Oddly specific music playlists have become one of my favorite things lately. I never really been big on playlists. I would usually just go to my music library of thousands of songs and just press shuffle over and over until I find a song that fits the mood. Eventually growing tired of pressing shuffle led me to finally give in and make my own mood playlists like I have seen most people do. I would usually see ones along the lines of chill vibes and party songs and things like that. It was until one day my friend asked me for and I quote, “cinematic songs to play in the background when you’re running to save your love interests life” that I was introduced to another way to sort music. I started to see this trend more often, from “Songs that make you feel like the main character in a coming of age movie ”to” A playlist for people who are always the second option”, both of which are real. Other than how funny I find the titles, I also like how for the most part I can identify the specific moment that is being talked about. Even if it is not something I can relate to,it was probably something I saw in a movie so I can still place the feeling.
This brings me to my own playlist that I created called, “The type of music that would play in a 2000s teen movie.” I feel like everyone knows the exact type of movies and music that I’m referring to. Mean Girls, She’s the Man, John Tucker Must Die, along those lines. The time period where Amanda Bynes and Lindsay Lohan were booked, busy, and just about everywhere. Specifically songs with alternative and pop-punk elements, which were especially popular in these music soundtracks. My playlist contains an array of songs from different years that would or already have fit perfectly.
All-American Rejects- Move Along
I had to start off with a song that was actually played in some of these teen movies.I would consider this their brand as a music group. Was it really a 2000s teen movie soundtrack if a All-American Rejects didn’t play? “This song and “Dirty Little Secret” were the go to during the climax scene.Move Along” was always my favorite though.This song fits that moment of the main character finding a solution to the main conflict. That scene that shows them growing up and moving on from the person they once were at the beginning of the movie. The lyrics are especially fitting as the chorus goes, “When all you got to keep is strong/Move along,move along like I know you do/And even when your hope is gone/Move along,move along, just to make it though.” It makes sense why this would be the most played part. This would definitely be more fitting for the end of high school to the beginning of a college type of plotline. I could see “Move Along” being played in the background during that transition scene where the main character movies into their college dorm, because everyone in movies goes away for college for some reason.I personally cannot relate but I’ve seen enough movies to know the feeling. I can physically feel the angst that this song gives off and that’s what gives it a spot in my playlist.
Rina Sawayama-Take Me as I Am
“Take Me as I Am” just screams early 2000s with the hyper pop beat. I can physically see the pink mini skirts and glossy highlights.This is the song that introduced me to the artist and after this song I was hooked. This song kinda reminds me of Kim Possible in a way. This song would be most fitting for the older Disney teen movies, especially a Kim Possible reboot. A movie centred around the highs and lows of a friend group. “So guess it’s what it takes to live it my way/So the world will take me as I am” just perfectly fits the growing into being your own person and becoming more comfortable in your skin troupe. It is very coming of age but more on the upbeat side, which is not the most common in that specific genre.This song makes me think of montage scenes of the main friend group completing their final project/mission together. More specifically, after they fight over something stupid and it’s so bad that they ignore eachother for a while.Something magically comes in and brings everyone together. They all apologize, make up and realize they’re all better together as this song plays. Specifically the last chorus because I love the note change as she gets louder throughout the song. It adds to the dramatics of the characters, and even makes it a little emotional.
Zendaya & Labrinth-All for Us
This song might not be on the soundtrack for a teen movie, but it is for t.v. show. “All for Us” debuted in the last episode of hit t.v show Euphoria to wrap up the first season. I can remember the shock I felt when I realized it was Zendaya singing in the season finale. After that it was the only song I would listen to for months on end. I remember thinking it was so unique and was trying to find more songs like it. The best element used in this song has to be the choir vocals.If you want to immediately elevate any song just add a choir in the background. It adds so much depth to the song as it gives off a dramatic flare. Similar to the show, this song would have to play during a real dramatic scene. The climactic argument scene that leaves everyone involved in tears, and it gets that far, will end relationships of any kind. This definitely plays as the main character storms out of the room crying their eyes out. Maybe after a big secret gets revealed, like “being lied to my whole life” big. It has to be dramatic as ever to fit this dynamic song.
HOLYCHILD-Regret You
It’s time for our token love song.I found one song in a random Youtube video made about underrated songs. It is very fitting because I know nothing about the artist other than I love this song and have played it on repeat every time I remember it exists.Despite the heavy beats, the lyrics reveal that this song is so soft and sweet. Based on the sound, you probably would not know it was so lovey-dovey. TIt would best fit in a romance movie. I can see it played in the background with the main couple just being all cute and in love. Specifically for when they first get together, the honeymoon phase. Also this is a summer romance, so we also have a beach, amusement park, and other fun scenes. This is the beginning of summer where you feel like you have all the time in the world,even though you know that is just not realistic. But no one wants to be realistic all the time, so we ignore it and just think of all the time for fun that is ahead.
Lorde-Buzzcut Season
I feel like I don’t even need to explain why Lorde is on this playlist. She is the literal poster child for teen angst. This is simply her brand. If she made music during the early 2000’s, she would definitely be a recurring artist on most of the movie soundtracks. The artist that you can hear the main character listening to in their room or maybe even having her poster in their bedroom. I am a very obvious Lorde fan who is waiting for the day she comes back, yes it is true. I never used to listen to albums in full until like highschool for some reason, even thoughI was always listening to music. So I did not have many albums that I loved in full compared to the amount of music and artists I listened to. Pure Heroine was definitely one of the few albums that I loved every song on when I listened to the full thing a few years after it came out. The first time I heard “Buzzcut Season” I thought it was more dramatic than it actually was. She opened the song with someone’s head catching on fire and I took that literally. I thought it would be a sad song. Finally understanding the lyrics later on it was more nostalgic than anything else.This ,in a way, can also be a sad feeling, longing for what once was. I think this song would be best fitting for a flashback scene of old fond memories, just like how Lorde intended. But just about any Lorde song perfectly encapsulates the different moments of angst and dramatics that we often see in just about every teen movie.
Chloe x Halle- Hazy
“Hazy” is for the not so typical teen movies.This would be paired with the more daring movies of that era.The ones that were more on the risque side. The movies that would explore in deth the world of drugs, sex and things of that nature. The innocent main character that makes friends with a reckless teen who had no adult supervision.The movie would explore their journey of growing up way too fast together. The heavy beat paired with their hauntly beautiful vocals is more fitting for something with more edge, maybe even scary. I say scary because that is exactly how the audience is meant to feel watching such young characters do typically adult things. That is the message that is usually intended for those types of movies. Yes, I am thinking of Thirteen. This movie would definitely be more drama filled and serious than the other ones I envisioned. The last 30 seconds of the song are definitely action packed and would play during a party or club scene, definitely after taking some pretty hard drugs. I also like this song because of the versatility because the last 30 seconds, while being my favorite part, feels like an entirely different song. Not in a bad way, I think it’s the best part. But just based on that alone makes me think of teenage superheroes. That specific part would play in the background of the final dramatic fight scene. It’s so perfect I couldn’t imagine anything else. This really shows the versatility that the two hold as one song can result in two completely different visions. Also you hardly hear a full song that resembles the sounds you would hear during a cartoon fight and I absolutely love it.
Link to my playlist:https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/the-type-of-music-that-would-play-in-a-2000s-teen-movie/pl.u-NpXm9Y4TmMyBbpA
