Media and Music: Totally Buggin’ for the Clueless Soundtrack

There are many memorable moments from the iconic classic “Clueless.” The movie’s soundtrack pulls ‘90s hits from a multitude of genres, each reflecting a different subculture of the time.

In Film and Music, our writers take a deep dive into how movies use scores and songs to engage viewers, give new meaning and tone to some of our favorite scenes, and establish themes. It almost goes without saying, but there are spoilers abound.

Written by Kasey Clarke

Teen rom-coms are not typically considered must-see movies, but since the 1995 release of “Clueless,” fans and brands alike have kept it successful and culturally relevant. Retailers like Dolls Kill and Urban Outfitters sell yellow plaid clothing inspired by Cher Horowitz’s iconic fashion sense, and, according to Google Trends, Clueless characters were the 107th most popular Halloween costume of 2018. The movie is widely considered a glossary of ‘90s slang terms, especially for Valley Girl speech, which the movie popularized in areas outside of Southern California.

The cultural impact of “Clueless” is undeniable, but why did this adaptation of Jane Austen’s “Emma” achieve such success?

The film owes part of its lasting influence to the amount of cultural references packed into the script itself. Fashion, art, and celebrities are all name-dropped to death in this movie, resulting in something that functions more as a comedic time capsule than simply a teen romance. While references are made in many ways, the movie uses musical references to earmark the various subcultures represented in the story.

Most movie soundtracks are a cohesive collection of songs that set the tone of important scenes. In “Clueless,” however, characters talk about musicians and songs, expressing their love or hate for some of the ‘90s’ biggest artists. The soundtrack itself seems a bit chaotic. Contributions range from an acoustic version of Radiohead’s “Fake Plastic Trees” to Coolio’s “Rollin’ With The Homies.” It may seem strange to find these two artists on the same project, but the soundtrack is less a cohesive collection of songs than a rundown of the major trends in ‘90s music. Each genre is highlighted in a different way, representing a different facet of ‘90s culture through the characters of the movie.

Pop: Cher Horowitz

Before boybands like *NSYNC and Backstreet Boys rose to fame, pop music in the ‘90s consisted of upbeat, catchy songs with lyrics reflecting teen values of the time. Cher’s wealthy, idealized lifestyle is underscored by songs like No Doubt’s “Just a Girl” and Jill Sobule’s “Supermodel,” the latter of which has the following lyrics:

“I don’t care what my teachers say
I’m gonna be a supermodel.
And everyone is gonna dress like me
Wait and see
When I’m a supermodel.”

The catchy pop ballads included in the movie are the perfect pairing with Cher’s self-absorbed personality, as they emphasize the materialistic teen culture of the time.

However, music around Cher changes as she does. When she realizes she is in love with Josh, “All By Myself” by Eric Carmen plays, almost mocking her epiphany. Once she starts trying to be more like Josh, her soundtrack begins to sound more like his. Alternative rock song “Shake Some Action” by Cracker plays as Cher gathers food and clothing for the Pismo Beach Disaster Relief committee, which she does primarily to impress Josh.

Grunge and Alt Rock: Josh Lucas

By 1995, true grunge was on the decline. Emerging out of the Pacific Northwest in the ‘80s, bands like Nirvana innovated a new rock sound that drew from punk and metal and vocalized the woes of young adult angst. But, in the early ‘90s, grunge began to evolve into a softer, more alternative-rock sound. Represented through Josh, a toned-down grunge culture was still expressed through flannel-clad, moody, and cynical young adults who rejected consumerism and attained coolness through being intentionally un-cool.

In the movie, we are first introduced to Josh through his music taste and style. He is listening to Radiohead, which Cher calls “cry-baby” and “maudlin” music. Cher’s opinion on this music can be boiled down to a “yuck,” and she openly teases Josh for his intentional emulation of grunge style when she says, “So, the flannel shirt deal. Is that a nod to the crispy Seattle weather, or are you just trying to stay warm in front of the refrigerator?”

Josh is also a fan of California alt-rock band Counting Crows, which reflects grunge’s shift to softer music. They lent a live rendition of “The Ghost in You” to the soundtrack, which we hear in Josh’s car after he picks Cher up from a Valley party.

Rock, Ska, and Punk: Travis Birkenstock

In a classroom scene, Travis interrupts the ongoing conversation to ask, “Ok, like, the way I feel about the Rolling Stones is the way my kids are going to feel about Nine Inch Nails, so I really shouldn’t torment my mom anymore, huh?”

The music around Travis varies, but it tends to have a harder edge. The Beastie Boys’ “Mullet Head” is the background music to a skating scene towards the end of the movie, but “My Iron Lung” by Radiohead plays when Tai and Travis meet in the cafeteria.

Ska music, performed by popular band The Mighty Mighty Bosstones and featured in the college party scene, also gives a nod to ska’s growing popularity at the time.

Although Cher derogatorily refers to Travis and his friends as “loadies,” skate culture in the ‘90s was starting to take hold across the country after thriving in areas like Southern California for decades. Driven by its popularity in skate videos and the underground party scene, music with punk, heavier rock and ska and rap influences began finding more mainstream success in the ‘90s, creating a counterculture to the then-prevailing and ultra-trendy, materialistic teen culture.

Hip-Hop: Murray Duval

Music enthusiasts hail the late ‘80s into the early ‘90s as the ‘Golden Age of Hip-Hop.’ Hip-Hop culture had its own distinctive style, sound, and slang, as demonstrated through Dionne’s boyfriend, Murray. When we first see Murray, “Shoop” by Salt ‘N’ Pepa plays in the background. His colorful, baggy clothes and bucket hats are indicative of hip-hop style of the time, as is his use of the word “woman” to refer to Dionne, much to her dismay.

However, the Golden Age of Hip-Hop ending in the early ‘90s gave way to hip-hop dominating charts and solidifying itself as a popular genre in the United States. In the movie, hip-hop is heard in the background of the Valley party, and Coolio’s “Rollin’ With The Homies” is incorporated into the plot and dialogue when Elton sings it with Tai.

Altogether, the songs used in “Clueless” make the movie’s representation of various stereotypes seem more real. Whether you’ve lived through the ‘90s or not, many artists included on the “Clueless” soundtrack are immediately recognizable, grounding this comedy of manners in the culture of the time. This cultural savvy is what allowed “Clueless” to have such a meaningful impact and earn its status as an iconic classic.

Media and MusicAfterglow ATXMay 7, 2019kasey clarke