A tutorial to the tunes of ‘Euphoria’ year 2
8 min read
When season one particular of “Euphoria” aired on HBO back in 2019 starring Zendaya, the earth was launched to its style-bending soundtrack from British singer-songwriter Labrinth. The clean synth qualifications mixes gospel, soul and digital sounds to generate a huge vary of musical moods, accompanying the psychological highs and lows of the display.
But this period, in addition to Labrinth’s signature themes like the TikTok preferred “Still Really do not Know My Title,” just about every episode also attributes classics — often a deep lower or forgotten gem from an ‘80s or ‘90s album — interspersed with strike pop tunes or hip hop anthems.
These tracks frequently accompany ethereal digital camera perform and lights to set the tone for powerful, emotional moments for the people, an creative hallmark of the show recognised for its uncooked, and at occasions triggering, portrayal of higher university life. The tracks frequently speedily turn into viral seems on social media, as individuals share lover theories, recaps or memes about the activities of that week’s episode as a single of the music engage in in the track record.
So to make guaranteed you happen to be all caught up on these trending songs, we’re compiling a listing that will be consistently current with the ear worms you are hearing all season lengthy.
Here’s a guide to the soundtrack of ‘Euphoria’ time 2:
Episode 5, ‘Stand Still Like the Hummingbird’
‘Fever’ by Sharon Money
In an episode that a lot of consider to be the most tense of the collection so considerably, and 1 that Zendaya herself warned viewers about with an Instagram post stating “(Rue) hits rock base,” there ended up notable stylistic discrepancies. Ambient seems took choice above music, and the episode moved its aim absent from the ensemble and exclusively on Rue’s mad sprint all around town as she appears for shelter and anything to acquire absent the pain of withdrawal. But a single second of musical levity arrived when Rue sneaked into someone’s house and stole jewellery and cash to the backdrop of Sharon Cash’s 1970 deal with of “Fever.”
“Fever” was originally recorded in the 1950s. Peggy Lee’s edition is the most commonly known rendition which features her gentle lilting voice over mid-tempo snaps and the strums of an upright bass. Cash’s version picks up the speed and adds horns and background vocals, matching the chaos of Rue’s escapade.
‘It Hardly ever Rains In Southern California’ by Albert Hammond
Episode five commenced with Rue acquiring an explosive combat with her mom, and it finished somewhat full circle. Leslie, played by Nika King, sits at a table after failing to uncover her daughter. She hears the door open up and calls out “Rue?” — in advance of the display fades to black, and an upbeat smooth-rock monitor performs.
“It Under no circumstances Rains in Southern California” is a solitary from the 1972 album of the same title by Albert Hammond.
Episode 4, ‘You Who Can’t See, Consider of Individuals Who Can’
‘Drink Ahead of the War’ by Sinéad O’Connor
Oh, who could ignore this scene, which depicts Cassie dancing by yourself in her living home ingesting straight from a bottle of wine, and Cal slow dancing with a stranger at the bar wherever he experienced his very first kiss with his very best pal.
This tune is from O’Connor’s 1987 debut album “The Lion and the Cobra.” The Irish singer is most properly known for her rendition of Prince’s “Nothing Compares 2 U” and her notorious Saturday Night Reside effectiveness, when she ripped up a photograph of Pope John Paul II.
The tune starts with O’Connor’s chilling vocals but swiftly escalates to a heartbreaking scream as she pleads lyrics like “You dig your have grave yeah, But it is a lifetime you can conserve.” The audio captures the visceral agony of the two drunk characters: the depth of Cassie’s will need for male validation and Cal’s extensive shed adore and suppressed sexual identity.
‘I Was Dancing in the Lesbian Bar’ by Jonathan Richman
This music, from the 1992 album “I, Jonathan,” is an upbeat rock keep track of with swinging guitar and narrative lyrics about, very practically, dancing in a lesbian bar. The tune serves as the backdrop to a scene wherever in 1 second, Rue dances with Elliot, then, Elliot kisses Jules, Rue’s girlfriend.
‘How Long’ by Tove Lo
Tove Lo, greatest identified for her 2014 strike “Habits (Keep Superior)” released a new observe for “Euphoria” time 2 with lyrics aptly matching certain plot points. The song follows a tumultuous romance as the singer asks, “how lengthy have you loved another although I’m dreamin’ of us jointly?” Seem common?
This monitor performs in the background of Maddy’s birthday get together, an event exactly where the Maddy-Cassie-Nate really like triangle in some way receives more intricate.
Episode 3, ‘Ruminations: Big and Minimal Bullys’
‘Never Tear Us Apart’ by INXS
The band INXS, pronounced “in extra,” is featured often on the present in link with Cal.
The Australian rock band shaped in 1977. And though “Need You Tonight” is its only one to strike selection one particular in the U.S., “Never Tear Us Apart” from the ’80s presented the backdrop for a person of the most gorgeous and moving scenes in the display yet.
The episode opened with a glance into Cal’s historical past, the place we find out that he was in enjoy with his finest pal, Derek, escalating up. Soon after their graduation, the two go to a bar, just them, and dance to this music. Though it starts off playful and teasing, they ultimately expand nearer just before sharing their initially kiss as Cal cries. Quickly right after, Cal finds out his girlfriend is pregnant.
‘Call Me Irresponsible’ by Bobby Darin
At first prepared in 1962, Bobby Darin covered the jazz track in 1964 for his album “From Hi Dolly to Goodbye Charlie.” In this scene, a substantial Rue dances with her pillow. She sings together as she moves close to her space and waltzes into her kitchen area — in advance of becoming caught by Gia.
‘Watercolor Eyes’ by Lana Del Rey
Released for the second period of the display, “Watercolor Eyes” performs in excess of the credits in episode 3. The slow, unfortunate music matches the signature indie sound of the “Euphoria” aesthetic. The lyrics explain a loving but painful romantic relationship. Fitting.
Episode 2, ‘Out of Touch’
‘Come Rain or Occur Shine’ by Judy Garland
“Come Rain or Occur Shine” was at first written for the Broadway musical St. Louis Female and included in a swinging jazz rendition by Judy Garland, who played Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz,” for her self-titled 1956 album “Judy.”
The tune plays as Maddy life out a rich housewife fantasy, attempting on the outfits and add-ons of the mom she babysits for, performed by Minka Kelly.
‘Haunted’ by Laura Les
“Haunted” is a hyperpop song from 2020 with chilling electronic devices, a screamo-sounding chorus and auto tuned vocals. The tune performs as Lexi, aiming to shift on from her passivity, puts in her headphones to go see visit Fez, a prospective match enthusiasts are rooting for.
‘She Delivers the Rain’ by Can
Can is a German experimental rock band from the ‘70s. “She Brings the Rain” is a gradual, jazzy keep track of with psychedelic themes. The tune performs about a montage of Rue biking and witnessing Cassie obtaining into Nate’s truck. The mystery few then ignore calls from Maddy.
Episode 1, ‘Trying to Get to Heaven In advance of They Shut the Door’
‘Don’t Be Cruel’ by Billy Swan
“Euphoria” period 2 begins off with a bang. Practically. The opening scene reveals a blond female, later on exposed to be Fez’s grandma, strolling into a crowded strip club prior to shooting a male, Fez’s father.
The music was at first recorded by Elvis Presley and coated by Swan in the ’70s for a gradual, twangy region rendition.
‘Right Down The Line’ by Gerry Rafferty
The track heard spherical the Euphoria-TikTok planet. Introduced in 1978 as a one to Rafferty’s album “City to City,” the song’s smooth people rock sound served as a sharp distinction to the jarring and violent scene it accompanies: Rue, Fez and newcomer Faye currently being pressured to strip by a drug seller, who dances to the track even though producing guaranteed none of them are donning a wire.
‘Dirty Work’ by Steely Dan
From Steely Dan’s 1972 debut album “Can’t Acquire a Thrill,” this song’s most famed pop culture minute arrived from an additional HBO show: “The Sopranos” back in year 3.
Tony Soprano sings this music in the automobile when the FBI overhears. In “Euphoria,” the track follows the tense strip-look for scene. The upbeat lyrics of “I’m a fool to do your dirty work” enjoy as a drug offer ensues.
‘Dead of Night’ by Orville Peck
Peck is an out place singer who has never demonstrated his deal with publicly, as an alternative putting on a fringed mask in videos. The 2019 region track and lead single to the album “Pony” characteristics Peck’s signature small, silky and crooning voice versus a slow guitar. The sensual music tells a tale of two fans driving by way of Nevada in the “dead of night time.”
It serves as the soundtrack to Nate driving Cassie to the New Year’s Eve party, the tension involving the pair ensuing in their problematic hook up in the rest room. The scene, in which Cassie leans out of the window as Nate checks her out, has been the subject matter of many a TikTok reenactment.
