1984 Music Power Playlist

George Orwell’s 1984 is a chilling vision of a dystopian future, where surveillance, propaganda, and authoritarian rule crush the human spirit. The novel explores themes of oppression, psychological manipulation, rebellion, and the loss of identity, making it one of the most powerful cautionary tales ever written.

To deepen your connection with the novel, I’ve curated a 1984 music playlist—featuring symphonic and cinematic pieces that capture its atmosphere of control, fear, and fleeting hope. These selections help readers, teachers, and students resonate more deeply with Orwell’s masterpiece while making key scenes even more immersive.

This list is just a starting point. Feel free to mix and match or create your own musical pairings for a truly immersive experience.

🎵 I've compiled all of these songs into a Spotify Power Playlist.

1. Big Brother’s Omnipresent Control (Opening of the Novel & Winston’s Surveillance)

Theme: Oppression, paranoia, constant surveillance

• "The Grid" – Daft Punk (Tron: Legacy)(A pulsing, electronic theme reflecting the cold efficiency of Big Brother's control)

• "Mountains" – Hans Zimmer (Interstellar)(A slow-building, haunting track that mirrors Winston’s feeling of entrapment)

• "The Leftovers Main Title" – Max Richter (The Leftovers)(A disturbing, industrial composition that evokes the Party’s omnipresence)

• "2049" – Hans Zimmer & Benjamin Wallfisch (Blade Runner 2049)(A dystopian, synth-heavy track that immerses you in the bleak world of 1984)

• "Gotham’s Reckoning" – Hans Zimmer (The Dark Knight Rises)(A relentless, oppressive piece symbolizing the inescapable reach of the Party)

2. Winston and Julia’s Forbidden Love (Their Secret Meetings & Escape to the Countryside)

Theme: Passion, defiance, the illusion of freedom

• "I Was Lost Without You" – Sam Hulick (Mass Effect 3)(A heartfelt piano melody symbolizing Winston and Julia’s love amidst chaos)

• "Longing" – Gustavo Santaolalla (The Last of Us Part II)(A delicate and tragic piece reflecting the fleeting happiness of their romance)

• "Rey’s Theme" – John Williams (Star Wars: The Force Awakens)(A hopeful yet uncertain melody capturing the thrill of their rebellion)

• "Dearly Beloved" – Yoko Shimomura (Kingdom Hearts)(A soft, longing piece evoking the hope of escaping oppression)

• "Light of the Seven" – Ramin Djawadi (Game of Thrones)(A sorrowful and romantic piece foreshadowing their inevitable fate)

3. Room 101: The Breaking of Winston (Betrayal & Psychological Torture)

Theme: Fear, despair, ultimate submission🎵 "Symphony No. 11, Mvt. IV" – Dmitri Shostakovich(A chilling and oppressive movement filled with tension and brutality)

• "An End, Once and For All" – Clint Mansell & Sam Hulick (Mass Effect 3)(A slow, tragic buildup reflecting Winston’s crumbling resistance)

• "The Last of Us (Main Theme)" – Gustavo Santaolalla (The Last of Us)(A melancholic, guitar-driven piece echoing Winston’s loss of self)

• "Prisoners" – Jóhann Jóhannsson (Prisoners)(A tense and unsettling track embodying Winston’s psychological torment)

• "A Princess Without a Voice" – Alexandre Desplat (The Shape of Water)(A sorrowful theme capturing Winston’s final surrender)

• "Visions of Chani" – Hans Zimmer (Dune)(A chilling electronic piece symbolizing Winston’s mental breakdown)

4. The Two Minutes Hate (The Party’s Control Over Public Emotions)

Theme: Fury, manipulation, collective hysteria

• "Molossus" – Hans Zimmer & James Newton Howard (Batman Begins)(A chaotic and dramatic piece reflecting the orchestrated rage of the crowd)

• "Attack on Titan Main Theme" – Hiroyuki Sawano (Attack on Titan)(A bombastic, military-style anthem mirroring the frenzy of the Two Minutes Hate)

• "Warrior Falls" – Ludwig Goransson (Black Panther)(A powerful, intense track symbolizing the Party’s ability to channel collective rage into controlled aggression)

• "Imperial Suite" – Michael Giacchino (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story)(A militaristic, propaganda-like theme underscoring the Party’s control)

• "The Dream is Collapsing" – Hans Zimmer (Inception)(A tense, fast-paced composition that mirrors the unraveling of independent thought and the Party’s total control over the mind)

5. The Party’s Victory: Winston’s Complete Submission (Final Scene: "He Loved Big Brother")

Theme: Defeat, erasure of identity, the triumph of totalitarianism

• "Time" – Hans Zimmer (Inception)(A slow, inevitable buildup reflecting Winston’s surrender)

• "Leaving Earth" – Clint Mansell (Mass Effect 3)(A solemn and emotional farewell to Winston’s free will)

• "The Shape of Things to Come" – Bear McCreary (Battlestar Galactica)(A haunting track symbolizing the finality of his submission)

• "The Breaking of the Fellowship" – Howard Shore (The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring)(A sorrowful orchestral piece evoking the loss of individuality)

• "Exit Music (For a Film)" – Ramin Djawadi (Westworld)(A melancholic and reflective piece encapsulating the hopelessness of Winston’s final realization)

This playlist enhances the 1984 reading experience, allowing you to feel the emotional highs and lows in a deeply immersive way. Whether you are a student, educator, or literature lover, these musical selections bring Orwell’s dystopian masterpiece to life in a new and powerful way.

🎵 Listen to the full playlist on Spotify!

Check out our other Themed Power Playlists!