Mick Jagger (Photo: Rankin; used by permission)
Mick Jagger has released “Strange Game,” the theme song for the new Apple Original series Slow Horses. The song, co-written, recorded and performed by Jagger with film composer Daniel Pemberton, and out today (April 1, 2022) via Polydor Records / Universal Music, coincides with the global premiere of the series’ first two episodes now available globally on Apple TV+.
From the announcement: The atmospheric and infectious title track “Strange Game” captures Slow Horses’ dark and mischievous premise, and the surreal world of espionage and exclusion the main characters find themselves in. Underpinned by Jagger’s powerful and eerie vocals, the poignant, moodily strutting theme tune, which references elements of the show’s original score, encompasses both contemporary off-kilter sound design and delicate piano arrangements, highlighting the narrative of yearning for the days to “dance with the big boys again.”
Jagger noted, “I really enjoyed creating the theme track for Slow Horses with Daniel Pemberton, I’ve read a lot of the books and was familiar with some of the more dark and unsavoury characters and knew the direction I wanted to take it.”
Listen to “Strange Game”
Based on a series of acclaimed books by Mick Herron and starring Academy-Award winner Gary Oldman, Slow Horses follows a team of British intelligence agents who serve in a dumping ground department of MI5 – Slough House on the outskirts of London. Oldman stars as Jackson Lamb, the brilliant but irascible leader of the spies who end up in Slough House due to their career ending mistakes. The six-part series also stars Kristen Scott Thomas, Jonathan Pryce, Olivia Cook and Jack Lowden.
Related: The Rolling Stones are releasing a legendary 1977 concert in 2022 for its 45th anniversary
2 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationIm kind of ambivalent about the song at first listen. On one hand Mick sounds like a version of himself we haven’t heard in many years, and it’s great to hear that that guy is still here. On the other hand, im thinking that Mick’s sonic personality tends to overwhelm the atmospheric character of the music. I’m thinking that someone else — maybe someone like Robbie Robertson– might have been a better choice for this music, and the thematic feel their trying to create. I know it would be difficult to turn down Mick Jagger if you can get him, but I think he was the wrong choice.
Legendary and quintessential..’Mick’.. The master of the ‘elongated vowels’..Dude still kills it..