Inspired

(Bridgerton Season Four Soundtrack)

If you haven’t heard, Bridgerton is giving us a Whole Gay Season! They’ve included queer stories in previous seasons, but only two over five seasons (four plus a spin-off) and not yet for a main couple.

Until now!

One of my favorite parts of new Bridgerton is always finding out what insane orchestral covers of modern pop songs they’ll include this time around. What sapphic songs will Season 5 “Bridgertonize” to play under a Regency-era ballroom dance or under a ✨steamy encounter✨?

I simply can’t wait until next year or the following to find out, so I’m taking matters into my own hands.

@ Shondaland, if you’re listening, I’d like to pitch some ideas.

(Please note: I have not read any of the Bridgerton books and could not even begin to guess at the plot of Season 5.) (But I will attempt score some pivotal plot moments regardless.)

The following choices were carefully(-ish) curated based on music vibe, artist (all sapphic!), lyrical meaning (though there won’t be lyrics in the strings cover), and my own imperfect ability to imagine them as string covers.

Also, you know I have more ideas for songs than I can fit in one Substack post, but I tried to limit myself to three songs per category because I’m extremely brave and strong.

Angsty anthems that could play while either of the characters experiences the Mandatory Bridgerton Yearning™️:

• Not Strong Enough by boygenius

• Pick Me by girl in red

• Phase by Amanda Zorzi

Scoring the same Mandatory Bridgerton Yearning™️ as above, but the vibes are more defeated and sad than angsty:

• You’re So Fucking Pretty by The Regrettes

• What Can I Do or Moon by Renee Rapp

• You always get what you want by The Japanese House

Songs that could play as a waltz¹ at a ton ball while Michaela and Francesca both keep looking at each other across the dance floor but never quite make eye contact:

• Girls by King Princess

• Picture You by Chappell Roan

• Out Loud by Peach PRC

Songs that could play during a ballroom dance where one girlie is dancing with men on the marriage mart and the other is angry and/or sad about it:

• Good Luck, Babe by Chappell Roan

• So Hot You’re Hurting My Feelings by Caroline Polachek

• Waiting for You by The Aces

Music for a steamy sex scene:

• Holy by King Princess

• Pink Bronco by Princess Nokia (feat. Lindsey Stirling) (see, it already has a string part featured, it’s perfect)

• girls girls girls by FLETCHER

• Dress by Taylor Swift (look, she may not be… but this song?? is gay)

Music for a fun and flirty sex scene (different from steamy, obviously:

• LUNCH by Billie Eilish

• This Hell by Rina Sawayama

• Screwed by Janelle Monáe (feat. Zoë Kravitz)

Scoring the triumphant moment where the girl gets the girl and they kiss dramatically and joyfully:

• Dreams by Carol Ades

• Forever Is A Feeling by Lucy Dacus

• Silk Chiffon by MUNA

Music for a sweet and happy romantic moment, perhaps following the aforementioned triumphant moment, when they are now able to enjoy unguarded domestic bliss:

• Sweet Symphony by Joy Oladokun (feat. Chris Stapleton)

• She by dodie

• Lose My Focus by Raveena

Before I end this silly little list, I also have to propose some as-yet unmentioned historic sapphic music for this historical sapphic romance: the series should also perhaps include some Indigo Girls, some Tracy Chapman, some Ani Difranco, Melissa Etheridge, Brandi Carlile, Joan Armatrading, Melissa Ferrick, Beth Ditto, Janis Ian, Meshell Ndegeocello, k.d. lang, Jill Sobule, Norma Tanega, Dusty Springfield, Sleater-Kinney, Sophie B. Hawkins, Tegan and Sara… I could go on.

Some of these artists would work better as an iconic Bridgerton string arrangement than others (like, hello, k.d. lang chamber music covers would be so gorgeous), but they all have at least a song or two that could work and, as legendary and important parts of sapphic music history, I believe they deserve to be a part of this series!

So, Shonda, if you’re out there… I’m currently getting a professional certificate in music supervision and I have arguably good (and definitely ✨inspired✨) ideas for your next season’s soundtrack, so let’s chat xoxo

Those of you who are not Shonda — I would love to hear your ideas of other songs we should hear in the upcoming sapphic season of Bridgerton or what pivotal plot moments I failed to include! Let me know what I missed!

<3 Isabel

1. I am not an expert on the intricacies of Regency-era dance music, but I do know that waltzes should be triple meter, so each of these songs are.