Here to talk about that one queer HBO drama that captured global audiences with its steamy adaptation of Rachel Reid’s novel and its decades-long enemies-to-lovers rivalry between two hockey players. Despite the familiar storyline, Heated Rivalry became an overnight phenomenon, powered by breakout performances from Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie and their undeniable on-screen chemistry. But what really hooked audiences in just six episodes? Was it merely the sexual appeal, or was it the high-BPM soundtrack that amplified the rivalry and heightened the emotional stakes?
Created by composer Peter Peter, the Heated Rivalry score mirrors both the intensity of pro hockey and the pulsating energy of Russian nightclubs, charting the leads’ emotional arc as it marks the passage of time across the series.
“From the first day I started writing the show, I knew music would be as integral to the series as the actors themselves, and Peter’s work was what I had on repeat,” Heated Rivalry Director Jacob Tierney told Billboard.
Alongside the original score, the show’s musical syncs included indie and pop tracks such as Wet Leg‘s “mangetout,” Feist‘s “My Moon My Man,” t.A.T.u.‘s “All the Things She Said,” and Wolf Parade‘s “I’ll Believe in Anything.” Together, the score and soundtrack shape the story beyond dialogue and quick time jumps. All the selected songs served as the undercurrents of the characters’ desires and fears, helping steady the plot.
Some of the song placements were a little obvious, with lyrics from “mangetout” during the couple’s bait-and-switch texting montage in episode two. The refrain “I hope you’re going to get out soon,” corresponding to Shane’s resistance to meet up with Ilya, was perfect despite it being totally on the nose. The scene relied heavily on the music to convey a stronger sense of longing rather than on the back-and-forth shots of the main characters’ faces. The song elevated the club’s atmosphere, intensifying the yearning that the visuals alone struggle to convey.
There were also classic choices in the soundtrack, particularly to dramatize Ilya’s home life in Moscow, as well as during Ilya’s vulnerable phone confession to Shane in episode five.
Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata” plays as Ilya, vulnerable, confesses to Shane, grieves his father and admits his love, all in Russian. The moment flows directly into “HeartBeat III” from Peter, creating a musical bridge that marks their emotional breakthrough and transitions into a brief glimpse of their romantic bliss, just before Shane’s injury punctures it with ringing, disorienting sounds.
Among the fandom, one standout from the Canadian artist’s work has been “It’s You,” first heard in episode two when the pair are in Vegas and take their physical intimacy to the next level. The slow, tender song quickly became the couple’s unofficial theme. Its simple lyrics and soft vocals leave little to be desired, alluding to the dynamic journey Ilya and Shane will take together. Many heteronormative romance narratives focus on the “meet-cute” or the rush of falling in love, whereas in the Crave Original, the emphasis is on the evolution of the relationship.
The 34-track Heated Rivalry Original Series Soundtrack, composed by Peter Peter, was released digitally on January 13 by Milan Records, with CD and vinyl editions expected later this year. More than a companion piece, the soundtrack stands as one of the series’ strongest storytelling tools, giving the show a beat that often outperforms its script.
