What is the song playing at the end of Heated Rivalry Episode 4? Details explored

Aashna
What is the song playing at the end of Heated Rivalry Episode 4?  (Image via Instagram/@heatedrivalrycrave)
What is the song playing at the end of Heated Rivalry Episode 4? (Image via Instagram/@heatedrivalrycrave)

How are we doing, Heated Rivalry fans? Before jumping to the juicy details about the recently released Episode 4 'Rose' of HBO Max's sensational queer hockey romance series, it is important to take in that beautiful club scene, which changed everything for Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie).

If you are also one of the people who are frantically searching for the club song played in the final, game-changing moments of Heated Rivalry Episode 4, you are not alone. The scene redefined Shane and Ilya's secret no-strings attached 'fling' and introduced a generation to "All the Things She Said" by t.A.T.u., the song that has everyone obsessed.

The final moments of Rose were underscored by "All the Things She Said" by t.A.T.u., the iconic Russian pop duo comprised of Lena Katina and Julia Volkova. Their abbreviated Russian duo name roughly translates to "this girl loves that girl'', which released this banger in 2002 and essentially became an anthem for queer love.

Jacob Tierney masterfully used a club remix of "All the Things She Said" by artist Harrison with masculine vocals, highlighting Shane and Ilya's forbidden love and their confusing feelings of longing and jealousy towards one another.

More on All the Things She Said from Heated Rivalry Episode 4 in our story.


Heated Rivalry Episode 4: "All the Things She Said" by t.A.T.u. and Shane and Ilya's painful yearning

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Every person, whether a Rachel Reid reader or a new audience, who witnessed Shane and Ilya's yearning in that club scene with the lyrics of this song pounding in their ears, can't help but obsess over that visual montage. This popular t.A.T.u. song, which became a queer anthem and a code for forbidden love in 2002, will surely rule your Spotify playlists in the coming month, thanks to Jacob Tierney's creative storytelling.

For Heated Rivalry young audience who were not around to witness the cultural shift with "All the Things She Said" by t.A.T.u., the Russian song was the first to have a top 40 single and the highest placing for a Russian act to date. After reaching number 20 on the US Billboard Hot 100, ''All the Things She Said'' witnessed a cultural shift as it featured Lena Katina and Julia Volkova as two teenagers, kissing behind the fence, while the world watched them in horror.

The juxtaposition of Shane and Ilya in Heated Rivalry Episode 4 with "All the Things She Said" by t.A.T.u. is interesting as it highlights their predicament. While Shane and Ilya love each other fiercely, they cannot express those feelings and are forced to silently long for one another while dancing with their respective female partners.

This queer anthem loudly announces their love and confirms their feelings of passion to the world, without a single word from our protagonists.

Also Read: Does Rached Reid's Heated Rivalry have a sequel?


Heated Rivalry Episode 4: Bisexual lighting and the importance of that club scene

Everyone who has witnessed the last ten minutes of Heated Rivalry Episode 4 cannot help but obsess over Tierney's visual storytelling and William & Storrie's acting prowess. The ten-minute club scene, which is essentially devoid of any dialogue (thanks to "All the Things She Said" by t.A.T.u.), utilizes bisexual lighting and the actor's body language to convey their feelings of yearning and longing. The blinding hues of pink, blue and purple, combined with the moment Shane and Ilya lock eyes, is mesmerizing and a lesson in creative storytelling.

After the famous tuna melt scene and the couple's unusual domestic bliss, something certainly shifted in their dynamic but neither of them is brave enough to admit it first. This results in the iconic club scene from Heated Rivalry Episode 4, which becomes an amalgamation of the characters' yearning, jealousy and longing to be together with each other.

The 'club montage' (complete with neon lighting and a blasting queer anthem) has long been a staple in many popular queer narratives, namely Netflix's Young Royals. the Norwegian teen drama series SKAM and the recently released movie, Red, White & Royal Blue. Each of these popular queer titles placed their lead protagonists in a similar predicament as that of Shane and Ilya but "All the Things She Said" by t.A.T.u. heightens the tension between the characters.

This highly charged scene finally concludes with Ilya taking a hot shower in his room, essentially blowing off steam and his complicated feelings of jealousy and longing and Shane seeking distraction in Rose’s arms, though every part of him would rather be with Ilya.

Heated Rivalry releases weekly episodes on HBO Max every Friday. The show was recently greenlit for a second season.


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Edited by Aashna