‘This Version Of Us (from Netflix's ‘Nobody Wants This’ Season 2)’ by Ella Langley

Season 1 of Netflix's Nobody Wants This had us reaching for tissues during the heartbreaking lows of the unlikely romance between Kristen Bell's Joanne and Adam Brody's Noah - before requiring the Kleenex yet again for the happy tears that followed.

Naturally, Season 2 takes viewers on another emotional rollercoaster ride - and to help bring the peaks and troughs to life, Netflix has dropped a stellar accompanying soundtrack, featuring the likes of Selena Gomez, Teddy Swims, Chris Stapleton, Kacey Musgraves, Just Jayne, Role Model - and Alabama hitmaker, Ella Langley.

Langley's piano-driven ballad, ‘This Version Of Us’, is undoubtedly one of the stand-outs on the soundtrack, with the ‘Choosin‘ Texas’ crooner bringing to life the aching twilight of a bittersweet, laughter-filled relationship that feels destined to implode.

The production is kept sleek and minimalist throughout, with Langley's enchanting vocals gliding powerfully across the rich keys for virtually the entire track. There are some atmospheric echoes and ad-libs sprinkled in here and there to help accentuate the gravitas of ‘This Version Of Us’, but other than this, the spotlight falls solely on Langley's compelling delivery and the evocative piano riff.

There's something endearingly nostalgic about the stripped-back, simple composition, with this sounding like the kind of ballad peak Rihanna or Kelly Clarkson would've dropped in the 2010s. It's a moving anthem, and a hidden gem on the album.

“This thing between me and you
We tried it too many times
It starts with “what you up to?”
And ends in “your place or mine”
We end up back in a bed
We know we shouldn’t be in
And it’s heaven again”

Langley sets the scene from the get-go, making it clear this is an on-off relationship. It appears the two lovers in question have called it quits, but it's never long before one of them sends a message attempting to rekindling the spark, and they fall back into each other's arms. They can't resist, though, because “it's heaven”.

“Right before you get jealous
And I’m radio silent
For a moment in time
It feels like we’re timeless”

However, there's always a troubling storm-cloud lurking close behind the sunny elation and euphoria they experience at first. Langley hints that jealousy is the cause of their issues.

“If we could just stay, right here
Me and you, a little too drunk
If we could just say
Everything we’re saying when we’re saying too much
Stay in a slow dance of whiskey and romance
We wouldn’t let go when the sun comes up
If we could just stay
If we could just stay
This version of us”

Throughout the hook, we get the heartbreaking truth of their situationship. There are fleeting moments where they simply laugh and love and feel genuinely happy together - but these times are tainted by the knowledge that it can never last. As a result, they end up wishing they could remain as “this version of us” forever.

“Baby, this version of you
Can’t keep your hands to yourself
Ain’t looking ‘round this room
At nobody else
You know this version of me
Getting lost in your eyes
Couldn’t resist your touch
Even if I tried”

The narrator underlines again how she loves this version of her partner, where all he sees is her and he can't resist spending time with her. This again implies that, elsewhere in their relationship, he grows jealous. But in this moment, their love and passion is so undeniable that he doesn't have any concerns about her wanting someone else.

The protagonist yearns to stay as this version of themselves for as long as possible, and even goes as far as claiming he “could be the one” if he could remain as he is now. But there's an undertone of sadness laced throughout, as she admits that this will unfortunately never be possible - seemingly because of his jealousy.

“This thing between me and you
We tried it too many times
It starts with “what you up to?”
And ends in “your place or mine”
We end up back in a bed
We know we shouldn’t be in
And it’s heaven again

-

Right before you get jealous
And I’m radio silent
For a moment in time
It feels like we’re timeless

-

If we could just stay, right here
Me and you, a little too drunk
If we could just say
Everything we’re saying when we’re saying too much
Stay in a slow dance of whiskey and romance
We wouldn’t let go when the sun comes up
If we could just stay
If we could just stay
This version of us

-

Baby, this version of you
Can’t keep your hands to yourself
Ain’t looking ‘round this room
At nobody else
You know this version of me
Getting lost in your eyes
Couldn’t resist your touch
Even if I tried

-

We’ll wake up tomorrow
And I’ll be in your shirt
Knowing we only work

-

If we could just stay, right here
Me and you, a little too drunk
If we could just say
Everything we’re saying when we’re saying too much
Stay in a slow dance of whiskey and romance
We wouldn’t let go when the sun comes up
If we could just stay
If we could just stay
This version of us

-

This version of us

-

We’d always be laughing
Drunk, crazy in love
We could bottle the magic
Yeah, you’d be the one
If we could just stay

-

If we could just stay, right here
Me and you, a little too drunk
If we could just say
Everything we’re saying when we’re saying too much
Stay in a slow dance of whiskey and romance
We wouldn’t let go when the sun comes up
If we could just stay
If we could just stay
This version of us

-

This version of us, this version of us, this version of us”

For more on Ella Langley, see below:

Ella Langley

Artist