Firstly, I identify a lot of things in my life with music. Almost every piece of music I love reminds me of some moment in my life, particularly good ones. I associate my memories with music -so much so that I believe we all should have a life soundtrack! And my husband would tell you mine would be the soundtrack to the movie Amelie 🙂
So when I hear a particular song from Billions soundtrack, I associate the song with the particular Billions scene it plays in. And every time I listen to the song, I re-live the scene as if I am watching the show again. So it is no surprise that most of the songs in my Billions playlist accompany some of my favorite scenes in my favorite show.
Before I go for my picks, I want to take this opportunity to thank Billions creators and show runners Brian Koppelman and David Levien, who pick every single song for the show, for introducing me to two great artists that I did not know existed before: Titus Andronicus and Jason Isbell both of whom I have been very lucky to hear live multiple times since!
So, here you go – Damianista’s Billions playlist in chronological order. I hope it gives you a fun walk in Billions memory lane. ENJOY!
1. “Quite The Contrary” by Parker Mills – Season 1 Episode 10 Quality of Life
This great song that incorporates nursery rhymes accompanies one of the best scenes in TV history, namely the one and only Fake Fight!
Axe: “Come bonus time I will show you enough love you could start a third family.”
Bill: “Two is plenty!”
Original. Hilarious. Genius.
2. “Tubthumping“ by Chumbawamba – Season 1 Episode 10 Quality of Life
I was not able to stop listening to this song once I heard it closing the episode where Axe leaves a leaf for Donnie at his memorial and walks away…
Unlike most of my fellow blog mates, I never listened to hard rock or heavy metal growing up and beyond. I have always been a pop girl so HOW COME I missed this song when it came out in late 1990s? I believe though I compensated for the last two decades in the weeks following the episode that my husband got sick and tired of it 😀
3. “Dimed Out“ by Titus Andronicus – Season 1 Episode 12 The Conversation
I cannot think of a better song to accompany the final showdown between the man who leaves Nagasaki behind when he pulls a deal off the table and the man with nothing to lose in Season 1 Finale! ” It sets the tone, a march to the battle, as we hear the war drums playing in the first few notes… and the drums are loud all along. Simply brilliant!
4. “Even The Losers” by Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers – Season 2 Episode 11 Golden Frog Time
I cannot think of anything but Chuck’s infamous “cry-laugh” when I hear this great song now!
Baby even the losers
Get lucky sometimes
Even the losers
Keep a little bit of pride
They get lucky sometimes
5. “Sinking Down” by Son Volt in Season 3 Episode 6 The Third Ortolan
While my playlist is in chronological order “Sinking Down” is by far my favorite Billions song – I use it in my runs for motivation especially when I need to speed up! And it is not only a great song but also the perfect song to go with the Holy Trinity agreeing to have total transparency in Third Ortolan thanks to Wendy “breaking that fucking stick.”
Axe: “Full transparency. I give you my word.”
Chuck: “You want transparency? How fucking clear is this?”
6. “Handle with Care” by Traveling Wilburys in Season 3 Episode 8 All the Wilburys
George Harrison. Bob Dylan. Tom Petty. Roy Orbison. Jeff Lynne. Enough said.
7. “I Wish I Was Your Mother” by Mott The Hoople in Season 3 Episode 10 Redemption
This beautiful song accompanies one of the most surprising scenes in Billions!
“Robert.”
“Hi mom.”
The use of the song in this scene is pretty amazing. “I wish I was your mother” is not about a mom or motherhood. It is about a guy who seems not able to keep happy and stable relationships because he had a troubled family life as a child. Sounds familiar?
8. “King of New York” by Fun Lovin’ Criminals in Season 4 Episode 1 Chucky Rhoades’ Greatest Game
This song perfectly complements the brilliant sequence in which Chuck goes from one power joint to another and trades favors to secure a gun permit for Mr. Brogan in Episode 1 Chucky Rhoades’ Greatest Game 😀 Besides it makes me dance like there is no tomorrow.
9. “Troubled Man” by John Mellencamp in Season 4 Episode 4 Overton Window
I do not know if I love this song or the scene it accompanies more in which Chuck chooses to add to the history of Fraunces Tavern – where he is supposed to end his political campaign – with his own historical speech. He starts with Churcill:
“A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on.”
A prosecutor’s job is to dig deep and find what is under all darkness and Chuck will start now with shining light on his own: He practices BDSM with his consenting wife. Bondage, dominance, whips, ropes, masks, pinches punches, what have you.
Chuck trusts his constituency can handle it. It would be great if they still voted for him, but it would be the best if they told someone today about who they really are and felt more comfortable in their own skin.
My vote is for Chuck Rhoades! I think, as a voter, if this guy can tell people who want to control him to go fuck themselves now, he will tell them to go fuck themselves while in office. Way to go, Chuck!
10. “Eye of The Tiger” by Survivor in Season 4 Episode 8 Fight Night
This is not only one of my all-time favorite songs but also an unparalleled one for any kind of training! I claim this classic Survivor song is second to none when one wants to feel competitive.
Honestly, I feel like Rocky when I run to “Eye of the Tiger” and so should Mafee and Dollar Bill! Hmmm, maybe not 😀
11. “Behind Blue Eyes” by Pete Townsend / The Who in Season 4 Episode 12 Extreme Sandbox
Next to being an amazing song, it feels as if it was written for Bobby Axelrod.
No one knows what it’s like
To be the bad man
To be the sad man
Behind blue eyes
And no one knows what it’s like
To be hated
To be faded to telling only liesBut my dreams they aren’t as empty
As my conscience seems to be
I have hours, only lonely
My love is vengeance
That’s never free
Could there be a better song to introduce the scene in which Axe is seemingly having a romantic evening with Rebecca but is actually getting ready to put his plan to destroy her business into action.
Ah the bad man behind those blue eyes!
12. “Father and Son” by Cat Stevens in Season 5 Episode 3 Beg, Bribe, Bully
“Father and Son” is not only terrific for the father – s0n theme in Episode 3 Beg, Bribe, Bully (Axe and Gordie, Wags and Georgie, Chuck Sr and Jr) but it is also one of the best songs ever written by one of the best song writers that ever lived.
In closing, I follow my blog mates and list a handful of honorable mentions: “Cover Me Up” by Jason Isbell in Season 1 Episode 8 Boasts and Rails, “Homecoming” by Jason Ritter in Season 2 Finale Ball in Hand, “Troublemaker Doppelganger” by Lucy Dacus in Season 3 Episode 1 Tie Goes to the Runner, “Blue Train” by John Coltrane in Season 4 Episode 6 Maximum Recreational Depth (this is the kind of music I listen the most in my daily life) “Peace, Love and Understanding” by Elvis Costello & The Attractions in Season 4 Finale Extreme Sandbox and “It’s Good to be King” by Tom Petty in Season 5 Episode 8 Copenhagen.
