Saltburn soundtrack: All the songs featured in Emerald Fennell's drama

Saltburn is not only the film of the moment but was also one of the most anticipated titles of 2023 among Prime Video users. Following its addition to the platform’s catalog, Emerald Fennell‘s new drama quickly rose to become a trend, both on social media and within the streaming service.

The dark comedy boasted a stellar cast, featuring familiar faces and new talents alike. Barry Keoghan, Jacob Elordi, Rosamund Pike and Richard E. Grant were some of the figures who portrayed the main characters in this story filled with lust, power, excess, and quite uncomfortable intimate scenes.

Undoubtedly, it has been categorized as one of the most controversial productions of the year. In addition to its plot, which follows a University of Oxford student drawn into the world of a charming and aristocratic classmate, the soundtrack was one of the most prominent factors as it contributed to creating the eccentric atmosphere.

What songs are featured in Saltburn?

The iconic director Emerald Fennell is back with a new masterpiece, and it’s none other than Saltburn, the dramatic comedy that tells a unique story. Set in the early 2000s, the soundtrack and the songs included are a crucial factor in creating the eccentric atmosphere proposed by the narrative.

Barry Keoghan in Saltburn. (Source: IMDb)

As expected, the film is filled with hits of all kinds, ranging from 90s pop to some more classic melodies. All the tracks are equally iconic, and one of the highlights has been the anthem Zadok the Priest, which is played in a scene that has been commented on by viewers on several occasions.

The filmmaker spoke with Radiotimes before the release and shared a bit about the creation of the soundtrack, where she stated, “Music, in general, is very, very important to me. It’s a big part of the writing process, and then there will be lots of songs in the script to know where we are, like these kind of anchor points”.

Here, check out the songs that play during the 2 hours and 10 minutes that Saltburn lasts:

Zadok the Priest performed by Simon Preston, Choir of Westminster and ECO
Have a Cheeky Christmas by The Cheeky Girls
Merry Xmas Everybody by Slade
Merry Christmas Everyone by Shakin’ Stevens
No Cars Go by Arcade Fire
Sound Of The Underground by Girls Aloud
Destroy Everything You Touch by Ladytron
Hang Me Up to Dry by Cold War Kids
This Modern Love by Bloc Party
Satisfaction by Benny Benassi and The Biz
I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor by Arctic Monkeys
Time to Pretend by MGMT
You’re Gorgeous by Babybird
Low by Flo Rida feat T-Pain
Rent by Blur
Country House by Blur
Mr Brightside by The Killers
Perfect (Exceeder) by Mason and Princess Superstar
Saltwater by Chicanne
Loneliness (Radio Cut) by Tomcraft
Lord of All Hopefulness by York Minster Choir
Murder On The Dancefloor by Sophie Ellis-Bextor

Who was in charge of the score and how is it composed?

Many times, a film’s soundtrack is not the only thing that contributes to making the story top-notch and highly acclaimed; the score plays a significant role as well. This time, the score was composed by Anthony Willis, who also worked on the music for Promising Young Woman, Fennell’s directorial debut.

The composer spoke with Radiotimes about the responsibility of taking on the project and confessed, “I don’t want to give too much away, but the score is [for] the audience to explore what we want to know about Oliver. He goes to Oxford, thinks his life is going to be perfect, and then he falls madly in love with Felix. It’s really about managing what you feel for him at any given moment”.

Here, check out the melodies he created for the drama: