ShowtimeYellowjackets Season 3 is nearing its finale, and as always it has a killer soundtrack, with an eclectic mix of punk rock anthems and alt-rock ballads.
The third chapter of the cannibalistic horror series premiered, rather aptly, on Valentine’s Day, taking us a few weeks forward in time to show the aftermath of adult Natalie’s death and teen Natalie’s leadership.
Although there have been some changes to the series, including new Yellowjackets girls joining the team and a truckload more deaths, one thing that remains is its nostalgia-fueled soundtrack.
If there’s one thing each song has in common, it’s that it’s got serious attitude – a bit like the Yellowjackets themselves. Warning: spoilers ahead!
All songs in Yellowjackets Season 3 soundtrack
Below, we’ve listed all of the songs for each episode so far in the order they’re played in. These tracks are, of course, in addition to the show’s opening theme ‘No Return’, composed by Craig Wedren and Anna Waronker.
Wedren and Waronker also return to compose the Yellowjackets Season 3 score, which serves as a haunting juxtaposition against the angsty, upbeat soundtrack.
Episode 1 – ’It Girl’
Showtime- ‘Maxwell Murder’ – Rancid
- ‘Morning Has Broken’ – Cat Stevens
- ‘I Think We’re Alone Now’ – Tiffany
- ‘Glycerine’ – Bush
- ‘Cherry Bomb’ – The Runaways
- ‘I Will Survive’ – Cake
‘Morning Has Broken’ might seem a little out of place in this lineup, and that’s because it is. It’s used in a rather ironic manner, backing the introduction of the girls’ new harmonious camp.
It’s summer now in Season 3, and though the scene is picturesque, the fragility of the scene is palpable. Just months ago they were hunting and eating their teammates.
Episode 2 – ‘Dislocation’
Showtime- ‘Virtual Insanity’ – Jamiroquai
- ‘Criminal’ – Fiona Apple
- ‘Queen of Hearts’ – Juice Newton
- ‘Far Behind’ – Candlebox
- ‘Rebel Girl’ – Bikini Girl
‘Virtual Insanity’ is technically by Jamiroquai, but in Season 3 Episode 2, it’s sung by adult Van during a karaoke session… first thing in the morning.
Episode 3 – ‘Them’s the Brakes’
Showtime- ‘I’m Too Sexy’ – Right Said Fred
- ‘Feelin’ Like Yeah Yeah Yeah’ – Simon Tellier & Roland Bingaman
- ‘Nookie’ – Limp Bizkit
- ‘Make Your Own Kind of Music’ – Cass Elliot
- ‘Cold’ – The Cure
In Season 3 Episode 3, we only get to hear the intro to ‘I’m Too Sexy’, as it quickly fades into Mari singing it to herself while being held captive in coach Ben’s cave home – presumably to keep herself sane.
Episode 4 – ‘12 Angry Girls and 1 Drunk Travis’
Showtime- ‘Fresh Blood’ – Eels
- ‘The Sign’ – Ace of Base
- ‘Lingers’ – The Cranberries
If you’re a true crime fan, then you probably recognized ‘Fresh Blood’ in Season 3 Episode 4 – it’s used as the theme tune for The Jinx. You’re welcome.
Episode 5 – ‘Did Tai Do That?’
Showtime- ‘Rid of Me’ – PJ Harvey
Not much else to say about the tunes (well, tune) in this episode, as it was mostly backed by the atmospheric score. Although PJ Harvey is always a shout.
Episode 6 – ‘Thanksgiving (Canada)’
Showtime- ‘Queen of Hearts’ – Juice Newton
- ‘Be There’ – Lower
- ‘Bae Nosy’ – LohArano
‘Bae Nosy’ by LohArano plays right after the strangers spot Coach Scott’s head on a platter, and its chaotic energy is perfect for the scene.
Episode 7 – ‘Croak’
Showtime- ‘Fly’ – Sugar Ray
- ‘Your Good Girl’s Gonna Go Bad’ – Tammy Wynette
- ‘Blood B*tch’ – Cocteau Twins
The first track of the episode plays during a flashback to the strangers’ journey up until this point. There’s a bit of a love triangle going on between Edwin, Hannah, and Kodiak – played by Nelson Franklin, Ashley Sutton, and Joel McHale.
Episode 8 – ‘A Normal, Boring Life’
Showtime- ‘Alright’ – Supergrass
- ‘Wonderwall’ – Oasis
- ‘Dig Me Out’ – Sleater-Kinney
In tongue-in-cheek fashion, the delightful bob ‘Alright’ by Supergrass starts playing as Mari oversees Hannah and Kodiak bury their dead friend, Edwin. She soon gets distracted when she hallucinates that her water is a slushy, growing excited by the prospect of finally going home.
Episode 9 – ‘How the Story Ends’
Showtime- ‘YSFP’ – Red Ribbon
- ‘Creep’ – Stone Temple Pilots
- ‘Dear One’ – Pisces
- ‘Hold On’ – Wilson Phillips
- ‘Exit Music (for a Film)’ – Radiohead
- ‘Glycerine’ – Bush
In the penultimate episode of Yellowjackets Season 3, yet another adult Yellowjacket kicks the bucket: Van. While Nat’s death was backed by Radiohead’s ‘Street Spirit (Fade Out)’, Van bows out to the tune of ‘Exit Music (for a Film)’.
As one fan put it, “If I had a nickel for every time they used a Radiohead song in a death scene I’d have two, which isn’t much but it’s weird it happened twice.” Damn straight.
We’ll be sure to update this list when Season 3 Episode 10 drops.
Can you buy the soundtrack?
The Season 3 soundtrack isn’t out on vinyl just yet. Although the show’s network hasn’t released the official playlist on music streaming services, plenty of unofficial accounts have compiled the list of songs on platforms such as Spotify.
The same goes for Season 1 and 2. Plus, you can buy Season 2’s soundtrack on vinyl from various vendors online.
Make sure you know when the finale drops with our guide to the Yellowjackets Season 3 release schedule. You can also read about the true story behind the series, how long the Yellowjackets were stranded for, and the Man With No Eyes.
