What is “Teen Movie” Music?
graphic by Zoe Gigis
If you type “coming of age” or “teen movie” into Spotify, you’ll stumble across countless playlists sporting titles like “WE ARE IN A COMING OF AGE MOVIE,” “the indie movie crazy summer montage,” or “songs that make me feel like im in a teenage coming of age movie.” They often sport Pinterest-y cover art depicting kids driving down sunset highways or sprinting across a beach. Many of these playlists have thousands of followers, so there’s an obvious demand for them. These playlists aren’t songs that you’ll find in actual teen movies or recreated soundtracks to current teen movie genre staples. Rather, they seem to have taken on a sound all their own, one that’s distinct to this subset of playlists. This begs the question: what constitutes this modern breed of “teen movie music,” and why is it so appealing?
If you click on one of these playlists, you’ll notice a pattern in the songs that they include. Oftentimes, the music dates from the 2000s and early 2010s. This unlocks the first quality that “teen movie music” must-have, nostalgia. Today’s teen demographic grew up listening to these songs. They may be mainstream smashes, like Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream”, or sleeper hits that got big off indie radio, like M83’s “Midnight City”. Nostalgia can be evoked by the song being from the aforementioned time period, but it can be nostalgic in other ways too. A song can evoke nostalgia by emulating sounds of the past. Take “New Flesh” by Current Joys, which includes vocal processing that makes it sound like frontman Nicholas Rattigan’s voice is pouring out of a rickety tape player. Several artists that frequent these playlists like The 1975, Bleachers, and WALK THE MOON take heavy inspiration from 80s music. The 80s inspiration makes sense, as that’s what these artists would’ve grown up listening to. No matter how it is emulated, the nostalgia in these songs is baked in deep.
Other elements that are present in a large percentage of these “teen movie” songs are the themes of youth and freedom. Adolescence is, for many, a time of self discovery and growing into your autonomy. Music that touches on themes of revelling in your youth and newfound independence slot into this niche perfectly. Such songs include “Youth” by Troye Sivan, which celebrates the thrilling feelings being young can bring, or “Tongue Tied” by Grouplove, which describes going to your best friend’s house and barreling through the night, free as a bird. These upbeat emotions are often reflected in these songs’ production, and the use of bright synths, shout-along choruses, and rollicking guitars are common.
Finally, and maybe most essential, “teen movie” music must be melancholic. Teenagedom is a time of great discovery and fun, but it can also be scary. There are upcoming responsibilities of adulthood and the slipping memories of being a kid, and adolescence is the liminal space right in the middle. This melancholy presents itself in several different ways, whether that be through loss, isolation, or sadness. Take MGMT’s “Kids”, which includes the lyric “The memories fade / Like looking through a fogged mirror.” There’s also Lorde’s “Ribs”, whose dizzying repetition of “It feels so scary, getting old” has made the song an anthem for the terrified youth.
It’s in the synthesis of these elements that the enigmatic genre of “teen movie” music starts to take shape, and where its appeal also becomes clear. Music like this can provide a reprieve from the craziness of adolescence. With its prevalent themes of youth and freedom, these songs detail a fantasy of adventure-filled days and party-filled nights spent with friends. The cover art picked for these playlists reflects this, images meant to capture dreamy moments that movies treat like adolescent rites of passage. But this music also gives teens a comforting mirror to their deepest fears and anxieties. It shows, through its exploration of melancholic emotions, that they are not alone. Paired with a heavy punch of nostalgia that brings today’s teens back to their childhood, this duality of feeling makes for music that is impactful, great both crying and dancing and perfect for soundtracking your journey as the main character to your life.
10 Songs: My “Teen Movie” Music Staples
Here are some underrated gems that I believe deserve their place in the “teen movie music” pantheon. They’re the perfect blend of nostalgia, youthful freedom, and melancholy.
Blown to Bits - Charly Bliss
“Blown to Bits” opens Charly Bliss’s sophomore album Young Enough, and what a way to start. Lead singer Eva Hendricks details the childhood imagery and little moments that seem all the more precious as we grow older, all on the brink of destruction. However, with its wailing, buzzy guitars and thundering drums, “Blown to Bits” remains anthemic in the midst of it all.
You Get What You Give - New Radicals
This 1998 hit deserves to be remembered as far more than a one-hit wonder’s one hit. With the perfect balance of 90s nihilism and earnest optimism, “You Get What You Give” has a message of hope that remains timeless and inspiring as ever, even over twenty years after its initial release. The chorus is effortlessly catchy and easy to sing along to, so why wouldn’t you?
There’s A Reason Why (I Never Returned Your Calls) - Blossoms
There’s nothing like a good throwback to give you all kinds of feel-good energy. Blossoms craft a hell of an 80s synthpop homage with echoing keys and shimmering reverb effects. On top of that, its lyrics detailing exes reconnecting feel like a love story for the ages. It’s in this blend of the old and new that “There’s A Reason Why…” feels like it defies this time period.
Jerk It Out - Caesars
“Jerk It Out” is a song you don’t know you’ve heard until its opening synth riff kicks down the door. Probably best known among Gen Z for soundtracking a popular Vine, this song is a classic example of a 2000s indie romp. Full of groovy bass work and, of course, those earworm-y synths, it’s a fun, danceable ride from start to finish.
Feeling Ok - Best Coast
“Feeling Ok” is a song that feels perfectly crafted to start after a protagonist shuts off their alarm clock, triggering an angsty getting-ready montage. Bethany Cosentino’s vocals soar over waves of electric guitars, chronicling her journey to stay afloat. What results is a rush of brash technicolour bombast that will keep you moving forward.
Suddenly I See - KT Tunstall
A classic from the 2000s, “Suddenly I See” is a fine balance of folk grit and hooky pop melodies. KT Tunstall’s husky vocals compliment the strummed guitar and uptempo drums wonderfully. What results is a locomotive tune that paints a portrait of an inspiring female figure in Tunstall’s life, (which was a picture of Patti Smith, according to interviews.)
Pristine - Snail Mail
Snail Mail, the indie rock outfit of Lindsey Jordan, feels like a fresh voice for the new generation. “Pristine” is a relatable song with a melodramatic twist, detailing tiring party culture and the inability to get over one’s emotions. Paired with sweltering guitars and clashing cymbals, you feel Jordan’s youthful tribulations right alongside her.
Seventeen - Sharon Van Etten
There are several songs about being seventeen, and Sharon Van Etten’s take on the concept is an emotional roller coaster. Van Etten uses the song to reflect on her youth and grapple with her younger self. With a classic indie rock sound intercut with grinding synths, the instrumental does just as good a job describing these conflicted emotions.
Stay With Me - Hatchie
Hatchie knows her way around dream pop, and “Stay With Me” is one of her standout tracks. In the vein of Tears For Fears, the layers of synths build up a cloudy, shimmering soundscape perfect for late nights spent on the dancefloor. Hatchie details her heartbreak and regret in the fallout of a relationship, and as the song builds, one can’t help but want to sway along.
Anthems For A Seventeen Year-Old Girl - Broken Social Scene
For the “Ribs” by Lorde enthusiasts, “Anthems…” may just be the blueprint. Dating back to 2003, this song utilizes a similar repetitive structure and dizzying vocal effects to capture the anxieties of growing up. The lyrics detail the loss of childhood and yearning for old friendships and paired with morose strings and guitar, it’s a gut punch with every listen.