Like Season 1, the songs in Bridgerton Season 2 are pop hits camouflaged by classical arrangements and instruments. Season 1 featured memorable versions of “Wildest Dreams” by Taylor Swift, “Bad Guy” by Billie Eilish and “Thank U Next” by Ariana Grande and more. Season 2 boasts classical versions of even more pop, rock and even grunge classics, including hits by Nirvana, Rihanna, Miley Cyrus, Alanis Morissette, Pink and more. Get the skinny on all of the music played in Bridgerton Season 2, but beware of spoilers ahead!
What is the music played in Bridgerton?
Bridgerton features classical music, much of which is in the form of covers of popular, mainstream modern-day songs. Bridgerton showrunner Chris Van Dusen told Tudum, “I chose all of these songs for very specific reasons. Each one is incredibly powerful and deeply emotional in its own special way. I always try many different songs for any one scene before landing on the perfect one to use. This season, I couldn’t be more thrilled about our musical playlist.” Music supervisor Justin Kamps revealed to Tudumthat many of the covers you hear already existed before Bridgerton. “I feel like people think that all the covers are custom-made for the show, but some of them, like I mentioned, are already existing covers that we are editing and getting to fit in the show,” he said, adding, “So they can go out and listen, search up covers on Spotify or online at Apple Music or whatever and try to figure out what might make it into Bridgerton Season 3 or make their own soundtrack based on the books or something.”
What are the songs in Bridgerton Season 2?
The following is the complete playlist of covers from Bridgerton Season 2.
1. Nirvana, “Stay Away” (Vitamin String Quartet)
The grunge gods’ hit is from their smash album Nevermind. It works on numerous levels here, from Kate and Anthony’s attraction to one another to Kate’s protective nature toward her sister Edwina.
2. Madonna, “Material Girl” (Duomo)
You can hear “Material Girl” playing when the Sharma sisters first meet the Bridgerton brood. Originally written as an homage to Marilyn Monroe, the classic Madonna tune captures the vibes of the wealth and social-climbing nature of the Regency era.
3. Rihanna, “Diamonds” (Hannah V. & Joe Rodwell)
Shine bright like a diamond! RiRi’s smash gets a sparkling cover in Bridgerton Season 2 as Queen Charlotte ponders her choices for which lucky lady will be named the diamond of the courting season.
4. Robyn, “Dancing On My Own” (Vitamin String Quartet)
With previous covers by everyone from Kings of Leon to Calum Scott and even Elle Fanning, “Dancing On My Own” provides the perfect pop melancholy soundtrack for the Sharma sisters’ struggles with their feelings for Anthony.
5. Alanis Morissette, “You Oughta Know” (Duomo)
Of course, Morissette’s furious breakup anthem works best when you can hear her heartfelt, heartbroken and livid lyrics. That doesn’t mean that the track isn’t effective as an instrumental, because it sets the tone for the frustration, hurt and lust between Anthony and Kate throughout the season.
6. “Khabi Khushi Kabhie Glam” (Kris Bowers)
The title track to Bollywood movie Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham plays while the Sharmas prepare for a wedding, complete with Hindu customs. Kamps told Tudum that the series’ composer, Kris Bowers, did a “beautiful” job on the cover and noted it was one of the songs he was most excited about.
7. Harry Styles, “Sign of the Times” (Steve Horner)
Kamps gushed that “Sign of the Times” by Harry Styles was the song he was most passionate about using in Season 2 for the scene featured Anthony and Edwina’s ill-fated wedding. “The recording has a couple [of] short pauses before blasting into this gorgeous big swell of strings at the end,” Kamps told Variety. “Sometimes having stops and starts in the song helps our editors really land these dramatic reveals. When fans see the episode, they’ll realize why it was used in that way. All the swells and swirling strings are very deliberate and build to this perfect moment.” Debra Delshad, senior director of licensing and synchronization for the label Angry Mob Music, said the track was the most difficult to clear but also the most important. “‘Sign of the Times’ was still charting. There were several writers on it, but I had a feeling about it,” she told Variety. “I knew [composer and performer Steve Horner] would be able to knock it out of the park and it would sound superb. I felt Harry Styles’ camp would agree. Sometimes you’ve got to go with your gut. If I had to scream and yell or beg and plead for a song, I wanted to do it for this one.”
8. Pink, “What About Us” (Duomo)
After Edwina and Anthony’s wedding goes down in flames, the rest of the couples and characters are left to wonder: What about them? This track is the soundtrack to a montage of them all going about their lives, including Queen Charlotte tending to her ill husband, Eloise visiting Theo and, of course, Anthony and Kate figuring out what to do next.
9. Calvin Harris & Disciples, “How Deep Is Your Love” (Kiris Houston)
When Kate and Anthony finally do the deed, it’s set to this Calvin Harris tune.
10. Miley Cyrus, “Wrecking Ball” (Midnite String Quartet)
Cyrus’ 2013 hit, covered by Midnite String Quartet, can refer to Kate and Anthony’s complicated relationship—and to their wrecking of his potential wedding and marriage to Edwina. However, it may also hint at the damage to Eloise and Penelope’s blowout fight at the end of the season. Next, get all the details on Bridgerton Season 3!
