If you’ve ever seen BBC and Netflix’s Peaky Blinders, you are familiar with the uncanny yet engaging soundtrack the show offers. Certain songs are compiled and used to accurately resemble how the show is supposed to make us feel. I’ve always thought that the soundtrack for a great show can make or break its ability to encourage its viewers to binge.
The pilot episode is set in 1919, shortly after the first World War, and the storyline is driven by the Shelby family—the head of a backstreet English razor gang who call themselves ‘The Peaky Blinders.’ Tommy Shelby, portrayed by Cillian Murphy, is the middle brother and the protagonist of the series. Often reflecting on his time in the trenches as a soldier, Tommy is extremely intelligent, but suffers from PTSD and other major depressive states resulting from the war. Much of the show’s music is eerie and intense, paralleling the dark and violent images contaminating his subconscious.
The Blinders, especially Tommy and his brothers, are feared throughout Birmingham, even by the coppers (what the Brits call the police) under their control. During the dreary industrial times where everyone is trying to make a penny, the Shelbys will lie, cheat, and steal to improve their status and expand their family’s business ventures, which range from owning pubs to shipping car parts. So, if you haven’t seen the show and are interested in the vulgarity behind the riches (and lack thereof) in England during the early 20th century, I definitely encourage my fellow Bingers to give it a try.
Peaky Blinders has altogether done a phenomenal job staying true to the time period, both in its looks (the outfits and haircuts are becoming increasingly popular since the show aired) and in sound. There’s a lot of diversity in the music curated by the show’s supervisor, Amelia Hartley—some tracks date back to the ‘60s while others are much more recent. Most of the songs fall under the broader genre of rock; however, there are many different types of music used to portray the shifting moods felt while watching.
The title song, Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds’ “Red Right Hand,” released in ‘94, sets the tone for the show. If you like Nick Cave or just this song, I strongly suggest binging Peaky Blinders as there are countless others like it. The track has hints of gothic and blues to it, containing less familiar instruments in rock music, like organs and bells. Cave’s voice is a very deep baritone, and he’s almost talking instead of singing, resting after certain words and lines which gives it a sort of ominous vibe. The song is definitely spooky in a way, even though it was written as a passionate number describing Cave’s hometown in Queensland. As a Peaky Blinders fanatic, the song makes me picture the show’s setting in Birmingham. It’s really astonishing how the music tones reflect the overall vibe of the show. The “Red Right Hand” could also be a metaphor describing the crime, violence, and overall corruption that takes place. Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds appear on the soundtrack with numerous other songs, and several partial remixes and cover versions of “Red Right Hand” are used throughout the show—another reason why it is now connected to Peaky Blinders forever.
The soundtrack also features artists like Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash, who definitely will harness an older crowd of viewers and music connoisseurs like myself. Songs from these two are much calmer and give a somber attitude that fits with a more mellow scene. When they appear in the soundtrack, these types of songs are usually country-esque and include a deep male voice and acoustic guitar with limited drums.
There are several scenes where Tommy is sitting at his desk, smoking a cigarette and sipping whiskey, as he seems to be struggling with internal conflict and thinking about his lack of self-love. In these, there will be much slower songs with melancholy lyrics of remorse and dismay. Most notable to me are Ane Brun’s “All My Tears” and PJ Harvey’s “Is This Desire?” Both of these songs are mellow, almost in a depressing way, reflective of Tommy’s well-being. Without spoiling anything, they play during pivotal moments in the show’s plot. They also have very serene female vocals. Nick Cave’s “The Proposition #1” is a very slow tempo, ballad-like composition that consists of minimal violin, piano, and soft humming. There are soft string instruments that can act as ambient music when switching scenes, or are used to distinguish a dismal scene from a chaotic one.
When it comes to the chaos, footage can be filled with drinking and cocaine use, street fights, or even just a slow-mo of the three older Shelby brothers walking through a factory with orange sparks flying everywhere. The music here becomes more electronic, hard rock that features artists like Jack White, The White Stripes, Arctic Monkeys, and some of PJ Harvey’s and Nick Cave’s more intense stuff. These more profound songs containing loud drums, bass and electric guitars are more prevalent in bar scenes that involve energetic crowds or rowdy public speeches from a Blinder. A song like “Do I Wanna Know?” by Arctic Monkeys brings out the badass attitude of the Peaky Blinders.
Other than that, plenty of songs touch on the show’s recurring themes—love, hate, death, and recovery are just a handful. Tommy experiences a tremendous amount of pressure throughout the show, carrying the weight of his family and his thoughts. The soundtrack matches the inside of his head, like the music is talking to the viewer, helping describe how he feels during his day and age. A song called “Broken Boy Soldier” by The Raconteurs has a title that suits Tommy well. This song allows the viewer to sympathize with Tommy and other broken soldiers in the show, even though they may do heinous things.
I always feel like something is missing when a show lacks an exceptional soundtrack. Peaky Blinders doesn’t disappoint; throughout the ups and downs of the series, the viewer can empathize with the characters through the music. If you enjoy gritty historical fiction and restless suspense elevated by incredible music, I highly recommend kicking off the binge and tuning in for the upcoming Season 6 of Peaky Blinders!