Fiona Apple has released "Horns of a Bull," a new theme song for the NBC series Lucky. The track arrives as her first substantial music contribution since 2020's Fetch the Bolt Cutters, her Grammy-winning album that established her return to recording after a nearly decade-long hiatus.
"Horns of a Bull" maintains the sonic DNA of Fetch the Bolt Cutters, preserving Apple's signature approach to rhythm and arrangement. The song demonstrates her continued willingness to push against conventional pop structures, offering jagged instrumentation and her distinctively precise vocal delivery. Apple composed the theme specifically for the show, marking a deliberate venture into television scoring alongside her solo work.
The assignment reflects Apple's expanded creative ambitions since the critical and commercial success of Fetch the Bolt Cutters, which won Album of the Year at the 2021 Grammys. That record reshaped her legacy, introducing her maximalist production style and intricate percussion work to a broader audience. With "Horns of a Bull," she applies that same meticulous attention to detail in a new context.
Lucky, which premiered on NBC, marks another example of prestige television seeking out indie and alternative artists for its sonic branding. The placement underscores Apple's stature within contemporary music culture. Her willingness to take on the assignment suggests an artist confident in her aesthetic voice, unafraid to let it shape television's soundtrack landscape.
The track's release continues Apple's presence in popular culture following Fetch the Bolt Cutters' dominance in critical conversations around contemporary pop music. It offers listeners a glimpse into her current creative direction while fulfilling a functional role within NBC's programming strategy. Apple's theme work joins a growing tradition of serious recording artists lending their voices to television scoring.
