Rivals series 2: Every song on the perfectly nostalgic 80s soundtrack from Sade to Bucks Fizz
It's another rousing visit to Rutshire in more ways than one!
Rivals returns to Disney+ with series 2 this May, and, unsurprisingly, the soundtrack will transport viewers straight back to the 1980s. From smooth love songs to iconic tracks by David Bowie and cheesy pop hits, the series fully embraces the spirit of the decade. So, what’s not to love?
Set in the mid-to-late 1980s, the tongue-in-cheek drama captures an era when Margaret Thatcher was in power and pop culture was rapidly evolving. Meanwhile, artists like Madonna and Michael Jackson were beginning to dominate the charts, while music fans everywhere listened to their favourite songs on Walkmans. At the same time, blockbuster films such as Ghostbusters and E.T. became defining cultural moments of the era.
Indeed, the 1980s are often remembered as the “decade of decadence” because of their booming pop culture, the launch of MTV, and the rise of synth-pop. Oh, and anyone who lived through the decade might well have played a part in destroying the ozone layer — after all, one layer of hairspray simply wasn’t enough!
To recreate the decade, the cast and crew of Rivals have painstakingly captured every detail of the era, from the soundtrack to the garish fashion. As a result, viewers are treated to a nostalgic romp through one of pop culture’s most unforgettable decades. So, here’s a reminder of all the songs featured in series 2 of Rivals.
What is the theme tune to Rivals series 2?
First of all, the brilliant theme tune to Rivals series 1 and 2 is by Natalie Holt and Jack Halama. Natalie Holt is a famous British composer who has worked on numerous film and television projects including Paddington and Loki. She was actually the first woman to score a live action Star Wars project.
She subsequently won Television Composer of the Year in 2024. You might also remember her as the violinist who threw eggs at Simon Cowell during the 2013 Britain’s Got Talent final. This was in protest against his “dreadful influence” on the music industry.
Meanwhile, Jack Halama is a BAFTA and Ivor Novello nominated multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer from Bristol. His music can be heard in Netflix’s Who Is Erin Carter?, BBC One’s Traces, and Marvel’s Loki.
Lastly, the stunning operatic vocals on the Disney+ Rivals soundtrack theme tune are performed by soprano Ellie Neate and tenor Ben Thapa.
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Rivals series 2 soundtrack: Episode 1
Yazoo’s Only You.
Sade’s Your Love is King (sung in the cocktail bar Declan and wife Maud visit after her theatre performance.)
David Bowie’s Let’s Dance (Flashback).
Demented Are Go’s Crazy Horses.
Episode 2
The Cavendish Orchestra’s Pop Goes Bach (Ski Sunday Theme).
The Go-Go’s We Got The Beat.
Bananarama’s Venus.
Music in episode 3
Bucks Fizz’s Making Your Mind Up.
The Chicken Song by Spitting Image.
Joy Division’s Love Will Tear Us Apart.
Rivals soundtrack: Episode 4
The Lion Sleeps Tonight by Tight Fit.
Mental As Anything’s Live It Up (Acoustic).
Aretha Franklin & George Michael’s I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me).
The Bangles’ Walk Like an Egyptian.
Nena’s 99 Red Balloons (Club Mix).
We’ll update you with more songs on the soundtrack as the series continues on Disney+.
Rivals episode 5
Composer Natalie Holt and Jack Halama’s Stories.
Sinitta’s So Macho (Extended Club Mix).
Rick James’ Super Freak (DJ LEAD Non Stop Version).
Cameo’s Word Up.
Spandau Ballet’s Gold.
Adam & The Ants’ Stand and Deliver.
Tiffany’s I Think We’re Alone Now (Extended Version).
Read more: Stars of Rivals return in series 2 on Disney+ with some inspired new casting
