What Is 'Succession Theme Songs: Why Were You Obsessed With It?

Sunny Anderson
Apr 10, 2023
Apr 10, 2023

As the long-awaited fourth season of 'Succession' graces us with its presence this Spring, it's time to take a moment to appreciate the genius of its theme music and why it's just so remarkable. This American satirical comedy-drama, which premiered in 2018, is arguably one of the most captivating shows on television. It follows the Roy family as they battle for control of their wealthy media empire, headed by Logan Roy (Brian Cox) and his three children Shiv (Sarah Snook), Kendall (Jeremy Strong), and Roman (Kieran Culkin). The show's stylish visuals have been accompanied by an equally exceptional soundtrack, and this Spring we get to enjoy it one last time.

#1. What influences the soundtrack of Succession?

In Season 3 of the show, released in Autumn 2021, Britell took inspiration from Italian classical music, due to the final episodes of the series taking place in Tuscany (as opposed to its usual American location). The three-time Oscar-nominated composer also travelled to Tuscany to study the music of Italy while writing the score for Season 3.
Episodes 8 and 9 of the 2021 series see members of the Roy family plotting dark deeds whilst staying in a sun-drenched Tuscan villa, far from their usual American cityscape setting.
Britell has previously described each of his seasons of Succession like a different movement of a symphony, reflecting how tonally his score shifts between each. He told film industry publication The Credits in 2022, that while he saw season one as a first movement ‘Allegro’, and season two as an ‘adagio’ second movement, “Season three… [has] a kind of ‘scherzo’ movement, which comes from the Italian word for ‘joke’ and often gives you this off-kilter quality.”

#2. Who is the composer of the Succession theme song?

What is succession theme song Source: USA Today

Nicholas Britell, an American composer, pianist, and film producer, created the memorable theme music and score for Succession. In an interview with Variety, he discussed the importance of approaching the music with an emotional perspective instead of a purely intellectual one. He said, “I think it’s important to always follow things from that almost physical emotional place, as opposed to being too intellectual.” And almost physical and emotional it really is. The Succession theme is catchy and memorable, all jangling piano and stabbing strings that directly reflects the shaky alliances and stabs in the back on screen.

What is succession theme song Source: The Direct

Britell continued, “Season three is very much about instability. We don’t know where the centre of power lies, so there’s this swirling nature to the story. That’s why I wrote pieces in three-four time and used triplets – they have this sort of swirling instability that felt right rhythmically for this season.” If we’re to follow the symphony analogy Britell has referred to over the first three seasons of the show, the audience can look forward to a fourth movement finale-esque score for this last season, as symphonies traditionally only tend to have four movements.
In February 2023, the director of Succession Jesse Armstrong revealed to fans that season four of the acclaimed show would indeed be the series’ final instalment. We look forward to seeing what symphonic techniques Britell brings into these final tales of the hideous, glorious Roy family empire.
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#3. What instruments are used in the Succession theme music?

What is succession theme song Source: Variety

The theme is orchestrated for piano, strings and drumkit, and has a distorted bass line that makes things sound a bit off – but so, so right. Basically like the characters’ plots and dalliances on screen.
A honky-tonk-feeling piano is ushered in by a laborious drumbeat, and it clinks into an undulating, tuneful melody that’s just very slightly off pitch-wise (hear it in the video above).
Powerful string chords respond to the first phrase, then the upper strings take on the melody and develop it into a compelling tune that evokes marvellously the Roy family’s trials and tribulations – always set against a backdrop of power, greed and somehow-unescapable buffoonery. The chug of the strings in tandem with that stubborn drumbeat keeps the theme music churning in all its supreme glory. It’s ingeniously catchy and addictive, so when it crops up during the action, it’s even more satisfying.
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