Summary
- The Fargo Season 5 soundtrack is a blend of needle-drops and original scores.
- The Fargo soundtrack includes tracks by renowned artists like Marlyn Manson, Rush and Yes.
- The classic Coen brothers movie also used similar musical instruments to accentuate sequences, featuring songs by Boy George and Merle Haggard.
The Fargo season 5 soundtrack is a perfect concoction of needle-drops and licensed tracks, much like the original Coen Brothers movie. One of the best attributes of the original film is its iconic soundtrack by Carter Burwell, which includes legendary scores like ‘Big City’ by Merle Haggard, ‘These Boots Are Made for Walkin’ by Boy George and ‘Let’s Find Each Other Tonight’ by Jose Feliciano.
Noah Hawley, the creator of Fargo, has kept the legacy alive with a barrage of iconic needle-drops. Season 5, starring Jon Hamm as an eccentric lawman and Juno Temple as a Midwestern housewife, has a soundtrack to perfectly accentuate the grim narrative.
This season, Hawley has featured a flavorful broth of rock’n’roll hits by Rush and Yes, classics by Ralph Stanley and Charlotte Gainsbourg and a delicious catchy number by The Nightmare Before Christmas.
Without further ado, let’s dissect all the different songs and musical numbers in Fargo season 5. If you are a Fargo geek, you wouldn’t want to miss it!
1. Fargo Season 5, Premiere: The Tragedy of Commons
Songs Featured:
- “I’ve Seen All Good People” by Yes
- “Gloryland” by Ralph Stanley
- “Hey Joe” by Charlotte Gainsbourg
“I’ve Seen All Good People” by Yes – This rock number plays over the title sequence and the premiere’s opening scene, thereby setting the tone of the entire season.
In the very first scene, we come across Dot, who is arrested for tazing a police officer during a brawl in a meeting at the town hall.
“Gloryland” by Ralph Stanley – The song is a testament to the emergence of a ray of hope in America, which is a perfect satire of the show’s depiction of the country as a lawless wasteland.
This title plays when Dot is thrown into prison for getting into a vicious fight with a police officer. The irony in the entire scene is there for everyone to be felt!
“Hey Joe” by Charlotte Gainsbourg – Jimi Hendrix’s classic “Hey Joe” has a brilliant cover version created by Charlotte Gainsbourg. The lyrics are all about a man planning to kill his cheating wife.
Noah Hawley uses this cover to accentuate Dot’s mental state as she dreams of tracking Sheriff Tillman, who betrayed her.
2. Fargo Season 5, Episode 2, “Trials And Tribulations”
Songs featured:
- “Working Man” by Rush
- “Paranoid” by Grand Funk Railroad
- “This is Halloween” by Marilyn Manson
“Working Man” by Rush – This rock’n’roll number starts playing when Sheriff Tillman is shown taking a bath in a barrel and puffing a giant cigarette.
The song is symbolic of the juxtaposition between Tillman’s illusion and reality. The guy sees himself as an honest, blue-collar protector of the law when, in fact, he is a ruthless tyrant.
“Paranoid” by Grand Funk Railroad – The funky beat acts as the perfect background when Dot and Scotty hack into the house and Home-Alone-zone it with a barrage of booby traps. They glue shards of glass to the door handle and hang a sledgehammer over the main entrance.
The juxtaposition is hilarious because it highlights the strengthening of a mother-child bond over rigging a house with death traps!
“This is Halloween” by Marilyn Manson – This creepy Halloween-themed number plays when Gator pulls into the gas station where the fiasco between Dot and Ole Munch occurred.
This song establishes a creepy undertone, highlighting Gator’s fearmongering tactics to enforce law and order.
3. Fargo Season 5, Episode 3, “The Paradox Of Intermediate Transactions”
Songs Featured:
- “Sixteen Tons” by Tennessee Ernie Ford
- “Bogey Wail” by Jack Hylton
- “He’ll Have to Go” by Jim Reeves
- “Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta” by Béla Bartók
- “Smack My B**** Up” by The Prodigy
“Sixteen Tons” by Tennessee Ernie Ford – As Tillman drives through the night, we hear a folk classic that tells the story of a coal miner.
This song exemplifies how Tillman tries to project a false image of himself as a loyal, diligent, and patriotic American officer.
“Bogey Wail” by Jack Hylton – Spookyness is the highlight of most songs in this season. Bogey Wall is yet another spine-chilling track that plays when Dot sneaks into the neighbourhood in the middle of the night and switches the road signs to stop kidnappers with her address from discovering her house,
The creepy music perfectly suits the scene’s ambience and Dot’s dodgy schemes to throw Tillman off her tail.
“He’ll Have to Go” by Jim Reeves – As the sun sets, an old woman returns to her lonely abode with a stash of booze.
She opens a few cans and settles on the couch to watch tennis. The cheerful melody of the song takes a turn for the worse as time passes. It becomes darker, more twisted, more ominous.
The woman hears a noise upstairs. She freezes in fear. Someone is in her house. The melody turns into a symphony of horror.
“Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta” by Béla Bartók – As Ole Munch lies in bed, he listens to the police scanner with intense anticipation.
A haunting classical melody fills the air, highlighting the nail-biting anxiety.
“Smack My B**** Up” by The Prodigy – As the big beat anthem blasts into our ears, Gator and his gang drive their van searching for Dot’s home.
Meanwhile, children in costumes roam the streets for candy and fun, unaware of the danger lurking nearby. The song’s violent undertone reflects the darkness of Gator’s manhunt for Dot. The anxiety is irrepressible, and the music makes it boil over the edge!
4. Fargo Season 5, Episode 4, ” Insolubilia”
Songs Featured:
- “I Got You Babe” by Tiny Tim
“I Got You Babe” by Tiny Tim – This song is all about creating the perfect juxtapositions and highlights the dark comedic elements in the show. Tiny Tim’s ukelele fills our ears as the happy-go-lucky song plays when Gator breaks into Dot’s house and looks for her.
The unnerving irony will make you giggle out of fear!
5. Fargo Season 5, Episode 5, ” The Tiger”
Songs Featured:
- “Fargo, North Dakota” by Carter Burwell
“Fargo, North Dakota” by Carter Burwell – This is the main theme of the original Coen Brothers’ Fargo movie and it plays when Dot finally confides in Olmstead.
Thereafter, she heads out to take care of Tillman’s business leaving Scott with Olmstead.
6. Fargo Season 5, Episode 6, “The Tender Trap”
Unlike the predecessors, this episode doesn’t feature any new musical numbers.
However, it makes brilliant use of the saga’s original score by Fargo composer Jeff Russo to create an environment of tension.
7. Fargo Season 5, Episode 7, “Linda”
Songs Featured:
- “My Love is a Hurricane” by David Ramirez
- “I’m Your Puppet” by James & Bobby Purify
- “Crimean Sketches: III. Kaitarma” by Edward Hosharian & Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra of Los Angeles
- “A Long Way to Go” by The Optic Nerve
“My Love is a Hurricane” by David Ramirez – Right after the opening sequence, Dot is seen driving her car, and this song from her radio fills the air.
She almost crashes her car as she dozes off at the wheel. Typical Doth!
“I’m Your Puppet” by James & Bobby Purify – As Dot approaches her destination, this song is heard playing on her radio.
Having two songs play in the background is a brilliant way to subtly portray that Dot has been driving for a long time without taking too much screen time.
“Crimean Sketches: III. Kaitarma” by Edward Hosharian & Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra of Los Angeles – This classical musical number accompanies Dot as she digs up a box containing an old postcard by the side of the road.
The tension and curiosity are perfectly accentuated as the song continues to play when she wanders through the woods searching for Camp Utopia.
“A Long Way to Go” by The Optic Nerve – This song plays over the montage of Dot making puppets for her puppet show.
The song seems to convey that Dot has a long way to go before she can master the art of making a puppet, portray her life’s story in a puppet show, and persuade Linda to help her punish Sheriff Tillman.
8. Fargo Season 5, Episode 8 , “Blanket”
Songs Featured:
- “Poor People’s Store” by Shinyribs
- “Toxic” by Jeff Russo feat. Lisa Hannigan
“Poor People’s Store” by Shinyribs – Poor People’s Store by Shinyribs plays over the opening credits of ‘Fargo’ season 5, episode 8.
In that sequence, Danish Graves is seen flipping through a diary with a list of his debtors and what they owe. Thereafter, he ticks off some of the names in lieu of them legally changing their names to Roy Tillman. It is an elaborate scheme to jeopardize the re-election propaganda of the real Roy Tillman.
Playing a song that talks about capitalism and class divide over a man flipping through a ledger containing a list of debtors exudes irony and shows how Lorraine and her men have gotten rich by ruining the poor.
“Toxic” by Jeff Russo feat. Lisa Hannigan – A mellowed-down version of Britney Spears’ ‘Toxic’ fills the air as Roy gets home after being insulted at the debate. Lisa Hannigan plays the song with Fargo composer Jeff Russo, and it accentuates Roy’s innate toxicity.
Later, he’s seen taking his anger out on Dot, who’s held captive by Roy. The man looks at himself as a protector of the country, but he’s actually a brutal and raging abuser.
9. Fargo Season 5, Episode 9 , “The Useless Hand”
- “Jesus Paid My Debt” by Sam Cooke
- “Y.M.C.A.” by the Village People
- “Whipping Post” by The Allman Brothers Band
“Jesus Paid My Debt” by Sam Cooke – The classic music number by Sam Cooke kicks in during the episode’s opening credits. However, the scene is pretty brutal and shows Ole Munch kneeling next to a captive Gator and torturing him with a red-hot blade.
The song’s lyrics narrate an ode about Jesus paying off the debts of sinners and ties perfectly well with Ole Munch’s compelling backstory.
“Y.M.C.A.” by the Village People – This fast-paced disco plays as the military convoy arrives at Tillman’s ranch.
The hilarious and fast-paced music creates a perfect juxtaposition as Roy prepares to wage war against the government.
“Whipping Post” by The Allman Brothers Band – Ole Munch rescues Dot and arms her with a rifle to face Roy and his goons. As she prepares for the showdown, The Allman Brothers Band’s “Whipping Post” blares on the soundtrack.
The song echoes Dot’s story and how this episode marks the climax of her journey. She’s had enough of Roy’s cruelty, and with Ole Munch’s support, she’s ready to take down the monster and move on from her past.
10. Fargo Season 5, Episode 10 , “Bisquik”
Songs Featured:
- “Fargo, North Dakota” by Carter Burwell
“Fargo, North Dakota” by Carter Burwell – After episode 5, the theme from the original Fargo movie makes a comeback in the finale. Ole Munch is seen eating a biscuit inside Dot’s house, and the mood is that of sheer ecstasy!
11. About Fargo
Fargo is an American black comedy crime drama created by Noah Hawley, inspired by the Coen brothers’ movie of the same name. Running as an anthological series, its stories are self-contained within a specific location and time period, with the town of Fargo, North Dakota at its core.
Fargo’s four seasons so far have starred Billy Bob Thornton, Allison Tolman, Martin Freeman, Kirsten Dunst, Patrick Wilson, and Ewan McGregor.
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