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(500) Days of Summer Soundtrack

(2009, Soundtrack, by Various Artists, Label: Sire Records)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 11, age appropriate for kids over 14; suggested age 14.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    Young love and adolescent angst: Something for every teen.

The themes of this music are:   memories, pain, partying, romance, sorrow

Why We Rated This on for Ages 14 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Most of the messages are directed toward self-examination and tackling angst.

  • Role models:

    "Bad Kids" is about just that, misbehaving teens who smoke, drink, cuss, and fail in school -- definitely not role models. However, the rest of the songs are much tamer.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    "Hero" includes the line "And the TVs try to rape us."

  • Sex:

    Many of the songs are about the angst of relationships, but there are very few sexual references.

  • Language:

    "Bad Kids" includes the words "s--t" and "penis."

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    From the song "Bad Kids": "Got drunk, off all of Grandma's schnaps, got caught, runnin' from the cops, toilet paper, on the yard, Six f's, on my report card, smoke cigs, in the bathroom stall."
 

What Parents Need to Know

About (500) Days of Summer Soundtrack

Parents need to know that this is a collection of retro-rock and modern songs that mirrors the romantic trials that are the centerpiece of the movie. While there are a few moments not appropriate for all listeners (namely the Black Lips' teen rebel anthem "Bad Kids"), this is a mild collection that might introduce young listeners to some classic artists, like Hall and Oates, The Smiths, and Simon & Garfunkel.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about movie soundtracks. What is the purpose of them? Do soundtracks make you want to see the movie? Does the movie make you want to buy the soundtrack?
  • Talk about new music versus the sounds from several decades ago. Can you spot the songs that were produced in the last few years, as opposed to the tracks that were made before you were born? What differences do you notice?
  • Discuss love songs. Are the songs on this album different from typical love songs that you might hear? What makes them different? Is a song less romantic if it's too realistic or jaded?
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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    mer mer
    Lives in Illinois
    I rate this title on for age 14 and give it 5.0

    love it

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
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