10 Tracks That Encapsulate Spider-Man: Brand New Day

Warning! Spoilers for Spider-Man: Brand New Day

Once again, Spider-Man has graced my screen in an MCU appearance. That means my brain has been completely consumed by my favorite superhero. One of my favorite activities is making playlists – as seen for Formula 1 and Conclave. So, here we are once again talking about some music that demonstrates the vibes of this movie, hopefully perfectly.

1. Loser by Tame Impala

Okay, maybe it’s cheating to start off with a song from the movie, but come on. Not only is Tame Impala a brilliant band, but this song was such a perfect fit for Brand New Day. The first verse is MCU Peter Parker to a T. Peter is doing all he can to reconcile with his past, while also avoiding it as best he can. In the end though, his actions just make his present situation worse. As much as I love Peter, that’s truly some “loser” behavior.

2. stupid song by Olivia Rodrigo

Now here’s to the song that people thought was going to be in the film sadly was not. I still think that if Marvel wants to put out some more promotion they should definitely partner with Olivia Rodrigo – the edits to this song are fantastic. Once more, this is a song that mirrors the agony Peter goes through during this film. He’s yearning for a woman that doesn’t love him back. Sorry to all the Peter x MJ shippers, but without her memories, MJ isn’t in love with Peter. She’s his spark, but there’s no longer a flame.

3. Fable by Gigi Perez

This one is for Jean Grey. “Fable” is an absolutely beautiful tribute to Gigi Perez’s sister, Celene, and because of that, I couldn’t help but think of it after learning the story of Jean and Sarah. The bond between the sisters is one of the most realistic and heartwrenching that I’ve seen in the MCU. They’re right up there with Natasha and Yelena for me. Jean struggles with her sister’s passing, angry with the men who hurt Sarah and furious at the system that allowed them to do so. I can only hope she finds peace.

4. Way Down We Go by KALEO

Here’s to Frank Castle. I honestly wasn’t sure how he was going to fit into this movie at first, but now I couldn’t have imagined it any other way. Frank was the reality check that Peter needed. His monologue about how being the Punisher was punishment sat with me long after the credits rolled. This song feels like a confession – a hint of Daredevil in there if I’m being honest. Frank feels like he deserves all that bad that’s come to him because he couldn’t save his family. He’s going down, down, down, but when it seems like he’s going too far, Peter is there to help pick him up. 

5. Everywhere, Everything by Noah Kahan

Now I know this is basically a love song, but I think we can use it to celebrate platonic love for a moment. The friendship between Peter and Ned is one of the most wholesome examples of friendship in the MCU. When No Way Home ended, and I realized that friendship was over, my heart was ripped from my chest. In every Spider-Man film, Ned is right there with Peter. They’re shown to have a well established friendship even before the cameras started rolling for Homecoming. There’s an air of sadness, of a relationship passed, in this film that truly encapsulates how Peter and Ned’s friendship is past its prime. Or perhaps not.

6. Lose Your Soul by Dead Man’s Bones

Is including this song an attempt to get people to listen to Ryan Gosling’s band? A little bit, but also it fits so well. I would say this goes pretty well with the introduction of the inhibitor – a device that will certainly not come back to hurt everyone later on! Through using the inhibitor, Peter is suppressing all the parts of himself that must be expressed. He’s ignoring his trauma, throwing himself deeper into Spider-Man work, he’s completely ignoring any of the physical changes his body is going through too, doing all he can not to utilize his new abilities. He’s losing himself little by little through the course of the film. In the end he does “get up again” though, accepting his newfound abilities for the better.

7. Who Are You, Really? by Mikky Ekko

Like “Lose Your Soul” this song does a good job at showing each of the characters’ internal mental struggles. Of course, we have Peter dealing with a new spider mutation, but we also have characters like Jean and Frank who are trying to figure out who they are. Jean is learning more about who she is as a mutant. Frank is figuring out what it means to be vulnerable with someone again. Even Ned and MJ are trying to figure out who they are since MJ learns that she and Peter used to be together in the past. They’re clearly struggling, but that always makes for a good film.

8. The Hand by Annabelle Dinda

This one is for Jean again because I can’t get her out of my head. She’s been wronged by so, so many people in her life. Even in a film where she’s a major player – a hurt teenage girl – she’s still just seen as another villain. Yes, I understand that she was a bit villainous at the start, that’s the only way the twist works, but can you believe there are people leaving the theater still thinking she’s a bad person? I can’t! Jean’s rage is completely understandable given her situation. While Jean gets brushed away, the men of the movie get lifted up, even when they’ve done wrong as well. Talk about a double standard.

9. Punkrocker by Teddybears, Iggy Pop

I’ve seen a lot of chat online about how they left the theater with the same sense of hope that Superman (2025) gave them. Though I tragically haven’t seen Superman yet, I’ve seen enough clips to understand where they’re coming from. There was such an overwhelming sense of community and understanding in this film. The MCU has ignored civilians for far too long in my opinion, but between this and Daredevil: Born Again I think we’re starting to rectify that. New York was alive in this movie. They came to support Spider-Man in a similar way to Spider-Man 2. That’s what being punk is truly about – looking out for your community, helping others, and if there’s one hero that highlights that, it’s certainly Spider-Man.

10. Let Down by Radiohead

I know what people are going to say – how could you leave off with such a depressing song! I can’t argue too much, “Let Down” is pretty sad, but it’s the ending I’m thinking about, the third verse. Brand New Day is a sad film, there’s desolation, heartbreak, the realization that the world isn’t as bright as you thought it was. But in the end, there’s hope. For me, that’s what “Let Down” is. Sure, the first couple of verses rip your heart out, but right there in the end it really hits you.

“And one day, I am gonna grow wings.”

Is that not what Peter’s shown in this film? After all the trouble and trauma he’s gone through, he gets right back up. Even after almost dying, he steps out of the hospital with a smile on his face because he knows how much hope Spider-Man brings people. It’s a beautiful moment, beautiful in the same way “Let Down” is. It takes a while to get there, you really have to dig to find the positivity, but when you do, hope will flood you like the morning sun.