"Now You See Me 2 " Soundtrack Lyrics

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“Now You See Me 2 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)” – Album Guide to Tracks and Key Scenes

Overview

How do you score a con that prides itself on misdirection? You lean into confidence and then pull the rug. Brian Tyler’s sequel score does exactly that — caper-jazz swagger, brass and vibraphone over a tight rhythm section, then sudden pivots that feel like sleight of hand.

Arc: arrival → adaptation → rebellion → collapse. Street tricks become arena spectacles; institutions get baited; the long-game twist lands in the hush of a piano idea. Licensed tracks deliver “glitter” for crowd energy (Macau, show crests); the orchestral score handles timing, reveals, and character turns.

Genres & themes in phases: spy-jazz and 60s caper DNA — poise; EDM/indie pulses — spectacle; classical “gotcha” cues — irony; New Orleans brass-funk — roots and hustle; piano-led resolve — belonging.

How It Was Made

Composer: Brian Tyler. Recorded in 2016 at Abbey Road; performed by the Philharmonia Orchestra. The album arrived June 10, 2016 on Varèse Sarabande. Tyler expands the first film’s language — bigger brass, funkier rhythm engine, more modular ostinatos for on-stage “reveals.”

According to liner and trade summaries, music supervision came via Randall Poster, with arrangers/programmers (e.g., Sarah Schachner, Evan Duffy) threading electronics into the live band/orchestra fabric. The result: seamless handoffs between needle-drops and score across cities (New York → Macau → London).

Tracks & Scenes

“This Magic Moment” — The Drifters
Where it plays: ~00:10 — J. Daniel enters his apartment; a jukebox spins while Lula ambushes him with an audition-in-a-box.
Why it matters: Old-school romance croons over a new teammate’s chaos — tone set.

“MJ Fresh Gang” — MJ116 feat. MC HotDog
Where it plays: ~00:28 — Restaurant scene smash-cuts to Macau streets; scooters, neon, and swagger.
Why it matters: Drops the movie into its Asian chapter with local pulse.

“Magic Stick” — 50 Cent feat. Lil’ Kim
Where it plays: ~00:30 — Dylan drives; a transitional bridge into the team’s “blind spots” briefing in Macau.
Why it matters: Cheeky needle-drop that winks at the film’s fetish for “magic” vocabulary.

“Now You See Me” — Jay Chou
Where it plays: ~00:32 — Hotel transition beats in Macau; returns over the end credits (~02:02).
Why it matters: International theme that ties the film’s Chinese footprint to the franchise brand.

“Purple Haze” — Jimi Hendrix
Where it plays: ~00:34 — Elevator opens; Walter Mabry greets the Horsemen like a stage rival.
Why it matters: Guitar shock as power shift — the dominoes start falling.

“Magic Moments” — Perry Como
Where it plays: ~00:37 — Walter’s “gotcha” video plays to humiliate the team.
Why it matters: Irony needle-drop; saccharine croon over a trap door.

“Freedom” — Pharrell Williams
Where it plays: ~00:51 — Heist strategy montage; card mechanics practice under quick edits.
Why it matters: Pop-propulsive rehearsal energy; the freedom promised is escape, not ethics.

“O mio babbino caro” — Renée Fleming with London Philharmonic / Mackerras
Where it plays: ~01:45 — Champagne and menace as Chase, Walter and Arthur prep an execution-by-fall.
Why it matters: Operatic elegance over cruelty — classic heist irony cue.

Score pillars — Brian Tyler
“Now You See Me 2 Fanfare” / “Main Titles”: The theme writ large (fanfare), then the cool caper strut (main titles). Suits opener and later show bumpers.
“300 Seconds”: Long-form tension engine that undergirds deception mechanics; strings and kit ratchet suspense before a false cadence.
“Off the Grid (Walter’s Theme)”: A perverse little waltz that smiles while scheming.
“Behind the Curtain” → “Deliverance”: Mystery motif ripens into resolution; the Eye’s mythology meets a grounded payoff.

As per scene indexes, additional cues heard on-screen: traditional/Chinese pop selections in the Macau segments (“Chu Shen Ru Hua,” “Gong Gong with a Headache,” “Extra Large Shoes” and more), plus Mozart’s “Der Hölle Rache” for operatic sting.

Notes & Trivia

• The score was recorded at Abbey Road; the album credits the Philharmonia Orchestra (not the LPO from film one).
• Jay Chou appears on-screen (Li) and supplies the international theme “Now You See Me.”
• “Freedom” (Pharrell) and “Purple Haze” (Hendrix) are film-use highlights absent from the U.S. score album.
• Varèse Sarabande issued the score the same day the film opened theatrically.
• Arrangers/programmers include Sarah Schachner and Evan Duffy; Robert Townson served as album executive producer.

Music–Story Links

When the Horsemen posture, brass and brushed kit carry the bluff; when the plan needs patience, strings and ostinatos do the quiet work. Walter’s appearances bend harmony sideways — his theme tilts cheerful while tightening the screws. Macau’s street cuts swap in local tracks to relocate the hustle. The finale trades swagger for wonder as the piano resolves the long con’s true allegiance.

Reception & Quotes

Critics saw a stylish reprise: same caper DNA, more size and sheen. The fan/press consensus: clever theme-work, sometimes maximalist, often just plain fun.

“The fantastic arrangement of the main theme… not to be missed.” Filmtracks

“Funky percussion and snappy brass motifs… capturing both ‘heist’ and ‘showbiz’ styles.” Synchrotones

Interesting Facts

• The score album runs ~77 minutes; the film order and album order differ by design.
• “Now You See Me” (Jay Chou) is an end-credits single outside the U.S.; the Varèse album focuses on Tyler’s score.
• The card-toss “lab” sequence is scored like choreography — rhythm edits hide method while guiding your eye.
• Classical cues (“O mio babbino caro,” “Queen of the Night” aria) function as refined knives — elegance over threat.
• Poster’s supervision leans regional: Chinese tracks anchor Macau scenes instead of generic library cues.
• Tyler plays multiple instruments on the album (drums, bass, guitar, keys, percussion) in addition to conducting.

Technical Info

• Title: Now You See Me 2 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
• Year / Type: 2016 — film score (select licensed songs appear in film; not on the U.S. score album)
• Composer / Producer: Brian Tyler
• Orchestra / Recording: Philharmonia Orchestra; Abbey Road Studios, London
• Music Supervision: Randall Poster
• Key contributors: Arr./Programming — Sarah Schachner, Evan Duffy; Recording — Simon Rhodes; Mixing — Brian Tyler, Greg Hayes; Mastering — Patricia Sullivan; Exec. Prod. (album) — Robert Townson
• Label / Release: Varèse Sarabande — June 10, 2016
• Selected notable placements (film): “This Magic Moment”; “Purple Haze”; “Freedom”; “O mio babbino caro”; Jay Chou tracks in Macau; plus Tyler’s “Fanfare,” “300 Seconds,” “Behind the Curtain.”
• Availability: Streaming/download widely; CD pressings circulate; regional metadata may tag album as Brian Tyler (score).

Questions & Answers

Who composed and released the album?

Brian Tyler; Varèse Sarabande issued the score on June 10, 2016.

Which orchestra performs on the album?

The Philharmonia Orchestra (London), recorded at Abbey Road.

Is Jay Chou’s theme on the U.S. score album?

No. It’s used in-film (including end credits) and as an international single; the Varèse album focuses on Tyler’s score.

What’s the big set-piece sound?

Brass-forward caper jazz with live drums and vibraphone; long ostinatos (“300 Seconds”) for tension.

Who supervised the licensed songs?

Randall Poster handled music supervision.

Canonical Entities & Relations

Subject	Verb	Object
Brian Tyler	composed & produced	Now You See Me 2 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Philharmonia Orchestra	performed	score recordings
Varèse Sarabande	released	the soundtrack album
Randall Poster	supervised	licensed music for the film
Jon M. Chu	directed	Now You See Me 2
Jay Chou	performed	theme song “Now You See Me” and cameoed as Li
Abbey Road Studios	hosted	score recording sessions
Robert Townson	executive-produced	the album release

Sources: Varèse Sarabande album notes; Apple Music listing; Discogs; Filmtracks review; Synchrotones review; Wikipedia (film & soundtrack entries); Vague Visages scene index; IMDb Soundtracks & credits.

The film is a sequel to the first part of 2013, with a large number of famous actors – Jesse Eisenberg, Lizzy Caplan, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, Michael Cane, Morgan Freeman, and Daniel Radcliffe. We do not know what will be the fate of its box office, because movies with Daniel Radcliffe, not taking into account his Harry Potter work – loud hit that made ​​the two protagonists famous, him and Hermione – all were complete failure in the box office (with one exception, the film ‘The Woman in Black’). Therefore, we believe that assigning the role to Daniel Radcliffe is a bad move. As at his time, outstanding dramatic actor Kevin Costner has ceased to play in high-profile films, because he always acts in single pattern. He has to this day nothing louder than his Waterworld and The Bodyguard. The film, which was supposed to become a loud hit, ‘3000 Miles to Graceland’, crashed loudly at the box office, despite a pleiades of different actors, in addition to him. Here, apparently, shall be the same story – a lot of actors, phenomenally beautiful promo and Mr. Radcliffe, who can destroy it all. The soundtrack to the film abounds in songs, the titles of which ones have something magical. For example, Magic Moments, This Magic Moment or Magic Stick. To the delight of fans of hard rock, Jimi Hendrix is here, which gives a pleasure not only by his unusual lyrics, but by the guitar sounds, to which are accustomed several generations of lovers of good sound. If you have not heard anything unusual for a long time, here you’ll find MJ Fresh Gang – Taiwanese hip hop. Here all is really unusual, starting with lyrics, ending with narration and sound twists. Despite the dominance of rock &b hip-hop in this collection, you can even find Giacomo Puccini – to the delight of lovers of the classics.

November, 17th 2025

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