Mode, Depeche Mode, Depeche Mode. You can stop at The Loves Thieves and you're done. It's tender and there's an intimacy to it. I've always associated this song more with the opening to "Hard Landing" and a very disengaged Michael rather than its first appearance in "Mercy". The Love Thieves IS La Femme Nikita with all it's mystery, moodiness, and sensuality.

• Hooverphonic: I've really become a big fan of this Belgian group who had two songs featured on LFN. There was of course the iconic "This Strange Effect" at the beginning of "On Borrowed Time". It's so slinky and so sexy. I just want to curl up and live during this moment of the series where Michael and Nikita are so deeply into each other that they'll even risk a Section rendezvous to be together. Hooverphonic is the soundtrack for them. "Eden" is another Hooverphonic standout that was used in "Under the Influence" during Nikita's realization that she just performed Valentine duties while under the influence.

• GusGus: This group has three very different entries across three seasons. They're very eclectic but all three songs were used so effectively. There was "Gun" in "Adrian's Garden when Michael can't get ahold of Nikita because she's been kidnapped. It's just cool. It's got this ominous electronic beat that builds suspense as the telephone in Nikita's apartment just rings and rings. "Is Jesus Your Pal?" from "Opening Night Jitters" is so delicate. At first glance it doesn't seem like it would the best choice to capture the isolation that Michael feels at the loss of his blood cover family, The song is used once more during the opening of "Gates of Hell" but I personally prefer its use in "Opening Night Jitters" And then comes "Teenage Sensation" from "Man in the Middle". I just love the image of Helmut Volcker knocking his head back to finish off his champagne just as the song plays out.

• Lamb: This is such an evocative group. Their music and lyrics pack a real punch. If we could get more music from any other group on the show, my vote goes to Lamb. I am a huge fan of "Lullaby" from the end of "Getting Out of Reverse" The sense of loss and longing after Nikita's betrayal of Michael to Section is beautifully conveyed in the song. However, this group's first appearance was "Gorecki" in "Cat and Mouse" as Michael and Abby as Nikita sleep together. Yes, it was frustrating that Michael wasn't actually with Nikita, but the show continued its trend of giving us some sensual and beautifully shot love scenes.

• In the Nursery: This is another group with such a distinctive sound. Three of their songs were used during season 1. Their music is so delicate and mysterious. "Precedent" was used in "Innocent" during Operations excursion to meet with a double agent and the ensuing fire fight. And of course there's "Woman" from "Obsessed" in which Michael sleeps with Lisa. Both of these songs are incredibly intimate with their almost whispered female sung French. I like that the use of music with French lyrics is the show not shying away from the source material's French origins. Later on the series embraces that more with Francoise Hardy and Autour de Lucie but it all starts with In the Nursery. "Mandra" is the third song used during the opening to "Voices" while everyone waits at a park for a target who doesn't show. I honestly thought it was Sean Callery's score during this sequence. It sounds so much like the show's original score. Although I do think that's a testament to how easily this group slips into the overall canvas of the show. This is another group that I would have loved to have seen more of in the show.

So this is my list. Who do you think encapsulates the definitive La Femme Nikita sound?

Do you lean more towards Garbage, The Rose Chronicles, or Enigma? Is Sarah McLachlan and her two Michael/Nikita centric appearances more your speed? Or even Coldplay who made two late series appearances in season 5.