Many original songs were created and performed throughout It’s us, but “The Forever Now,” aka Rebecca’s (Mandy Moore) song for her daughter Kate (Chrissy Metz), was a pivotal moment in the show’s history and a touching moment in the final season. The original song, written by Taylor Goldsmith and composed by long It’s us composer Siddhartha Khosla, also received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Original Score and Lyrics.
Goldsmith and Khosla had a huge responsibility for the final season of It’s us: write a song that Rebecca would sing at Kate’s wedding. The moment carried even more gravity due to Rebecca’s ongoing battle with Alzheimer’s disease, with many characters eager to see if she would be able to perform. Given the stakes in place for the episode, Goldsmith and Khosla knew they had to create something truly special. So what did they do? Create lyrics for the show’s ending theme.
“It’s always intimidating,” Khosla explained, in an interview with Rewards Radar. “Even after six seasons and several original songs, the challenge of writing something that could serve the story and connect with our audience still made one sweat.” Goldsmith echoed that sentiment, knowing it was hit or miss for the original track. “I felt like if it’s not great, according to Dan [Fogelman] and Sidd[hartha Khosla]so we won’t do that.” He continued, “Now thinking back to that scene and that episode, it’s hard to see the show, let alone the episode, without that moment…I was thinking to tone it down all a lot of pressure because it was something big and you really had to hold on.”
“The Forever Now” is significant not just because of how and when it’s played, but also for the insight it gives into Rebecca’s failing mind and her feelings as a mother. Despite her health issues, Rebecca performs the song without a hitch in a moment filled with emotional vulnerability and timeless love, two elements that It’s us often relies on telling a believable story. “The Forever Now” undeniably leaves a lasting impression, which is why the track has garnered so much praise.
When discussing Goldsmith’s marriage to Moore in the context of working on “The Forever Now”, Goldsmith revealed that her relationship gave her a unique edge. “I was in that rare position of having some perspective that might be helpful to what Sidd and Dan were looking for,” Goldsmith explained. “On top of all that, I’m a songwriter, so when they needed original material, and they needed it to get out of Rebecca Pearson’s brain, I had that front row seat for the way. [Mandy’s] builds that character.”
Khosla explored what it’s like to build a series’ music from scratch and how it can lend itself to storytelling. After all, the music of It’s us paired with heartbreaking scenes is what has fans reaching for the tissue box. “It’s about finding a thematic thread – a melody that can be woven throughout the episode in multiple variations,” Khosla revealed. “So when I could find a theme, I worked with our editors and Dan to incorporate it wherever we could. The show’s score then became a useful tool to help tell the story.”
And what a story it was! Moore’s jaw-dropping performance of “The Forever Now” paired with the artistry of Goldsmith and Khosla came together to create a perfect It’s us moment. The last season of It’s us boasts many powerful scenes, but Moore’s performance of “The Forever Now” will likely be what fans will remember forever.
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