I Saw The TV Glow Soundtrack: Every Song In The Movie & When They Play (2024)

Jane Schoenbrun's I Saw the TV Glow is infused with '90s nostalgia, from the Buffy the Vampire Slayer-esque television show the film's main characters watch to the movie's mixtape soundtrack compiled by indie darlings and up-and-coming artists. With music being a formative part of Schoenbrun's own teenage years, they were determined to curate a soundtrack that captured I Saw the TV Glow's distinct atmosphere as well as music's surreal, escapist power. Instead of commissioning a disjointed end-credits song, the director wanted to integrate original songs into the movie in a more fluid way.

The resulting I Saw the TV Glow original soundtrack is a beautiful and visceral mix of genre-spanning songs from some of Schoenbrun's favorite musicians. In order to get their musical collaborators in the right headspace, director Jane Schoenbrun shared a 10-song mixtape of inspirations. Seeped in teenage angst, surrealism, and the peculiar magic of the suburbs at night, I Saw the TV Glow's original soundtrack perfectly encapsulates the movie's atmosphere and tone. In fact, some songs are so tied to the fabric of the scenes they play during that it's impossible to imagine the movie with its soundtrack.

When Every Song Plays In I Saw The TV Glow

I Saw The TV Glow's Soundtrack Is Crucial To The Movie's Atmosphere

There's no denying that I Saw the TV Glow's soundtrack adds another layer of texture to an already-complex, thought-provoking film. While each of the original soundtrack's songs contributes in a huge way to the project's feel, a few tracks that play during some of the movie's most crucial scenes lend an extra bit of emotional heft. It's no surprise that many of the scenes set to I Saw the TV Glow's soundtrack are also some of the most searing and memorable.

"Anthems for a Seventeen-Year-Old Girl" by yeule — A cover of Broken Social Scene's "Anthems For a Seventeen-Year-Old Girl" (2002), the remixed song beatifully captures Owen's (Justice Smith) anxieties as the teen navigates high school and identity — and turns away from the latter. The original song was one of teenage Schoenbrun's favorite tunes, making its inclusion all-the-more meaningful. Not only does "Anthems For a Seventeen-Year-Old Girl" score I Saw the TV Glow's soundtrack, but it plays twice in the film when an overwhelmed Owen is stuck in his head and walking through the suffocating suburbs or school grounds.

"Taper" by Maria BC — When Owen's father (Fred Durst), the most volatile member of I Saw the TV Glow's cast of characters, forbids Owen from staying up to watch The Pink Opaque — a "show for girls" — the teen knows he has to sneak out of the house to watch the surreal young-adult series with loner Maddie (Brigette Lundy-Paine). During the pair's first sleepover, "Taper" by Maria BC plays, scoring the pivotal moment where Owen has a moment of self-discovery and much-needed connection — not just with Maddie, but with the story of The Pink Opaque.

"Starburned and Unkissed" by Caroline Polachek — After having a life-changing experience at Maddie's, all Owen wants is to watch The Pink Opaque. Even as the teen grows older, Owen's father doesn't allow Owen to stay up late enough to watch new episodes of the show. As a result, Maddie is Owen's life-line. In true '90s fashion, she records the episodes on VHS tapes, riddled with handwritten notes, and leaves them for Owen in the high school's dark room. During this uplifting montage, Caroline Polachek's Starburned and Unkissed plays, scoring Owen's excitement about the series and Maddie's friendship.

"Claw Machine" (feat. Phoebe Bridgers) by Sloppy Jane — When Maddie reappears in Owen's life, the pair sneak out to a bar on the outskirts of town. There, Maddie tells Owen that they are actually the main characters of the now-canceled Pink Opaque, and that their confining lives as Maddie and Owen are what's not real. The startling moment, which sees Owen uncovering some repressed memories about identity, unfolds while Sloppy Jane and Phoebe Bridgers play "Claw Machine" in the bar. A fun cameo moment, the sequence plays like something from Twin Peaks: The Return's Roadhouse.

"Psychic Wound" by King Woman — The artist King Woman contributed two songs to the I Saw the TV Glow soundtrack, but "Psychic Wound" is the one that stands out the most. After Sloppy Jane and Phoebe Bridgers finish playing, King Woman takes the stage at the bar. To further blur the lines between Owen's realities — and amp up the suffocating anxiety — King Woman's scream-filled track meets the moment perfectly.

Where To Listen To I Saw The TV Glow's Official Soundtrack

Alex G's I Saw The TV Glow Original Score Is Also Available

I Saw the TV Glow (Original Soundtrack) boasts 15 songs by the artists mentioned above, from Caroline Polachek to Florist. In addition to centering on many queer artists, the soundtrack is a love letter to the mixtape soundtracks of the '80s and '90s. For viewers who can't get the movie's songs out of their heads, I Saw the TV Glow's original soundtrack is available on most major streaming platforms, including Apple Music and Spotify, and is available on vinyl on A24's official website. Moreover, composer Alex G's original score for I Saw the TV Glow — an equally surreal and poignant mix of sounds — is also available to stream.

I Saw the TV Glow

3.0

PG-13

Drama

Horror

I Saw the TV Glow is a horror film by writer-director Jane Schoenbrun, released in 2024. A young man named Owen is introduced to a late-night TV show that reflects their reality. As the two begin to bond over the series, it suddenly is canceled, causing Owen's view of reality to shatter.

Director

Jane Schoenbrun

Release Date

January 18, 2024

Studio(s)

Smudge Films , Fruit Tree

Distributor(s)

A24

Writers

Jane Schoenbrun

Cast

Justice Smith , Brigette Lundy-Paine , Danielle Deadwyler , Fred Durst , Helena Howard , Ian Foreman

Runtime

100 Minutes