Warning: Spoilers for “Outer Banks” ahead
Earlier this month, part one of season four of “Outer Banks” was released on Netflix. “Outer Banks” has become synonymous with adventure, the trials of friendship and love and the fierce competition between the two sides of the island. On one side there are the “Pogues.” This slang term is in reference to the people of low economic status on “The Cut” of the Outer Banks. On the other side, there are the high class, wealthy “Kooks” of Figure 8.
First premiering in April of 2020 during the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, “Outer Banks” quite literally offered viewers an escape to paradise. While the sunshine, surfing, summer flings and mystery attracted viewers, so did the music featured throughout the ten episodes of the first season, and the next three seasons that followed.
While the songs featured range from lyrical to instrumental, fast tempo to slow tempo, and older songs to modern songs, all of them help make “Outer Banks,” “Outer Banks”.
Here is a list of some of the top songs featured within the series:
1. “Left Hand Free” By Alt J
As the first song to officially be featured in the show, “Left Hand Free” helps set the tone for season one, and in truth, the rest of the seasons that follow. While the Pogues are chilling on a construction site for a new house on Figure 8, security is called and they start chasing the Pogues. The song plays as the Pogues get away and continues as the main protagonist John B. Routledge introduces viewers to the main cast of characters and their lives on the Outer Banks. This song has become synonymous with “Outer Banks”, with Alt-J even playing the song live before a large crowd at Poguelandia for the premiere of season three.
2. “Maria También” By Khruangbin
This “While “Left Hand Free” is easily recognizable as the song of “Outer Banks,” other songs make this list because they accompany some of the show’s most iconic scenes. For example “Maria Tamién plays during the famous scene where another Pogue protagonist, JJ Maybank, attempts to break into a motel room by pretending to be a housekeeper. It is one of the most iconic lines of season one. Khruangbin, is a musical trio that is well-known for their combination of “Middle Eastern and African influences, ’70s funk and Texas soul.” They have quite a few songs featured within season one. “Maria También” as their first single on their second album Con Todo El Mundo, features a wide range of funky beats, tempos and eclectic sounds that goes hand-in-hand with JJ’s personality.
3. “High School Lover” By Cayucas
One of the most popular places for all the teenagers of the Outer Banks to meet up is the Boneyard. As John B. puts it, it is a combination of Pogues, Kooks, and the “Tourons” (a slang term that combines the words tourist and moron), who party, laugh, drink, and where summer romances and flings are born. Temporarily bored, the Pogues decide to host a party in the Boneyard, setting up the keg and mingling with newcomers. Cayucas’ “High School Lover” plays as the party gets more crowded, coinciding conveniently with the beginning lyrics of the song: “Are you going to the party on Saturday?; She asked, I said I didn’t know.”
4. “Yakuba” By Whitefield Brothers
A German funk band, the Whitefield Brothers add a unique twist to the “Outer Banks” soundtrack. “Yakuba” is played over when the Pogues melt the Royal Merchant gold to try and see what its selling price would be. As the Pogues’ excitement increases, so does the songs’ tempo.
5. “The W.A.N.D.” By The Flaming Lips
This song is also iconic only in the fact that it marks the first ever kiss between John B. and Sarah Cameron, who is dubbed the “Kook Princess” by the Pogues. After an adventure off the island in search of information in regards to where the Royal Merchant treasure is, their romantic tension is finally heightened to where John B. begins rambling about his feelings for Sarah. She finally tells him to “Shut up” and kisses him, marking the beginning of their relationship. “The W.A.N.D.” starts out slow as Sarah walks back towards John B., but then picks up as soon as they embrace.
6. “Teen Age Thugs” By Sonny and The Sunsets
“Teen Age Thugs” marks the first song of season two, not in an episode but in the teaser trailer. At first the song evokes tension due to the rest of the Pogues’ belief that John B. and Sarah perished at sea, but then stops as the scene is shifted to a beach where the two are in fact alive and well. From there, the trailer and song shifts to action-packed scenes, including a car chase, people jumping off of a ship and a foot chase. The lyrics “Run, run, run, run, run, run” can be heard as the scenes shift from one to another, eventually leading into the chorus.
7. “Where’d All the Time Go?” By Dr. Dog
Featured in episode three of season two, “Where’d All the Time Go?” starts to play when John B. and Sarah are able to make landfall in Charleston, South Carolina after escaping from Barbados on boat. The two are so emotional in the fact that they have survived a treacherous couple of days, reflecting on how much time has passed, as they make their way back home. Little do they know, as they are passing under a bridge, their fellow Pogues JJ, Pope Heyward, and Kiara “Kie” Carrera are driving past right above them. “I wonder John B. and Sarah are right now?” JJ even says.
8. “All My Dreams” By The Heavy Heavy
“All My Dreams” is similar to “Teen Age Thugs” in that it also marks the first song of season three, not in an episode, but in the teaser trailer. The trailer opens where we saw the Pogues last: on a deserted island in the middle of the ocean. The lyrics “Dreaming of a place where the sunlight never sleeps; It’s a beauty, colour paradise” pretty much describes the island in its full form, highlighting how the Pogues have idyllically lived for the past couple of months. Such is life to the point where some of the Pogues think along the lines of the songs’ lyrics “You don’t mind if we stay here for a while?; Dreaming of summer paradise.” The Pogues can’t get away with living in paradise forever, as their lives are found in danger yet again as the song hits its climax.
9. “Bad Love” By Dehd
As the Pogues find their new normal on the deserted island, they affectionately named “Poguelandia”, they find themselves talking, laughing and reflecting on their old lives with a game of truth or dare. When it comes to JJ’s turn, Kie dares him to jump off one of the oceanside cliffs. As Pope says, “Highly dangerous. Zero reward. Yea, he’s doing it.” And he does, with the rest of the Pogues laughing and cheering him on as he resurfaces. This scene helps bring the Pogues together, forgetting about their problems momentarily to have some fun. “Bad Love” emphasizes their “…heart full of, re-re-redemption.”
10. “You Don’t Love Me (No, No, No)” By Dawn Penn
“You Don’t Love Me (No, No, No)” is played in the background when the Pogues are finally able to leave their little slice of paradise on Jimmy Portis’ plane, the Flying Fish. The songs’ catchy reggae tunes help send the Pogues off as they make their way back to civilization. Although they are escaping, there is still much doubt and uncertainty about what lies ahead. Ironically Penn keeps singing “No, no, no” as the scene fades to Guadeloupe, where the rest of Sarah’s family are taking shelter alluding to the tension between the family and the Pouges.
11. “Welcome to Jamrock” By Damian Marley
A slight nod to Kie’s love for musical artist Bob Marley, Damian Marley’s “Welcome to Jamrock” sets the tone for the new setting of Barbados with a bunch of vendors, tourists and locals milling about. That is, except for Rafe Cameron, Sarah’s older brother, who as the song goes is at a “…camp where the thugs dem camp at,” eyeing his escape off of Barbados after Kie stole his boat, which is a story for another time.
12. “Pogues Theme” By Fil Eisler
There would be no “Outer Banks” without a little “Pogues Theme” by Fils Eisler. An entirely instrumental song composed specifically for the show, it is often played during the end credits of each episode. The song allows viewers to immerse themselves in the Pogues’ environment. With its upbeat tunes and different ranges of beats, “Pogues Theme” will surely bring a person closer to “Outer Banks”.
Honorable Mentions:
“You’ve Got the Heat” by Luster
Featured during a beach scene during which the Kooks volunteer to help clean up any waste, “You’ve Got the Heat” marks the official first days of summer and romance for the teenagers of the Outer Banks.
“Evan Finds the Third Room” by Khruangbin
Also played during season one where the Pogues spend their afternoon surfing, Khruangbin yet again creates another catchy, beach-like song that is perfect for a summer afternoon.
“Rivers of Babylon” by The Melodians
The first official song to be played in season three, the “River of Babylon” sets the tone of the quiet, simple life the Pogues had been living for the past couple of months while stranded on the island.
“Midnight Wine” by Shannon & The Clams
In season three, the Pogues are spread out all over the Outer Banks. Shannon & The Clams’ “Midnight Wine” embodies the chaotic atmosphere. As Kie is sent away to a wilderness therapy camp for troubled teens, JJ finds himself attempting to help her escape, while the rest of the Pogues wait on the tarmac of their local airport with a jet ready to find El Dorado.
“Spring Has Sprung” by Skeggs
First introduced to fans in the beginning stages of filming for season four, “Spring Has Sprung” is played as the first song in episode four of season four, sort of as a hype song for the Pogues that marks one of the first surfing days/ventures of the year.
With the second part of “Outer Banks” season four releasing on Netflix soon, viewers will be in for a treat to find out the remaining songs featured within the season. To find out and hear more songs played in the series, check out this link.
