Warning: Minor spoilers for The Penguin episode 7 ahead.

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HBO's new show The Penguin has proven to be a ratings hit, but fans are also loving the unexpectedly upbeat soundtrack from The Batman spin-off.

Colin Farrell stars as monstrous villain Oz Cobb, a man determined to climb the ranks in the shady criminal underworld of Gotham.

He leads a stellar cast, which also features Cristin Milioti (Sofia Falcone), Clancy Brown (Salvatore Maroni), Rhenzy Feliz (Victor Aguilar), and Mark Strong (Carmine Falcone).

With episode 7 proving to be one of the darkest instalments of the entire season so far, Farrell opened up to RadioTimes.com about that monstrous flashback.

He said: "That's the cornerstone around which everything is built, the rest of his life.

"And it certainly is the foundation, or the springboard upon which he is launched into the world, that decision that he makes as a child in that moment, and the reasons why he does it – so that he can have the isolation of his mother's love directed solely towards him."

He added: "I understood it and was horrified by it. I think he washes his hands of it totally, and has convinced himself that it didn't happen the way it did. It's that grave. But it's in there somewhere – the darkness. And it was there at that age, that's the thing."

But, despite the series getting incredibly dark, the soundtrack features some crucial moments of levity – even giving an insight into Oz's love for Dolly Parton.

Here's everything you need to know about the soundtrack for The Penguin.

The Penguin soundtrack: Full list of songs in The Batman spin-off

Episode 1 - After Hours

  • Solar – Miles Davis
  • Bye – Taylor Nixon
  • Heartbeat – Raveena
  • Money Matterz – G Tha Don
  • A Night Alone – Devin Norris
  • 9 to 5 – Dolly Parton
  • Put The Blame On Mame - Anita Kert Ellis and Rita Hayworth
  • The Promise – When in Rome

Episode 2 - Inside Man

  • Call Me Irresponsible – Bobby Darin
  • You Need Lovin’ Too – The Human Expression
  • Twisted Avenues – Motion Pictures
  • My World – Screen Test
  • Tears and Laughter – Dinah Washington
  • Happy Together – Floor Cry
Colin Farrell as Oz Cobb and Cristin Milioti as Sofia Falcone in The Penguin standing together under an archway
Colin Farrell as Oz Cobb and Cristin Milioti as Sofia Falcone in The Penguin. HBO/Warner Bros/DC

Episode 3 - Bliss

  • Man Down - VeFROMLA
  • Coco Y Ron – Daniel Indart
  • Switch – 6LACK
  • Cold – 24HR World
  • Sugar Honey Iced Tea – Dani Stevenson
  • In Your Lungs – Street Fever
  • Came For The Low – ZHU & partywithray
  • Heaven's Gates – Devault feat Izzy Camina
  • Blow Your Mind – Will Sparks
  • Khomus – Corvad
  • Fool For Ya – DVBBS
  • Broken Belief – Bob Moses
  • Me and the Devil – Gil Scott-Heron

Episode 4 - Cent'Anni

  • Broken Belief – Bob Moses
  • 2 Part Emotion: Happy – Fred Lederman Octet
  • So Long My Love – Sarah Vaughan
  • Strange Little Girl – The Stranglers
Colin Farrell as Oz Cobb in The Penguin
Colin Farrell as Oz Cobb in The Penguin. HBO

Episode 5 - Homecoming

  • Note Siah – Farshad
  • De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da – The Police
  • Reckless – St Vincent
  • Hounds – Puma Blue
  • A Forest – The Cure

Episode 6 - Gold Summit

  • The Stroke (Safari Riot Remix) – Billy Squier
  • Take Me – Karen Dalton
  • Beeveh – Giti
  • Glow Worm – Mills Brothers
  • Put The Blame On Mame
  • Suego – Ncognita
  • More – Sisters Of Mercy
  • Black Flowers – Chris Isaak
Deirdre O'Connell as Francis Cobb in The Penguin
Deirdre O'Connell as Francis Cobb in The Penguin. HBO

Episode 7 - Top Hat

  • Islands in the Stream – Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers
  • It Takes Two – Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock
  • Only You – Yaz
  • Top Hat, White Tie, and Tails
  • Please Tell Me Now
  • Lunacy – Swans

Episode 8 - Great or Little Thing

  • Let’s Face the Music and Dance
  • Please Tell Me Now
  • Where Did You Sleep Last Night – Sleigh Bells
  • O Mio Babbino Caro – Lesley Garrett
  • If This Is Goodbye – Margaret Whiting

Who composed the score for The Penguin?

Colin Farrell as Oswald Cobblepot in The Penguin sitting in a restaurant wearing a suit
Colin Farrell as Oz Cobb in The Penguin. HBO/Sky

Mick Giacchino composed the score for The Penguin. He's the son of The Batman composer Michael Giacchino.

The composer recently shared a post on Instagram celebrating the show's release, saying: "This project was an absolute dream, can’t wait for you all to get to know the real Oz…"

In the past, Giacchino has worked on projects including The Muppets Mayhem and Zootopia – so The Penguin certainly represents a step into darker releases for him!

The Penguin is available to watch on Sky and streaming service NOW - find out more about how to sign up for Sky TV.

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Check out more of our Sci-Fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.

Authors

Louise Griffin is the Sci-Fi & Fantasy Editor for Radio Times, covering everything from Doctor Who, Star Wars and Marvel to House of the Dragon and Good Omens. She previously worked at Metro as a Senior Entertainment Reporter and has a degree in English Literature.

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