The Bear season 2 features a captivating soundtrack that draws from iconic songs of the 1990s.
The soundtrack complements the restaurant drama, the Chicago adventures, and the personal arcs of the characters. The Bear season 2 resumes shortly after the events of the first season, as Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto and Sydney Adamu launch their new restaurant, The Bear, with the former staff of The Beef. The music selection reflects the changing dynamics and challenges of the characters in the FX/Hulu TV series.
The Bear season 2 delivers a remarkable soundtrack that builds on the success of the first season. The soundtrack features a range of 1990s rock hits from artists such as Pearl Jam, R.E.M., Counting Crows, and The Smashing Pumpkins, as well as timeless classics from AC/DC, Van Morrison, and Lindsey Buckingham.
The Bear season 2 also incorporates contemporary songs from Taylor Swift, tracks from Chicago-based band Wilco, and Christmas favorites during a special flashback episode, creating a rich and varied musical experience in each episode.
1. The Bear Season 2 Episode 1: Beef
The Bear season 2 begins with “The Show Goes On” by Bruce Hornsby & The Range, a song from 1988 that sets the tone for the new season and introduces the Chicago location and the makeover of the restaurant.
The episode also features “Handshake Drugs” by Wilco, a Chicago band, during the scenes of the restaurant renovation and Sugar’s conversation with Carmy about the IRS requirements. Another song in the episode is “Transcendental Blues” by Steve Earle, which accompanies Richie’s gesture of fixing Mikey’s poster of Fenway Park in the office.
The episode ends with “New Noise” by Refused, a song that expresses the determination of Sugar, Carmy, and Sydney to open The Bear in three months. The same song plays over the end credits of The Bear season 2, episode 1.
2. The Bear Season 2 Episode 2: Pasta
The Bear season 2, episode 2 opens with “She Drives Me Crazy” by Fine Young Cannibals, a song that reflects Sydney and Carmy’s relationship as they discuss Sydney’s dad’s lack of support. The episode also includes “Baby, I’m a Big Star Now” by Counting Crows, which plays after Carmy gives Richie a hat that belonged to Mikey.
The song follows the characters as they pursue their culinary dreams in different settings. Another song in the episode is “You Are Not Alone” by Mavis Staples, which plays after Richie suffers an accident at the restaurant.
The 2010 song captures the emotional moments of Ebra’s cooking, Carmy’s dinner, and Sydney’s diner visit with her dad. The episode ends with “Strange Currencies” by R.E.M., a song that plays twice during The Bear season 2. The first time, it is heard as Carmy meets Claire at the store. The second time, it plays over the end credits of The Bear season 2, episode 2.
3. The Bear Season 2 Episode 3: Sundae
The Bear season 2, episode 3 opens with “Goodbye Girl” by Squeeze, a song that accompanies Carmy’s decision to send Sydney to find inspiration for meals. The song also plays as Tina attends class without Ebra and Richie takes his daughter Eva to school.
The episode also features “Secret Teardrops” by Martin Rev, which plays as Sydney orders food from Kasama and reads her Coach K book. Another song in the episode is “Twenty Five Miles” by Edwin Starr, which plays over a montage of Sydney visiting various restaurants in Chicago and meeting Donnie Madia, a real Chicago restauranteur who makes a cameo in The Bear season 2.
The episode also includes “Future Perfect” by The Durutti Column, which plays as Sydney imagines a ravioli dish after getting inspired by other chefs. The episode then transitions to “Make You Happy” by Tommy McGee, which plays as Sydney enjoys an ice cream sundae and remembers her mom.
The episode ends with “I Like the Things About Me” by Mavis Staples, another song by the same artist who sang “You Are Not Alone” in the previous episode. The song plays over the end credits of The Bear season 2, episode 3 after Sydney’s ravioli turns out to be disappointing.
4. The Bear Season 2 Episode 4: Honeydew
The Bear season 2, episode 4 features “Holiday Road” by Lindsay Buckingham, a classic song that sets the mood for Marcus’ arrival in Copenhagen and his introduction to the boat he’ll be staying on.
The episode also includes “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now) [Live]” by Otis Redding, a live version of the 1965 song that plays after Marcus completes his first day of training with Chef Luca, played by Will Poulter. The song continues as they taste a dessert that resembles a “minty Snickers bar.”
Another song in the episode is “Tezeta” by Mulatu Astatke, which plays as Marcus explores Copenhagen and enjoys sandwiches and photography. The episode also features “Beneath the Surface” by Bob Bradley & Mia Bradley, which plays during The Bear season 2 as Marcus embraces the Danish biker he rescued from being entangled in wires.
The episode ends with “Welcome” by Harmonia & Eno ’76, a song that plays shortly after Marcus calls Sydney and successfully prepares a dish he learned from Luca.
5. The Bear Season 2 Episode 5: Pop
The Bear season 2, episode 5 features “Bastards of Young” by The Replacements, a song from the alternative rock band that plays as Carmy and Richie work on optimizing the new kitchen’s efficiency.
The episode also includes “Total Control” by The Motels, which plays over a shot of Chicago’s highways. The song continues as Claire and Carmy drive in the car and Tina gets invited to a bar by her classmates.
Another song in the episode is “Anytime” by Neil Finn, which plays as Carmy and Claire chat in the car and she asks him to join her at a party. The episode also features “Pretty in Pink” by The Psychedelic Furs, which plays as Carmy and Claire enter the party with some of their old high school friends.
The episode also features “Tonight Tonight” by Smashing Pumpkins, a song that is sung by a bar patron on karaoke as Tina arrives at the bar. The episode also includes “Before the Next Teardrop Falls” by Freddy Fender, which Tina sings on karaoke at the bar in The Bear season 2, impressing her classmates.
Another song in the episode is “Here Comes the Night [Live]” by Van Morrison, which plays at the party as Carmy is recognized by a former classmate who calls him “Logan.” The episode also features “Strange Currencies” by R.E.M., a song that plays for the second time in The Bear season 2 as Carmy invites Claire to see the restaurant.
The song continues as they enter the restaurant and witness Sugar and Richie’s argument. The episode ends with “Can’t Hardly Wait” by The Replacements, another song by the same band that plays earlier in the episode. The song plays as Carmy and Claire share a kiss in the restaurant.
6. The Bear Season 2 Episode 6: Fishes
The Bear season 2, episode 6 features “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” by Andy Williams, a Christmas classic that plays as Carmy, Sugar, and Mikey chat outside the house. The episode also includes “All Alone on Christmas” by Darlene Love, which plays as the episode flashes back to five years ago and shows the Berzatto home.
Another song in the episode is “Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want To Fight Tonight)” by Ramones, a punk rock Christmas song that plays as Carmy’s mom Donna makes her entrance.
The episode also features “Got My Mind Set on You” by George Harrison, which plays as the Berzatto family argues in the kitchen and Mikey makes Carmy say “I love you.” The episode ends with “Still the Night” by BoDeans, which plays after Richie exits Tiffany’s room and Donna drops her artichoke on the floor.
Another song in the episode is “Citta vuota” by Mina, an Italian song that plays as Fak and his brother talk about their sister, Francie. The episode also includes “The Little White Duck” by Dorothy Olsen, which plays as Donna reveals the origin of Natalie’s nickname “Sugar.”
Another song in the episode is “Dominick the Donkey” by Lou Monte, which Richie records Fak and his brother Ted dancing to in The Bear’s Christmas episode. The episode also features “I Want You” by Lindsey Buckingham, which plays as Donna insults Sugar and tells her that nobody would miss her.
The episode also includes “A Marshmallow World” by Dean Martin, which plays as Uncle Lee, played by Bob Odenkirk, interrupts Mikey’s repeated story. The episode ends with “Something So Wrong” by Crowded House, which plays as Michelle Berzatto, played by Sarah Paul, asks Carmy to stay with her in New York.
Episode 6 features “When I Fall” by Steve Earle, a song that plays as Uncle Jimmy shares a story about his father and a chocolate banana with Richie’s wife Tiff. The episode also includes “The Things We Did Last Summer” by Dean Martin, which plays as Carmy comforts Donna in the kitchen and she laments that nobody makes things beautiful for her.
The episode ends with “The Christmas Song” by Weezer, a cover of the classic song that plays over the end credits of The Bear’s tragic Christmas episode.
7. The Bear Season 2 Episode 7: Forks
The Bear season 2, episode 7 features “Glass Concrete & Stone” by David Byrne, a song that plays as Richie wakes up and washes forks at another restaurant.
The episode also includes “Diamond Diary” by Tangerine Dream, which plays as Richie gets to wear a suit and learn about the front of the house at Chef Terry’s restaurant.
Another song in the episode is “Love Story (Taylor’s Version)” by Taylor Swift, which Richie sings joyfully as he drives home from a successful day of staging. The song plays again over the end credits of The Bear season 2, episode 7.
8. The Bear Season 2 Episode 8: Bolognese
The Bear season 2, episode 8 features “Lay My Love” by Brian Eno and John Cale, a song that plays as Ebra spots Tina cleaning the sandwich window at the beginning of the episode.
The episode also includes “Stop Your Sobbing” by Pretenders, a song that returns from the first season and plays after Carmy, Sydney, and Marcus agree on a cannoli for the restaurant. Another song in the episode is “The Crane Wife 3” by The Decemberists, which plays as Carmy discovers Fak hiding in the walk-in freezer and they decide that Claire is Carmy’s girlfriend.
The episode ends with “Throw Your Arms Around Me” by Neil Finn & Eddie Vedder, a song that plays after The Bear passes their fire suppression test. The song continues over the end credits of The Bear season 2, episode 8.
9. The Bear Season 2 Episode 9: Omelette
The Bear season 2, episode 9 features “The Day the World Went Away” by Nine Inch Nails, a 1999 alternative rock song that plays during a montage of Claire and Carmy in bed.
The episode also includes “Strange Currencies” by R.E.M., a song that plays for the third time in The Bear season 2 as Carmy panics and has visions of his past, Sydney’s advice, and Claire.
Another song in the episode is “New Noise” by Refused, a song that also plays for the third time in The Bear season 2 as the kitchen prepares the meat for the opening and Carmy gets angry over the pots being on the wrong side.
The episode also features “Come Back (Live)” by Pearl Jam, which plays as Carmy and Sydney fix a table together and apologize to each other. The episode ends with “If You Want Blood” by AC/DC, a song that plays as the restaurant opens and Sydney says, “Let it rip.”
10. The Bear Season 2 Episode 10: The Bear
The Bear season 2, episode 10 features “Supernova” by Liza Phair, a song that plays as the first dishes are served to the customers on opening night. The episode also includes “Velouria” by The Pixies, which plays as Richie brings the focaccia to the tables and Sugar discovers that she has to fix the toilets.
Another song in the episode is “Vega-Tables” by Brian Wilson, which plays as Fak catches Sugar plunging the toilets in The Bear’s season 2 finale. The episode also features “Spiders (Kidsmoke)” by Wilco, a Chicago band that returns to The Bear’s season 2 soundtrack as Carmy and Sydney apologize to each other for their mistakes.
The episode also includes “Animal” by Pearl Jam, another song by the same band that plays earlier in the season. The song plays as Sydney says “drive” and Richie starts the five-minute timer. The episode ends with “Half a World Away” by R.E.M., a song that plays as the kitchen celebrates their success and Sydney earns her father’s approval.
11. About The Bear
The Bear is an American comedy-drama television series created by Christopher Storer. It premiered on Hulu on June 23, 2022. A second season has been confirmed.
A young chef from the world of fine dining comes home to Chicago to run his family’s Italian beef sandwich shop after the suicide of his older brother, who left behind debts, a rundown kitchen, and an unruly staff.
The series stars Jeremy Allen White, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Ayo Edebiri, Lionel Boyce, Liza Colón-Zayas, and Abby Elliott.
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