Netflix's latest horror limited series from writer/director Mike Flanagan, Midnight Mass, is set on a small, remote island. The show explores the ideas of religion, belief, forgiveness, and asks the age-old question of whether or not people can change and ideas can evolve. So given all that, it's natural that we get a soundtrack that consists of a ton of Neil Diamond songs, right?
Half-kidding. While the singer-songwriter most famous for "Sweet Caroline" may seem like a somewhat odd pick to recur so frequently in a show that takes those familiar themes and sets them against a slow-burn horror backdrop, the music works perfectly to help establish the island's working-class, small time, everyone-knows-each-other community. It's tricky to quite articulate, but something about that voice just feels right.
And there's also a slice of life for anyone who's grown up with—or without—a religious background. The show balances its rock anthems with church hymns that you may or may not have heard before (depending on where you're coming from), and a compelling score that will ramp up the tension and mood for any moment that needs it.
And in case you're wondering what any of those songs are, we've got you covered below.
Episode 1
Songs:
“And The Grass Won't Pay No Mind” by Neil Diamond
“Italian Holiday” by Pietro Paletti
“Soolaimon” by Neil Diamond
Score/Hymns:
“Abide with Me”
“Lead Kindly Light”
“Faith of Our Fathers”
“Yaweh (Communion Hymn)”
“Hail the Day”
Episode 2
Songs:
“Bartender” by the cast
“Democracy” by the cast
“If You Could Read My Mind” by the cast
“Saturday Morning” by Tom Chapin
Score/Hymns:
“Holy Holy Holy”
“Lord Who Throughout These 40 Days”
“O God, Our Help in Ages Past”
“Led Kindly Light”
“My Life Flows Endlessly in Song (How Can I Keep from Singing)
“Ave Maria (Prelude in C Major)”
Episode 3
Songs:
“Holly, Holy” by Neil Diamond
Score/Hymns:
“Come, Darkness, Spread O’er Heaven Thy Pall”
“Were you There When they Crucified My Lord”
“Lead Kindly Light”
“Come Darkness, Spread O’er Heaven Thy Pall”
Episode 4
Score/Hymns:
“Nearer My God to Thee”
“Father Hear the Prayers We Offer”
“We Gather Together”
“His Light Will Shine On”
Episode 5
Score/Hymns:
“Hail the Day That Sees Him Rise”
“O Sons and Daughters”
“Nearer My God to Thee”
Episode 6
Score/Hymns:
“Holy God We Praise Thy Name”
“My Life Flows Endless in Song (How Can I Keep From Singing)”
Episode 7
Score/Hymns:
“Lead Kindly Light”
“Were you There”
“Near My God to Thee”
