Summary
The Unionis a movie featuring a robust soundtrack. The Netflix action-comedy movie, which was directed byEntourage’s Julian Farino, co-stars Mark Wahlberg and Halle Berry as former high school flames Mike McKenna and Roxanne Hall alongside an ensemble cast that includes Mike Colter as Nick Faraday, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as Frank Pfeiffer, Jackie Earle Haley as the Foreman, J. K. Simmons as Tom Brennan, and Lorraine Bracco as Lorraine McKenna. Because the movie is about worlds colliding, the musical tone of the soundtrack frequently shifts along with the storyline.
The movie is full of music, featuring more than a dozen different tracks ranging from iconic classics to under the radar jams. Although the soundtrack itself features ample musical offerings,theUniontraileralso features an additional track,adding “I’ll Be Around” by The Spinners to the overall musical backdrop of the movie’s universe. While that song is not featured in the movie itself, it is in keeping with the general style and tone of the rest of the songs that are indeed to be found on the soundtrack.
“Running on Empty”
“Down on the Corner”
Mark Charlap and Carolyn Leigh
“All I Need (DJ-Kicks)”
“Money on the Dash”
Elley Duhé and Whethan
levitation room
The Union Ending Explained
The Union is Netflix’s frothy spy rom-com starring Halle Berry and Mark Wahlberg, and the movie’s ending might just be setting up a new franchise.
When Every Song On The Union Soundtrack Plays In The Movie
The Movie Features A Wide Array Of Genres, From Rock To Musical Theater
“Lovely Day” by Bill Withers- This iconic song plays when Mike is starting his day and driving to his mother’s home. It is used as something of an ironic underscore, as the audience has already been introduced to the action stars at the center oftheUnioncastin the middle of a high-stakes operation during the movie’s prologue, and thus knows that Mike is blissfully unaware of the chaos that he is about to be plunged into.
“Lovely Day” is a frequently used soundtrack song that has been featured in many movies and television shows includingThe Crowded Room,Ted Lasso,The Good Doctor,Girls Trip,127 Hours, and bothThe Secret Life of Petsmovies.
“The Promised Land” by Bruce Springsteen- This song by the iconic New Jersey rocker plays when Mike heads into work and is meant to highlight the blue-collar nature of his life as a construction worker. However, the melancholy Americana of Springsteen’s music also highlights that, while Mike enjoys his life, he may be somewhat lonely at the time the movie begins.
“Big Road Blues” by Colin James- This song plays quietly in the background at the bar when Mike is hanging out with his friends after work.
“Running on Empty” by Jackson Browne- This song is playing quietly in the background at the bar when Roxanne reunites with Mike. While it matches the overall musicality of the Colin James song, the more overtly romantic nature of the lyrics highlights their connection with one another, as well as Mike’s single lifestyle.
“Down on the Corner” by Creedence Clearwater Revival- This song plays quietly in the background at the bar while Roxanne and Mike are catching up at a table, adding a slightly warmer and more lively atmosphere to the scene.
“What I Like About You” by The Romantics- This song plays quietly in the background at the bar while Roxanne and Mike are continuing to catch up and flirting over a game of pool, highlighting the increasing romantic tension between the duo.
“Jersey Girl (Live)” by Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band- Mike plays this song for Roxanne on his phone while the two are hanging out by the side of the road, asking her to remember how much she loved the song as a teenager, while singing along and asking her to dance with him. As one of the few songs on the soundtrack that the characters can actually hear, it forms the romantic spine of their onscreen relationship, though that effect is deliberately undercut by her drugging and kidnapping him.
“Yuck” by Charli XCX- This song plays quietly in the background at the restaurant where Mike, Roxanne, and Brennan are getting breakfast in London. The fact that the pop song has such a different feel from the rest of the music that has played so far underscores how much Mike is out of his element.
“Messin’ Up My Mind” by Fletcher C. Johnson- This song plays during the second half of Mike’s two-week training montage, during the period where he is slowly but surely beginning to improve.
“I Won’t Grow Up” Written by Mark Charlap and Carolyn Leigh- This song is performed live by a cast performingPeter Panon a stage where Mike has found himself while trying to escape during a chase sequence. The music briefly plays over the action sequence taking place out on the street as well.
“Like Exploding Stones” by Kurt Vile- This song plays quietly at the bar when Roxanne and Mike have a serious conversation about his responsibilities back home.
“Party Diva” by Deeper Purpose- This song is being played on a speaker in the kitchen by one member of the crew of hired muscle, who is taken out by Roxanne.
“All I Need (DJ-Kicks)” by Jayda G- This song is playing in the background at the bar where Roxanne and Mike approach the auctioneer.
“Another Night” by Real McCoy- This song is playing on the radio of the purple car that Nick carjacks during the chase scene in the finale.
“Money on the Dash” by Elley Duhé and Whethan- This song is playing on the radio in the orange car that Roxanne much more politely steals immediately afterward during the same chase scene.
“Hit Me With Your Best Shot” by Pat Benatar- This song plays after Mike finishes his best man speech, and continues as Roxanne approaches him at the wedding, mirroring their first scene together in the movie.
“This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)” by Natalie Cole- This song plays while Mike and Roxanne sit at the wedding reception and watch people dance while reminiscing about some of the most romantic aspects of their adventure. In addition to being a common song played at weddings, it brings their romantic arc full circle as they begin to embrace their feelings toward one another.
“This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)” is another frequently used soundtrack song that has been featured in projects includingShazam!,9-1-1,Bride Wars,Must LoveDogs,Charlie’s Angels: Full ThrottleandWhile You Were Sleeping.
“Ooh Child” by levitation room- This song plays over the final shots of the movie, bleeding into the closing credits where real-life high school photos of the cast are shown. In addition to the general nostalgic tone of the song’s instrumentation, the lyrics highlight the young versions of the actors being shown onscreen.
Where To Listen To The Union Movie Soundtrack
The Netflix Movie’s Soundtrack Is Not Currently Streamable
The collected soundtrack ofThe Unionisnot available to stream or purchase at the time of writing, though the individual songs are streamable at the individual artists' pages on various apps including Amazon Music, Apple Music, and Spotify. Similarly, a wide variety of streaming apps do have the original instrumental score for the movie available to stream. Eighteen tracks from the original score, which was composed by two-time Emmy nominee Rupert Gregson-Williams (Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom,Wonder Woman,Veep), have been compiled for the release, including “Ticket to Newark” and “Hold Onto Something.”
The Union
Cast
The Union is an upcoming film that explores the intersecting lives of multiple characters as they navigate complex relationships, personal struggles, and social issues.
