Summary

• The Argylle soundtrack contains a blend of modern songs and retro tracks.
• Many of the songs come from the 1970s and evoke classic spy movies.
• "Now and Then" by The Beatles serves as a motif for Elly and Aidan, heard multiple times in the movie.

The Argylle soundtrack contains quite a few songs that help propel the Henry Cavill spy movie forward. The meta movie is supposedly based on the book of the same name by Elly Conway, which was released the month before the movie premiered. However, it was later revealed that Conway, who is also a character in the movie played by Bryce Dallas Howard, was an entirely fictional creation and that the book was co-written by Terry Hayes and Tammy Cohen.

Regardless of its origin, the spy outing features quite a few songs that capture its unique energy. Unusually, the soundtrack doesn't feature any songs by Dua Lipa, a supporting player in the cast who appears in the opening scene of the Argylle movie, and whose contribution to the Barbie soundtrack, "Dance the Night," was nominated for the Golden Globe for Best Original Song. However, it does feature quite a few tracks contributed by her co-star Ariana DeBose, who also appeared primarily in the opening sequence.

When Every Song On The Argylle Soundtrack Plays In The Movie

There Are Seven Songs In Argylle

"You're The First, The Last, My Everything" by Barry White - This song plays during the opening credits of the movie and continues into the introductory scene where Argylle and LaGrange dance at a club. The suave and sensual nature of Barry White's vocals underscores the fantastical tone of the scene, which takes place in the exaggerated world of the Argylle books. It also places the scene in a retro 1970s mood that fits the rest of the visual stylization.

"Now and Then" by The Beatles - This song first plays when Elly Conway has returned home from her book tour and is sitting down to write the next chapter of the upcoming Argylle book. However, it is later revealed that the track is the love song shared by Elly Conway and Aidan Wilde, so it is used as a motif multiple times throughout the rest of the movie. An orchestral arrangement of the song can also be heard prominently during the climactic battle on the deck of the ship in the third act.

"Now and Then" is a song that was released in late 2023 using archived tracks from the late John Lennon and George Harrison as well as new recordings from their surviving bandmates Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr.

"Do Ya Wanna Funk?" by Patrick Cowley featuring Sylvester - This song plays during the sequence where Aidan is fighting off a horde of assailants on the train while Elly watches helplessly. The funky 1970s tune of the song highlights the fact that her vision keeps swapping between the actions of the real spy and the fictional Argylle. It also demonstrates how Elly is not quite ready to give up on the fictional world of espionage in her head and embrace the reality (and the peril) of her situation.

"Run" by Leona Lewis - This song plays during one of the biggest action sequences in the movie, when Elly and Aidan are fighting off enemies amid clouds of colorful gas. The fact that it's a more modern track highlights how Elly's sensibility is moving away from spy novel fantasy and toward real life, as well as a possible burgeoning love with Aidan. The song also ironically highlights the way their fight plays out as a sort of dance.

Though the songs don't appear in the movie itself, the Argylle trailer also featured "Let's Dance" by David Bowie and "Suspicious Minds" by Elvis Presley.

"Electric Energy" by Ariana DeBose - This song plays over the closing credits of the movie before the mid-credits scene. It is performed by DeBose, who plays a supporting character in the movie and is offered the opportunity to show off the singing chops honed after years on the Broadway stage, including being a part of the original cast of Hamilton.

"Get Up and Start Again" by Ariana DeBose - This is the first song that plays during the main closing credits of the movie, following the mid-credits sequence. Just like many of the songs on the soundtrack, it offers a James Bond-esque sonic texture, mimicking iconic spy movie soundtracks of yesteryear.

"Electric Energy (Disco Diva Mix)" by Ariana DeBose and Boy George - This song is the final track that plays during the closing credits of the movie. It adds Boy George, another icon of retro music. The song also features legendary musician and producer Nile Rodgers.

Where To Listen To The Argylle Movie Soundtrack

The Movie's Score Was Composed By Lorne Balfe

The Argylle soundtrack is available to stream on Apple Music, Spotify, and Amazon Music. However, the majority of the release is the instrumental score composed by Lorne Balfe, excluding many of the needle-drop songs used in the movie. The soundtrack does include "Electric Energy," "Get Up and Start Again," and the orchestral arrangement of "Now and Then," but the remainder of the songs can only be accessed on the individual artists' pages.

Click here to watch Argylle on Apple TV+