Drive (2011) Soundtrack: Every Song in Ryan Gosling Starrer Film

Cliff Martinez composed original music for Nicolas Winding Refn’s atmospheric mood piece Drive, while Johnny Jewel contributed two key songs on the soundtrack—“Tick of the Clock” with his former band, the Chromatics, and “Under Your Spell” with his other band, Desire. In an interview with Variety, Johnny Jewel said that when Ryan Gosling was attached to the picture, the actor had his choice of director and composer. He chose Refn and Jewel, respectively. Cliff Martinez was picked at the last minute by the studio.

For those who live under the rock, Ryan Gosling stars as a nameless Hollywood stuntman who moonlights as a getaway driver. He has his code and doesn’t violate it under any circumstances. When he falls in love with his married neighbor, he breaks the only code he abides by and becomes entangled in a spiral of violence. Drive has since gained cult status, especially its eclectic music, which has a dash of synthesizer Europop.

Only five of the 20 music pieces featured on the “Drive” soundtrack are needle drops. These five, particularly the two by Jewel, establish the film’s sonic ambiance. Drive (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) was initially released on CD by Lakeshore Records on September 19, 2011, followed by a vinyl edition by Mondo Music in June 2012. In September 2016, Lakeshore and Invada Records released a special edition to coincide with the film’s fifth anniversary. It is digitally available on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube.

Drive Soundtrack: Cult Status, Synth Pop, and Atmospheric Vibes

1. “Nightcall” (Vincent Pierre Claude Belorgey, Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo) by Kavinsky featuring Lovefoxxx
2. “Under Your Spell” (Johnny Jewel) by Desire
3. “A Real Hero” (David Grellier, Austin Garrick, Bronwyn Griffin) by College featuring Electric Youth
4. “Oh My Love” (Riz Ortolani, Rina Ranieri) by Riz Ortolani featuring Katyna Ranieri
5. “Tick of the Clock” (Jewel) by Chromatics
6. “Rubber Head” by Cliff Martinez
7. “I Drive” by Cliff Martinez
8. “He Had a Good Time” by Cliff Martinez
9. “They Broke His Pelvis” by Cliff Martinez
10. “Kick Your Teeth” by Cliff Martinez
11. “Where’s the Deluxe Version?” by Cliff Martinez
12. “See You in Four” by Cliff Martinez
13. “After the Chase” by Cliff Martinez
14. “Hammer” by Cliff Martinez
15. “Wrong Floor” by Cliff Martinez
16. “Skull Crushing” by Cliff Martinez
17. “My Name on a Car” by Cliff Martinez
18. “On the Beach” by Cliff Martinez
19. “Bride of Deluxe” by Cliff Martinez