Why 13 Reasons Season 2 soundtrack is a must-have

13 Reasons Why, the controversial Netflix series about teen suicide, premiered last May 18 to six million viewers on its first three days online. Truth to tell, that is only about half of the number who watched the fantasy mystery Stranger Things, also on Netflix, but still a lot considering that alarms have been raised about how the show’s content affects young people. 

13 Reasons Why is based on the young adult novel written by Jay Asher. It tells about Hannah Baker, played by Katherine Langford, a high school student who committed suicide. She left behind 13 tapes that contain her 13 reasons for taking her own life. These tapes are passed around among her friends and the people she considered responsible for her decision to end her life. 

On the printed page, it is a dark and affecting tale that provides a look into problems that affect young people nowadays. When seen on the screen, it comes across as real and painful and I must admit makes for compelling viewing. That is why a lot of people are watching.   

The tapes are gone in Season 2 but Hannah is still very much around in flashbacks and Clay played by Dylan Minnette is still playing detective with Hannah’s mom, Olivia, played by Kate Walsh. But there are more issues to deal with now like bullying, other suicides, a school shooting, self harm, sexual assault and others. It is a dark world that 13 Reasons Why inhabits. It feels real sometimes. Maybe too real.

I think the decision to watch or not to watch 13 Reasons Why Season 2 is an undertaking that requires careful thought. Don’t watch because you might get macabre ideas. Must watch because there are things in life, no matter how unpleasant that we should learn about. This should prepare us to confront them should the need arise.

I say though that the Season 2 soundtrack album is a must-have. Made up of tunes by big name stars and indie favorites, it has the sort of sounds I would binge on if I want to fill my mind with nothing. That is probably why those kids in 13 Reasons Why keep getting those ideas. Their minds are full of these synth-pop tunes with their complicated existentialist lyrics and droning music. 

Seriously though, the music of Season 2 feels like a part of pop music history from the ‘80s and hearing them on the soundtrack was a nice surprise. The series has a very diligent music curator with awesome taste who is willing to dive into depths to unearth these gems. These tracks come from everywhere and belong to various time periods but sound like they were created to be together.

Get a load of this list from the jam-packed — there are 20 cuts — 13 Reasons Why, Season 2 soundtrack: Lovely by Billie Eilish of Ocean Eyes fame feat. Khalid; Start Again by OneRepublic feat. Logic; Falling Skies by the socially-conscious poet YUNGBLUD feat. Charlotte Lawrence; The Night We Me by the indie biggie Lord Huron feat. Phobe Bridges; Tangled Up by Parade of Lights; Time by Colouring; My Kind Of Love by Leon Else; Your Love by the German indie group HAERTS; Love Vigilante by New Order. 

The Killing Moon by Echo and the Bunnymen; Promise Not To Fall by Human Touch; Sanctify by the British trio Years And Years; Tin Pan Boy by YUNGBLUD; Souvenirs by Orchestral Maneuvres in the Dark; Watch Me Bleed by Tears For Fears; Cities In The Dust by Siouxsie & the Banshees; Of Lacking Spectacle by fashion-plate Gus Dapperton; Falling In Dreams by Telekinesis; and Strength, the indie classic from 1985 by The Alarm. 

The lead single is Back To You, a new recording by Selena Gomez, who happens to be the executive producer of the series. It will be recalled that she also did two new tracks for the soundtrack of the first season of 13 Reasons Why, Only You and Kill Em With Kindness.

Buying the songs from the soundtrack does some good towards helping young people in crisis. Please note that a portion of the proceeds from each album sale through the soundtrack store page goes towards Crisis Text Line, which provides free 24/7 confidential crisis intervention via text message and to The Trevor Project, which is the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention for LGBTQ young people.