Quentin Tarantino’s classic crime drama, Pulp Fiction, has an iconic soundtrack that is full of nostalgic and upbeat songs, which give the film a powerful momentum from start to finish. The soundtrack is filled with energy and vibrancy, bringing every scene to life and elevating the entire project way beyond the words written on the page. Not a single moment of Pulp Fiction would be the same without Tarantino’s entertaining music choice, making it one of the most valuable assets in the film’s arsenal. There’s a wide range of styles and genres that play throughout the story, allowing each scene to feel distinct and new.
Although nobody can agree upon which of Tarantino’s several movies is his best, Pulp Fiction is his certainly one of his most iconic. It practically reinvented the entire genre, proving that crime films don’t need to be sad and gloomy to get their messages across. It’s filled with eccentric characters and dark comedy that deliver many surprises, framing the crime thriller as something overwhelmingly fun and entertaining. It was a hugely influential project upon its release, and even today it remains many critics’ ideal of a perfect screenplay.
Here's every song in Pulp Fiction, in order:
“Misirlou” by Dick Dale
“Let’s Stay Together” by Al Green
“Bustin’ Surfboards” by The Tornadoes
“Son Of A Preacher Man” by Dusty Springfield
“You Never Can Tell” by Chuck Berry
“Girl, You’ll Be A Woman Soon” by Urge Overkill
“Why They Mad? Us” by Hash Mills
When Each Song Plays In Pulp Fiction
“Misirlou” by Dick Dale - One of the best music moments in Pulp Fiction comes right at the beginning, as this upbeat rock song plays during the opening credits of the film, immediately after Pumpkin and Honey Bunny decide to rob the diner. It instantly sets the tone of the film and introduces the audience to Tarantino’s entertaining filmmaking style, jumping from a fairly serious conversation to a laughably intense holdup.
“Let’s Stay Together” by Al Green - Following the violent introduction of both Vincent and Jules, Pulp Fiction takes a quiet moment to sit back and let the audience bathe in its atmospheric tones. As Butch first appears on screen, this slow blues track sets the tone as his journey with Marcellus Wallace begins.
“Bustin’ Surfboards” by The Tornadoes - This '60s-inspired pop piece sounds in the background while Vincent purchases heroin from his dealer. It might not be the best or most iconic song from Pulp Fiction, but it does a great job of setting the scene. It’s a pretty laid-back piece of music that encapsulates the carefree life of Vincent and his associates while creating a false sense of security as several the tragedies begin to follow.
“Son Of A Preacher Man” by Dusty Springfield - This classic ballad marks the introduction of Mia Wallace, an elusive figure that causes plenty of trouble for both Vincent and Jules. By setting her first scene to the backdrop of this seductive and silky piece of music, Tarantino hints that her calmly unsettling behavior that can only mean trouble for the men in town.
“You Never Can Tell” by Chuck Berry - Played during the notorious dance contest between Vincent and Mia, this song has become synonymous with Tarantino’s films. It’s a catchy piece of music that really sets the scene for this moment, allowing both characters to revel in life’s smaller pleasures before their whirlwind lives tear them apart for good.
“Girl, You’ll Be A Woman Soon” by Urge Overkill - After Vincent and Mia’s night out, the pair return to her house, and Mia dances to this song on her stereo. It’s a small moment, but it further characterizes Mia as somebody who doesn’t care what people think about her (while the lyrics also mirror the character’s loss of innocence and struggles with substance misuse).
“Why They Mad? Us” by Hash Mills - This song plays over the end credits of the film, beginning as Vincent and Jules walk out of the diner after successfully de-escalating a violent robbery. Although it’s never revealed what was in the briefcase, the film’s conclusion perfectly wraps up the various loose ends that Tarantino had purposefully created. This song’s upbeat tones and groovy lyrics perfectly match the eccentric style of the film, summing up the various themes that Tarantino has interspersed throughout his screenplay.
Where You Can Listen To Pulp Fiction’s Soundtrack
The collectors’ edition soundtrack (featuring several snippets of dialogue and additional songs) for Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction can be found on Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon.
