The Cage on BBC One: Music is 'integral' to the show with soundtrack including songs from Talk Talk and New Order
Some of the most evocative songs from the 80s
The Cage is the latest brilliantly-executed drama to land on BBC One and, like Mint before it, music is integral to the show and the soundtrack – quite frankly – kicks ass.
The playlist features tracks as diverse as the Undertones, Matt Johnson, and Glaswegian band The Blue Nile. A spokesperson for BBC One told us: “The show has quite a great mix of 80s hits, including New Order, The The, Depeche Mode, Thomas Dolby, Heaven 17, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Nik Kershaw and more.”
Writer Tony Schumacher recently revealed that he listens to curated playlists as he writes, and has different compilations for The Cage and The Responder – which may even get released one day.
He told rts.org.uk that music is “a massive part” of the process for him. He said: “My [late] brother was five years older than me and introduced me to music. I remember him bringing home David Bowie’s Hunky Dory. It helps me get into that world.”
In The Cage on BBC One, Matty and his daughter Emily have a difficult relationship, but there’s a lot of love there and they have a big, shared love of music… If you love the tunes as much as we do, here’s a full rundown of The Cage soundtrack on BBC One.
What is the original score?
Simon Goff provided the original score for the new BBC crime drama The Cage. He’s a British composer, producer and artist based in Berlin.
The musical composer is known for the 2019 film Joker, 2024’s Waves, and We Have Never Been Modern (2023). He also composed the music for The Gold series 1 and series 2.
The Cage soundtrack on BBC One: Episode 1
- New Order’s 5 8 6 (2020 Digital Master).
- The The’s This Is the Day.
- Depeche Mode’s Stripped.
- The The’s This Is the Night.
Music in episode 2
- Talk Talk’s Life’s What You Make It.
- The Order of Death by Public Image Ltd.
Episode 3
- Bronski Beat’s Smalltown Boy.
- Living on the Ceiling by Blancmange.
- A Flock of Seagulls’ (It’s Not Me) Talking (Rerecorded).
The Cage on BBC One soundtrack: Episode 4
- Buzzcocks’ Something’s Gone Wrong Again.
- Prefab Sprout’s Bonny (Acoustic Version).
- Welcome To The Pleasuredome by Frankie Goes to Hollywood.
- The The’s Infected (12″ Remix).
Music in episode 5
- The Cure’s Primary.
- Hit the North Part 1 by The Fall.
- Joy Division’s Atmosphere.
- Japan’s Ghosts.
- The Cure’s Just Like Heaven.
