Warning: SPOILERS for Ride or Die.
Here’s every song on the Ride or Die soundtrack and when they’re played in the movie. Ride or Die has a 142-minute runtime and doesn’t incorporate a heavy amount of mainstream music, however there are indeed a couple of adult contemporary hits, along with a famous standard. Ride or Die’s official score was composed by Haruomi Hosono (the grandson of Titanic survivor Masabumi Hosono), and the film itself is an adaptation of the manga Gunjō.
Ride or Die examines the complex relationship between Rei Nagasawa (Kiko Mizuhara) and Nanae Shinoda (Honami Sato). The women initially develop a friendship in school but eventually grow apart over the years. When they reunite, Nanae convinces Rei (a lesbian) to kill her abusive husband. From there, Ride or Die follows the protagonists as they grow closer and form a sexual relationship, which forces them to make life-changing decisions.
Ride of Die’s soundtrack includes a cover of “Smile,” which was originally written by the iconic Charlie Chaplin for the 1936 film Modern Times. The song essentially bookends the narrative and also thematically complements the use of a ’90s classic by the Swedish rock band The Cardigans, while a classic from the American musician Norah Jones underscores a poignant moment. Here’s every featured song in the 2021 Netflix movie Ride or Die.
“Indigo 1 / Indigo 2” – Haruomi Hosono
“smile” – Haruomo Hosono
“Only You Can Break My Heart” – Samantha Sidley
“Shoot the Moon” – Norah Jones
“LOVEFOOL” – The Cardigans
“CHE.R.RY” – YUI
In Ride or Die, an extended first act driving sequence is scored by “smile,” a cover by the composer Hosono that captures the overall mood. At the 30-minute mark in the Netflix movie, another driving sequence is accompanied by “Only You Can Break My Heart,” which lyrically links to the focal couple’s romance. A few minutes later, the Norah Jones track “Shoot the Moon” plays during an intense bathtub sequence, which then transitions to the police discovering the body of Nanae’s husband.
In yet another driving sequence, the ’90s anthem “Lovefool” thematically complements a moment as the protagonists light-heartedly joke about taking their own lives, and Meaghan Smith’s “Can’t Imagine” (an uncredited track) plays during a flashback sequence at a track and field event. Later, at the 90-minute mark, another uncredited song sets in during a train sequence: “Give Me Your Heart” by Ted Brett Barnes & Alistair Bruce Henry Friend; a clear reference to the wants and needs of the central lovers.
Ride or Die’s final act includes a lively driving sequence in which Rei and Nanae sing “Che.R.Ry” by YUI. In a climactic scene, “smile” plays once again as the protagonists enjoy a quiet moment by a wooden shack. A couple minutes later, Nanae sings “Che.R.Ry” to herself while Rei makes a fateful decision – it’s a poignant musical callback to happier times.
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