Bridgerton is a historical romance series with plenty of alluring qualities, but its soundtrack is one of its most defining qualities. The Netflix series uses orchestral covers of popular pop music as the backdrop for choreographed dances at balls or sweepingly romantic scenes elsewhere. Modern music in historical TV shows isn’t a new trend, with The CW’s Reign and Apple TV+’s The Buccaneers as other examples.
Nevertheless, Bridgerton has become synonymous with it.
The show’s first season used Vitamin String Quartet covers of Ariana Grande and Maroon 5 songs, among other pop-turned-classical hits, to score Daphne Bridgerton and Simon Basset’s love story. The second season continues that theme with covers of songs by Rihanna, Madonna, Alanis Morrisette, and more playing in the background of Anthony Bridgerton and Kate Sharma’s enemies-to-lovers romance.
As anticipation builds around Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington’s season and what soundtrack will amplify Polin while they’re in bloom, now is as good a time as any to look back on Bridgerton Season 2’s soundtrack. Here is a definitive ranking of the season’s songs according to the Kanthony feels they elicit:
10. “Diamonds” – Hannah V, Joe Rodwell
Hannah V and Joe Rodwell’s take on Rihanna’s “Diamonds” in the second of three pop songs featured in Bridgerton 2×01, “Capital R Rake.” It’s the least impactful to Kanthony. Instead of setting a direct rhythm for their romance, the song represents Queen Charlotte’s quest for a diamond that will shake up the season. Of course, that diamond ends up being Edwina Sharma, whom Anthony sets his sights on as the perfect Viscountess and distinctly not a love match. So, technically, this song does score a domino effect for the season’s romantic leads. While an excellent and on-the-nose choice for the setting, Bridgerton Season 2’s soundtrack keeps getting better from here.
9. “Material Girl” – Kris Bowers
The second pop song featured in “Capital R Rake” is Kris Bowers’ spin on Madonna’s “Material Girl.” This classical rendition sets the tone for the Sharma women’s introduction to the ton. It reflects their overall appeal as they step on the scene and the extravagance of the setting itself. It’s seemingly inconsequential compared to other, more unforgettable tracks on this list. However, without Kris Bowers’ arrangement, the magnitude of this scene could fall flat. Everything changes for Kate, Edwina, and Mary (and Anthony) at and after this ball. This scene and its use of this song make the later use of “Diamonds” pitch perfect because it’s a progression of the soundtrack alongside the story.
8. “What About Us” – Duomo
Duomo’s arrangement of Pink’s “What About Us” plays at a pivotal point in Bridgerton 2×06, “The Choice,” and Kanthony’s story. It’s a clever choice during this sequence because the characters make crucial decisions, including Edwina deciding to leave Anthony at the alter and Kate’s guidance behind. The lyrics speak to Kate and Anthony’s season-long complicated will-they-won’t-they romantic feelings but also extend to Edwina’s emotional journey. Edwina questions the relationship she believed she had with Anthony and, even more importantly, the one Edwina knows she had with her sister. It’s a beautiful choice that culminates in a silent exchange as Anthony and Kate finally ask each other: What about us? From “The Choice” and this cover, there’s no going back for Kanthony.
7. “Stay Away” – Vitamin String Quartet
The Vitamin String Quartet’s cover of Nirvana’s “Stay Away” is the first song featured in “Capital R Rake.” It’s quintessential Anthony Bridgerton from Julia Quinn’s The Viscount Who Loved Me. He is desperate for a match without attachments, but he has a concise yet specific list of requirements the woman who will become his viscountess must meet. He is harsh and judgmental in his avoidance of connection and love. It’s the perfect place to reconnect with the character in the Season 2 premiere. Moreover, “Stay Away” is a spot-on track for the abrasive, emotionally repressed montage. Ultimately, Anthony’s calculated interest in Edwina and avoidance of his feelings for Kate reflect his stand-offish tactics.
6. “Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham” – Kris Bowers
Where “Stay Away” provides insight into Anthony’s mindset, Kris Bowers’ cover of “Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham” by Jatin-Lalit and Lata Mangeshkar in “The Choice” holds more significance for Kate, Edwina, and Mary. The Bollywood song from the movie of the same name plays during Edwina’s haldi ceremony before her wedding to Anthony. The scene emphasizes the Sharma women’s bond, like between the Bridgerton brothers in their paralleled scene. Mashable notes the song isn’t exclusively for weddings but is “evocative of all kinds of South Asian celebrations of family and new beginnings.” Charithra Chandran, who plays the youngest Sharma sister, said the cover “‘literally brought tears’ to her eyes, a fact she texted to showrunner Chris van Dusen,” per Mashable.
5. “Sign of the Times (Stripped)” – Steve Horner
Steve Horner’s take on Harry Styles’ debut solo single is the beautiful backdrop to Edwina and Anthony’s failed wedding in “The Choice.” “Sign of the Times (Stripped)” is a haunting track for what is supposed to be a celebratory occasion. It becomes the screaming sign that Anthony and Kate need to take account of their feelings for one another before they don’t take the one step that could change everything for the worse. Even in all that panic (Anthony sees Kate in a wedding dress instead of Edwina, for one!), the cover, like the original song, provides a silver lining of hope – everything will be all right. Though it doesn’t seem like it for most of the season, everything does work out for Kanthony.
4. “Dancing On My Own” – Vitamin String Quartet
The Vitamin String Quartet’s cover of Robyn’s “Dancing on My Own” gives dialogue to a speechless dance – Kate and Anthony’s first dance – in Bridgerton 2×04, “Victory.” Though not heard in this classical rendition, the lyrics do the speaking that Kate and Anthony can’t. This song feels like the introspection that Kate won’t allow herself about how painful it is to see the man she has feelings for dance (and court) her sister. It also feels like Anthony’s resignation that, even when he dances with Edwina, he will still be alone because Anthony can’t feel what he feels for Kate about Edwina. The soundtrack elevates this dance to another level of intimacy, already heightened by Kanthony’s visible tension.
3. “Wrecking Ball” – Midnite String Quartet
Midnite String Quartet’s version of Miley Cyrus’ “Wrecking Ball” is briefly featured in Bridgerton 2×08, “The Viscount Who Loved Me,” but it leaves an impression on the characters and the show’s legacy. If Bridgerton’s use of “Dancing on My Own” elevates the intimacy between Kate and Anthony, “Wrecking Ball” skyrockets it. The emotional exchanges between Jonathan Bailey and Simone Ashley’s eyes are some of the show’s best and most subtle work. It’s a profoundly vulnerable dance, figuratively and literally, where the characters leave it all out on the floor. In many ways, this dance feels like it could be the end of Kanthony’s love story, but it’s the beginning of their best chapter yet.
2. “You Oughta Know” – Duomo, Tomás Peire-Serrate
Duomo’s take on Alanis Morrisette’s “You Oughta Know” is an instant hit – so much so that Morrisette recorded a version with the classical music. It plays at the end of “Victory,” making it the ideal track for an ironic mid-season cliffhanger. Despite how deeply Kate wants to believe it, there is no victory for her and Anthony unless they are together. However, by this point in the season, everything has gotten so complicated and so out of control that severing ties is the only (and most painful) option. Still, both characters know this won’t work. So, “You Oughta Know” transforms a bittersweet goodbye into the most heartbreaking sign that Kanthony will never move on from one another.
1. “How Deep Is Your Love” – Kris Houston
What else could be No. 1 but Kris Houston’s classical rendition of Calvin Harris and Disciples’ “How Deep Is Your Love” in Bridgerton 2×07, “Harmony?” Despite playing in the penultimate episode, this song culminates Kate and Anthony’s love story as they finally give in to their feelings. There is no more denying how deeply they know and love each other. The tension is uncontainable. The desperation to take the steps they’ve stopped themselves from taking all season long is agonizing. All the pining and yearning and longing looks and almost-hand touches lead to this – lead to Kanthony in the garden. Kate and Anthony embrace their feelings for one another with “no inhibition, no fear.”
—
What is your favorite song from the Bridgerton Season 2 soundtrack? Let us know in the comments below!
Bridgerton Season 3 Part 1 premieres on Thursday, May 16, on Netflix.