The Handmaid’s Playlist: Welcome Back to The Handmaid’s Tale

September 19, 2022September 14, 2023 Sam Bowser show-the-handmaids-tale

Hulu’s dystopian drama The Handmaid’s Tale returned for season 5 on Wednesday, September 14, 2022. The series is well known for its eclectic and score-heavy soundtrack that comes together to create a sense of terror, rage, and freedom through music.

The show uses music to differentiate between a pre-Gilead and a post-Gilead era as it consciously speaks of freedom within the music choices. The flashbacks focus on music that speaks to a type of normalcy.

We looked for songs that were emotional, playful or wistful.” – Michael Perlmutter, Music Supervisor (season 1)

From the start of the series, a trend emerged with the end-credit song sequences. The plot of the show can at times, be muted, ominous, and even creepy.

Many viewers aren’t accustomed to consuming television where music is in your face, and acts as a piece of commentary on culture as much as it does an emotional enhancement to a scene.” – Mikaila Simmons, Music Supervisor (season 1)

The series also uses music to service the main character, June Osborne’s (played by Elisabeth Moss) devil-may-care attitude. The song choices provide June a means to communicate with the audience while she is now, post-Gilead, forced to stay silent.

From left to right: Madeline Brewer, Yvonne Strahovski, Elisabeth Moss, Amanda Brugel, and Ann Dowd

Fun Fact: Music supervisor Maggie Phillips (seasons 2–4), initially pitched ‘Running Up That Hill’ by Kate Bush for the season 2 premiere end credit scene.

It got Bruce [Miller, showrunner] thinking about Kate Bush and he decided to put her under the hanging scene [with a cover of ‘This Woman’s Work’]. I called him after I saw it to picture, telling him it was a bold choice and cautioned that it would get people talking, but that made me excited.” Maggie Phillips, Music Supervisor (seasons 2–4)

With a history of bold choices and pleasant juxtapositions, The Handmaid’s Tale soundtrack is guaranteed to keep fans talking. Tune in to see what this season’s soundtrack will hold, music supervised by Brittany Whyte.

As fans begin to discover the music of season 5, Tunefind compiled its list of the most popular songs featured in season 3 and 4 of The Handmaid’s Tale.