Recently wrapping up its third season on Showtime, Yellowjackets has everything—rich, nuanced character development; a killer soundtrack; teenage angst; light cannibalism. The thriller series chronicles a 1996 high school girls’ soccer team’s descent into madness after their plane crashes on the way to a national championship tournament. Rockers-turned-composers Craig Wedren and Anna Waronker have intentionally cultivated a spine-chilling soundtrack with a ’90s edge. Here are four songs we hope to see make their way onto the Yellowjackets season 4 soundtrack.
Videos by American Songwriter
1. “Getting Scared,” Imogen Heap (1998)
Admittedly, electropop pioneer Imogen Heap didn’t release her debut single until 1998 (two years after the show’s start.) And somehow, “Getting Scared” sounds tailor-made for Yellowjackets. It’s entirely too easy to imagine an army of bloodlust-crazed teen girls cornering their hapless prey as Heap snarls, Who’s getting scared now? Tell me, tell me how does it feel? It feels so good from where I’m standing.
2. “Where Is My Mind?” Pixies (1988)
Okay, fine—it’s not technically a ’90s song. Still, I’m honestly shocked that the alt-rockers’ definitive 1988 hit has yet to appear in a Yellowjackets episode. “Where Is My Mind” perfectly captures the surreal, hallucinogenic vibe that permeates the series’ wilderness scenes: Your head will collapse, but there’s nothing in it / And you’ll ask yourself / Where is my mind?
3. “Eaten By The Monster of Love,” The Sparks (1982)
Yeah, yeah—so maybe historical accuracy isn’t exactly top priority here.
[RELATED: PJ Harvey’s Soundtracks: From a ‘Peaky Blinders’ Cover to ‘Bad Sisters’ and More]
And truthfully, the title may be a little bit on the nose for a series about a roving band of flesh-starved teenage girls. But Yellowjackets is at its best when it leans into manic absurdity. And what’s more absurdly manic than this standout from 1983’s Valley Girl soundtrack? (Imagine a chase scene set to Ron and Russell Mael crooning, Don’t let it get me...)
4. “Possum Kingdom,” Toadies (1994)
Realistically, much of the Toadies’ dark yet twangy grunge catalog wouldn’t feel out of place in a Yellowjackets episode. But this 1994 hit, with its grim origins in North Texas folklore, perhaps best fits the show’s atmosphere: Behind the boathouse / I’ll show you my dark secret.
Featured image by Carlos Gonzalez/Rolling Stone via Getty Images
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