"Her" Soundtrack Lyrics

"Her (Original Score) – Arcade Fire & Owen Pallett" Soundtrack Description

Overview

What does falling for an operating system sound like? Spike Jonze’s Her answers with a handmade, intimate score by Arcade Fire and Owen Pallett—wood-and-wire timbres, small ensembles, and melodies that feel whispered rather than announced. The score earned an Academy Award nomination, but it wasn’t commercially released until March 19, 2021, when Milan Records issued Her (Original Score) on digital, cassette, and vinyl.

The film also threads carefully chosen needle-drops and an original song, “The Moon Song” by Karen O (performed in-film by Joaquin Phoenix & Scarlett Johansson and again over the end credits). For on-screen song placements and timings, vetted scene-by-scene listings and studio notes align with public databases. Trusted anchors: Milan Records (score release), Rolling Stone/Pitchfork (song premiere/notes), and Wikipedia (score background).

Questions & Answers

Who composed the score and when was it released?

Arcade Fire & Owen Pallett composed the score for the 2013 film; the official album arrived March 19, 2021 via Milan Records.

Why wasn’t the score available in 2013?

It circulated only as promo discs and unofficial streams; the commercial release followed years later, announced in February 2021 and issued in March.

What’s the official album called?

Her (Original Score) — 13 tracks, ~40 minutes. Key pieces include “Song on the Beach,” “Some Other Place,” “Milk & Honey #1/#2,” and “Dimensions.”

What about the original song?

“The Moon Song” by Karen O (with Spike Jonze) was released as a 3-track digital single (solo, duet, film version) in February 2014 and was Oscar-nominated.

Are there notable needle-drops in the film?

Yes. Examples include The Breeders’ “Off You,” Nickodemus & Carol C’s “Cleopatra in New York (Zim Zam Mix),” Little Willie John’s “Need Your Love So Bad,” and The Chantels’ “Sure of Love.”

What plays over the end credits?

Karen O’s “The Moon Song” leads, followed by an Her-specific version of Arcade Fire’s “Supersymmetry.”

Notes & Trivia

• The score is credited to Arcade Fire with additional music by Owen Pallett; both are listed as producers on the 2021 album.
• “Supersymmetry” (Arcade Fire) was developed for the film; a variant appears on the band’s album Reflektor and in the movie’s credits.
• The Moon Song EP includes a Karen O & Ezra Koenig duet version released during the film’s awards run.
• The film’s internal “OS writes music” conceit is mirrored by cues like “Song on the Beach,” which the characters discuss in-scene.

Genres & Themes

Chamber-ambient minimalism → Interior life: Close-miked piano, guitar harmonics, and soft strings trace micro-emotions rather than big plot turns.

Analog warmth over electronics → Humanizing the near-future: Jonze and the composers avoid synth gloss; even loops feel hand-played—an antidote to sterile sci-fi.

1950s/60s doo-wop & soul needle-drops → Memory & touch: Little Willie John and The Chantels place human bodies back in the room when the story risks floating away.

Tracks & Scenes

“When You Know You’re Gonna Die” — Arcade Fire
Where it plays: Early scene; Theodore asks his device for a “melancholy song.”
Why it matters: A meta-joke and an ethos: the movie lets songs be companions, not wallpaper.

“Off You” — The Breeders
Where it plays: ~6′, Theodore arrives home and starts gaming; low-key diegetic feel.
Why it matters: Lo-fi candor sets the film’s private register.

“Supersymmetry” — Arcade Fire
Where it plays: ~10′ montage of Theodore and Samantha out in the city; again over end credits.
Why it matters: The score’s pulse—tender repetition mounting to ache.

“Alien Child” — Will Collins
Where it plays: ~20′, Theodore’s foul-mouthed hologram game (diegetic).
Why it matters: Comic relief; reminds us his world is saturated with designed feelings.

“Cleopatra in New York (Zim Zam Mix)” — Nickodemus feat. Carol C
Where it plays: ~33′ restaurant during the blind date (source).
Why it matters: Chic bustle contrasts Theodore’s social awkwardness.

“Magnesium” — N.A.S.A.
Where it plays: ~34′ second restaurant needle-drop.
Why it matters: Edgy percussion under a brittle conversation.

“I’m So Glad” — Entrance
Where it plays: ~46′ train scene; Samantha plays Theodore a song.
Why it matters: Diegetic intimacy—music making a private room in public space.

“Racing Turtles” — Barrie Gledden, Tim Reilly & Jason Pedder
Where it plays: ~58′ Amy shows Theodore an interactive computer game.
Why it matters: Light, toy-box groove—everyday futurism.

“Need Your Love So Bad” — Little Willie John
Where it plays: ~1h16′ at Theodore’s place as the surrogate arrives (source).
Why it matters: Old-soul longing meets a very new arrangement of bodies.

“Sure of Love” — The Chantels
Where it plays: ~1h18′ during the surrogate sequence (source).
Why it matters: Doo-wop innocence heightens the scene’s unease.

“The Moon Song” — Joaquin Phoenix & Scarlett Johansson
Where it plays: ~1h38′, the cabin scene—two voices, one guitar.
Why it matters: The characters write their relationship into being.

“Dimensions” — Arcade Fire & Owen Pallett
Where it plays: ~1h54′ rooftop sunrise with Amy.
Why it matters: End-of-chapter spaciousness; says goodbye without words.

“The Moon Song” — Karen O
Where it plays: First end-credits cue.
Why it matters: A closing benediction from outside the diegesis, then “Supersymmetry” takes the handoff.

Trusted reference points: Milan Records (album announcement), Wikipedia (score + “The Moon Song”), Pitchfork & Rolling Stone (song premieres), and scene-timed listings used by music editors.

Music–Story Links

When Samantha “composes” at the beach, “Song on the Beach” reframes code as companion. Old 45s (“Need Your Love So Bad,” “Sure of Love”) score the surrogate experiment to remind us that analog romance doesn’t port cleanly to digital proxies. By the final morning, “Dimensions” gives Theodore and Amy a horizon line; the music has taught us to listen to silence again.

How It Was Made

Jonze sought “hand-made but electric” textures; Arcade Fire (notably Will Butler) and Owen Pallett built small, tactile cues instead of glossy synth beds. The score earned an Oscar nomination; years later Milan Records issued the 13-track album. Separately, Karen O and Jonze wrote and produced “The Moon Song,” released as a three-version digital single during awards season (including a duet with Ezra Koenig featured in press).

Reception & Quotes

Critics and fans singled out the gentleness of the score and the way the music resists sci-fi clichés.

“Arcade Fire and Owen Pallett’s score … finally getting an official release.” Pitchfork (2021 update)

“Karen O and Ezra Koenig team for a dreamy ‘Moon Song’ duet.” Rolling Stone

Availability: Her (Original Score) is available on streaming, cassette, and vinyl; The Moon Song single (3 versions) is on digital services.

Additional Info

• Score highlights on album: “Sleepwalker,” “Some Other Place,” “Song on the Beach,” “Photograph,” “We’re All Leaving,” “Dimensions.”
• Arcade Fire’s “Supersymmetry” appears in the film; another version sits on Reflektor.
• The Moon Song was performed live at the Oscars with Karen O & Ezra Koenig.
• Not all on-screen songs have commercial rights on the score album; many source cues remain on artist releases.
• Scene-timed placements (approximate minute marks above) reflect widely used cue sheets for editors and fans.

Technical Info

• Title: Her (Original Score)
• Film Year: 2013 (album 2021)
• Type: Film score + select source songs in film
• Composers/Producers: Arcade Fire; Owen Pallett
• Original song: “The Moon Song” — Karen O (with Spike Jonze)
• Label: Milan Records (score); WaterTower Music (song single)
• Trailer ID (figures): dJTU48_yghs

Canonical Entities & Relations

Sources: Milan Records; Wikipedia (score & “The Moon Song”); Pitchfork; Rolling Stone; Soundtrakd scene-by-scene list; IMDb (title page).

November, 10th 2025