The music in Heated Rivalry does more than just play in the background. It shapes the emotional world of rival hockey players turned lovers, Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov. The season one soundtrack, featuring artists like Feist, t.A.T.u., and Wolf Parade, acts as a direct line into the characters’ inner lives, from their secret beginnings to their hard-won love.
From the indie rock that scores their first encounters to the poignant tracks that underscore their most private struggles, the show’s song choices have become a key part of its storytelling. This is your complete guide to every song that helped make the series a hit.
The Complete Episode-By-Episode Song List
The series uses music with precision, matching specific tracks to pivotal character moments. The official playlist, curated with the help of creator Jacob Tierney, is available on Spotify.
Episode 1: “Rookies”
This episode introduces Shane and Ilya as fresh-faced players. The music sets a tone of new beginnings and quiet tension.
- “Sealion” by Feist
- “Une journรฉe parfaite” by DUMAS
- “No Feedback” by Dan Kanvis
Episode 2: “Olympians”
As the secret fling continues, the soundtrack expands to reflect the growing complexity of their connection, featuring everything from indie pop to classical.
- “mangetout” by Wet Leg
- “Lost Time” by Koett
- “Chelsea mon amour” by Philippe B
- “Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 18: I. Moderato” by Sergei Rachmaninoff
- “ะะะงะ ะะะะ ะะะะข” by Allyoka, Illia
Episode 3: “Hunter”
This episode features the most songs of the season, mirroring the heightened drama and emotional chaos as personal and professional lives collide.
- “Never In a Million Years” by Alvin Stardust
- “Lovers Land” by Margaret Lewis with Grace Tennessee
- “Iโll Believe In Anything” by Wolf Parade
- “Tropicana” by Rose-Marie Cameron, Carey Parder
- “Hungry Like a Tiger” by Jared Mees & The Grown Children
- “Your Body” by Night Lunch
- “Stay up Late” by Jeff Cormack
- “No Brake$” by HNTR, Roshin
- “Luz” by Alfa Rococo
- “Lumiรจre” by Alfa Rococo
- “Wall of Love” by Night Lunch
- “Lips” by Baxter Dury
Episode 4: “Rose”
The music takes a more introspective and at times turbulent turn, reflecting Shane’s panic and the intensifying turmoil between the leads.
- “My Moon My Man” by Feist
- “Serenity” by The Souljazz Orchestra
- “De la tรชte aux pieds” by Richy Jay
- “Big Haiti” by Money Zoe
- “Grenn pwonmennen” by The Bongo Hop, Kephny Eliacin
- “Tu Tโen Souviens โ A COLORS SHOW” by Lou Phelps
- “En dedans” by Richy Jay, EkaySounds
- “Cโest toi” by Satine
- “All the Things She Said” by t.A.T.u.
- “All the Things She Said” by Harrison
Episode 5: “I’ll Believe in Anything”
Characters face pivotal decisions, and the soundtrack includes deeply personal and culturally significant tracks, including a Russian folk song.
- “Aaliyah” by Malko
- “Solutions to My Gloom” by Unessential Oils
- “Prendre soin du beau” by Jessica Charlie
- “Boys Will Be Girls” by Keir
- “Oh My Bride” by The Deadly Snakes
- “Zhuravli” by Mark Bernes
- “Bonnie” by Absolute Threat
- “Iโll Believe In Anything” by Wolf Parade
- “V Zemlyanke” by Leonid Utesov
Episode 6: “The Cottage”
The final episode strips back the sound for a more intimate, acoustic feel as Shane and Ilya find a moment of freedom away from the spotlight.
- “Lโanarchie des jours heureux (chanson thรจme Le chalet)” by La Bronze
- “Unravel” by Ellisa Sun
- “Bad Things” by Cailin Russo
How Key Songs Define The Story And Characters
The showโs music team selected songs that work like dialogue, revealing feelings the characters cannot say aloud. Original compositions for the series were created by Peter Peter.
Tracks like Wolf Parade’s “I’ll Believe In Anything” appear in multiple episodes, acting as a recurring theme for the couple’s defiant, all-in connection. The use of t.A.T.u.’s iconic “All the Things She Said” is a direct and powerful nod to the complex emotions of a secret same-sex relationship, a choice that deeply resonated with viewers. One fan on social media shared, “All the things she said by Harrison, literally 2 seconds I slapped that pause button cause my heart sunk! This show has me in a choke hold”.
The soundtrack also explores Ilya’s Russian heritage with songs like Leonid Utesov’s “V Zemlyanke” and Mark Bernes’s “Zhuravli,” adding layers to his character’s background. The inclusion of Sergei Rachmaninoff’s “Piano Concerto No. 2” during a pivotal Olympic scene adds a layer of classic, sweeping drama to a key moment in their early relationship.
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Fan Reactions To The Music And Where To Stream The Series
The soundtrack has sparked a strong response. Fans have taken to social media to share how specific songs connected with them, with many praising the accuracy of the music in translating the feeling of the original books. One viewer noted, “I said as soon as I heard this song ‘oh the author most def had a playlist for this book and this was def on it!’”.
Others have shared how the music brought back personal memories, with one commenting that the series “brought me back to high school. I used to listen to T.a.t.u. all the time”.
All six episodes of Heated Rivalry Season 1 are available to stream. In Canada, the series is a Crave original. For audiences in the United States and many other global territories, the show is streaming on HBO Max. The official soundtrack playlist for the series is available on Spotify.
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