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Quentin Tarantino is renowned for the needle drops on his soundtracks, and Kill Bill Vol. 1 has one of his most eclectic mixes of music.
Kill Bill: Volume 1 has one of Quentin Tarantino’s most eclectic and enjoyable soundtracks. Ever since Mr. Blonde tortured a cop to the tune of “Stuck in the Middle with You” in Reservoir Dogs, Tarantino has been known for the needle drops on his soundtracks. His music choices are as integral to his signature filmmaking style as his snappy dialogue and graphic violence.
Music isn’t usually much of a priority when it comes to action movies. But Tarantino has proven with Kill Bill that the right pop song can enhance the energy and excitement of a set piece. Watching Uma Thurman as the Bride engaging in a blood-soaked swordfight with dozens of hired goons is thrilling enough on its own, but it’s even more exhilarating with “Nobody But Me” playing in the background. From Bernard Herrmann’s “Twisted Nerve” to Santa Esmeralda’s cover of “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” to an operatic composition by Ennio Morricone, the soundtrack of Kill Bill: Volume 1 is jam-packed with great songs.
This is every song on the Kill Bill: Volume 1 soundtrack, in order:
- “Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)” by Nancy Sinatra
- “Music Box Dancer” by Frank Mills
- “Ironside” by Quincy Jones
- “That Certain Female” by Charlie Feathers
- “Twisted Nerve” by Bernard Herrmann
- “Seven Notes in Black” by Vince Tempera
- “Main Title from Truck Turner” by Isaac Hayes
- “The Grand Duel (M10)” by Luis Bacalov
- “I Lunghi Giorni Della Vendetta (Cantina)” by Armando Trovajoli
- “The Grand Duel (Parte Prima)” by Luis Bacalov
- “Run Fay Run” by Isaac Hayes
- “Armundo” by David Allen Young
- “The Wound That Heals” by Lily Chou-Chou
- “The Lonely Shepherd” by James Last & Gheorghe Zamfir
- “Green Hornet” by Al Hirt
- “Battle Without Honor or Humanity” by Tomoyasu Hotei
- “I Walk Like Jayne Mansfield” by The 5.6.7.8’s
- “Woo Hoo” by The 5.6.7.8’s
- “I’m Blue” by The 5.6.7.8’s
- “Death Rides a Horse” by Ennio Morricone
- “Super 16” by Neu!
- “Crane/White Lightning” by The RZA/Charles Bernstein
- “Champions of Death” by Shuzsuko Kibushi
- “Police Check Point” by Harry Betts
- “I Giorni Dell’ira” by Riz Ortolani
- “Nobody But Me” by Human Beinz
- “Banister Fight” by The RZA
- “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” by Santa Esmeralda
- “The Flower of Carnage” by Meiko Kaji
- “Yagyu Conspiracy” by Toshiaki Tsushima
- “Urami Bushi” by Meiko Kaji
When Exactly Every Song Plays In Kill Bill Vol. 1
“Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)” by Nancy Sinatra – This song plays over the opening credits and the lyrics are appropriate for the subject matter. The Bride’s lover literally gunned her down in the opening shot of Kill Bill, putting her in a coma with a bullet to the head.
“Music Box Dancer” by Frank Mills – This song is playing when the Bride pulls up outside Vernita Green’s house in the P***y Wagon.
“Ironside” by Quincy Jones – An excerpt from Quincy Jones’ theme from Ironside plays when Vernita opens her front door to find the vengeful Bride waiting for her.
“That Certain Female” by Charlie Feathers – In the flashback to the aftermath of the Massacre at Two Pines, this song is playing as Texas Ranger Earl McGraw arrives at the scene of the crime.
“Twisted Nerve” by Bernard Herrmann – This song plays as Elle Driver walks through the hospital to kill the Bride. Elle whistles the melody before the original recording takes over the soundtrack.
“Seven Notes in Black” by Vince Tempera – This track, taken from Lucio Fulci’s giallo classic Sette Note in Nero, plays when Buck returns to the Bride’s hospital room and finds her missing.
“Main Title from Truck Turner” by Isaac Hayes – This song, another one taken from an earlier film’s soundtrack, plays when the Bride finds the P***y Wagon in the hospital parking lot.
“The Grand Duel (M10)” by Luis Bacalov – This song kicks in when the Bride is lying on the backseat of the P***y Wagon, wiggling her toes as she attempts to regain the use of her legs. To kill some time, she tells the audience the origin story of O-Ren Ishii.
“I Lunghi Giorni Della Vendetta (Cantina)” by Armando Trovajoli – During the anime segment filling in O-Ren’s backstory, this song plays over the grisly murder of her father.
“The Grand Duel (Parte Prima)” by Luis Bacalov – This track plays as O-Ren cowers under the bed in Kill Bill’s emotional flashback sequence, witnessing her parents’ gruesome deaths.
“Run Fay Run” by Isaac Hayes – This song plays when O-Ren shoots a foreign politician. This brief sequence demonstrates her increasing prowess as a killer.
“Armundo” by David Allen Young – This song plays over the introduction of O-Ren’s entourage: Sofie Fatale, Gogo Yubari, and Johnny Mo.
“The Wound That Heals” by Lily Chou-Chou – This track plays as the Bride goes into Hattori Hanzō’s attic and finds one of his legendary swords. She commissions a new one for her showdown with O-Ren.
“The Lonely Shepherd” by James Last & Gheorghe Zamfir – This song is used a few times throughout Kill Bill: Volume 1. It first plays when Hanzō gives the Bride her new sword. It reappears when the Bride writes her kill list on the plane and plays again in the end credits.
“Green Hornet” by Al Hirt – The theme from the old Green Hornet series plays as the Bride follows O-Ren’s convoy atop her motorcycle.
“Battle Without Honor or Humanity” by Tomoyasu Hotei – One of the most recognizable tracks on the Kill Bill soundtrack, this song plays as O-Ren, Gogo, Sofie, and the Crazy 88s enter the House of Blue Leaves.
“I Walk Like Jayne Mansfield” by The 5.6.7.8’s – The 5.6.7.8’s play themselves in Kill Bill; they can be seen performing at the House of Blue Leaves. They’re playing this song as O-Ren and the Crazy 88s settle down in the club and the Bride is shown to be lingering nearby.
“Woo Hoo” by The 5.6.7.8’s – The band plays this song as Sofie goes to the bathroom in the club and the Bride lurks around her.
“I’m Blue” by The 5.6.7.8’s – The 5.6.7.8’s’ cameo in Kill Bill culminates with this song when Gogo is sent to investigate a suspicious noise and the Bride hides from her.
“Death Rides a Horse” by Ennio Morricone – This iconic score can be heard briefly as the Bride calls to O-Ren before taking on the Crazy 88s.
“Super 16” by Neu! – A quick excerpt of this song plays as O-Ren retreats and leaves her goon squad to take care of the Bride.
“Crane/White Lightning” by The RZA/Charles Bernstein – This song plays when the Bride is surrounded by the Crazy 88s and prepares for battle.
“Champions of Death” by Shuzsuko Kibushi – This is one of many songs that play during the Bride’s battle with the Crazy 88s, one of Tarantino’s greatest action sequences.
“Police Check Point” by Harry Betts – During the showdown at the House of Blue Leaves, the soundtrack switches to this song.
“I Giorni Dell’ira” by Riz Ortolani – This song is heard briefly when the Bride pulls out one of the Crazy 88s' eyes.
“Nobody But Me” by Human Beinz – When the battle changes from color to black-and-white, this song kicks in on the soundtrack.
“Banister Fight” by The RZA – This song plays when the Bride fights Johnny Mo while balancing on a banister after defeating the Crazy 88s.
“Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” by Santa Esmeralda – This song plays as the Bride fights O-Ren in the snowy garden.
“The Flower of Carnage” by Meiko Kaji – This tune plays when the Bride defeats O-Ren in one of Tarantino’s most shocking character deaths and walks away.
“Yagyu Conspiracy” by Toshiaki Tsushima – This song plays as the Bride explains why she let Sofie live.
“Urami Bushi” by Meiko Kaji – This track plays over the closing credits of Kill Bill: Volume 1.
Where To Listen To The Kill Bill Vol. 1 Soundtrack
The official soundtrack album for Kill Bill: Volume 1, entitled Kill Bill Vol. 1 Original Soundtrack, is available to stream on Spotify, YouTube Music, Apple Music, and Deezer.
