The music we discovered thanks to “Gilmore Girls”
“Well, Paul and Linda McCartney spent only eleven nights apart throughout their entire relationship! Did you know? (…) They were truly devoted to each other. Just being apart was too painful to even mention… I don’t think Linda would have ever considered cat-sitting without Paul.” This is one of the most notable quotes from “Gilmore Girls”, taken from an exchange in which Lorelai – the mother – ironically emphasizes how difficult the idea of spending a night away from her teenage daughter is for her, Rory. The dialogues between the characters they are one of the strengths of the series, together with the numerous musical quotes and songs that accompany the vicissitudes of each episode. Music defines the identity of the protagonists and creates subtle threads between their storiesespecially between Lorelai and Rory, separated by only sixteen years and often accomplices more as friends than as mother and daughter, sharing tastes, exchanging advice, and influencing each other, even when it comes to records. So much so that, for any teenager of the early 2000s, “Gilmore Girls” has become a real musical guide.
The Beatles are among the artists most mentioned in the series’ dialoguescomposed of seven seasons in total, for a total of 153 episodes.
In the fifteenth episode of the fourth season, for example, the Fab Four even become the pretext of a squabble between Rory’s grandparents, Richard and Emily Gilmore, who heatedly discuss how many members of the quartet were still alive. The episode dates back to 2001, so the correct answer would be: Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr are the only survivors of the Beatles. The absolutely inaccurate belief of the two (which says “John and Keith are dead, while Paul and Bingo are still alive”), is however hilarious. Not to mention that “Oh my love” Of John Lennon is the soundtrack to one of the most significant moments at the beginning of the series, when Rory hears “I love you” uttered for the first time by her first boyfriend, Dean.
It also plays a central role Lane KimRory’s best friend, who defies the strict rules of her family of Korean origin to become the drummer of a hard rock band. Lane is there main supplier of discs which are heard at the Gilmore house, in the romantic and picturesque fictional town of Stars Hollow. In the twelfth episode of the first season, among other things, during a four-way outing, Lane he can mention Beck, Foo Fighters and Velvet Underground in one breath while trying to impress a boy: “I love Beck. I understand Beck. And the Foo Fighters – they’re gods. Have you heard the acoustic version of ‘Everlong’? I can’t even explain. You know who I’ve been really into lately? The Velvet Underground. And Nico: she’s amazing. A depressing, scary German girl. I have the CD, I can lend it to you if you want.” With his band, in the eleventh episode of the fourth season, Lane even arrives at CBGB in New Yorkwhere, however, a series of unfortunate events prevents the group from performing.
Although most of the “musical advice” comes from Lane himself – often with a level of detail from a true music critic, as if he were also speaking to the viewers and not just the characters – Rory is also framed through what she hears. In the first episode of the series, for example, we see her sulking because she can’t find her album Macy Grey. It will be Lorelai who will lift her mood by taking the record out of her bag, which from the cover turns out to be “On how life is” of 1999. The hit “ is taken from the debut album of the soul and R&B singer-songwriterTry”, which serves as the soundtrack to a brief argument between mother and daughter, accompanying a moment that immediately introduces the dynamics of their relationship.
For his part, as well as cinema and quotes, Lorelai is a huge music fan herself. For anyone who has seen a few episodes, it is no mystery that their favorite band is the Bangleswhose feminist and rebellious attitude reflects her character.
Another female figure linked to music that plays an important role in “Gilmore Girls” is without a doubt Carole King. The American singer-songwriter doesn’t just lend her song to the series “Where you lead“, transformed into one of the most iconic theme songs on TV. The musician, in fact, even appears in some episodes, in the role of the owner of the music shop where Lane discovers the drums. Given the great fame of the theme song, here is the original version:
In every episode of “Gilmore Girls” you can breathe music: from the busker who animates the center of Stars Hollow to the soundtrack by Sam Phillips (the famous “la la” that accompany cuts and transitions are his), from the witty jokes about bands and musicians to the records that Rory and Lane listen to at full volume in their bedroom. The quotes range from the Beatles to the punk of Rancid, from Patti Smith – which Rory also mentions in his graduation speech – to Björk, from Nick Cave to PJ Harvey, via Ramones, Clash, Distillers, Sonic Youth, Avril Lavigne, Smiths, Franz Ferdinand and many others.
Over the years, playlists have multiplied among fans who tried to collect the songs mentioned or played in the various episodes. Now, to celebrate 25 years since its US debut, the soundtrack by Sam Phillips was made available digitally for the first time. Additionally, the production company Warner Bros. Entertainment has released a selection of “’Gilmore Girls’ fan favorites” songsas stated in the caption: the playlist is available on Spotify and YouTube.
Apple Music also dedicated a playlist to the series, presenting “Gilmore Girls: the music“, accompanied by the description: “‘Gilmore Girls’ (Gilmore Girls) is an American series that debuted in 2000, famous for its tight dialogues and the themes covered, from generational distance to the transition between adolescence and adulthood. Music plays a fundamental role in it, combining indie and alternative music from the era with rock and post-punk from previous years.”
Below is the list of songs included in the two playlists.
Spotify:
Carole King – Where You Lead
The La’s – There She Goes
Sam Phillips – If I Could Write
Sam Phillips – How to Dream
Elvis Costello – This Is Hell
The Shins – So Says I
Judy Garland – The Man That Got Away – Live
Grant-Lee Phillips – Mona Lisa
The Bangles – Walk Like an Egyptian
Big Star – Thirteen
David Bowie – Suffragette City – 2012 Remastered Version
XTC – Then She Appeared – 2001 Remaster
Ash – Girl From Mars – 2008 Remastered Version
Blondie – Heart Of Glass – Special Mix
Dolly Parton – I Will Always Love You
Macy Gray – I Try
Grant-Lee Phillips – Winterglow
Tom Tom Club – Genius of Love
Carpenters – Top Of The World
Tom Waits – Time
Peggy Lee – Bye Bye Blackbird
Dolly Parton – Here You Come Again
Joe Jackson – I’m The Man
Fred Astaire – Pick Yourself Up
Alanis Morissette – Ironic
Nancy Sinatra – These Boots Are Made For Walkin’
ABBA – Waterloo
The Free Design – Bubbles
Joe Anderson – With A Little Help From My Friends
Carole King – Where You Lead
Sam Phillips – Reflecting Light
Apple Music:
Susanna Hoffs & The Bangles – In Your Room
Joy Division – Disorder (2019 Digital Master)
Arcade Fire – Rebellion (Lies)
Pixies – Wave of Mutilation
Super Furry Animals – Juxtapozed with U
The Jam – Going Underground
The Distillers – Beat Your Heart Out
David Bowie – Suffragette City (2012 Remaster)
The Strokes – Is This It
Brian Eno & David Byrne – The Jezebel Spirit
The Smiths – This Charming Man
Belle and Sebastian – Wandering Alone
Mazzy Star – Fade into You
Grizzly Bear – On a Neck, On a Spit (Radio Edit)
Wilco – Heavy Metal Drummer
The New Pornographers – The Laws Have Changed
The Cure – Inbetween Days
The Clash – Straight to Hell
Radiohead – Everything In Its Right Place
Björk – Army of Me
PJ Harvey – A Place Called Home
The Velvet Underground & Nico – I’ll Be Your Mirror (Stereo Version)
Nick Drake – Road
Big Star – Thirteen (Remastered 2024)
The White Stripes – We’re Going to Be Friends
