Music isn't just background noise for James Gunn. It’s the skeleton. When Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 hit theaters in 2017, the pressure was honestly suffocating because the first film's soundtrack had already gone platinum. Everyone expected a repeat of the "Hooked on a Feeling" magic. What we got instead was something way more complicated, personal, and—if we’re being real—technically superior. The Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 soundtrack, officially titled Awesome Mix Vol. 2, didn’t just lean on catchy hooks; it used 1970s pop and rock to dissect the trauma of a guy meeting his biological father for the first time. It’s heavy stuff wrapped in glitter and gold spandex.
Most sequels play it safe. They find a formula and beat it into the ground until the audience gets bored. Gunn went the opposite direction. He picked songs that were more expensive, more obscure, and deeply tied to the specific emotional beats of the script. In fact, he famously writes the songs into the screenplay before filming even starts. If they can’t get the rights to a song, he has to rewrite the whole scene. That’s commitment.
The Risky Business of Opening with Mr. Blue Sky
Think about that opening sequence. You’ve got a massive, terrifying interdimensional beast—the Abilisk—arriving to wreak havoc. Most directors would blast some intense orchestral horns or a heavy metal riff to show the stakes. Instead, we get Baby Groot dancing to Electric Light Orchestra’s "Mr. Blue Sky." It’s a masterclass in tonal juxtaposition.
Jeff Lynne, the mastermind behind ELO, is notoriously picky about licensing his music. It took a personal plea from Gunn to get the track. It was worth every penny. The song is relentlessly happy, which makes the chaotic violence happening in the blurry background feel hilarious rather than horrific. It sets the tone for the entire Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 soundtrack: this movie is going to be about family, even when that family is screaming at each other while dodging giant tentacles.
The song serves a mechanical purpose too. It establishes Groot’s new "baby" persona immediately. We aren't watching a warrior; we’re watching a toddler in a war zone. By the time the song ends, you aren't just back in the world of the Guardians; you’re fully immersed in their dysfunctional, rhythmic reality.
Why The Chain is the Heart of the Movie
If "Mr. Blue Sky" is the skin of the movie, Fleetwood Mac’s "The Chain" is the nervous system. This is the only song that appears twice in the film, and that’s not an accident. Honestly, "The Chain" is one of the few songs in history that feels like it was written specifically for a group of people who hate each other but love each other even more.
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The first time we hear it, the Guardians are splitting up. It’s subtle. The second time? It’s during the final showdown between Peter Quill and Ego. When that iconic bass line kicks in—you know the one, the steady, driving thrum that sounds like a heartbeat—it signifies Peter finally embracing his real family.
- It’s about the "chain" that keeps them together.
- It highlights the break in the link between Peter and his father.
- The literal lyrics "Damn your love, damn your lies" mirror the betrayal Peter feels.
Most people don't realize how hard it was to get that song. Fleetwood Mac is expensive. Like, "we might have to cut a CGI character" expensive. But the movie doesn't work without it. The song provides the emotional gravity needed to make a fight between a man and a living planet feel grounded and human. It’s raw.
Surprising Deep Cuts and Narrative Shortcuts
A lot of fans were surprised by "Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)" by Looking Glass. Before 2017, this was largely seen as a cheesy one-hit wonder from 1972. Now? It’s a haunting metaphor for a deadbeat dad.
Ego uses the lyrics of the song to justify his abandonment of Peter’s mother. He frames himself as the sailor and Meredith Quill as the "fine girl" who just wasn't as important as the sea (or in his case, the expansion of his own ego). It’s a brilliant piece of writing. It takes a song everyone knows and twists it into something sinister. You can never hear that "doo-doo-doo-doo" intro the same way again after seeing Kurt Russell explain his genocidal plans through it.
Then you have "Father and Son" by Cat Stevens. Using this song at the end was almost too on the nose, but somehow it worked. It plays during Yondu’s funeral, which is arguably the most emotional moment in the entire MCU. Peter is finally listening to the music his mother left him, but he’s doing it on a Zune—a gift from his surrogate father. The transition from the 70s vibe to the (then) modern tech of the 2000s signified Peter growing up.
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The Tracks You Might Have Forgotten
While the big hits get all the glory, the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 soundtrack has some weird, wonderful outliers. Take "Wham Bam Shang-A-Lang" by Silver. Nobody was looking for that song in 2017. It was a forgotten relic. But it fits the aesthetic of the Sovereign—the gold-skinned, high-maintenance aliens—perfectly. It’s shiny, upbeat, and slightly robotic.
And we have to talk about "Surrender" by Cheap Trick. It plays over the credits, but it’s more than a "get people out of their seats" song. It’s a nod to the cyclical nature of parents and children. The lyrics about parents being "all right" even if they’re a little bit weird resonates with the entire theme of the film.
- "Southern Nights" by Glen Campbell: Used during Rocket’s forest trap scene. It’s breezy and relaxed, contrasting with the high-tech weaponry.
- "Lake Shore Drive" by Aliotta Haynes Jeremiah: A tribute to Chicago that plays as they fly through the clouds of Ego’s planet.
- "My Sweet Lord" by George Harrison: A spiritual song for a literal god (Ego), though the irony is thick.
How to Experience the Soundtrack Today
Listening to the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 soundtrack on Spotify is fine, but it’s not the "authentic" way. If you really want to feel the vibe James Gunn intended, you have to look at the physical media. They actually released this on cassette tape.
Seriously. A real, working cassette.
The audio quality on a tape isn't great—it has that hiss and the occasional flutter—but that’s the point. Peter Quill isn't listening to high-fidelity FLAC files. He’s listening to a tape that’s been played a thousand times, held together by nostalgia and a bit of cosmic luck.
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If you’re a vinyl collector, the 2-LP set is the way to go. It includes Tyler Bates’ orchestral score, which often gets overshadowed by the pop hits. Bates’ work on "Dad" and "Guardians Inferno" (featuring David Hasselhoff, because why not?) is actually quite impressive. The score provides the cinematic scale that the pop songs intentionally lack.
Actionable Steps for Music Lovers and Collectors
If you're looking to dive deeper into the world of Awesome Mix Vol. 2, don't just stop at the movie. There are ways to actually integrate this "storytelling through sound" approach into your own life.
Track Down the "Zune" Experience
Believe it or not, Microsoft Zunes are becoming collectors' items because of this movie. If you find one at a thrift store, grab it. Loading it up with the 300+ songs James Gunn considered for the film is a fun weekend project. He has publicly shared his "Master List" on Spotify, which includes tracks that didn't make the final cut due to budget or pacing.
Analyze the Lyrics as Dialogue
The next time you watch the film, turn on the subtitles during the songs. Treat the lyrics like spoken lines. You’ll notice that "The Chain" or "Brandy" often finish the characters' sentences or reveal their internal thoughts. It’s a great exercise for anyone interested in film theory or creative writing.
Support the Original Artists
Many of the bands on the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 soundtrack saw a massive "Gunn Bump" in their royalties. Check out the full albums from Looking Glass or Silver. There’s a wealth of 70s power pop that didn't make the movie but carries the exact same energy.
Create Your Own Awesome Mix
The core philosophy of these movies is that music is a bridge between people. Peter’s mom made him those tapes to tell him who she was. Start a playlist for someone you care about, but don't just pick "good" songs. Pick songs that explain a specific memory or a feeling you can't put into words. That’s the real legacy of the Guardians soundtracks. It's not about the hits; it's about the connection.