"Bottoms" Soundtrack Lyrics

"Bottoms" Soundtrack Description

Questions and Answers

Is there an official soundtrack album?

Yes. BOTTOMS (Original Motion Picture Score) was released August 25, 2023 by Milan Records. It features Charli XCX and Leo Birenberg’s original score (27 tracks, ~45 minutes).

Who composed the score?

Charli XCX and Leo Birenberg co-composed the score—Charli’s feature-film scoring debut—with additional production by A. G. Cook and George Daniel.

Are the licensed songs on the score album?

No. The Milan release is score-only. Needle-drops like Avril Lavigne’s “Complicated,” Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart,” King Princess’s “PAIN,” and Charli XCX’s “Party 4 U” are heard in the film but not included on the score album.

What song plays over the final scene?

Charli XCX’s “Party 4 U” closes the movie with a cathartic, slow-build release.

Which big Y2K-era bangers show up?

“Complicated” (Avril Lavigne) and “Total Eclipse of the Heart” (Bonnie Tyler) anchor two crowd-pleasing needle-drops, alongside King Princess’s “PAIN.”

Who handled music supervision?

Mandy Mamlet is credited as music supervisor; Phil McGowan mixed the score.

Notes & Trivia

• Charli XCX’s feature-film scoring debut pairs her with Leo Birenberg; the album dropped day-and-date with the U.S. release via Milan Records. (as stated on Milan Records’ site)
• The movie leans hard into throwback needle-drops—Avril and Bonnie—then hands the emotional wrap-up to a 2020 Charli deep cut, “Party 4 U.” (according to The Daily Beast)
• Music supervision by Mandy Mamlet; additional music by A. G. Cook, George Daniel, and Ramiro Rodriguez Zamarripa are credited on the project.
• Score cue titles (“Vehicular Jeff-slaughter,” “Tim to the Rescue”) mirror the film’s gleefully unhinged tone.
• Critics highlighted the contrast: glossy hyperpop textures vs. hilariously timed nostalgia songs. (as noted in Wikipedia’s reception summary)

Overview

Why does a raunchy teen brawler soundtrack swing from Charli XCX synth shimmer to Bonnie Tyler bombast? Because Bottoms lives on tonal whiplash by design. The score by Charli XCX and Leo Birenberg keeps scenes light on their feet—sparkly arps, plucky bass, neon pads—until a vintage needle-drop bulldozes in to turn cringe into triumph.

The trick works: Y2K classics sketch instant character psychology (performative angst, misguided sincerity), while the score glues chaos together, giving PJ and Josie’s schemes a fizzy propulsion. When the movie wants catharsis, it goes home to Charli again—“Party 4 U” blooming over the final moments like a balloon that finally pops confetti.

Genres & Themes

• Hyperpop / electro-score → curiosity, scheming, locker-room chaos; sleek synths = unserious confidence.
• 2000s pop-rock nostalgia → Avril Lavigne telegraphs messy teen bravado; guitar crunch = “we’re doing this (badly).”
• Power ballad maximalism → Bonnie Tyler turns petty revenge into stadium-scale melodrama.
• Alt-pop freshness → King Princess’s “PAIN” sets an irreverent, queer-club energy right out of the gate.

Tracks & Scenes

“PAIN” — King Princess
Where it plays: Early in the film to set a cheeky, swaggering tone for PJ & Josie’s “we’re starting a club” bravado; non-diegetic.
Why it matters: Signals the movie’s queer, sardonic frequency before the plot detonates. (noted in soundtrack credits and guides)

“Complicated” — Avril Lavigne
Where it plays: A major comic set-piece where posturing and clout-chasing collide; non-diegetic.
Why it matters: The quintessential Y2K teen anthem undercuts macho pretenses—exactly the movie’s joke. (highlighted by pop-culture coverage)

“Total Eclipse of the Heart” — Bonnie Tyler
Where it plays: A big “revenge” beat turns ludicrously grand; non-diegetic.
Why it matters: The power-ballad swell reframes small-time drama as operatic hilarity—perfect tonal bait-and-switch.

“Party 4 U” — Charli XCX
Where it plays: Final scene into the close; non-diegetic.
Why it matters: A slow-build Charli track that blossoms into euphoria—emotional landing gear for the story’s friendships.

“Dream Lover” — Terry Devine-King & Adam Drake
Where it plays: Source-music flavor in a diegetic scene (library/production cue placement); light, retro vibe.
Why it matters: Gives the movie’s world that kitsch-sweet backdrop between louder moments.

Score cues by Charli XCX & Leo Birenberg
Where it plays: Across capers, training montages, and the climactic game (e.g., “Vehicular Jeff-slaughter,” “Tim to the Rescue,” “School Fair”).
Why it matters: The synth-forward score stitches scene energy and punchlines—clean motifs, fizzy textures, quick pivots. (album cue titles corroborate)

Music–Story Links (characters & plot beats as connected to songs)

• When PJ & Josie posture their way into a “self-defense club,” score leans bright-synth and clipped percussion—confidence as costume.
• As plans wobble, “Complicated” winks at the audience: the girls’ social theater is literally scored by a song about fakery.
• During the comeuppance beat, “Total Eclipse of the Heart” detonates sincerity into spectacle—small stakes, giant chorus, maximum comedy.
• Closing on “Party 4 U” reframes the chaos as friendship; the slow rise mirrors the club bonding into the final tableau.

How It Was Made (supervision, score, behind-the-scenes)

Director Emma Seligman and co-writer/star Rachel Sennott courted Charli XCX for the film’s musical identity; the result is a co-written score with Leo Birenberg, plus additional music touches from A. G. Cook and George Daniel. Milan Records issued the album alongside the U.S. theatrical rollout. The music department credits include Mandy Mamlet (music supervisor) and Phil McGowan (score mixer). (as stated on Milan’s album page and industry credits)

The design is intentional: let modern electro cues grease the comedy, then deploy era-defining pop for loud, meme-ready moments. Or, to put it bluntly, Charli and Birenberg keep the movie moving; Avril, Bonnie, and King Princess make it stick. (according to ScreenRant’s song-by-song guide)

Reception & Quotes

Critics called out the “hilariously timed needle-drops” and the glossy synth score’s bounce. The final Charli cue became a fan-favorite closer. (as summarized on the film/album pages)

“Even the music has a lot going on—Charli’s ‘80s-style synths and needle drops from Avril and Bonnie Tyler.” IGN review excerpt

“The best needle drop taps straight into Y2K nostalgia.” The Daily Beast

Technical Info

• Title: Bottoms (Original Motion Picture Score)
• Year / Type: 2023 / movie
• Composers: Charli XCX & Leo Birenberg
• Additional music: A. G. Cook; George Daniel; Ramiro Rodriguez Zamarripa
• Music Supervisor: Mandy Mamlet  |  Score Mixer: Phil McGowan
• Label / Release: Milan Records — released Aug 25, 2023 (27 tracks; ~45 minutes)
• Notable licensed songs in film (not on OST): “Complicated” — Avril Lavigne; “Total Eclipse of the Heart” — Bonnie Tyler; “PAIN” — King Princess; “Party 4 U” — Charli XCX; library track “Dream Lover” — Terry Devine-King & Adam Drake.
• Availability: Streaming on major platforms; digital album via Milan Records.
• Trailer ID used for figures: a2mlVp49EZQ.

Canonical Entities & Relations

Sources: Milan Records; Wikipedia (film & soundtrack pages); ScreenRant soundtrack guide; IMDb Soundtracks & Credits; The Daily Beast (needle-drop feature); Apple Music listing; Spotify album page; YouTube official trailers/playlists.

October, 25th 2025