The show Succession is beloved by many and has the Emmys to prove it. Fans of the show will tell you one thing when they watch it, “I never skip the opening theme.” It’s true that it is nearly impossible to skip it because how amazing it is. Nicholas Britell’s Succession (Main Title Theme) is a masterful take on what could end up being your average main title theme. He won the Emmy for Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music in 2019 for it and deservingly so. Though what is so special is how the title score delivers the main message of the show before the show can even start.
The score is driven by its main piano cords. The piano melody is a mixture of intense yet sophistication, quite like the characters in the show. It is also carried by violins as well. As someone who isn’t a part of high society and a luxury lifestyle, the association between rich and the music from pianos and violins has always stood out to me. A fine lifestyle has a piano score to it. This was Britell’s intention of course, his score plays while clips of the media mogul Roy family plays behind it. Showing their early childhood to their billion dollar media empire in modern day New York. The theme is somewhat nostalgic and anxious at the same time, which of course is perfect for an uneasy childhood that grew into a worse adulthood.
Though what is the most perfect about Britell’s theme is the classical element with the dark tones. The music makes you feel like something is hanging over your head or looming around the corner which is very true for the Roy family within Succession. Old money is captured in this song. The song isn’t your perfect melody but so is a family that comes from old money, they are far from perfect. Theres something so off about it that you can’t look away from the show nor can you stop listening to the song. Something is clearly unpleasant and wrong about this melody, but so addictive. Making money in a dirty way is wrong but nobody can stop when they start. Britell perfectly understands that and 100% displays that in Succession (Main Title Theme).