With more and more reports and news of the Peaky Blinders film being released, it would be a shame to not revisit the show’s iconic theme song. Nick Cave‘s “Red Right Hand” has become synonymous with the series, and it sets the tone for every episode. However, the covers and remixes are just as important as the original version when it comes to atmosphere. Here are several covers of “Red Right Hand” ranked by how dramatically they are used in Peaky Blinders.
Videos by American Songwriter
Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds
The original version of “Red Right Hand” is played at the beginning and end of almost every episode, except for a select few. There’s always the dramatic beat drop (technically the tubular bell drop) at the start of the song when the main title appears, which is when you know to get ready for oftentimes some violence, the occasional scheme, and always some drama. Nick Cave’s “Red Right Hand” is a classic, and the perfect blend of sinister, foreboding, and intriguing to set up each episode of Peaky Blinders.
Flood Remix
This subtle remix of Nick Cave’s “Red Right Hand” plays in the opening credits of Season 2 Episode 4, and again during the end credits of Season 6 Episode 2. It features ambient noise, subdued vocals, and an isolated melody to create a more sinister opening theme. The tubular bells are also more isolated in this remix, creating an industrial sound. Overall, it’s a decent remix, subtly shifting the mood of the episode.
PJ Harvey
PJ Harvey’s cover of “Red Right Hand” encompasses an open vulnerability that other versions don’t have. Especially when you consider its use in the opening credits of Season 3 Episode 3. Here, Tommy sits by the campfire and contemplates Grace’s death. The use of PJ Harvey’s incredibly emotive vocals makes the short scene completely heart-wrenching, even though there’s not much going on drama-wise. It’s more dramatically introspective because we know why Tommy is out there and what he’s thinking about.
Patti Smith
Patti Smith recorded a cover of “Red Right Hand” for Season 6 Episode 5 of Peaky Blinders. It appears near the end of the episode and has not been released as anything more than part of the soundtrack. In comparison, a few other covers were done before the series picked them up. (The Arctic Monkeys version was recorded in 2009, for instance).
This is the penultimate episode of the entire series before its dramatic conclusion. Smith’s raw, open vocals do well to match both the seriousness and the vulnerability in the scene. This is the episode where Michael Grey agrees to murder his cousin Tommy Shelby, where everything changes and is set to come crumbling down for Tommy.
Laura Marling
In Season 4 Episode 6, Laura Marling’s cover of “Red Right Hand” plays over the opening credits. Tommy is meeting everyone at the boxing ring for the fight between Bonnie Gold and Goliath. This is a pivotal episode in the series, and this version of the opening theme is slow, lilting, and almost suspicious. It creates a heightened sense of foreboding. Similar to PJ Harvey’s version, it’s haunting, but not as sad.
FIDLAR
In Season 4 Episode 1, Jessie Eden the union leader is introduced with FIDLAR’s cover of “Red Right Hand.” She’s a strong, independent woman, and she knows it. This version of the theme is raw, rough, and punk rock to match her attitude, playing in the background of her introduction. She uses the men’s bathroom in Tommy Shelby’s office building because there are no women’s bathrooms on the second floor. This, according to Jessie, is because “no women get this far up.” The song hits its titular, jangling line as Jessie leaves the bathroom with her head held high. She’s ready to take on the infamous Tommy Shelby.
Arctic Monkeys
In Season 2, the Peaky Blinders are dealing with gang leaders Sabini and Solomons. Tommy continues making deals and schemes left and right. He recruits men from the Black Country and sends them to Camden Town to work for Alfie Solomons, who Tommy has so far aligned himself with. The Arctic Monkeys cover of “Red Right Hand” plays over the scene of the Black Country men arriving in Camden. This creates a rowdy, rock-and-roll atmosphere to hype up the simple intro scene.
Jarvis Cocker and Iggy Pop
Season 4 Episode 5 features a gun fight between Tommy Shelby and the Italians who have a vendetta against him—Luca Changretta and his gang. This is one of the heaviest covers of “Red Right Hand”, and is probably one of the more dramatic uses of the theme. As Tommy ducks and weaves through hallways, doorways, and alleyways, dodging bullets and leading the Italians on a wild goose chase, Iggy Pop and Jarvis Cocker deliver a heavy, thrumming rendition of Nick Cave’s classic song.
Featured Image by Jim Steinfeldt/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
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