(Credits: Netflix)

As Netflix unveils their latest historical series, The Decameron, some of the greatest moments have come from what has been appearing on the soundtrack.

Throughout its eight-episode run, the series has incorporated some of the best in rock music from decades past into the series to help tell the story, almost offering a bit of dark humour into the series’s storyline surrounding the nobility of Florence, Italy as they flee the country to escape the Black Plague.

Despite comparisons to other period dramas like Bridgerton, The Decameron frames its series as a dark comedy, taken from the short story series of the same name by Italian poet Giovanni Boccaccio.

From the dark sounds of Depeche Mode to the gentle sounds of the Zombies, this is a coherent list of every familiar tune that turns up on the black comedy series.

Every song featured on The Decameron soundtrack

‘The Beautiful, Not-Infected Countryside’ – Episode 1

• ‘Master and Servant’ – Depeche Mode: As the audience gets their first look at Tanya Reynolds’s Licisca pushing noble Filomena into the water, Depeche Mode’s gothic masterpiece ‘Master and Servant’ serves as the backdrop to their relationship. It also foreshadows the danger lurking ahead as three men stare back at Licisca as she walks away
• ‘A Girl Like You’ – Edwyn Collins: As Licisca practises acting like a lady, Collins’s ‘A Girl Like You’ serves as a backdrop as she tries on her clothes, only for the euphoria to be broken by the nobel’s doctor, Dioneo.
• ‘Blue Monday’ – New Monday: As Filomena returns to the house at the end of the episode with blood dripping from her mouth, ‘Blue Monday’ is heard blaring as the show and is heard as the fade-out music during the credits.

‘Holiday State of Mine’ – Episode 2

• ‘Christian Woman’ – Type O Negative: As Neifile falls down a well after she storms out of the house, Type O Negative’s gothic metal classic can be heard as she hits the bottom. Once the music stops, she looks up to the heavens and asks for God to help her
• ‘Sleep Alone’ – Bat For Lashes: Panning between Neifile praying in the well and Filomena digs and then sits inside a grave, ‘Sleep Alone’ by Bats For Lashes plays to illustrate both sides of the story. It also soundtracks Panfilo seeing Filomena in the well and then reading while he waits for her to ask him for help.
• ‘Uncontrollable Urge’ – Devo: As Liscia appears at Dioneo’s bedroom door for the first time, Devo’s classic ‘Uncontrollable Urge’ is heard.

‘By Homer It’s a Winner’s Wreath’ – Episode 3

• ‘Echoes in Rain’ – Enya: Amid the comedic takes on mortality, ‘Echoes in Rain’ by Enya provides a sentimental side to the series. The new age classic is played as Misia is seen gathering flowers for her lost love before visiting her burial site.
• ‘What Have I Done to Deserve This – Pet Shop Boys (feat. Dusty Springfield): As the servants and nobles prepare to play games, it is soundtracked to the electronic soundscape of Pet Shop Boys. This also marks the moment where they are introduced to the game ‘I Am A Pig’.
• ‘All You Ever Think About Is Sex’ – Sparks: In one of the most sexual scenes in the series, new wave legends Sparks can be heard playing the classic song about raunchy thoughts. It soundtracks every major character engaging in sexual activities, from Neifile masturbating to Panfilo having sex with a messenger in a barn.
• ‘Caribbean Blue’ – Enya: In Enya’s second feature on the seires, ‘Carribean Blue’ plays out the final seconds of the episode Licisca accepts Tindaro’s hand in marriage

‘The Mood is Spoiled’ – Episode 4

• ‘Take Ecstasy With Me’ – The Magnetic Fields: As Misia secretly takes Filomena’s hand during a feast, the Magnetic Fields classics is heard faintly in the background.
• ‘Heresy’ – Nine Inch Nails: Once the main cast is kicked out of Villa Santa amidst the Black Plague, ‘Heresy’ closes the episode as they look to their future in the outside world.

‘Switcheroo’ – Episode 5

• ‘She’s Lost Control’ – Joy Division: The only track from this episode occurs when Misia stabs Ruggiero, only to be told that he is not the heir of Villa Santa. The track continues as Tindaro looks out a window to reveal the true heir, Jacopo.

‘A Stoney Brook Away’ – Episode 6

• ‘And You and I’ – Yes: As Sirisco deadfloats in the water to this song, Arriguccio goes into the water to grab her, thinking that she is dead. Since the prog-rock classic has multiple parts, four of the movements are heard.
• ‘Shit Luck’ – Modest Mouse: The energetic indie rock cut is played as everyone in the cast starts chasing Pampinea around the villa.

‘This Is Awful, And You’ll Never Recover’ – Episode 7

• ‘Shock the Monkey – Peter Gabriel: Picking up on Pampinea running away from everyone in the villa, the Peter Gabriel track also plays as Stratilia tells Jacopo that she is coming, resulting in her freeing him.
• ‘Just Like Honey’ – The Jesus and Mary Chain: The tune begins as Misia and Filomena begin having sex, with Pampinea watching after hiding in a chest.
• ‘Debaser’ – Pixies: As Licisca prepares to exit the Villa, the track begins as she makes her way off of the premises, only to be greeted with mercenaries when she reaches the gates.

‘We’ve Had a Good Cry’ – Episode 8

• ‘The Chauffeur’ – Duran Duran: The Duran Duran classic begins in the climax of the final episode as Panfilo works past the mercenaries to find Neifile’s body. As he asks her body for guidance, the other characters fight off the mercenaries using paintings as makeshift shields before Panfilo is shot with arrows and Tindaro gets stabbed.
• ‘This Will Be Our Year’ – The Zombies: After the surviving cast survives with nothing, the upbeat Zombies classic emphasises the hope and optimism going forward as Siscero tells a story to the group.