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This is a list of songs and incidental music that have been featured on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who.

Theme tune[]

  • See Doctor Who theme music.

Songs, classical music and popular tunes[]

First Doctor serials[]

Title Artist Serial Notes
"Three Guitars Mood 2" Nelson and Raymond, performed by The Arthur Nelson Group An Unearthly Child Played on Susan Foreman's radio as a track by John Smith and the Common Men
"Ticket to Ride" The Beatles The Chase A clip from Top of the Pops showing The Beatles performing was used. Vicki, who is from the 25th century, regards the song as classical music.
"Ballad of the Last Chance Saloon" Lynda Baron The
Gunfighters
Lynda Baron later appeared onscreen as Captain Wrack in the Fifth Doctor serial Enlightenment. Specially composed for the episode.
"Frantic Fracas/The Eyelash/Beat to Begin" Johnny Hawksworth The War Machines Played in the Inferno Club.
"Browbeater" Johnny Hawksworth The War Machines Stock music from the album The Mood Modern released in 1966.

Played in the Inferno Club.

"Latin Gear" Johnny Hawksworth The War Machines Stock music from the album The Mood Modern released in 1966.

Played in the Inferno Club.

"Rhythm n’Beat" Johnny Hawksworth The War Machines Stock music from the album The Mood Modern released in 1966.

Played in the Inferno Club.

Second Doctor serials[]

Title Artist Serial Notes
"Musak" John Baker The Macra Terror Originally composed for the Out of the Unknown episode "Time in Advance".
"Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen" The Seekers The Evil of the Daleks Played on the jukebox during the cafe scenes in episode 1.
"Paperback Writer" The Beatles The Evil of the Daleks Played on the jukebox during the cafe scenes in episode 1.
"Mexican Beat" Jack Trombey The Evil of the Daleks Played on Bob Hall's radio. Incorrectly listed in BBC production paperwork as "Youngbeat" by Jack Trombey.
"The Miraculous Mandarin" Béla Bartók The Enemy of the World Classical music.
"Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta" Béla Bartók The Enemy of the World Classical music.
"Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta" Béla Bartók The Web of Fear Classical music.
"Symphony No. 7 – Scherzo" Anton Bruckner The Mind Robber Classical music.
"Teddy Bears' Picnic" Henry Hall The Invasion
"Musak" John Baker The Invasion First played in Doctor Who in The Macra Terror.

Third Doctor serials[]

Title Artist Serial Notes
"Oh Well (Part One)" Fleetwood Mac Spearhead from Space Heard in the original broadcast as dolls are manufactured at Auto Plastics; due to rights issues it was not included on the 2001 DVD release. It was later restored for the 2011 special edition DVD reissue.
"The Devil's Triangle" King Crimson The Mind of Evil
"Tank"[1] Emerson, Lake & Palmer Colony in Space
Symphonie Fantastique, Movement IV: "March to the Scaffold" Hector Berlioz The Dæmons Heard as part of the "broadcast" of the French rugby team's victory over the British, before Yates and Benton return to the BBC coverage of the dig at Devil's End.
"Backing Track" The Piglets The Sea Devils
"It'll Never Be Me" Electric Banana The Green Death Electric Banana was an alias for The Pretty Things. Played at Jo Grant and Professor Clifford Jones's party.
"Lama Chhopa" Deben Bhattacharya Planet of the Spiders

Fourth Doctor serials[]

Title Artist Serial Notes
"Basse Danse La Brosse" Pierre Attaignant The Masque of Mandragora Played during the masque in episode 4; from the album "Terpsichore: Renaissance and Early Baroque Dance Music" by Konrad Ragossnig, Ulsamer-Collegium. Music published by Attaignant in a collection 'Neuf basses dances deux branles' in 1530
"Bransle de Champagne no. 10" Claude Gervaise The Masque of Mandragora Played during the masque in episode 4; from the album "Terpsichore: Renaissance and Early Baroque Dance Music" by Konrad Ragossnig, Ulsamer-Collegium. Published (anachronistically for the story) in 1555 in Gervaise's 'Sixième livre de danceries'
"Daddy Wouldn't Buy Me a Bow Wow" Elisabeth Sladen The Hand of Fear Sarah Jane Smith whistles the song after saying farewell to the Doctor and leaving the TARDIS.
"The Girl With the Flaxen Hair" Claude Debussy The Robots of Death Classical music.
"None But the Weary Heart" Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky The Robots of Death Classical music.
"Daisy Bell" Penny Lister The Talons of Weng-Chiang By Harry Dacre. The chorus was sung by the act just before Li H'sen Chang in episode 4.
"Badinerie, Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B minor, BWV 1067" Johann Sebastian Bach The Power of Kroll The Doctor plays this on a makeshift flute made from a reed in episode 1.
"Symphony No. 8 – Unfinished" Franz Schubert Logopolis Classical music.

Fifth Doctor serials[]

Title Artist Serial Notes
"I Want to be Happy" Irving Caesar and Vincent Youmans Black Orchid The Fifth Doctor sang this song from the musical No, No, Nanette
"Back Home in Pasadena" Savoy Havana Band Black Orchid
"Charleston" The Savoy Orpheans Black Orchid The Charleston was a popular dance craze in the 1920s. Black Orchid is set in 1925.
"Dinah" The Savoy Orpheans Black Orchid
"Five Foot Two Eyes of Blue" The Savoy Orpheans Black Orchid
"Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" Irving Berlin Black Orchid
"Lazy" Irving Berlin Black Orchid
"Show Me the Way to Go Home" Savoy Havana Band Black Orchid
"When Erastus Plays His Old Kazoo" The Savoy Orpheans Black Orchid
"The Milgona" Malcolm Clarke Enlightenment Originally composed for a BBC Radio 3 documentary. Played during party scenes aboard the Buccaneer.
"Whirl of the Waltz" Paul Lincke The Five Doctors Classical music.

Sixth Doctor serials[]

Title Artist Serial Notes
"Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565" Johann Sebastian Bach Attack of the Cybermen The Doctor plays a few notes when the TARDIS turned into an organ.
"Blue Suede Shoes" Performed by an unknown artist Revelation of the Daleks Originally by Carl Perkins and later covered by Elvis Presley.
"Fire" The Jimi Hendrix Experience Revelation of the Daleks Due to rights issues it was not included on the DVD release.
"Good Vibrations" The Surfers Revelation of the Daleks Originally by The Beach Boys.
"Hound Dog" Performed by an unknown artist Revelation of the Daleks Originally by Big Mama Thornton and later covered by Elvis Presley.
"In the Mood" The Ted Heath Orchestra Revelation of the Daleks The Glenn Miller version was later heard in the Ninth Doctor episode "The Doctor Dances".
"Moonlight Serenade" The Ted Heath Orchestra Revelation of the Daleks The Glenn Miller version was later heard in the Ninth Doctor episodes "The Empty Child" and "The Doctor Dances".
"A Whiter Shade of Pale" Procol Harum Revelation of the Daleks

Seventh Doctor serials[]

Title Artist Serial Notes
"Rock Around the Clock" The Lorells Delta and the Bannermen Written by Max C. Freedman and Jimmy De Knight, (the latter a pseudonym for James E. Myers), in 1952, originally performed by Sonny Dae and His Knights and later popularised by Bill Haley & His Comets in 1954. Played over a radio in Part One, with members of the cast (including Bonnie Langford) singing along.
"Singing the Blues" The Lorells Delta and the Bannermen Written by Melvin Endsley and published in 1956.

Performed in "Part One".

"Why Do Fools Fall in Love" The Lorells Delta and the Bannermen Written by Frankie Lymon and George Goldner in 1956 and originally performed by Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers.

Performed in "Part One".

"Mr. Sandman" The Lorells Delta and the Bannermen Written by Pat Ballard, published in 1954 and originally performed by The Chordettes.

Performed in "Part One".

"Calling All Workers" Keff McCulloch Delta and the Bannermen Originally composed by Eric Coates.

Used as incidental music in "Part One".

"Puffin' Billy" Keff McCulloch Delta and the Bannermen Originally composed by Edward White in 1952 and known for being used as the theme tune for Children's Favourites.

Used as incidental music in "Part One".

"The Parade of the Tin Soldiers" Keff McCulloch Delta and the Bannermen Originally composed by Leon Jessel.

Used as incidental music in "Part One".

"In Party Mood" Keff McCulloch Delta and the Bannermen Originally by Jack Strachey.

Used as incidental music in "Part One".

"Goodnight Sweetheart" The Lorells Delta and the Bannermen Originally by Ray Noble.

Played in "Part Two".

"Devil's Galop" Keff McCulloch Delta and the Bannermen Originally composed by Charles Williams and known for being used as the theme tune for Dick Barton.

Used as incidental music in "Part Two".

"That'll Be the Day" The Lorells Delta and the Bannermen Written by Buddy Holly and Norman Petty in 1956 and originally performed by Buddy Holly and Jerry "J.I." Allison.

Played in "Part Three".

"Only You (And You Alone)" The Lorells Delta and the Bannermen Composed by Buck Ram and Ande Rand and originally performed by The Platters in 1954.

Played in "Part Three".

"Lollipop" The Lorells Delta and the Bannermen Written by Beverly Ross and Julius Dixon in 1958 for the duo Ronald and Ruby, (Ruby being Beverly Ross).

Played in "Part Three".

"Who's Sorry Now?" The Lorells Delta and the Bannermen Music written by Ted Snyder with lyrics by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby. Published in 1923 and covered by Connie Francis in 1958. Played in "Part Three".
"Happy Days Are Here Again" The Lorells Delta and the Bannermen Music written in 1929 by Milton Ager with lyrics by Jack Yellen. Originally performed by Leo Reisman and His Orchestra, with Lou Levin as vocalist. Played in "Part Three".
"Here's to the Future" Keff McCulloch Delta and the Bannermen Incidental music composed for this serial.
"Do You Want to Know a Secret" The Beatles Remembrance of the Daleks The Beatles were previously heard in the First Doctor serial The Chase and the Second Doctor serial The Evil of the Daleks. This track was released in 1963, the year in which Remembrance of the Daleks is set.
"A Taste of Honey" The Beatles Remembrance of the Daleks This track was released in 1963.
"Lollipop" The Mudlarks Remembrance of the Daleks This cover version was released in 1958. Another cover version of this song was heard in Delta and the Bannermen.
"Anachronistic Noise" Keff McCulloch Remembrance of the Daleks Keff McCulloch composed the rock music that blasts out of Ace's ghetto blaster in "Part One" especially for this serial.
"Return to Sender" Keff McCulloch and Keith Murrell Remembrance of the Daleks Written by Otis Blackwell and Winfield Scott and originally performed by Elvis Presley in 1962, this cover version was especially recorded for this serial and was played in the café in "Part One".
"Puffin' Billy" Keff McCulloch Remembrance of the Daleks Keff McCulloch's recording was first heard in Delta and the Bannermen and is heard in Remembrance of the Daleks emanating from a television in "Part Two".
"Apache" Keff McCulloch Remembrance of the Daleks Written by Jerry Lordan and originally performed by The Shadows in 1960, this cover version was especially recorded for this serial and was played in the café in "Part Three".
"As Time Goes By" Sylvester McCoy The Happiness Patrol The Doctor sings a verse from this song, which is most associated with the film, Casablanca.
"Ride of the Valkyries" Richard Wagner Silver Nemesis Classical music. From Act Three of Die Walküre, the second opera in Der Ring des Nibelungen.
"Pe Pi Po" Courtney Pine, Adrian Reid, Ernest Mothle, Frank Tontoh Silver Nemesis Specially composed by Courtney Pine for this serial.

Played in "Part One".

"Adrian's Affair" Courtney Pine, Adrian Reid, Ernest Mothle, Frank Tontoh Silver Nemesis Specially composed by Courtney Pine for this serial.

Played in "Part One".

"Frank's Quest" Courtney Pine, Adrian Reid, Ernest Mothle, Frank Tontoh Silver Nemesis Specially composed by Courtney Pine for this serial.

Played in "Part Two".

"Narcissus No. 4" Ethelbert Woodbridge Nevin The Greatest Show in the Galaxy Classical music.
"That's the Way to the Zoo" Katharine Schlesinger as Gwendoline with Alasdair Nicolson off-screen on piano Ghost Light Composed by J. F. Mitchell circa 1883.

Sung onscreen.

"Requiem Op. 48" Gabriel Fauré The Curse of Fenric Classical music.

Eighth Doctor television movie[]

Title Artist Notes
"I Called Out Your Name (In A Dream)" Pat Hodges Played on a gramophone record in the TARDIS.
"All Dressed Up" Unknown Country music heard in the mortuary.
"Un Bel Di" Giacomo Puccini, Soprano unknown From Madame Butterfly. Performed while Grace Holloway is attending the Opera.
"Ride into the Moonlight" Loud & Clear Rock music played at the New Year's Eve party at the hospital.

Ninth Doctor episodes[]

Title Artist Episode Notes
"Tainted Love" Soft Cell "The End of the World" Played on a Wurlitzer jukebox thought to be an iPod by those native to the year 5.5/Apple/26 who regard the song as an example of classical music.
"Toxic" Britney Spears
"Starman" David Bowie "Aliens of London" Released in April 1972.
"Never Gonna Give You Up" Rick Astley "Father's Day" Released in 1987, the year in which Father's Day is set.
"Never Can Say Goodbye" The Communards This cover version was released in 1987, the year Father's Day is set in.
"Don't Mug Yourself" The Streets Released in 2002. Played anachronistically on Pete Tyler's car radio in 1987.
"It Had to Be You" Kate Harvey (as the Nightclub Singer) "The Empty Child" Written by Isham Jones with lyrics by Gus Kahn and first published in 1924, a recording of this song was made especially for this episode. Heard as the Doctor enters the night club.
"Moonlight Serenade" Glenn Miller "The Empty Child" / "The Doctor Dances" A cover version of this song performed by The Ted Heath Orchestra was played in Revelation of the Daleks.
"In the Mood" Glenn Miller "The Doctor Dances" A cover version of this song performed by The Ted Heath Orchestra was played in Revelation of the Daleks.

The Doctor and Rose Tyler dance to this tune in the TARDIS.

"Big Brother UK TV Theme" Element Four "Bad Wolf" Played while the Doctor is in the Big Brother House in Satellite 5.
"The Weakest Link Theme Tune" Paul Farrer Played while Rose plays The Weakest Link in Satellite 5.

Tenth Doctor episodes[]

Title Artist Episode Notes
"God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" A brass band "The Christmas Invasion"
"The Runaway Bride"
"The End of Time Part One"
The Robotic Santa Clauses play this before attacking Rose and Mickey.
Also played by Robotic Santa Clauses in "The Runaway Bride" shortly before Donna gets into the Taxi on the way to her wedding.
Played in Part One of "The End of Time" by humans shortly before Wilfred enters the Church in the pre-titles sequence.
"Jingle Bells" Murray Gold "The Christmas Invasion" The tune to "Jingle Bells" plays when the Robotic Christmas Tree attacks. Variations of the "Jingle Bells" theme tune are later heard in the following two years' Christmas specials, "The Runaway Bride" and "Voyage of the Damned".
"Merry Xmas Everybody" Slade "The Christmas Invasion"
"The Runaway Bride"
"The End of Time Part One"
Written by Noddy Holder and Jim Lea and produced by Chas Chandler. This song was used again in the following year's Christmas special, "The Runaway Bride", in the background of "The End of Time Part One". It also played in the Eleventh Doctor episode "The Power of Three" and again in the Twelfth Doctor special "Last Christmas"
"Song for Ten" Murray Gold and Tim Phillips "The Christmas Invasion"
"School Reunion"
Composed for this episode. Played as the Doctor selects his new clothes from the TARDIS wardrobe and dines with Rose and Jackie Tyler and Mickey Smith. Phillips was replaced by Neil Hannon on the official soundtrack; that version includes an extra verse referring to Rose's fate at the end of the following series.
Melody used in the incidental music at the end of "School Reunion" during the Sarah Jane Smith goodbye scene.
"Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" Brenda Lee "Attack of the Graske" Written by Johnny Marks and recorded by Brenda Lee in 1958.
"Another Rock N' Roll Christmas" Gary Glitter "Attack of the Graske" Released in 1984.
"Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick" Ian Dury and the Blockheads "Tooth and Claw" Released in 1978.

Played in the TARDIS by the Doctor.

"Love Will Tear Us Apart" Joy Division "School Reunion" Released in 1980.
"The Lion Sleeps Tonight" Tight Fit "Rise of the Cybermen" Played by Mr Crane to cover the screams of the men and women being converted into Cybermen.
"Boléro" Maurice Ravel "The Impossible Planet"
"Daniel" Elton John "Love & Monsters" Clip is used from a live performance that Elton sung, A deleted scene from this episode also refers to the clip used as Elton asks why his mother didn't call him Daniel.
"Don't Bring Me Down" Marc Warren, Shirley Henderson, Simon Greenall, Moya Brady, Kathryn Drysdale as L.I.N.D.A. "Love & Monsters" Performed in character by the actors with a backing track recorded by Murray Gold. Originally by Electric Light Orchestra.
"Don't Bring Me Down" Electric Light Orchestra(ELO) "Love & Monsters"
"Mr. Blue Sky" Electric Light Orchestra(ELO) "Love & Monsters"
"Turn to Stone" Electric Light Orchestra(ELO) "Love & Monsters"
"I Gave My Love a Cherry" Kathryn Drysdale as Bliss "Love & Monsters" Performed in character by the actress with an acoustic guitar. Also known as "The Riddle Song", it is a traditional English folk song.
"Brand New Key" Kathryn Drysdale as Bliss and Shirley Henderson as Ursula Blake "Love & Monsters" Performed in character by the actress; Drysdale with an acoustic guitar, Henderson with a tambourine.

Originally by Melanie Safka.

"Regresa a mí" Il Divo "Love & Monsters" A cover version of Toni Braxton's Spanish version of "Un-Break My Heart." Played by Jackie Tyler in her apartment, to set the mood for Elton Pope.
"Doomsday" Murray Gold and Melanie Pappenheim "Doomsday" Composed for this episode. A portion of this is later heard in "Partners in Crime".
"Merry Xmas Everybody" Slade "The Runaway Bride" This song featured in the previous year's Christmas special, "The Christmas Invasion".
"Love Don't Roam" Murray Gold and Neil Hannon "The Runaway Bride" Composed for this episode.

Played at the wedding reception.

"Jingle Bells" Murray Gold "The Runaway Bride" The tune to "Jingle Bells" features in the incidental music when the Christmas Tree's bauble bombs attack. Variations of the "Jingle Bells" theme tune are also heard in the previous and following years' Christmas specials, "The Christmas Invasion" and "Voyage of the Damned" respectively.
"Sunshine" Arrested Development "Smith and Jones" Played as Martha and her family are introduced.
"The Old Rugged Cross" Motorway drivers and passengers "Gridlock" Hymn sung in character. Composed by George Bennard.
"Abide With Me" Motorway drivers and passengers "Gridlock" Hymn sung in character. Composed by Henry Francis Lyte.
"My Angel Put the Devil in Me" Murray Gold and Miranda Raison as Tallulah "Daleks in Manhattan" "The End of Time Part Two" Sung in character on stage for performance by Tallulah and a chorus. Composed for this episode.
This song also featured towards the end of "The End of Time Part Two" where the Doctor hooks up Jack with Midshipman Alonso Frame.
"Puttin' on the Ritz" Irving Berlin "Daleks in Manhattan" Played during shots of New York and the Hooverville in Central Park.
"Happy Days Are Here Again" Milton Ager (music) and Jack Yellen (lyrics) "Evolution of the Daleks" A cover version of this song was used in Delta and the Bannermen "Part Three".

Heard on the radio.

"He Who Would Valiant Be" Choir of Christ College "Human Nature"
"To be a Pilgrim" School boy's choir "The Family of Blood" Hymn sung in character. Composed by John Bunyan.
"Voodoo Child" Rogue Traders "The Sound of Drums" Played by the Master and diegetically as the Toclafane invade Earth.
"I Can't Decide" Scissor Sisters "Last of the Time Lords" Played by the Master as he enters the bridge of the Valiant. He refers to it as "Track 3", its place on the album (music) Ta-Dah.
Astrid's Theme Murray Gold and Melanie Pappenheim "Voyage of the Damned" An original piece from Murray Gold, once again performed by Melanie, previously heard on tracks such as The Doctor's Theme and Doomsday amongst others.
"Jingle Bells" Murray Gold "Voyage of the Damned" The tune to "Jingle Bells" features in the incidental music as the Doctor walks around the Titanic after arriving on board. Variations of the "Jingle Bells" theme tune were heard in the previous years' Christmas specials, "The Christmas Invasion" and "The Runaway Bride".
"The Stowaway" Murray Gold and Yamit Mamo as the band's singer "Voyage of the Damned" Composed for this episode. Singer Yamit Mamo makes a cameo appearance alongside composer Murray Gold and arranger Ben Foster as members of the band playing on the Titanic.[2] Mamo, who was recommended to Gold by a friend, performed the songs "My Angel Put the Devil in Me" and "The Stowaway" on the third series soundtrack.[2]
"Winter Wonderland" Martina McBride "Voyage of the Damned"
"Could It Be Magic" Take That "Partners in Crime" Playing in De Rossi's Wine Bar
"Twenty-Four Hours From Tulsa" Dusty Springfield "Partners in Crime" Playing on Wilf's Headphones.
"Doomsday" Murray Gold and Melanie Pappenheim "Partners in Crime" Previously heard in "Doomsday", a portion of this tune plays as Rose walks off and vanishes.
"Cryin' All Day" The Frank Ricotti All Stars "The Unicorn and the Wasp" Also used as the theme music for 1980s TV drama The Beiderbecke Affair, this Dixieland jazz melody plays as the Doctor and Donna arrive at Lady Eddison's dinner party.
"Do It, Do It Again" Rafaella Carra "Midnight" Played on the shuttle's entertainment system as the journey begins, just before the Doctor disables it.
"Doomsday" Murray Gold and Melanie Pappenheim "The Stolen Earth" Previously heard in "Doomsday" as well as "Partners in Crime", an adaption of this song plays as The Doctor is about to regenerate.
"Bohemian Rhapsody" Queen "Turn Left" Donna sang this song with the other refugees.
"My Angel Put the Devil in Me" Murray Gold "The End of Time Part Two" Previously heard in "Daleks in Manhattan", this song is played in a bar towards the end of the episode as the Doctor manages to hook up Jack and Midshipman Alonso Frame (this version is not sung by Miranda Raison who sang the song in "Daleks in Manhattan", but rather is the version sung by Yamit Mamo on the soundtrack album).
"Vale Decem" Murray Gold "The End of Time Part Two" Composed for this episode. Plays before The Doctor's regeneration and features lyrics in Latin, sung by Mark Chambers and the Crouch End Festival Chorus. Orchestration by Ben Foster and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.

Eleventh Doctor episodes[]

Title Artist Episode Notes
"Chances" Athlete "Vincent and the Doctor" The song is played while The Doctor and Amy show Vincent his paintings in the museum.
"Crazy Little Thing Called Love" Queen "The Big Bang" The Doctor dances to the song in Amy's and Rory's wedding.
"You Give Me Something" James Morrison "The Big Bang" Amy and Rory dance to this in their wedding.
"In the Bleak Midwinter" Katherine Jenkins "A Christmas Carol" Sung by Abigail Pettigrew to the injured shark
"Abigail's Song" Katherine Jenkins "A Christmas Carol" Sung by Abigail to resonate the ice crystals in the air to allow the spaceliner to land safely. An original composition by Murray Gold.
"Silent Night" Joseph Mohr Franz Xaver Gruber "A Christmas Carol" Sung by the passengers on the airliner to stabilize it, and used by The Doctor to convince Kazran Sardick to allow the airliner to land.
"Rolling in the Deep" Adele "The Impossible Astronaut" The song is played in a diner after The Doctor, Amy, Rory, and River Song meet in the desert.
"Supermassive Black Hole" Muse "The Rebel Flesh" The song is played in the TARDIS while Amy and Rory play darts and the Doctor continues his examination of Amy's medical scan.
"You Don't Have To Say You Love Me" Dusty Springfield "The Rebel Flesh" The song is played from the record as the TARDIS crew and miners realize what has happened.
"Feel the Love" Rudimental feat. John Newman "Asylum of the Daleks" Played while Amy is Posing for a Photoshoot.
"L'Amour Est Un Oiseau Rebelle" Maria Callas "Asylum of the Daleks" Received by the Daleks as a message from Oswin Oswald. The Doctor claims to have played the triangle on the specific recording.
"Titanium" David Guetta feat. Sia "The Power of Three" Played when Amy and Laura are talking at a party
"The Birdie Song" The Tweets "The Power of Three" Played by one of the open cubes monitored by UNIT
"Englishman in New York" Sting "The Angels Take Manhattan" Featured over establishing shots of New York City
"Ghost Town" The Specials "The Rings of Akhaten" Featured in the episode's pre-credits sequence, as the Doctor witnesses the first meeting of Clara Oswald's parents
"Vienna" Ultravox "Cold War" Playing on Professor Grisenko's Walkman as he sings along during the missile drill
"Hungry Like the Wolf" Duran Duran "Cold War" Playing on Professor Grisenko's Walkman. In a later scene, several cast members including Jenna Coleman sing a portion of the song
"Fire Woman" The Cult "Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS" Playing while the salvage workers attempt to enter the TARDIS.

Twelfth Doctor episodes[]

Title Artist Episode Notes
"Another Brick in the Wall (Pt. 2)" Peter Capaldi "The Caretaker" Originally recorded by Pink Floyd. The Doctor whistles a line from the song while working in the school courtyard.
"Don't Stop Me Now" Foxes "Mummy on the Orient Express"; "Hell Bent" Jazz-style cover by Foxes of the Queen song; Foxes performs the song live in the episode during the opening scenes of Mummy on the Orient Express. In Hell Bent, the same performance is heard playing on the jukebox in Clara Oswald's TARDIS.
"Merry Xmas Everybody" Slade "Last Christmas" Written by Noddy Holder and Jim Lea and produced by Chas Chandler. This song was previously used in the Tenth Doctor Christmas specials, "The Christmas Invasion", "The Runaway Bride" in the background of "The End of Time Part One". It also played in the Eleventh Doctor episode "The Power of Three".
"Doctor Who Theme" Peter Capaldi "The Magician's Apprentice" Played by the Doctor on guitar while riding a tank into a medieval arena. Composed by Ron Grainer, this marked the first time a version of the composition has been used diegetically in the series. Although a radical re-arrangement, its identity as the show's theme music was later confirmed by Radio Times.[3]
"Oh, Pretty Woman" Peter Capaldi "The Magician's Apprentice" Played by the Doctor on guitar before introducing Missy and Clara.
"Beethoven's Fifth Symphony" Peter Capaldi "Before the Flood"; "The Pilot" Peter Capaldi plays the famous opening bars of the symphony on the electric guitar just prior to the start of the opening credits. The same opening is heard being played off-screen in "The Pilot".
"Yakety Sax" Ronnie Aldrich and His Orchestra "The Girl Who Died" Referred to as the Benny Hill theme, this country-western instrumental was first popularized by its composer, US saxophone player Boots Randolph. Using a smartphone app, Clara overlays the music onto a video the Doctor threatens to upload to the galactic net of "Odin" fleeing from a puppet.
"Amazing Grace" Peter Capaldi "The Zygon Invasion" Peter Capaldi plays the melody of this famous hymn on the electric guitar early in the episode.
"Mr. Sandman" The Chordettes "Sleep No More" Song played by the Morpheus pods. Its signature phrase is also sung by series producer Nikki Wilson (voicing a ship's computer) and also briefly by Jenna Coleman as Clara Oswald before the Doctor interrupts her.
"Clara"[4] Peter Capaldi "Hell Bent" Played by Capaldi on the electric guitar, this instrumental composed by Murray Gold was introduced as Clara Oswald's leitmotif in 2012; in the episode "Hell Bent" the composition becomes diegetic as it is established in-universe as having been composed by the Doctor to represent the memories he erased of his former companion. Capaldi plays portions of the song throughout the episode.
"Loaded" Primal Scream "The Return of Doctor Mysterio" Flashback school scene.
"Love Will Tear Us Apart" Joy Division "The Pilot (Doctor Who)" Bill and Heather meet.
"Weird People" Little Mix "Knock Knock" Plays while Bill and her friends are looking at houses for a place to live.
"Black Magic" The Doctor plays music on Bill's phone to keep some of the housemates up so he can investigate the house.
"Violin Sonata No. 1 in G Minor" Johann Sebastian Bach Heard when Bill's housemate Pavel is in their new house on his own at night, and gets absorbed into the wall in his bedroom.
"Für Elise" Beethoven Heard when Missy is playing the piano in the vault at the end of the episode.
"Pop Goes the Weasel"
"Dream Away" Billy Munn The Doctor Falls Heard when Missy and The Master are dancing with each other on the rooftop.

Thirteenth Doctor episodes[]

Title Artist Episode Notes
"Rise Up" Andra Day "Rosa" Played over the closing scenes and the end credits.
"Know Me From" Stormzy "Arachnids in the UK" Played to lure in the giant spiders.
"Rasputin" Boney M. "The Power of the Doctor" Played by the Master diegetically to the Doctor, following his infiltration of Russia as Grigori Rasputin.

Fifteenth Doctor episodes[]

Title Artist Episode Notes
"The Skye Boat Song" William Ross "Boom"

See also[]

  • List of Doctor Who music releases
  • List of Doctor Who composers

References[]

  1. https://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/pasb/colonyinspace.pdf Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Doctor Who – Fact File – Voyage of the Damned". BBC. 25 December 2007. http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/episodes/2007/facts/fact_votd.shtml. 
  3. Jones, Paul (19 September 2015). "Was that really Peter Capaldi playing the guitar in Doctor Who?". Radio Times. https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2015-09-19/was-that-really-peter-capaldi-playing-the-guitar-in-doctor-who/. 
  4. Different arrangements on various Doctor Who soundtrack albums have carried different titles. The Doctor canonically names the composition "Clara" in "Hell Bent," though in a deleted scene from the later episode "The Pilot" (included on the Series 10 DVD), he gives the composition another title: "I Forget". Another deleted scene from the episode depicts the Doctor performing different arrangement of the song.

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