Solid State

Have you all gone to see Juno yet?

Mistress Maeve has recommended it as the date movie of the season and I have to say I agree with her. I mean, what could beat free clinic jokes, snarky teenagers, and a throwback soundtrack including The Moldy Peaches?

I fell in love with The Moldy Peaches early on in college when a friend put them on a mix tape for me to listen to on my rides to and from Maine. I liked their humble feel, and I felt a strong connection to the lyrics of one of their songs.

So imagine my surprise when two of Juno's main characters started singing "Anyone Else But You," as I sat in the theater in Connecticut next to my own "part time lover and full time friend" with whom I had always shared the song.

At first I got really excited, and grabbed my date's arm. Then I suddenly felt angry towards whomever had chosen to feature that song in such prominence. That had been our song! And no matter how many other couples had shared the song before us, it would now forever be known as the Juno song.

Obviously my anger is completely irrational, but I'm wondering if anyone has similar possessiveness over a song or album that later (in this case, much later) sprang to national attention. You know, the kind of song you want played at your wedding but that you'll never tell anyone you want played at your wedding in case they play it at their wedding?

I have one of those, too.

Some fun trivia relating back to Juno - apparently star Ellen Page was the one to suggest that her character might be a fan of The Moldy Peaches, and also the solo recordings of Kimya Dawson. I might be mad, but she was... well... dead on. The music really makes the movie. The soundtrack also includes tunes by Belle & Sabastian, Buddy Holly, and Sonic Youth, and ranked in the bestsellers on iTunes for over a month. So if you're the kind of person that needs musical motivation to go to the movies, there it is.

And while we're on the subject... what are your favorite movie soundtracks?

Mine include Empire Records, Ghost World, and The Royal Tenenbaums.

And Clueless. I own that one on cassette.

Oh and P.S. — here's a video of The Moldy Peaches performing the aforementioned song at the Juno premier. Their mic situation was a bit of a nightmare, but fun to see them perform live for the first time since 2004!