In Her Shoes and on Her Playlist: 10 Songs to Make You Feel Like You're in Your Very Own 2000s Chick Flick
- Chiara Guastella
- 4 days ago
- 8 min read
The curtain opens on a hardworking, though perhaps not-so-sure-of-herself, protagonist rushing through the streets of a big city that seems to engulf her. Meet-cute ensues, and cue the glitter gel pen pop track. In this infinite carousel of nostalgia that none of us seem to escape, we often find ourselves reminiscing about the movies that have shaped our formative years. The Devil Wears Prada, 10 Things I Hate About You, Bridget Jones's Diary,13 Going On 30, and many more have influenced not only the way that we relate ourselves to the world, but also what we would listen to on repeat. The songs that have accompanied Elle Woods, Bridget Jones, and Carrie Bradshaw in their journeys through finding love, success, and self-actualization have consequently become the soundtracks of our own lives, accompanying us through the trials and tribulations of teens and early adulthood.
"Perfect Day"- Hoku (From Legally Blonde)
A cult classic, the 2001 flick opens with a faceless Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) getting ready for the fateful date that would change her life. Brushing her blonde hair as the song opens, springy and bright, it feels like an anthem to feminine positivity: as Hoku sings, "On this perfect day/ Nothing's standing in my way," a message that unintentionally communicates with the theme of Legally Blonde. A message that in itself preaches a woman's right to be unapologetically herself, and, much like the movie, that doesn't see its leading lady change herself to be able to fit into the Harvard scene, but rather adapt and mature, it's an encouragement to celebrate your spark. In our own lives, this track is perfect to listen to when you're getting ready to go to the beach with your friends on a summer's day.
"Suddenly I See" by KT Tunstall (From The Devil Wears Prada)
This track is a bit grittier-- a more mature anthem that, according to Tunstall herself, was born out of an epiphany. After spending years being envious of the fame of other female artists, she had the age-old realization that all she needed to be was herself. The movie begins with Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway), cleaning the con off the mirror to reveal herself, as "Her face is a map of the world/ You can see she's a beautiful girl, she's a beautiful girl," plays in the background. The beginning montage celebrates the supermodels and the regular women, showing that the ending message of the movie was held in its first three minutes, if one dared to listen closely to the song's urgent yet brilliant lyrics: the most fitting song to listen to on the way to your big-girl job.
"Kiss Me" by Sixpence None the Richer (From She's All That)
We all know the classic makeover trope: the nerdy girl sheds her glasses, slips into a cute dress, and suddenly her love interest sees her in a whole new light. While the message may be a bit dated (and more than a little toxic), there’s no denying the charm of the soundtrack. Laney Boggs’s transformation in She’s All That is perfectly underscored by the dreamy tenderness of “Kiss Me” by Sixpence None the Richer. A song that evokes a sense of childlike innocence and the tenderness of budding love, it adds a touch of sweetness to the otherwise questionable moment when Zack realizes he’s truly in love with Laney. With lyrics like "Kiss me beneath the milky twilight/ Lead me out on the moonlit floor/ Lift your open hand/ Strike up the band and make the fireflies dance/ Silver moon's sparkling/ So kiss me," this song can only be the best backtrack to fantasize about the tender love we all deserve.
"Kiss That Girl" by Sheryl Crow (From Bridget Jones's Diary)
Whatever happened to modern adaptations of literary masterpieces? Bridget Jones, the comically imperfect protagonist of Bridget Jones's Diary, and the blueprint for the 'frazzled English woman,' becomes a new Elizabeth Bennett from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, who, on a fateful New Year's Eve, decides to turn her life around. Bridget Jones's self-improvement is backed by Sheryl Crow's gritty vocals in "Kiss That Girl." It plays at the beginning of the movie, at the cusp of Bridget's life-altering decision to turn herself around. A title that deceives, seeing as it intentionally leaves out the last part of the chorus, "But the girl is only in your mind/ She's leavin' everything behind/ She's not the girl that's gonna make it right/ So you can kiss that girl goodbye," it's empowering. The idea that Bridget's is not a love story for the ages, and the song isn't inherently romantic, makes it perfect to listen to when you're on your very own path of self-improvement.
"You're So Vain" by Carly Simon (From How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days)
We've heard Kate Hudson's "And all the girls dream that they'd be Ben's partner" all over social media at some point in the past two years, when the nostalgia for early 2000s romcoms ran rampant, and everybody wanted Andie Anderson's fabulous yellow dress. Carly Simon's song has a special meaning in the movie as it's when the plot comes to a head, and both Andie and Benjamin realize what the other has been plotting all along. It's one of the most iconic moments in romcom history, and the song seems to be tailored exactly for that moment. The anger in the lyrics "You had one eye in the mirror, as you watched yourself gavotte/ And all the girls dreamed that they'd be your partner/ They'd be your partner and/ You're so vain/ You probably think this song is about you" truly reflects the confessional manner with which Simon wanted to convey her disappointment with a mysterious lover. It really is the song to scream along to when you've been done wrong by a guy, but unlike Andie, please don't take him back.
"Don't Know Why" by Norah Jones (From Maid in Manhattan)
A modern Cinderella tale for the early 2000s, Maid in Manhattan follows Marisa, a hotel maid played by Jennifer Lopez, who’s mistaken for a wealthy guest by a charming senator, and he falls for her instantly. Though often overlooked in the romcom canon, it deserves more love for its soundtrack alone. Norah Jones’s wistful “Don’t Know Why” plays during the film’s emotional climax, just after Marisa is revealed as a maid. The song’s gentle melancholy perfectly captures the heartbreak and hope of that moment, elevating the scene with quiet grace. Its classical piano lounge feel mirrors the type of music that you could typically find in a hotel, despite its trite lyrics "When I saw the break of day/ I wished that I could fly away/ Instead of kneeling in the sand/ Catching teardrops in my hand/ My heart is drenched in wine/ But you'll be on my mind/ Forever" reflecting the way Marisa feels towards losing the man of her dreams, regretting not coming forward sooner. This song is perfect for a melancholic rainy day.
"Vienna" by Billy Joel (From 13 Going on 30)
Probably one of the most iconic songs on this list, Billy Joel’s “Vienna” perfectly captures the heart of 13 Going on 30. The film follows 13-year-old Jenna Rink, who wishes to be “thirty, flirty, and thriving,” only to wake up seventeen years older with no memory of the years in between. As Jenna returns to her childhood home, “Vienna” plays over a bittersweet montage, evoking deep nostalgia and the quiet ache of growing up too fast. Its message—slow down, life will wait—echoes Jenna’s journey and reminds us all of the beauty in not rushing time. The song had become widely popularized for its presence and enhanced message in the movie, with the lyrics "Slow down, you’re doing fine/ You can’t be everything you want to be before your time" resounding through the hearts of many teens who had felt the way Jenna did in the movie. This song is so perfectly sad, and a little mournful: just the thing to listen to when lying into your childhood bed after a while of being away from home.
"All Dressed in Love" by Jennifer Hudson (From Sex and the City: The Movie)
Carrie Bradshaw's "And I couldn't help but wonder..." still echoes through the mind palaces of many who spent six seasons of the show rooting for her not to get with Mr. Big. However, to our dismay, this does not appear to happen in the movie. After being jilted at the altar before her very expensive wedding, Carrie ends up going back to Big, and the movie ends with a very simple and understated courthouse wedding. The montage that follows, scored by Jennifer Hudson's "All Dressed in Love," celebrates the transformative power of love, whether it be platonic or romantic. Carrie is seen celebrating her wedding with her closest friends, accompanying the time- honored message of the song "Some cover their pain up with lots of MAC make-up/ But I can't help but blush/ Because I'm in love/ All dressed up in love/ Cool in the summer, warm in the winter/ I'm all dressed up in love" that one does not need expensive clothes, or flashy celebrations to be happy, all that matters is one is surrounded by love.
"Just for Now" by Imogen Heap (From The Holiday)
Could this be considered a Christmas song? One of the most stunning songs off this list perfectly reflects the plot of the 2006 Christmas movie The Holiday. Playing close to the end of the film, Heap's song, though mostly instrumental, is used as a medium to mirror Iris's (Kate Winslet) feelings towards Miles (Jack Black), who, after a few weeks of romantically tense friendship, chooses to go back to his ex-girlfriend. The theme of the song portrays a short feeling of self-reflective quiet amongst the chaos of the holidays, and what starts as a peaceful moment to take a breath alone, soon turns into what can be described as a downward spiral. Heap repeats the phrase "Get me out of here" multiple times towards the end of the song. It's a perfect mirror of what Iris is feeling towards the end of the film, with the prospect of a budding romance with Miles snipped before its wake, and the return of her old flame who has not changed in his ways, she finds her California holiday in the same chaos she left her quaint England cottage in. It's a sad reminder that despite everything going on, your feelings can't be put on pause just because it's Christmas.
Bad Reputation by Joan Jett & The Blackhearts (From 10 Things I Hate About You)
The theme song for every edgy teen in the early aughts, which could come across as a bit corny, but in this movie, it just works. Another masterful modern rendition of a classic, which in this case is William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, 10 Things I Hate About You's soundtrack seems like is chosen by Kat Stratford herself. A masterclass in the introduction of a character, the song itself sums up Kat's entire character at the beginning of the movie: stoic, edgy, and with a disregard for anyone's opinion about her. The gritty guitars accompany her entrance to the school, as she rips off a prom poster, reflecting her hatred for social convention. The irony of this song choice, especially when compared to the film’s bold closer, Letters to Cleo’s “I Want You to Want Me,” lies in its surprising softness. It feels as though Kat has let go of some of her sharp edges after falling for Patrick Verona. Outside the context of 10 Things I Hate About You, the song might come across as a little corny, so listen at your own risk.
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