Bridgerton Season 2: Every Modern Song Secretly Covered

Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Bridgerton season 2. 

Netflix’s Bridgerton returns with a season 2 packed full of secret, classical modern song covers. Based on Julia Quinn’s second Bridgerton novel, The Viscount Who Loved Me, Bridgerton season 2 sees the eldest Bridgerton son Anthony (Jonathan Bailey) attempting to resist the charms of Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley), who has recently moved to England from India with her equally well-to-do family. This romance is contested right from the offing in Bridgerton season 2, with the Sharma and Bridgerton clans clashing as Lady Whistledown continues to stoke the gossip mill of Regency-era London.

However, while taking a significant portion of its narrative from Julia Quinn’s stores, Chris Van Dusen’s Bridgerton has never been afraid to put a modern twist on the Bridgerton family’s narrative. Unlike the series of Quinn novels, Bridgerton is set in an alternate history within a racially integrated London that draws far closer parallels to modern society than the end of England’s Georgian era.

Van Dusen’s Bridgerton season 2 also weaves several modern song covers into its runtime via a predominantly string quartet style. In this way, Bridgerton’s music forms an integral part of the Netflix series’ underlying progressive tone that seeks to blend more contemporary sensibilities with its Regency-era setting. Here are all nine modern songs secretly covered in Bridgerton season 2, as well as when they appear in the series.

“Stay Away” by Nirvana – Cover By Vitamin String Quartet: In the Bridgerton season 2 opener, Vitamin String Quartet’s upbeat version of “Stay Away” plays during a montage that shows Viscount Bridgerton Anthony dating various women in London.

“Diamonds” by Rihanna – Cover By Hannah V & Joe Rodwell: As Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel) names the new “Diamond of the Season” during Bridgerton season 2 episode 1, a haunting version of “Diamonds” plucks away in the background.

“Material Girl” by Madonna – Cover By Kris Bowers: Bridgerton season 2, episode 1, sees the Sharma family officially enter their first event in London’s Ton while being led by Lady Danbury (Adjoa Andoh). As Kate Sharma appears overcome by the grandiosity of her surroundings, the orchestra plays an instrumental version of Madonna’s 1984 hit, “Material Girl,” perhaps as an ode to the opulence on show.

“Dancing On My Own” by Robyn – Cover By Vitamin String Quartet: As Kate Sharma and Anthony Bridgerton dance during season 2, episode 4, their respective family members’ characters are encouraged to settle their animosity and join in on the dance. However, as the Sharmas and Bridgertons fail to put aside their differences, a string quartet version of Robyn’s “Dancing On My Own” blares with increasing volume as the Ton’s latest dance devolves into hostility.

“You Oughta Know” by Alanis Morissette – Cover By Duomo: The subsequent episode of Bridgerton season 2 sees Kate and Anthony attempt to end their explicit flirtation in the woods. After the would-be couple gets into a heated argument, Duomo’s orchestral version of “You Oughta Know” plays as the pair chase each other on horses through the forest.

“Sign of the Times” by Harry Styles – Cover By Steve Horner: A revelatory wedding scene in Bridgerton season 2, episode 6, sees a lilting cover of Harry Styles’ “Sign of the Times” ring out as the latest Ton bride is revealed to the onlookers.

“What About Us” by P!nk – Cover By Duomo: The coda of Bridgerton season 2, episode 6, sees several plotlines advance, including the fate of Anthony’s planned marriage to Edwina Sharma (Charithra Chandran) and Queen Charlotte tracking down the elusive Lady Whistledown. Duomo’s sultry cover of P!nk’s “What About Us” accompanies these climactic scenes, perfectly emulating the mood of the episode’s events.

“How Deep Is Your Love” by Calvin Harris & Disciples – Cover By Kiris: As Anthony and Kate finally consummate their forbidden love in the palace gardens, an instrumental cover of the deep house classic “How Deep Is Your Love” crescendoes to end episode 7.

“Wrecking Ball” by Miley Cyrus – Cover By Midnight String Quartet: The Bridgerton season 2 finale sees Anthony and Kate declare their fierce love for one another and agree to “one last dance” at the Featherington ball, with the lyrically pertinent “Wrecking Ball” string version accompanying the series’ season 2 closing scene.

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