Bridgerton season 2 had more trouble acquiring the rights to Harry Styles’ “Sign of the Times” than any other song, but their struggles paid off as it underscored one of the best scenes in the entire show. The Harry Styles song appears in the wedding scene between Viscount Anthony Bridgerton and Miss Edwina Sharma. In the scene, Anthony has chosen to go through with his wedding to Edwina, despite his true feelings for her sister Kate.
Bridgerton notoriously uses classical covers of famous pop songs to underscore the story, but production admitted that Harry Styles’ song was Bridgerton season 2’s hardest to acquire. Though Bridgerton is a very high-budget show, with each episode costing around $7 million, and incredibly popular, the show was almost unable to secure the Harry Styles hit. Styles is reportedly very selective about who he licenses music to and the Netflix original show was no exception. However, Styles eventually signed off on the use of his song in Bridgerton season 2, episode 6.
It was extremely fortunate that “Sign of the Times” was approved for use because it underscored one of the most memorable musical moments in the entire show. Rising above the other unforgettable uses of modern music in Bridgerton such as Billie Eilish’s “Bad Guy,” Alanis Morrisette’s “You Oughta Know,” and Taylor Swift’s ”Wildest Dreams,” among others. The entire season builds to the wedding of Anthony and Edwina. Tensions are high for all, as some hope he goes through with the advantageous marriage, and some hope he breaks it off in favor of her sister, Kate, whom he truly loves. In the world of Bridgerton, marriage cannot be undone, leaving a lot riding on the moment. The anticipation and drama of the scene are perfectly underscored by the Styles ballad, as the well-known song evokes feelings of both love and regret, going hand in hand with Viscount Brigerton’s dilemma.
Why The Music Works So Well In Bridgerton
The Bridgerton creators expertly meld elements of the past and present both through music and plot. Bridgerton has never been or tried to be a perfectly historically accurate show. Many viewers have pointed out the numerous inaccuracies in terms of costumes, technology, and decorum. However, the bottom line is that Bridgerton wouldn’t work in the modern day, or any time period outside the one in which it’s already set. The anachronisms are part of what makes the show so interesting and unique, especially its use of modern music. The classical pop song covers utilized in the show are both effective underscorings, and create a connection to the present that makes the show more accessible.
While “Sign of the Times” is perhaps the most memorable musical moment from Bridgerton season 2, viewers have noted other favorites from the season. The Madonna “Material Girl” scene in which the Sharmas first reenter society and the Nirvana “Stay Away” scene in which Anthony meets his female suitors have been indicated as audience favorites. Regardless of one’s favorite musical moment from the hit Netflix show, one can expect even more string quartet covers in the upcoming season of Bridgerton, which is rumored to focus on a romance between Colin and Penelope.