THE NAKED GUN Soundtrack Has Arrived, Featuring Two Songs Performed by the Cast
Sound the sirens and cue the saxophones — The Naked Gun soundtrack is out today from Milan Records! Released alongside this year’s most brilliantly ridiculous cinematic experiences, this score is the perfect partner in crime to a film critics are calling “outrageously amusing” and “gloriously dumb” (in the best way possible). It’s an adrenaline shot of comedy, with a criminally catchy original soundtrack to boot.
GRAMMY® Award-winning composer Lorne Balfe brings a vibrant, brassy musical backdrop to the film, infusing it with just the right dose of nostalgia while keeping pace with the high-stakes action. Balfe linked up Gordon Goodwin and his legendary Big Phat Band to deliver a high-octane take on Ira Newborn’s classic Police Squad! theme—setting a sharp, rhythmic pace that perfectly matches the film’s fast-moving blend of action and comedy
Of the soundtrack, Lorne Balfe says, “When I first sat down with the director [Akiva Schaffer] to talk about the score for The Naked Gun, he told me one thing right away: the music had to feel honest. That set the tone for everything that followed. No matter how absurd the scenes got, the score needed to treat them seriously — especially the action. We weren’t playing for laughs; the music had to sell the drama, because that’s what makes the comedy land.
I grew up loving The Naked Gun and Police Squad! — they were a big part of my childhood. Ira Newborn’s original theme is iconic, and I really wanted to honour that noir-inspired, brassy sound while bringing a fresh energy for today’s audience. That contrast — serious music underscoring ridiculous situations — is what makes this world so fun to play in.
We recorded the score at the Warner Scoring Stage in Los Angeles, and one of my favorite cues is the film’s opening. It starts with this dark, ominous tension and then launches into an explosive action sequence. It lets the audience know exactly what kind of movie they’re in for — one that plays it straight, no matter how unhinged things get.”
But wait — there’s more. The album also features two original songs performed by the dynamic duo of Frank Drebin Jr. and Beth Davenport that are destined to become cult classics:
“Sassafras Chicken in D” – An improvisational skat masterpiece performed by Beth Davenport that defies genre, logic, and possibly several food safety regulations. Case closed: we officially have THE song of the summer. “Make it extra lumpy, boys!” — and they did. It’s jazz. It’s poultry. It’s poetry.
“My Sweet Beth” – A tender love ballad only slightly derailed by Frank Drebin Jr.’s boundless curiosity in the recording studio. Come for the romance, stay for the heart-melting guitar solo.
Big band, big laughs – what more you could ask for? Directed by Akiva Schaffer and starring Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson, The Naked Gun debuts exclusively in theaters today from Paramount Pictures.
Listen to the soundtrack here:
Listen to the official playlist here: