Warning: The following contains SPOILERS from Yellowjackets season 2, episode 5.
The Yellowjackets soundtrack is known for having a mixture of powerful female-led ballads and some grungy ’90s favorites. Of course, as with any movie or television show, music plays a huge role in setting the tone. The ’90s songs that underscore some of Yellowjackets’ most shocking events aren’t just limited to the 1996 timeline either, as who can forget Portishead’s steamy rendition of “Glory Box” overlapping Shauna’s explanation of her dissection of the rabbit from her garden in season 1. The Yellowjackets soundtrack is designed to immerse audiences into the gritty world Ashley Lyle, Bart Nickerson, and Jonathan Lisco have created.
Like the Yellowjackets season 1 soundtrack, the Yellowjackets season 2 score helps ingratiate viewers into the dismal and violent world of the plane crash survivors while simultaneously chronicling the team’s descent into madness as the full-blown cannibal winter is upon them. Thus far, the season 2 soundtrack hasn’t been quite as optimistic as the first installment’s. Well-known bangers like Salt-N-Pepa’s “Shoop” or Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch’s “Good Vibrations” were songs for a simpler time. The Yellowjackets season 2 soundtrack foreshadows the dangerous road the teammates and their adult counterparts find themselves on as the storyline only gets darker from here.
Yellowjackets Season 2, Episode 1, “Friends, Romans, Countrymen”
“Seventeen” by Sharon Van Etten: Sharon Van Etten’s gloomy 2019 track “Seventeen” is the first song to be heard on the Yellowjackets season 2 soundtrack, and it plays over the opening of the premiere. The song underscores the first shots of the snowy mountains of the Canadian wilderness and the cabin the girls are staying in, as well as Lottie’s time in a mental health facility after they’re rescued.
“Drown (Edit)” by The Smashing Pumpkins: The Smashing Pumpkins 1992 song “Drown (Edit)” plays as Jackie and Shauna have their first hallucinated conversation in the meat shed. Yellowjackets found the creepiest way to bring Jackie back, and accompanying Shauna’s vision with lyrics like “No matter where you are, I can still hear you when you drown” is all too fitting.
“A Night in Rio” by Graham de Wilde: Sometimes it’s necessary to break the tension, and Graham de Wilde’s atmospheric “A Night in Rio” does just that. The song plays while Jeff is busy running his furniture store. But, unfortunately, the tension ratchets back up when he gets a call from Shauna about Adam’s art studio.
“#1 Crush” by Garbage: Never was there a more fitting moment for Garbage’s steamy 1995 song “#1 Crush” to play. The track underscores Jeff and Shauna’s time covering up Adam’s pictures of her in his forgotten art studio, leading into a passionate moment between the couple and arguably one of the most shocking moments in the Yellowjackets season 2 premiere.
“Last Resort” by Papa Roach: The memorable 2000 hit “Last Resort” by Papa Roach is listened to by Jeff while he works out his feelings in the family minivan by bopping along to the music and beating on the steering wheel.
“Cornflake Girl” by Tori Amos: Tori Amos’ 1994 piano ballad “Cornflake Girl” closes out the Yellowjackets season 2 premiere, accompanying some of the season’s most intriguing moments, including when Callie finds Adam’s burned-up driver’s license in the family grill and when Shauna does the unthinkable and eats Jackie’s ear.
Yellowjackets Season 2, Episode 2, “Edible Complex”
“No Room for a Nihilist in Hollywood” by Peachy!: Peachy!’s 2019 crunchy guitar ballad “No Room for a Nihilist in Hollywood” plays while Callie and her boyfriend Kyle are hanging out in his room. Unfortunately, Callie breaks up with Kyle with little to no explanation in the scene.
“Inertia Creeps” by Massive Attack: The electronic 1998 song “Inertia Creeps” by Massive Attack darkly underscores Taissa’s desperate attempts to caffeinate herself as she drinks a worrying amount of espresso in a “getting ready” montage. However, the foreboding track only speaks to Taissa’s growing instability in the 2021 timeline.
“Climbing Up the Walls” by Radiohead: The final song in Yellowjackets season 2, episode 2, is Radiohead’s deliciously dark 1997 track “Climbing Up the Walls,” and it scores the penultimate moment of the installment. “Climbing Up the Walls” plays as the girls find Jackie’s cooked body, brilliantly chronicling their uncertainty before giving in to temptation with fervor and consuming her in a feeding frenzy.
Yellowjackets Season 2, Episode 3, “Digestif”
“When I Go Walkin'” by Pope Coke: The 2020 song “When I Go Walkin'” by indie pop band Pope Coke plays in the background as adult Natalie explores Lottie’s cult compound in the 2021 timeline. Before running into Lisa, the acolyte she stabbed with a fork, she spots Lottie’s cabin, which mysteriously has a pair of antlers hanging over the door.
“Seether” by Veruca Salt: Female-led alt-rock band Veruca Salt accompanies Misty’s walk to Walter’s boat with their 1994 hit “Seether.” The song perfectly captures Misty’s frenetic tension as she’s about to meet the man who’s been essentially stalking her as they team up to find who kidnapped Natalie.
“Take Me Down” by Sonica Disturbia: While Shauna enjoys her alt bands, Jeff goes for something a little harder. “Take Me Down” by Sonica Disturbia plays while the two are leaving the diner in their minivan after a particularly tense conversation about Shauna’s affair. Jeff tries to make things exciting by taking her on an impromptu trip to Colonial Williamsburg, but the endeavor is cut short when they are carjacked.
“Bells For Her” by Tori Amos: This episode marks the second time an installment has ended with a Tori Amos ballad. The 1994 track underscores Lottie’s mysterious vision, with the lyrics “Can’t stop what’s coming, Can’t stop what’s on its way,” possibly adding meaning to the mysterious hallucination in the Yellowjackets season 2, episode 3 ending.
Yellowjackets Season 2, Episode 4, “Old Wounds”
“Rainbow Tour” by Andrew Lloyd Webber and the Original Evita Cast: The first song in Yellowjackets season 2, episode 4, is from Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s famed Broadway musical Evita. The track is suggested while Misty and Walter are driving to upstate New York to find Natalie. Misty puts the tape in Walter’s car, and the scene then cuts to teen Misty and her friend Crystal singing the opening of the song in the wilderness.
“Just Get Over It” by James Donald Davies & Martin Jackson: The 2018 song “Just Get Over It” by duo James Donald Davies and Martin Jackson, from the album Psychedelic Pop 2, plays as adult Natalie and cult acolyte Lisa drive to the farmer’s market. The track underscores Natalie’s attempts to discredit Lottie’s cult to Lisa, something she is very quick to defend.
“Won’t Waste A Day” by James Donald Davies & Martin Jackson: A James Donald Davies and Martin Jackson tune once again accompanies Lisa and adult Natalie’s budding friendship. After an uncomfortable conversation with Lisa’s mother at her childhood home, Natalie rescues Lisa’s fish by holding it in her mouth. The two skip the farmer’s market and head to the bar, where this song plays as they discuss mental health.
“Angst in My Pants” by Sparks: Sparks’ 1982 song “Angst in My Pants” plays as Misty and Walter explore their separate bed and breakfast rooms, looking for anything suspicious. The track overlays a quick montage as the two indulge in their similar idiosyncrasies, highlighting the relationship that Walter is clearly looking for from her but that she is too damaged to reciprocate.
Yellowjackets Season 2, Episode 5, “Two Truths And A Lie”
“What’s Up?” by 4 Non Blondes: There’s no better song to introduce adult Van’s morning rituals than the 1993 classic “What’s Up?” by the 4 Non Blondes. The tune accompanies a quick flashback of Van grabbing a snack and tossing some past-due bills into the trash before opening up her retro video store. Taissa makes it to the store directly after, bringing the Yellowjackets season 2, episode 4 ending full circle.
“Big Mouth” by Necking: Released in 2019 on the album Cut Your Teeth, “Big Mouth” by Necking is sung live in Yellowjackets at the bowling alley where undercover cop Matt has taken Callie on what could be considered a date. The song plays over their bet, in which Callie hustles Matt into kissing her if she gets a strike. Thankfully, he doesn’t oblige given their age difference and his status as a police officer.
“Stayin’ Alive” by Tropical F*ck Storm: This cover of the ultimate Bee Gees track, “Stayin’ Alive,” plays in the background as Misty and Walter are driving around and trying to find Lottie’s cult compound. Misty quickly ejects the tape, saying she needs to concentrate, so Walter tries to play the game “two truths and a lie” to better get to know one another. Teen Misty also briefly says the lyrics to “Stayin’ Alive” when she is trying to revive Crystal after pushing her off a cliff.
“Mother” by Danzig: Danzig’s iconic song “Mother” underscores the final moments of Yellowjackets season 2, episode 5, as Shauna is going into labor. It’s a notable way to close out the episode, with Glenn Danzig’s recognizable drawl belting out the fitting lyrics as Shauna screams in pain.
