What songs were played on Big Little Lies? Season 2, episode 3 soundtrack revealed

24 June 2019, 20:23

By Katie Louise Smith

A complete playlist of every song featured on the soundtrack for Big Little Lies season 2. Episode 2 listed here. Updated weekly.

There are many many many things that can be said about how perfect Big Little Lies actually is. The writing. The cast. The performances. Nicole Kidman's wig. Reese Witherspoon's delivery. The way Laura Dern screams with her hands. Shailene Woodley and Zoe Kravitz in general. But the most perfect thing about this show? The soundtrack.

Season 2 of the HBO series - which includes Meryl Streep as a cast member - aired on Sunday June 7 and already, fans are scrambling to find out what music was played in the first episode.

Madeline Mackenzie's daughter Chloe, the second-grader with a better taste in music than you will ever have, is back at it again, queuing up tracks that perfectly match the mood of the wistful vibe of the series.

Season one featured tracks from Fleetwood Mac, Leon Bridges, Frank Ocean, PJ Harvey and Alabama Shakes while season two kicks off with Joan Jett and even throws in some Sufjan Stevens for good measure.

What is the Big Little Lies theme tune?

The show's opening theme tune remains the same (Michael Kiwanuka's 'Cold Little Heart' for those of you who haven't downloaded it for your Rich White Lady California Coastal Driving playlist yet), but the song has been reworked for season 2's opening credits.

Here are all the songs featured in Big Little Lies season 2:

Big Little Lies season 2 soundtrack: What songs were played? Picture: HBO

Big Little Lies season 2, episode 3 music (every song in order of appearance)

Elizabeth Cotten - 'Shake Sugaree'

Bonnie's mother sings a version of Elizabeth Cotten’s Shake Sugaree as a lullaby for Skye, as Bonnie joins in at the start of the episode.

Elizabeth Cotten , Shake Sugaree

Cigarettes After Sex – 'Keep On Loving You'

As Madeline speaks to Abigail in her room about Ed finding out about her having an affair behind his back, this chilled out song plays in the background. Once again, it turns out that good taste in music runs in the Carlson/Mackenzie extended family.

Keep On Loving You - Cigarettes After Sex

Roxy Music - 'Love Is The Drug'

The one plays during Jane and Corey’s post-dinner walk along the street.

Roxy Music - Love Is The Drug

Mojave 3 – 'Bluebird of Happiness'

This track plays as Jane gets into her car after spotting Mary Louise catching a glimpse of her grandson Ziggy for the first time.

Mojave 3- Bluebird Of Happiness

Massive Attack – 'Karmacoma'

Just before Renata tells Gordon to "sell [his] f*cking toys", he's listening to, as she puts it, "this sh*t" in his den.

Massive Attack - Karmacoma

Cowboy Junkies – 'Dreaming My Dreams With You'

This week's end credits song goes to this Cowboy Junkies song, which plays as we watch Jane and Corey hug, Madeline drift off thinking about her affair, Bonnie walking along the water and Celeste, um... getting off to a video of her dead husband Perry.

Cowboy Junkies - Dreaming My Dreams With You (Official Audio)

Big Little Lies season 2, episode 2 music (every song in order of appearance)

Neil Young - 'Down By the River'

This track plays while Celeste is having her Ambien-induced episode in the car right at the beginning of the episode.

Down by the River (2009 Remaster)

Brenton Wood - 'Great Big Bundle of Love'

This time it's Bonnie's turn to serve the bops for the school run. This song plays as she is driving with Skye.

Brenton Wood ~ Great Big Bundle Of Love

Charles Bradley - 'Let Love Stand a Chance'

During Bonnie and Jane's yoga session, when the two of them are talking about Corey and just before Bonnie's mother arrives, this song plays in the background.

Charles Bradley - Let Love Stand A Chance

Alpha - 'Somewhere Not Here'

This wistful bop plays when Celeste is reminiscing about Perry.

Alpha - Somewhere not here

Jimmy Ruffin - 'What Becomes of the Brokenhearted'

This is apparently Renata's favourite song, as she listens to it again while driving Gordon home from posting bail. Foreshadowing, perhaps?

Jimmy Ruffin - What Becomes of the Brokenhearted (HQ)

Elle King - 'Good Thing Gone'

Elle King's ballad plays in Madeline's kitchen as Abigail calls her mother out for sleeping with the theatre director. Ed overhears and leaves. Literally good thing gone, huh?

Elle King - Good Thing Gone (Audio)

Sufjan Stevens - 'Redford (For Yia-Yia & Pappou)'

Two for two for Sufjan in season 2. This piano ballad plays over a montage of scenes featuring Ziggy meeting his half-brothers Max and Josh for a playdate. Renata in bed with Amabella, Skye seeing her parents together and Madeline nursing a red wine after ruining her own life.

Redford (for Yia-Yia and Pappou)

Villagers - 'The Wonder of You'

'The Wonder of You' plays over the closing credits of the episode, as Madeline sits on the dock. If you cast your minds back to the final episode of season 1, you'll recognise the song from the Audrey Hepburn/Elvis Presley charity gala. The song was 'sung' on the show by Adam Scott's character Ed, but those weren't his vocals, they were Conor O'Brien's vocals.

Conor O'Brien The Wonder of You Audio BIG LITTLE LIES 1X07 SOUNDTRACK

Big Little Lies season 2, episode 1 music (every song in order of appearance)

Joan Jett - 'Bad Reputation'

Setting up the musical vibe for the season with the very apt 'Bad Reputation' is Jane and Ziggy, who both rock out to the track in the morning before the first day of school.

Joan Jett - Bad Reputation - Subscriber Accolade!

The Spinners - 'I'll Be Around'

The first of Chloe Mackenzie's iconic music choices. She selects this one to play in the car while on her way to school for the first day of second grade, drowning out Madeline's rant about dads on the school drop off run.

I'LL BE AROUND / THE SPINNERS

Jimmy Ruffin - 'What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted'

This absolute classic is played by Renata as she's driving home for a photoshoot.

Jimmy Ruffin - What Becomes of the Brokenhearted (HQ)

Diana Ross - 'It's My House'

This Diana track plays as Renata poses for her 'Women in Power' cover shoot. It's her house, and she lives here. Nothing more to say about it except: bop.

It's My House - DIANA ROSS '1979

Sufjan Stevens - 'Mystery of Love'

It's apparently now canon that Jane Chapman is a Call Me By Your Name stan, as she's seen raving on the beach to Sufjan's emotional track from the 2017 movie. The taste jumped out.

Sufjan Stevens - Mystery of Love (From "Call Me By Your Name" Soundtrack)

Portishead - 'The Rip'

After a fight with her mum about her future at college, Abigail is listening to this track on her laptop in her bedroom before Madeline walks in for another chat about school. Those Mackenzie siblings know how to put together a good playlist.

Portishead - The Rip

Cassandra Wilson - 'Harvest Moon'

Wilson's cover of Neil Young's Harvest Moon (which was also featured in season 1, episode 3) plays over Celeste's memories of her and Perry's relationship. Much happier memories... of course.

Harvest Moon- Cassandra Wilson

Sinead O'Connor - 'All Apologies'

Sinead's cover of Nirvana's track plays in Jane's room as she's sketching on the floor late at night after a chat and a glass of wine with Celeste.

Sinéad O'Connor - All Apologies [Official Music Video]

Phoebe Killdeer and The Short Straws - 'Fade Out Line'

The final track in this episode is 'Fade Out Line' which plays over the end credits, just after Mary Louise rushes in to comfort Celeste following her nightmare. Well, we say "comfort" but we're pretty sure she just wants to know who Celeste was dreaming about murdering... 👀