What happens when a smart, middle-aged woman, a professor, a writer, a wife, a mom — starts losing control of her own life? That is the big question at the heart of Vladimir, Netflix’s bold and steamy new limited series. The show dropped all eight episodes on March 5, 2026, and people were instantly talking about it. But not just because of the drama or the performances — the music is a huge part of what makes this show feel so alive and electric.
From the sweeping strings of Johann Strauss to the club-ready beat of Chappell Roan, and all the way to Lizzo’s “Truth Hurts” closing out the final episode, the soundtrack of Vladimir is as chaotic and emotional as the woman at its center. The show currently holds a 66% score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 4-star review from NME, which called it a rollicking comedy-drama that never plays it safe.
Vladimir Soundtrack Overview
Vladimir is a 2026 American comedy-drama limited series adapted from Julia May Jonas’s acclaimed 2022 debut novel of the same name. Jonas herself serves as the show’s creator, writer, and executive producer.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Series Name | Vladimir |
| Network | Netflix |
| Genre | Comedy-Drama / Limited Series |
| Release Date | March 5, 2026 |
| Total Episodes | 8 |
| Country | USA |
| Based On | Vladimir (2022 novel) by Julia May Jonas |
| Created By | Julia May Jonas |
| Original Score Composer | Tim Phillips |
| Rotten Tomatoes Score | 66% |
| Production Companies | Merman, Small Dog Picture Company |
| Executive Producers | Julia May Jonas, Rachel Weisz, Sharon Horgan, Stacy Greenberg, Kira Carstensen, Jason Winer, Jon Radler |
Who composed Vladimir Soundtrack?
The music of Vladimir works on two levels in original score and a bold, carefully chosen collection of needle-drop songs.
Tim Phillips composed the original background score for the series. Phillips is known for his work on Becoming Elizabeth and Shameless. His score for Vladimir mirrors the emotional swings of the unnamed protagonist — moving from delicate orchestral pieces to tense, unsettling textures as her obsession deepens across the eight episodes.
The needle-drop soundtrack is just as striking. The show jumps from classical composers like Vivaldi and Mozart all the way to modern artists like Chappell Roan, Doechii, Lizzo, and Shygirl. This bold musical range reflects the show’s core theme — a woman torn between the world she is supposed to live in and the desires she cannot control. As NME noted, the soundtrack is filled with ear-catching choices that perfectly match the show’s tone of obsession, fantasy, and unraveling.
Vladimir Full Episode-Wise Songs List
Here is the complete verified list of all songs featured across all 8 episodes of Vladimir, as confirmed by NME, The Wrap, and Netflix Tudum:
Vladimir Episode 1 Soundtrack
| Song Number | Song Title | Artist | Genre |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Voices of Spring String Quartet | Johann Strauss II | Classical |
| 2 | Play With Fire | Barbara Ernie | Indie Pop |
| 3 | Femininomenon | Chappell Roan | Pop |
| 4 | Mind Game | CHRLY-K | Electronic / Pop |
| 5 | Break It to Me Gently | Brenda Lee | Country / Pop |
| 6 | Dancing Barefoot | Patti Smith | Rock |
Vladimir Episode 2 Soundtrack
| Song Number | Song Title | Artist | Genre |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Muscle | Mette | Electropop |
| 8 | End of the Road | Noga Erez feat. Audrey Nuna | Alternative / Hip-Hop |
| 9 | Catching Feelings | Christine and the Queens & Cerrone | French Pop / Disco |
| 10 | Before Times | Brian Seymour | Indie |
| 11 | The Boys Wanna Be Her | Peaches | Electronic / Rock |
Vladimir Episode 3 Soundtrack
| Song Number | Song Title | Artist | Genre |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | Lacrimosa – Requiem in D Minor | Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Classical |
| 13 | Mind’s Eye | Cati Landry | Indie Pop |
| 14 | Two of Hearts | Stacey Q | Synth-Pop |
| 15 | Rainbows | Dan Crisci | Indie |
Vladimir Episode 4 Soundtrack
| Song Number | Song Title | Artist | Genre |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | F-Me (feat. Yseult) | Shygirl & Club Shy | Electronic / Club |
Vladimir Episode 5 Soundtrack
| Song Number | Song Title | Artist | Genre |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | Concerto F Major for Three Violins Allegro | Antonio Vivaldi | Classical |
| 18 | Pourquoi Me Réveille | Peter Dvorský | Classical / Opera |
| 19 | Tired and Sick | Otha | Indie / Soul |
Vladimir Episode 6 Soundtrack
| Song Number | Song Title | Artist | Genre |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | Help Me | Joni Mitchell | Folk / Pop |
Vladimir Episode 7 Soundtrack
| Song Number | Song Title | Artist | Genre |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | My Love for You | ESG | Post-Punk / Dance |
| 22 | Rachel, I Took Off My Shoes | Sylvia Platypus | Indie |
| 23 | Old Ways | Ogreta | Folk / Indie |
| 24 | Here I Go | Dante Mazzetti | Indie |
| 25 | The Love I Want | Dara Ackerman | Pop |
| 26 | Sin Solucion | Gran Combo Los Supremos, Piper Diaz, Peter Scott | Latin / Salsa |
| 27 | Crazy | Doechii | Hip-Hop / Rap |
Vladimir Episode 8 Soundtrack
| Song Number | Song Title | Artist | Genre |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 | Truth Hurts | Lizzo | Pop / R&B |
Key Song Highlights – What Plays Where?
A few musical moments in Vladimir stand out as especially brilliant choices:
“Femininomenon” by Chappell Roan plays in Episode 1 alongside classical strings from Johann Strauss II — a perfect example of the show’s musical personality. One moment it is elegant and restrained, the next it is bold and unapologetic. This contrast mirrors exactly how the main character sees herself versus how she actually behaves.
“Dancing Barefoot” by Patti Smith plays at a key moment in Episode 1 — when the protagonist opens the door for Vladimir. The song beautifully underscores her growing attraction and erotic desire in a way that feels poetic and real at the same time.
“F-Me (feat. Yseult)” by Shygirl & Club Shy is the only song in Episode 4 — and it lands like a punch. Its placement in a single episode, with no other songs around it, makes it feel intentional and bold.
“Help Me” by Joni Mitchell is the sole track in Episode 6. A quiet, personal moment with Mitchell’s voice fills the room — and it speaks directly to the emotional state of the protagonist at that point in the story.
“Truth Hurts” by Lizzo closes the entire series in Episode 8. It is a confident, sharp, and slightly defiant choice — matching the show’s final emotional note perfectly.
Where to Watch and Listen Vladimir Soundtrack?
All eight episodes of Vladimir are now streaming exclusively on Netflix worldwide.
There is currently no official Netflix playlist for the full soundtrack. However, most of the individual songs are available to stream separately on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and YouTube Music. Several user-created playlists compiling all the songs from the show are available on Spotify.
FAQs
Q1. What is Vladimir (2026)? Vladimir is an eight-episode Netflix limited series released on March 5, 2026. It follows an unnamed middle-aged college professor (played by Rachel Weisz) who becomes obsessively attracted to a charming young new colleague named Vladimir (played by Leo Woodall), while her husband faces consequences for his affairs with students.
Q2. Who composed the original score for Vladimir? The original background score was composed by Tim Phillips, who has previously worked on Becoming Elizabeth and Shameless.
Q3. How many songs are in the Vladimir soundtrack?
There are 28 licensed needle-drop songs across the 8 episodes, plus Tim Phillips’s original background score.
Q4. Who created Vladimir?
The series was created by Julia May Jonas, based on her own bestselling 2022 novel. She also served as showrunner and executive producer on the series.
Q5. Who stars in Vladimir?
The main cast includes Rachel Weisz as the unnamed protagonist (referred to as “M”), Leo Woodall as Vladimir, John Slattery as John (her husband), Jessica Henwick as Cynthia, Kayli Carter as Lila, and Elisa Moolecherry as Priya.
Q6. What kind of music is in the Vladimir soundtrack?
The show uses a wide mix — from classical composers like Vivaldi, Mozart, and Johann Strauss II to modern pop and electronic artists like Chappell Roan, Doechii, Lizzo, Shygirl, Patti Smith, and Joni Mitchell.
Q7. Is there an official Vladimir soundtrack on Spotify?
No official Netflix playlist has been released. However, most individual songs are available on major streaming platforms and fan-made playlists exist on Spotify.
Q8. What is Rachel Weisz’s character’s name in Vladimir?
Her character has no name in either the book or the series. She is simply referred to as “M” in some credits.
Q9. How did critics react to Vladimir?
Reviews were mixed. The show holds a 66% on Rotten Tomatoes. NME gave it 4 stars, praising Weisz and the show’s boldness. Some other critics felt it did not fully live up to its potential.
Q10. Is Vladimir based on a book?
Yes. The series is adapted from Julia May Jonas’s 2022 debut novel of the same name, which topped year-end lists at NPR, the Washington Post, Vulture, and the Guardian, among others.
