The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song

Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross “Yeah x10”

We can always expect Trent Reznor to give a project his all, but who would’ve guessed a movie about a love triangle between three tennis players would inspire him to create some of the best music of his long and impressive career? Reznor and his creative partner Atticus Ross’ score for Luca Gaudagnino’s Challengers is a collection of techno pop bangers that plays up the intense physicality of the film, whether the players are facing each other on the court or entangled in a fraught hotel threesome. The tone is fun and sexy and, crucially, very intense while not particularly serious.

One of my favorite things about Challengers is that at least 15 minutes of the runtime is devoted to the two male leads losing their minds with lust while ogling Zendaya. It’s silly and cartoonish but very effective in showing us that these guys are ultra-horny and bonding over their shared lust for this woman, which turns out to be a step towards openly expressing lust for each other. Reznor and Ross’ score plays up this energy, a musical manifestation of all the adrenaline and pheromones.

“Yeah x10” is to Zendaya’s character what “The Imperial March” is to Darth Vader, a musical theme that immediately conveys everything you need to know about their power and physicality. It’s bombastic, but graceful. It’s flirty, it’s forceful, it’s hyper-focused, it’s meditative. Just as a piece of music, it makes sense that this could fry a dude’s brain and reduce him to nothing but base urges.

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