The Hulu series Pam & Tommy conjures the salacious 90s with a soundtrack full of familiar songs from the decade and earlier. The series chronicles the wild romance of actress Pamela Anderson and drummer Tommy Lee, as well as the unauthorized sale of and fallout from their infamous sex tape. The series’ music, which uses everything from frenetic dance music to ironically-placed crooning, is crucial to placing Anderson and Lee’s story in the context of the sex-obsessed 1990s.
Pam & Tommy has long been in development, and is based off a Rolling Stone article relating the unique circumstances of how the titular pair’s sex tape was released to the world. Pam & Tommy‘s star-studded cast includes Lily Collins and Sebastian Stan as the eponymous couple, Seth Rogen as handyman turned sex tape merchant Rand Gauthier, and Nick Offerman as his business partner “Uncle Miltie.” The series is created by screenwriter Robert Siegel and has an impressive list of producers including mega-producer Megan Ellison, Rogen, and I, Tonya director Craig Gillespie, who directs the first three episodes.
The first three episodes of Pam & Tommy feature a busy soundtrack that includes familiar songs from artists like Dusty Springfield, Iggy Pop, and Nine Inch Nails, as well as some more obscure tunes. Below is a list of every song featured in Pam & Tommy, excluding instrumental background music.
Pam & Tommy, Episode 1, “Drilling and Pounding”
“Praise You” by Fatboy Slim – This song plays during Pam & Tommy‘s opening scene as Seth Rogen’s Rand walks back to his van after accidentally hurting his hand.
“Heaven is a Place on Earth” by Belinda Carlisle – This 80s classic accompanies Rand’s lonely drive home, with him singing along to a few lines.
“Ain’t That Rain by Carolyn Hester – This softer number is the backdrop to Rand shopping for supplies for the renovations requested by Sebastian Stan’s Tommy Lee.
“Sunny” by Dusty Springfield – This jazzy song scores the flashback to Rand’s childhood decades earlier, which helps to explain why he is so angered by Tommy’s humiliation.
“Closer” by Nine Inch Nails – “Closer”, infamous for its chorus line “I want to f**k you like an animal,” plays as Rand scopes out Tommy’s house, preparing his revenge.
“Movin’ On Up” by Primal Scream — Gentler than one would expect from a band called Primal Scream, Pam & Tommy uses “Movin’ On Up” as Rand searches the contents of Tommy’s safe, finding the Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee sex tape at the core of the series.
“I Have, I Have,” by Beti Webb – This song plays over the credits of Pam & Tommy episode 1.
Pam & Tommy, Episode 2, “I Love You Tommy”
“Through Eternity” by Jerry Fuller – Fuller’s romantic ballad provides a somewhat ironic accompaniment to Pam & Tommy’s honeymoon on a houseboat, during which the sex tape is filmed.
“100% Pure Love” by Crystal Waters; “You Are The Man” by Charlie & Inez Foxx; “Get Together” by Lotti Golden; “Be My Lover” by La Bouche – These four songs are cut together during the sequence where Pam and Tommy meet in a nightclub.
“I Will Give You” by Beds and Beats – Pam & Tommy uses this song as Pam’s friends plead with her not to start dating Tommy, recognizing a pattern in her relationship. Future episodes of Pam & Tommy will show how well-founded their concerns were.
“Nowhere to Run” by Martha Reeves & The Vandellas – This song accompanies a montage where Tommy continually calls Pam. Like the song “Nowhere to Run,” Pam perceives a potentially threatening situation as romantic.
“Feel Like A Man” by Captain & Tenille – “Feel Like a Man” plays alongside Pamela’s arrival in Cancun, for a meeting with syndicators that she plans to use as a tropical vacation.
“Tootsie Roll” by 69 Boyz – After Tommy is kicked out of a bar for not following the dress code, he and Pam visit a rowdy nightclub where “Tootsie Roll” is playing.
“Just When I Thought I’d Seen It All” by Archie Thompson – As in the previous club scene, Pam & Tommy switches to a softer song once the titular couple are interacting one-on-one, perhaps reflecting their altered state after taking ecstasy. Many films and shows, such as Synchronic, depict drug use using audio and visual cues like this.
“Hurdy Gurdy Man” by Donovan – This is the song that plays as Pam and Tommy bathe together for the first time.
“Total Eclipse of the Heart” by Nicki French – French’s upbeat cover of “Total Eclipse of the Heart,” made famous by Bonnie Tyler, plays as Tommy and Pam return to the club.
“Steal My Sunshine” by Len – This recognizable 90s pop hit serves as the score for Pam and Tommy’s shotgun wedding on the beach of Cancun.
“That’s My Style” by Peggy Lee – “That’s My Style” accompanies Pam and Tommy’s consummation of their marriage. Interestingly, Butchie later mentions Peggy Lee as one of several rumored celebrity sex tapes.
“Real Wild Child” by Iggy Pop – This song, also known as “Wild One”, is used as Tommy confronts paparazzi at his house.
“Getting to Know You” from The King & I - This number from the classic stage musical The King & I, plays a key role in Pam & Tommy. Pam watches the film version of the musical, identifying it as one of her favorites, and sings along to the vocals led by Deborah Kerr and Marni Nixon. Tommy joins in, and Pam jokingly threatens to film and blackmail him, which leads to the fateful introduction of a camcorder into their relationship.
“Rhythm of the World” by Ray Ellington – “Rhythm of the World” plays over the episode 2 end credits.
Pam & Tommy, Episode 3, “Jane Fonda”
“Rowdy at the Party” by LSD – Pam & Tommy‘s story uses this song as Rand and Nick Offerman’s “Uncle Miltie” attempt to sell the sex tape to Vivid Entertainment.
“Spinning Wheel” by Shirley Bassey – This song accompanies the montage where Rand & Miltie are rejected by several porn companies.
“Lovefool” by The Cardigans – “Lovefool” is playing on the radio as Pam is having her makeup done for Baywatch. Pam asks for the music to be turned up and ends up singing along with it alongside the makeup artists.
“What’s It Gonna Be” by Dusty Springfield - Pam & Tommy uses its second Dusty Springfield song in the montage where Rand and Miltie are setting up their online business to sell the sex tape.
“Right Kind of Girl” by Lloyd Price – This song accompanies the scene where Rand takes his wife Erica out to a restaurant.
“Make Your Own Kind of Music” by Cass Elliot – This classic, which was also memorably used at the start of Lost season 2, accompanies the montage at the end of Pam & Tommy episode 3.
“Could It Be That I’m In Love” by Tobi Furano – Finally, “Could It Be That I’m In Love” plays over the end credits of Pam & Tommy episode 3.
Pam & Tommy releases a new episode of the limited series every Wednesday.
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