There are many reasons to love Derry Girls. The unadulterated lols reminiscent of our own time at secondary school. The stellar one-liners from Sister Michael, Ma Mary and Aunt Sarah. The enormous heart at the core of the surrounding turmoil. And, of course, the banging '90s soundtrack.
If you find yourself both drawn in and disoriented by the familiarity of the show, you can blame the music playing in the background. Set in the mid '90s, Derry Girls is dripping in gloriously nostalgic references, but the most enjoyable of them all has to be the carefully selected song list. Consider the soundtrack an homage to the best (and worst) school discos.
If the intro to "Dreams" by The Cranberries still lingers in your mind after the emotional season 1 finale, prepare to revisit even more old favourites with the second season. Between absolute classics like Gabrielle's "Dreams", samples from the Irish living legend that is Enya, and further references to The Cranberries, each scene is bookended with throwbacks to the biggest songs of the decade. So we rounded up the best of them and popped them right here. If you're yet to have a 'Best Of The '90s' playlist on the go, here's your excuse to make one.
Click through to find the best songs featured in the latest episodes of Derry Girls.
Enya "Caribbean Blue"
When do you hear it? Series 2, episode 1
Our introduction to the second series comes via some quintessential Enya. The occasion? Sixteen-year-old Erin is taking a bubble bath, serving a monologue and pretending to be interviewed by Terry Wogan.
The Cranberries "Ode To My Family"
When do you hear it? Series 2, episode 1
We told you The Cranberries would be back. This time, to punctuate Erin, Michelle, Clare, Orla and wee English fella James being kicked out of Dennis' wee shop. Why? Because on their way to a school trip to "build metaphorical bridges" between the Catholic and Protestant communities, the gang had little more than £1.60 to buy the Protestant kids a peace present.
The Undertones "Teenage Kicks"
When do you hear it? Series 2, episode 1
Okay this one is not strictly '90s but it went through a fair few covers by various bands in the years that followed. "The Prods have landed," Michelle announces as the 'Friends Across The Barriers' mission gets started.
Ace of Base "All That She Wants"
When do you hear it? Series 2, episode 1
The girls decide they want to get off with the boys on this bridge-building school trip. Uninvited, they march to their dorm, armed with beers and wearing their pyjamas.
Gabrielle "Dreams"
When do you hear it? Series 2, episode 1
Derry Girls dubbed "Dreams" the snog song, i.e. Erin gets very worked up in anticipation of kissing one of the Protestant boys. Spoiler alert: Her dreams don't quite come true.
Boyzone "So Good"
When do you hear it? Series 2, episode 1
The boys and girls are unwillingly gathered for a trust exercise at the top of a mountain. And how can one expect to hike up a hill without Boyzone's dulcet tones to usher the scene along?
The Cranberries "I Can't Be With You"
When do you hear it? Series 2, episode 2
One more time for The Cranberries. Here, they introduce us to the coolest teacher in the game – and the antithesis of Sister Michael – Ms De Brún, the hip new English teach who has zero time for bullshit and is retrospectively not the most helpful role model.
Alex Party "Don't Give Me Your Life"
When do you hear it? Series 2, episode 2
If you don't have flashbacks of dancing to this on a sticky dance floor, engulfed by multicoloured strobe lights and screaming along to the far-too-high-to-sing chorus, then you're missing out. You'll also find it playing while the Derry girls (and James) are stuffing their faces with treats from the 'Christmas cupboard' and trying to write their poetry assignments.
M People "Search For The Hero"
When do you hear it? Series 2, episode 2
I'd like to place this track alongside Spandau Ballet's "Gold" as one of those songs you probably didn't recognise as wildly uplifting in your youth, but listening as an adult reminds you of that strange feeling of being able to do anything at all. It accompanies the third inspirational chat from cool Ms De Brún when she talks to the gang about finding their voices and making a mark in the world.
Corona "Rhythm of the Night"
When do you hear it? Series 2, episode 2
I apologise because on hitting play, this will be in your head for the rest of the day. In the show, though, it transitions into "Loaded" by Primal Scream when Clare is very, very drunk after downing a shitload of red wine.
The Original "I Luv U Baby"
When do you hear it? Series 2, episode 2
This remains a club classic. Walk into any cheesy night at your standard 'only when I'm pissed'-type club and have the DJ play this. Some will hate you for it, many will worship you for it. I imagine the Derry girls would be in the former group as this is the song that plays just before they find out that cool Ms De Brún is leaving for a better job at a better school.
Stakka Bo "Here We Go Again"
When do you hear it? Series 2, episode 2
Our five favourite teenagers gather for a police-style lineup after getting in even more trouble. "Here We Go Again" playing in the background only cements my conviction that these guys would be great contenders for a pally amateur heist film. Like Ocean's 8 but with more sarcasm and adolescent mishaps.
Urban Cookie Collective "The Key, The Secret"
When do you hear it? Series 2, episode 3
Michelle had an epiphany about how to get everyone to the Take That concert in Belfast. There is no other song that would be appropriate to play at this very moment. Michelle has the key. Michelle has the secret.
Kylie Minogue "Better The Devil You Know"
When do you hear it? Series 2, episode 3
After bumping into Sister Michael on the bus ride to Belfast, the girls manage to convince her that they're going to a museum for a school project. They fooled a nun and so in a comical twist of fate "Better The Devil You Know" plays in the background.
PJ & Duncan "Let's Get Ready To Rumble"
When do you hear it? Series 2, episode 3
Taking it back to the days before Ant and Dec were Ant and Dec, is a scene where the gang are being chased by a group of travellers who they bump into in the woods. No, they're not in any real danger. If they were, "Lets Get Ready To Rumble" would be far too lolz to throw into the soundtrack at this point.
East 17 "It's Alright"
When do you hear it? Series 2, episode 3
Don't let East 17 fool you. Everything was indeed "alright" when they gang were picked up by a woman in a van who too so happened to be en route to the Take That concert in Belfast, but needless to say, things went very wrong quickly after.
Take That "Everything Changes"
When do you hear it? Series 2, episode 3
Because this, ladies and gentlemen, is what the whole of Derry Girls series 2, episode 3 was gearing up to. Young Robbie, Gary, Jason, Howard and Mark dancing to classic boy band choreography on stage in white t-shirts and braces.
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