Dead Boy Detectives Soundtrack Guide: Every Song & When They Play

April 26, 2024, 1:50 p.m.

Movies

Dead Boy Detectives Soundtrack Guide: Every Song & When They Play

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Warning: This article contains MAJOR spoilers for Dead Boy Detectives.

Summary Showrunners Yockey and Schwartz curated an original soundtrack for Dead Boy Detectives that enhances the spooky and thrilling atmosphere of the show.

Musicians Blake Neely and Murat Selçuk composed a phenomenal score that sets the tone for the series.

The selected songs in the series keep the pacing quick and help shape individual character arcs and personalities, creating an immersive viewing experience.

Netflix's Dead Boy Detective soundtrack includes a fun mix of rock and eclectic tunes that shape the series. Based on the DC Comics written by Neil Gaiman, Dead Boy Detectives tells the story of two teenage ghost detectives named Edwin and Charles who team up with a medium named Crystal to help solve mysteries for paranormal clients. The series expands the Sandman universe, continuing the world-building done in the original show. As such, the Dead Boy Detectives showrunners, Steve Yockey and Beth Schwartz, had an extra challenge in curating the right ambiance and pacing.

Yockey and Schwartz succeeded in making Dead Boy Detectives just as spooky and thrilling as The Sandman, partly thanks to the original soundtrack and collected songs that appear in the series. Musicians Blake Neely and Murat Selçuk composed the phenomenal score which plays throughout the majority of Dead Boy Detectives. Additionally, the other songs selected for the series keep the pacing quick and shape the characters' individual arcs and personalities.

4:27 Related Dead Boy Detectives Stars Kassius Nelson & Yuyu Kitamura Tease Their Season 1 Arcs Kassius Nelson and Yuyu Kitamura tease Crystal and Niko's respective places in Netflix's new Sandman universe TV show Dead Boy Detectives.

Dead Boy Detectives Episode 1 Songs

"The Case Of Crystal Palace"

"Doorman" by Slowthai & Mura Masa – This song plays as Edwin and Charles run away from a ghost in a gas mask after entering an unfamiliar place through the mirror.

"Hang On To Yourself (Live)" by David Bowie – The David Bowie song plays as Edwin and Charles watch Crystal. It continues as they put together a plan on how to exorcise the demon from her.

"Bad Feeling" by Cobra Man – "Bad Feeling" is the first example of diegetic music in Dead Boy Detectives. The song plays in Crystal's headphones on the subway when Edwin and Charles come to trap the demon, David.

"I'm Telling Your Mum" by Danny Farrant & Paul Rawson – This song plays in the butcher shop when Edwin, Charles, and Crystal come in to rent the room upstairs. It continues as Crystal and Jenny get acquainted with one another.

"It's Not Unusual" by Tom Jones – The radio plays the classic song "It's Not Unusual" when Crystal, Edwin, and Charles talk in the malt shop about how to save Becky from Esther. The song continues as the teen girls look at Crystal like she’s lost touch with reality.

"Take The Rest Of Me" by Brocklesby Crooke – When Crystal meets Niko for the first time, this Brocklesby Crooke song plays, matching up with the psychedelic glowing around Niko. The song becomes extremely important in Dead Boy Detectives episode 3.

"Deal Wiv It" by Mura Masa & Slowthai – When Crystal tells the story of how she met David, this Mura Masa & Slowthai song frames the flashback. The song's lyrics about bad changes match up with David's influence over Crystal.

"White Teeth" by Caroline Peyton – "White Teeth" plays on vinyl when Charles and Edwin break into Esther's house to save Becky. The song ends when Edwin gets pulled through the cupboard into the pit.

"Surfing in the Sky" by The Vaccines – This song by The Vaccines plays when Esther fights Edwin and Charles outside of her house.

"Missing" by Slowthai – The Slowthai song plays as Crystal, Charles, and Edwin watch Becky walk across the street to her house. It continues as they walk down the street and discuss getting Crystal's memories back.

Dead Boy Detectives Episode 2 Songs

"The Case Of The Dandelion Shrine"

"Take The Rest of Me" by Brocklesby Crooke – This song first plays in Dead Boy Detectives episode 2 when Niko comes to Crystal's door before she loses consciousness. Edwin and Charles then figure out that the dandelion sprites feed off the attention that's elicited by the song and psychedelic lights. The song plays again halfway through the episode when Niko goes into the butcher shop full of people.

"Natural Successor" by Pictish Trail – "Natural Successor" plays in the background of the Sandman spinoff as Esther casts a spell on her bird while using a cauldron in order to turn him into a human being

Dead Boy Detectives Episode 3 Songs

"The Case Of The Devlin House"

"Oceans" by The Yada Yada Yadas – Jenny plays this song on the radio when she's cleaning the windows of the butcher shop, and it's storming outside. The song continues as Crystal, Edwin, and Charles come downstairs.

"Owner of the Lonely Heart" by Yes – This diegetic music plays multiple times throughout the episode as Crystal, Edwin, and Charles watch the ghost loop. During the song, the dad massacres his wife and two kids in the haunted house. "Owner of the Lonely Heart" stops at the end of the massacre but plays again every time that the loop restarts. The repetition slowly gets under Crystal's skin, pushing her to snap.

"RoMaNcE" by Shitkid – The Shitkid song starts playing when Jenny looks at letters from her secret admirer. It continues as Niko and Crystal pay their rent. The pair then get nosy about the letters.

Dead Boy Detectives Episode 4 Songs

"The Case Of The Lighthouse Leapers"

"Fire Escape" by Nine One One – Jenny listens to this song on the radio while reading a letter from her secret admirer.

"Wellerman," a maritime folk song from New Zealand – The device for the sea monster plays "Wellerman" when wound up, so Charles uses it to call the monster. He then uses the device to beat up the night nurse and pushes her into the water, where the monster swallows her whole.

"Young Blood (White Sea Remix)" by The Naked and Famous – This song plays as Niko opens the letters from her mom while sitting on the bed with Edwin. This is a major moment of character growth for Niko and also a bonding moment for the pair of Dead Boy Detectives characters. The song continues as Charles and Crystal talk and kiss in the other room.

Dead Boy Detectives Episode 5 Songs

"The Case Of The Two Dead Dragons"

"Apocalypse" by Cigarettes After Sex – This song plays in the background during Jenny's date with her secret admirer, Maxine. Maxine explains that she first saw Jenny at the fish market but was too nervous to talk to her.

"Melting" by Kali Uchis – Jenny and her secret admirer talk and laugh at the dinner table while "Melting" plays in the background. It continues as Maxine and Jenny kiss, followed by Maxine gushing about how much she likes Jenny. The song suddenly stops with a record scratch when Maxine mentions Jenny's oversized nightshirt, which she only knows about due to stalking her date.

"Disorder" by Joy Division – The Joy Division song plays during the end credits.

Dead Boy Detectives Episode 6 Songs

"The Case Of The Creeping Forest"

"Who's Your Girl" by The Mysterines – This song plays when Niko takes down all the love-related decorations in her room and puts them into a box. The song ends when Crystal walks into the room.

"Wellerman," a maritime folk song from New Zealand – This song plays again as the show shifts from the Dead Boy Detectives agency to the inside of the sea monster. The scene when "Wellerman" plays provides an update on whether the Night Nurse survived inside the monster.

"Shakedown" by Infamous Stiffs – The Infamous Stiffs song plays during the credits of Dead Boy Detectives episode 6.

Dead Boy Detectives Episode 7 Songs

"The Case Of The Very Long Stairway"

"Under the Milky Way" by The Church – "Under the Milky Way" starts when Charles and Edwin meet for the first time after Charles gets beaten up. This song plays in a montage of flashbacks with Charles and Edwin growing closer and bonding prior to Charles' death.

"Circle in the Sand" by Belinda Carlisle – Jenny stands still singing Circle in the Sand in her mind when Crystal jumps into her head to defeat the demon, David. Because there's no backing track, the song comes across as extremely eerie.

"Window Shopping" by Robert Foster – This song plays as Charles and Edwin navigate through the dead people in hell who are eating and vomiting all over the place.

"Dinner Jazz" by Tony Kinsey – The Tony Kinsey song plays in the hotel lobby in hell where people are frozen in place, only able to move their eyes.

"Burning" by Yeah Yeah Yeahs – "Burning" plays throughout a multitude of scenes at the end of Dead Boy Detectives episode 7 that are cut together. Crystal looks at the marbles of her marbles, and the crow flies back to Esther. Then, Jenny sleeps in bed while Niko plays with the cursed magic eight-ball. The Night Nurse walks down the hallway to a door. Lastly, Crystal eats one of the memory marbles.

Dead Boy Detectives Episode 8 Songs

"The Case Of The Hungry Snake"

"Standing in the Way of Control" by Gossip – This song plays at the beginning of the episodes while Crystal gets flashes of some of her memories back. These memories emotionally distress her.

"When I'm Gone" by Ging – The Ging song plays as Crystal says goodbye to everyone and kisses Charles. She walks out the door onto the street. The music stops when the butcher shop explodes.

"Sleeping in the Grassy Ground" by The Heavy Heavy – Esther plays this song in her home while talking to Charles and Edwin about her plans for them. It continues as she starts torturing Edwin with the machine designed to make her young from his suffering.

"Loss & Relax" by Black Belt Eagle Scout – At the end of Dead Boy Detective, the group goes into Niko's room and mourns their loss as this song plays. They discuss what will happen with Niko's body. Charles and Edwin agree for Crystal to officially join their detective agency.