The 'Love, Simon' soundtrack has the perfect blend of nostalgia and progression.
One of the most common responses to the coming-of-age gay love story Love, Simon is "what if this was released when I was a teenager?"
The people behind the production and scoring of Love, Simon definitely kept this in mind when making their movie. There's an understanding that this movie is a first of its kind: a campy normalized teen movie about gay romance.
That's the special thing about this movie and this soundtrack. The '80s-esque synth-pop driven tracks create a nostalgic feeling for all of those who never got this kind of film when they were young and closeted.
Can you imagine if Ferris Bueller was gay? If a member of The Breakfast Club opened up about their sexuality? This film served as an idea of what it would be like, channeling the inner teenager of those who wondered when they would be represented in mainstream media, all while instilling a more accepting community into today's generation.
A mix of the old and the new.
Alt-pop band Bleachers serves most of the tracks for Love, Simon. The dynamic sound of Bleachers and lead singer Jack Antonoff is showcased throughout the album with songs like "Roller Coaster," "Wild Heart," and "Keeping a Secret," creating the fun upbeat tone for the film.
Bleachers provide modern rock sound infused with just a little throwback. The opening song, "Alfie's Song (Not So Typical Love Song)," which was co-written by Harry Styles, ultimately sets the retro-modern feel for the record.
Arguably the best scene of the movie is when Simon dreams of the promises of college, a place where he can be "out and proud" without the fear of judgment. While this is a common fantasy for all LGBTQA+ youths, this one was a rainbow-induced dance number, accompanied by Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)."
The film features a fluid mix of nostalgic hits with songs from The Jackson 5, "The Oogum Boogum Song" by Brenton Wood, and of course, the queen of '80s music, Whitney Houston.
The songs featured, if not an '80s song, have a heavy '80s influence. The modern synth-pop sound is present throughout the movie, like in Troye Sivan's "Strawberries & Cigarettes."
This modern-but-nostalgic feel is explored throughout the film. The 1975's Bowie-influenced "Love Me," plays over a montage of dancing in the car with shots of the ins and out of high school cliques. This montage at the beginning really sets the John Hughes tone for the film.
Then, there's just some straight up 2018 popular hits. Songs like Khalid's and Normani's modern R&B/pop Love Lies and Amy Shark's Sink in bring us back to the present, reminding us that this is a movie made in 2018 and not 1980.
What are your thoughts on the Love, Simon soundtrack?
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