Top 15 Songs Played in Breaking Bad

You know what was so brilliant about Breaking Bad aside from the plot, the impeccable acting of Pinkman and the brain, the attention to detail, and everything? The music! The wolf of Albuquerque we love wouldn‘t have been the same if it weren’t for Thomas Golubić (music supervisor) and Vince Gilligan’s genius selection of tracks.

There are numerous tracks that we absolutely love from Mozart to Stan Getz and Coltrane so this is by no means a “top songs” list but some of my favorites in terms of capturing the moment and setting the tone of the series.

by Agnès Sema’an

Scroll down for the YouTube links and playlist.

15. Tamacun – Rodrigo y Gabriela

Season 1, Episode 1, “Pilot”

Subtle dark comedy at its best.

14. Timetakesthetimetimetakes – Peder

Season 3, Episode , “Más”

It’s laundry day!

13. Who’s Gonna Save My Soul – Gnarls Barkley

Season 1, Episode 7, “A No-Rough-Stuff-Type Deal”

In the desert, Heisenberg, Jesse, Tuco and the kind of song you replay, bitch.

12. Truth – Alexander Ebert

Season 4, Episode 1, “Box Cutter”

Gale is dead and Mr. White’s darkness can’t shine any brighter.

“All my enemies are turning into my teachers.. I’ve grown up some different kinda fighter and when the darkness come, let it inside you, your darkness is shining, my darkness is shining”

11. Stay On The Outside- Whitey

Season 5, Episode 2, “Madrigal”

Have you seen this ricin cigarette?

10. 1977 – Ana Tijoux

Season 4, Episode 5, “Shotgun”

“You got me riding shotgun to every dark anal recess of this state. It’d be nice if you clued me in a little.” Jesse, Jesse, Jesse.

9. Take My True Love by the Hand – The Limeliters

Season 5, Episode 14, “Ozymandias”

A flawless choice for arguably one of the best episodes in TV history.

8. DLZ – TV on the Radio

Season 2, Episode 10, “Over”

No song captures “Death Professor’s” irredeemable descent into darkness better than this.

7. Goodbye – Apparat

Season 4, Episode 13, “Face Off”

Thanks to Breaking Bad this song plays in my head whenever I’m about to finish my chicken tenders.

6. Knife Party – Bonfire

Season 5, Episode 4, “Fifty-One”

A real Walter/Walter Jr. moment. A real Flynn/Heisenberg moment.

5. Magic Arrow – Timber Timbre

Season 3, Episode 2, “Caballo Sin Nombre”

Let’s call it The Mike Ballad.

4. Crapa Pelada – Quartetto Cetro

Season 3, Episode 13, “Full Measure”.

“I saved your life Jesse, are you gonna save mine?”

3. Crystal Blue Persuasion – Tommy James & The Shondells

Season 5, Episode 8, “Gliding Over All”.

This 90’s complete-girl-makeover like montage (only it’s about dealing meth and laundering money) is one of the most terrific scenes.

Gilligan first knew the song 30 years before the show and when he heard it again on the radio while heading to work he knew he had to use it. And boy we’re glad he did!

2. Baby Blue – Badfinger

Season 5, Episode 16, “Felina”.

“I guess I got what I deserved… I would show the special love I have for you, my baby blue”

No song could possibly fit the soul-crushing finale better.

1. El Paso – Marty Robins

Season 5, Episode 16, “Felina”.

Now if you’re some sort of philanthropist by day crime fighter by night and you really don’t have time to watch the 5 seasons just take 4:20 min and listen to this, you’ll get the story.

Felina also an anagram for Finale. Also Fe/Li/Na as in Blood, Meth and Tears. (Yes, we all should go hit our 9^th grade chemistry book again)

Akh, how awesome was Breaking Bad?