Umm... 'Bridgerton' Secretly Featured Tons Of Pop Songs, And I Found Them All
Netflix's new series Bridgerton dives deep into 19th century society life (a.k.a. the Regency period) in London with the always-glamorous, sometimes-scandalous Bridgerton and Featherington families. Every episode features at least one ball and ever-changing couples twirling around the dance floor. It's a truly entertaining, escapist spectacle for all the senses. It's no surprise Bridgerton became an instant hit to the tune of 63 million households streaming it since its debut on December 25, and there's likely more to come in season two.
Naturally, none of the festive waltzes would be complete—or happen at all—without some tunes. Bridgerton has a full string quartet to provide that oh-so-important background beat. And, you may be surprised to hear some familiar notes throughout. It's not all Vivaldi floating through the cavernous estates. In fact, much of the music includes instrumental covers of modern pop songs by the Vitamin String Quartet and Duomo. (The classical artists even collaborated on a cover of "Strange" by Celeste.)
There are hit songs from Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, and Shawn Mendes among other modern artists for a very important reason. "It really goes to the idea of making this feel different than your other period shows. Whether it's music or the world of the show, the scripts, the sets, the costumes; it all comes back to infusing things through our own unique modern lens and making things feel relatable to whoever's watching," showrunner Chris Van Dusen told Oprah Mag.
You don't have to go hunting for all the songs, either. I did the Shazam research and found them all. (You're welcome.) Here are all the awesome Vitamin String Quartet hits from Bridgerton to add to your WFH playlist or lead the next Zoom karaoke sesh:
"Thank U, Next" by Ariana Grande
You don't have to wait long to hear this Vitamin String Quartet cover wafting through the first ball in Bridgerton. Simultaneously, devoted brother Anthony Bridgerton is thank u, next-ing any gentleman who dares to consider Daphne.
"Girls Like You" by Maroon 5
When Anthony's efforts to shoo suitors from Daphne work, this Vitamin String Quartet version of Maroon 5's hit plays and the men drift to Marina Thompson.
"In My Blood" by Shawn Mendes
Daphne and Simon take the dance floor to Vitamin String Quartet's take on the 2018 Grammy nom and put their plot to improve Daphne's prospects and distract nosy mothers from Simon in motion. It's a big deal and the first sign their faux-mance could definitely lead to real sparks.
"Bad Guy" by Billie Eilish
In the third episode, Daphne and Simon's witty banter and faux-mance are going strong like the Grammy winner's cover. It becomes pretty clear who the "bad guy" is in the whole escapade.
"Strange" by Celeste
British singer-songwriter Celeste's 2019 hit is worth the wait and plays in episode five. Let's just say it's the soundtrack for Daphne and Simon's climactic start to their honeymoon.
"Wildest Dreams" by Taylor Swift
Daphne and Simon's wedding night was only the beginning of their ~wild~ exploration of each other—in the garden, on the steps of a mausoleum, on a ladder in the library, and so on around the couple's expansive property. (This is no Jane Austen, folks.)
FYI: The Vitamin String Quartet is a group of LA-based musicians who record new versions of well-known rock, pop, and country songs, arranged for a small string ensemble. VSQ is prolific with well over 100 (!!) albums. And, there's a dedicated Bridgerton soundtrack available on Amazon. Happy listening!
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