The Hidden Meaning Behind the Songs in Heated Rivalry Season 1 (Wolf Parade, Feist, Peter Peter & more)

We all love the soundtrack and all the needle drops of Heated Rivalry, but do you know that director Jacob Tierney and music supervisor Scotty Taylor brilliantly use music to say what the characters are not saying out loud?

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Ready for a closer look at the songs? Here is an episode-by-episode breakdown of how Heated Rivalry uses its soundtrack to tell the inner monologue of Shane, Ilya, Scott and Kip.

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Songs from Episode 1

Feist – "Sealion"


This Feist track plays when Shane is waiting for Ilya to show up to his hotel room - Nervously putting on a suit ("What are you doing, dude?"), turning on and off the TV, and so on. It’s the night of their very first hookup, and Shane is a nervous wreck.

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The song features lyrics like, "Marry the man and you'll; Spend a long, sweet life" and "Call on man and hope; He knows what he can do". The hopeful lyrics are contrasted by the rather anxious, erratic beat of the song, which I think perfectly mimics Shane's internal panic while being excited about the first time with Ilya.

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Dumas – "Une journée parfaite"


This French song plays after Shane and Ilya's first time, and Shane watching Ilya's post-game interview ("Is lie. Liar told you that.")

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The French lyrics translate to, "But today, it's a perfect day; You give meaning back to my existence." On the surface, even though Shane's life look perfect with finally making it to the NHL, but internally, it's actual Ilya who has suddenly given Shane's life a new sense of meaning. It captures how Ilya has rocked Shane's whole world.

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Songs from Episode 2

Wet Leg – "mangetout"


Playing during the opening montage of episode 2 when Shane and Ilya are texting more and more (2011 Summer to 2013 Spring). At this stage, they are trying to keep things casual. The lyrics heavily lean into their fun, flirty relationship: "You think I'm pretty, you think I'm pretty cool; You wanna fuck me, I know, most people do."

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There's a wordplay of the title itself. "mangetout" (French for a type of snow pea) which also spells "man get out". The song literally says, "Here, take this packet, you read it, it says, 'mangetout'; I gave you magic beans, I hope you're gonna get out soon." It shows how, on the surface, they are both trying to pretend this is just normal hookups and they want the other to "get out" before feelings get involved.

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Peter Peter – "It's You"


Playing right after that hot and sexy scene at Shane's apartment, this original track by Peter Peter is probably the most direct lyrically out of all the English songs: "Please don't go; Stay right here; Don't ever leave". Although they are trying to act all nonchalant to each other, the song lyrics are what Shane actually wants to say to Ilya. So tender and so vulnerable, but also so scared to say out loud.

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Songs from Episode 3

Alfa Rococo – "Lumière"


This song plays during Scott and Kip's joyful, romantic montage. The French title translates to "Light", which ties directly into the show's ongoing "sunshine" motif. The upbeat energy contrasts with the dark hotel rooms Shane and Ilya are hiding in. The lyrics even say "let the light in", which is the goal for Scott and Kip, and eventually Shane and Ilya.

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Baxter Dury – "Lips"


The melancholic "Lips" plays when Kip decides to take a break from Scott. Kip refuses to be shoved back into the closet. At the same time, Kip (and Elena) watches Scott delivers his "Hockey is Everything" speech, which shows how high the stakes are for Scott to come out.

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The lyrics ask the question: "What's the price of being young?; Tie me up for dark love; Shiver down my empty spine; I think her lips are close to mine". While Scott talks publicly about how much hockey means to him, the song shows what he thinks he's sacrificing. To keep his career, he has to tie up his true love and keep it in the dark.

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Songs from Episode 4

Feist – "My Moon My Man"


This Feist song plays as Shane and Ilya's hookups become more and more regular. Just as the title alludes to, much like the gravitational pull of the moon, Shane and Ilya pulling towards each other is completely natural and just as inevitable.

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The lyrics show how vulnerability is truly coming into play for their relationship, whether they want it or not: "Take it slow, take it easy on me, and shed some light on me please." I also think this line also describes Ilya, "My moon, my man, so changeable and such a loveable lamb to me." In public, Ilya is an arrogant bad boy hockey player, but with Shane, he is tender and caring.

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Satine – "C'est Toi"


This upbeat French track plays during the dating montage between Shane and Rose Landry. Translating to "It's You", the translated title is the same as Peter Peter’s song from Episode 2 which played during Shane and Ilya's deeply intimate sex scene. But instead, Satine's song brings contrast to Shane's glitzy, public relationship with Rose.

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The most interesting line for me is: "De mon histoire tu es le plus bel acteur" which translates to "In my story, you are the most beautiful actor". Is Shane just acting? Is this relationship with Rose just a performance? The title also parallels one of Shane’s lines to Ilya in the next episode in Tampa Bay's hotel scene: "It's not just being gay; it's this. It's you."

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Harrison – "All the Things She Said" (Remix)


At the Departure Fest 2026 panel, Jacob says this about the song: "There's only one big hit in this department of like, again, of like if we want collective memory at a night club".

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This iconic song plays for episode 4's club scene. The original t.A.T.u. version changes to Harrison's slower remix version as Shane and Ilya spot each other. The lyrics focus heavily on the repeated "This is not enough", all the way until the ending where Ilya is jerking off by himself and Shane is having sex with Rose - both of them can't stop thinking about one another, and knowing that not being together is not an option anymore.

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Songs from Episode 5

Jessica Charlie – "Prendre soin du beau"


This beautiful track plays over the big moment of over Shane remembering his intimate moments with Ilya. The song title translates to "Taking care of what is beautiful." And part of the lyrics say: "There's nothing else to do; Just open my eyes; To love", which Shane is finally brave enough to do after Rose being such a supportive friend.

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Keir – "Boys Will Be Girls"


This song plays softly in the background during the episode 5 Tampa Bay bar scene. After months of not talking - following the tuna meltdown, Shane dating Rose, and that club scene - they finally talk. When Shane nervously confesses the "secret" that he hired a stylist, Ilya breaks into a big, genuine smile. Exactly during that, this line plays: "I met a boy who didn't know he was so beautiful; He doesn't know it yet but someday he could have it all" which feels like Ilya's inner thoughts in that moment.

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Wolf Parade – "I'll Believe in Anything"


Jacob Tierney basically built the entire episode 3 around this indie-rock anthem by Wolf Parade and its central theme of "sunshine". The song's chorus lyric: "Give me your eyes; I need sunshine" becomes the defining motif of Scott and Kip's relationship. It also influence the dialogue of the show: Elena saying to Scott about Kip, "He deserves sunshine, and so do you." It's the perfect song to play during the ending of episode 5 where Scott and Kip kiss on ice, which also gives Ilya the bravery to say "I'm coming to the cottage".

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Songs from Episode 6

La Bronze – "L’anarchie des jours heureux"


As Shane and Ilya finally drive to the cottage together, this vibrant French track plays over the stereo. The title translates to "The anarchy of happy days", and the lyrics feature the lyrics "We exist now and that's it; We dance, we laugh; We play, we shout; It's anarchy, happy days." It perfectly captures the joy and hope of their minds going to Shane's cottage.

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Ellisa Sun – "Unravel"


After getting caught kissing by Shane's dad, Shane and Ilya drive silently to the parents' cottage. They don't say a single word, but the song helps show what they want to say. "Please, oh please, make the sirens stop" feels like a panicked distress call from Shane. And that call is immediately answered when Ilya gently places his hand on Shane’s to calm him down. I also think that the song title "Unravel" works on showing the overall storyline here: Shane's life (the tangled mess of lying to his parents, keeping secrets from the world) is finally starting to untangle and unravel. Shane is terrified, but he's doing it with Ilya: "Oh, can't wait another moment to unravel me, unravel you."

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Cailin Russo – "Bad Things"


Playing over the end credits of Heated Rivalry, "Bad Things" perfectly encapsulates the passionate nature of Shane and Ilya's relationship over the years: "Then your fireworks set me off; I'm like a time bomb in a storm; In your arms, I'd start a war". More than that, it show that Shane and Ilya are on the same page and they are ready to tackle whatever the new life of being together: "Matter of fact, I caught you lookin' back; So let's go." It’s the perfect ending song of this perfect show.

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For more Heated Rivalry music deep-dive, check out this complete list of every song & needle drop in season 1.