Adolescence soundtrack guide: A complete list of music in the Netflix series

With Adolescence being Netflix’s latest hit, it has attracted the attention of viewers not just for its powerful storytelling but also for its passionate and wisely chosen score.

While the show’s troubling narrative keeps viewers on their seats, the music plays an equally significant role—placing the tone without ever overriding the raw emotions as seen on screen.

Whether it’s a lingering cover or a nostalgic track, the music in Adolescence stays long after each episode ends. Thinking about which songs leave their mark in the story? We’ve got you covered.

---

Behind the music of Adolescence: The full soundtrack breakdown

The soundtrack to Adolescence is shaped with accuracy and care, serving the show's expressive beats without crushing its heavy subject matter.

Composers Aaron May and David Ridley are the brains behind the show’s original soundtrack. In addition to the original score, a few tracks that stand out amplify crucial moments throughout the series.

One of the most unforgettable songs on the show is a stripped-down cover of Sting’s Fragile, which echoes during the passionately charged finale of Episode 2.

The final episode of the series also leans into nostalgia with A-ha’s iconic song Take on Me playing during an important car ride. Ending the series on an expressive note, Aurora’s Through the Eyes of a Child underlines the show’s lingering conclusion.

For fans wishing to plunge themselves deep into the series, Netflix Music has also released the official soundtrack album and you can now find it on all major streaming platforms. The Adolescence soundtrack includes:

1. Chasing Ryan

2. Jamie in the Van

3. Eddie’s Shed

4. Do You Believe Me?

5. Playground Fight

6. Wainwright’s

7. Father Thanks Son

8. Bascombe Reflects

9. Cup of Tea

10. Alone

11. Walk Back to Class

12. Come Here You Little

13. Eddie Breaks

14. Back Home

15. Fragile (Sting Cover)

16. Take on Me by A-ha

17. Through The Eyes of a Child by Aurora

18. Adolescence

The soundtrack reflects the series’ emotive ups and downs, giving viewers a way to re-enter the atmosphere of the series going beyond the screen.

What is Adolescence all about?

Set against the backdrop of a regular British household, Adolescence follows an upsetting chain reaction of events that overturns the life of one family.

The story revolves around a 13-year-old named Jamie Miller (played by newcomer Owen Cooper), whose world swirls when he is placed under arrest for the killing of his classmate Katie Leonard. From the engrossing opening scene—where Jamie is snappishly pulled from his house and pushed into police custody—viewers are pulled into the series fixated on their screens.

Stephen Graham, who co-created the show and also plays the character of Eddie Miller, Jamie’s father reflects on the approach the mini-series took:

“We could have made a drama about gangs and knife crime, or about a kid whose mother is an alcoholic or whose father is a violent abuser. Instead, we wanted you to look at this family and think, ‘My God. This could be happening to us!’ And what’s happening here is an ordinary family’s worst nightmare.”

More about Adolescence: Release, and reception

Adolescence debuted on Netflix on March 13, 2025, quickly hitting the roof to the platform’s top spot worldwide. Critics and viewers have both admired the four-episode miniseries, with the show gaining a rare 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes just a few days after release.

The series is directed by Philip Barantini, with the writers being Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham. Stephen Graham, Owen Cooper, Ashley Walters, Erin Doherty, Faye Marsay, Christine Tremarco, Mark Stanley, Jo Hartley, and Amélie Pease are some of the cast members.

The emotive weight of the performances—especially Owen Cooper’s nerve-wracking portrayal of Jamie—has been singled out as an outstanding performance by a newcomer. Cooper showcased his skill to fluctuate between naivety and menace that pushes much of Adolescence’s tension.

---

With its clenching storytelling and cautiously curated soundtrack, Adolescence offers an experience that lingers long after the credits roll. The music in the series acts as much as a character as the cast itself. For anyone diving headfirst into the series, listening carefully to the soundtrack exposes just how essential it is to the show's long-lasting impact.