"Stargirl" Soundtrack Lyrics

"Stargirl (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)" – Album Guide to Tracks and Key Scenes

Overview

What happens when a high-school romance is scored like a mixtape someone passes you in homeroom — half originals, half lovingly chosen covers? Stargirl (2020) leans into that feeling. The soundtrack threads Rob Simonsen’s warm, synth-brushed score through jangly pop staples and a few star-making vocal moments from lead actor Grace VanderWaal.

Instead of wall-to-wall wallop, the album favors intimacy: a bedroom duet of Big Star’s “Thirteen,” a halftime Beach Boys blast to wake a losing team, and a tender end-credits original (“Today and Tomorrow”) that feels written on notebook paper and ukulele strings. The tonal arc runs: pep-band optimism — first-love wonder — hard lessons — a soft goodbye that still glows.

Genres & themes by phase: pep-rock & power-pop — community and school spirit; indie folk — vulnerable connection; soft-synth score — interior monologue; classic pop covers — shared memory; ukulele ballad — acceptance and moving on.

How It Was Made

Director Julia Hart built a jukebox-musical vibe atop Simonsen’s original score. Walt Disney Records issued a 19-track album combining cues with diegetic performances: VanderWaal covers the Beach Boys and the Go-Go’s; Big Star’s original “Thirteen” appears alongside the film’s in-story duet. The soundtrack landed day-and-date with the Disney+ premiere in March 2020.

Tracks & Scenes

“Be True to Your School” (Grace VanderWaal)

Where it plays:

At the football game halftime, Stargirl strides onto the field with a ukulele and a grin. What begins as an unamplified, cheeky serenade swells into a pep-rally sing-along; the Mudfrogs and the stands wake up, and momentum flips. Diegetic performance on the field; crowds and band join.

Why it matters:

It’s the movie’s thesis in two minutes — sincere oddness turns into communal energy, and the school finds a voice.

“We Got the Beat” (Grace VanderWaal)

Where it plays:

Next home game: a stripped-down cover that Stargirl kicks off to keep the streak alive. Percussion and claps take over as students bounce in the bleachers. Diegetic, stadium-style call-and-response.

Why it matters:

Confirms she’s no fluke — the song turns school spirit into a habit, not a miracle.

“Thirteen” (Grace VanderWaal & Graham Verchere; plus Big Star original)

Where it plays:

Late-night bedroom duet: Leo apologizes after a rift by softly starting the song; Stargirl joins, seated close, voices barely above a whisper. Earlier (and on album), Big Star’s original supplies the nostalgic blueprint. Intimate, fully diegetic.

Why it matters:

Adolescence distilled — a cover about first love becomes a first-love cover.

“Mica Fight Song” (Mudfrog Marching Band)

Where it plays:

Throughout practices and game-day beats — trumpets, snares, and that little swagger only a small-town band owns. Often background diegetic; sometimes pushes into foreground as the team rallies.

Why it matters:

Roots the story in school sound — the everyday music before and after the big moments.

“Today and Tomorrow” (Grace VanderWaal)

Where it plays:

End credits and a sweet stinger: Stargirl alone with her uke, melody soft as a keepsake. Non-diegetic over credits, then diegetic tag as she plays for Leo.

Why it matters:

A parting note that refuses finality — gratitude, hope, and a promise to keep looking forward.

“Happy Birthday” (traditional; ukulele)

Where it plays:

Early cafeteria moment: Stargirl stands, sings to Leo in front of everyone — one of her calling-card kindnesses. Entirely diegetic; single voice and uke.

Why it matters:

Establishes her MO: fearless sincerity that disarms you before you can roll your eyes.

Notes & Trivia

• The album blends Simonsen’s score with licensed tracks and new recordings by the cast — an unusual hybrid that still plays like one story.
• Big Star’s 1972 classic “Thirteen” appears twice on the album: the original and the film’s duet version.
• VanderWaal’s “Today and Tomorrow” was released a week ahead as the end-title single and became the film’s signature original.
• Yes, that’s an in-universe marching band: the Mudfrog Marching Band gets its own credited cue (“Mica Fight Song”).
• The soundtrack dropped day-and-date with the Disney+ premiere.

Music–Story Links

Stargirl’s public songs (“Be True…,” “We Got the Beat”) convert private courage into community fuel — Leo hears possibility and the school feels it. In private, “Thirteen” narrows the frame to two voices and a single emotion; it’s where apology becomes harmony. Simonsen’s score fills the in-betweens — synth pads and small ensemble colors that sound like journal pages turned.

Reception & Quotes

Reviewers called the soundtrack a sweet, cohesive mixtape for first love — heavy on sincerity, light on cynicism. Fans quickly adopted the “Thirteen” duet and the closing original as comfort-play staples.

“VanderWaal is often backed by dreamy Simonsen textures and a vinyl-friendly playlist of throwbacks.” Film Obsessive

“A tender YA romance that falls in love with its own music.” Contemporary coverage

Interesting Facts

• Two “Thirteens”: the album sequences Big Star’s original next to the film duet — a neat before/after on the same feeling.
• Halftime evidence: Disney shared the full “Be True to Your School” clip pre-release; the moment became the movie’s calling card.
• End-title original: “Today and Tomorrow” was positioned as the emotional takeaway and marketed with its own video.
• Pep-band canon: “Mica Fight Song” and the Mudfrog cues give the school a diegetic identity beyond needle-drops.
• OST structure: 19 tracks; a true hybrid of score cues and diegetic songs under the Walt Disney Records banner.

Technical Info

• Title: Stargirl — Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
• Year: 2020 (album release March 13, 2020)
• Type: Jukebox musical / coming-of-age — film soundtrack (songs + score)
• Director: Julia Hart
• Composer: Rob Simonsen
• Featured performers: Grace VanderWaal (vocals/ukulele); Graham Verchere (vocals on “Thirteen”); Big Star (catalog track)
• Label: Walt Disney Records (digital release)
• Selected notable placements: “Be True to Your School” (halftime field performance); “We Got the Beat” (next-game rally); “Thirteen” (bedroom duet; Big Star original also heard); “Mica Fight Song” (games/practice); “Today and Tomorrow” (end credits + tag)

Questions & Answers

Is the album mostly covers or score?

A true hybrid: Simonsen’s score cues plus several covers and in-story performances (VanderWaal, Big Star’s original, marching-band pieces).

Who sings “Be True to Your School” and where?

Grace VanderWaal as Stargirl — live on the football field at halftime, turning the game around.

Where does “Thirteen” happen in the story?

In Stargirl’s bedroom at night — Leo starts to apologize, they finish together. The album also includes Big Star’s original.

What’s the original song at the end?

“Today and Tomorrow,” written and performed by Grace VanderWaal; it plays over the credits and a brief stinger.

Is there an official album?

Yes — Walt Disney Records released a 19-track digital album the same day the film premiered.

Key Contributors

Sources: official trailer and studio clips; soundtrack listings on Apple/Spotify/Discogs; soundtrack breakdowns; film credits and reviews; label announcement for the end-title single.

November, 27th 2025