The latest mainstream crossover success in indie-darling cinema, Juno, tells the inherently awkward story of teen pregnancy with awkward characters, awkward dialogue, and, get this, an awkward soundtrack. The $7.5 million dollar budget flick turned in over $110 million, thus exposing millions of idle top 40 radio fans to the acoustic ramblings of Belle & Sebastian, Kimya Dawson, and Cat Power, to name a few. In turn, hipster fans of those indie mainstays are also equally exposed to predecessors The Kinks, Mott the Hoople, and Buddy “Not Just a Weezer Song” Holly. A fine collection for its purpose, the soundtrack does little more than compliment the love story it follows.

What it does do is provide, however accidentally, exposure to bands otherwise unnoticed by the general masses. At first, the record is a veritable history lesson in forgotten greats of 60s era rock and roll. Mott the Hoople’s “All the Young Dudes” is often mistook as a David Bowie song*; The Kinks are regularly replaced by The Who or The Beatles in Wes Anderson movies; Buddy Holly is rarely ever used in cinematic soundtracks. Contemporary artists Belle & Sebastian turn in several tunes, and will more than likely benefit most from Juno’s overwhelming underdog success at the box office. The film, who’s center stage character is a pregnant teen coming to terms with the love she’s found in the, well, awkward father of her child, is an easily identifiable character for women of all ages. Belle & Sebastian encapsulate the dichotomy of love through irony and gushy stories. Juno is a gushy story filled with irony. The math is simple.

It is what it is: A successful soundtrack for a successful movie that will hopefully provide success to the included artists. What could have been considered a movie bordering on pretention with music hardly accessible to the average American movie goer has been saved by its heart and story, and, of course, major box office returns. And while the music within may potentially go unnoticed, the songs are inseperable from its subject, and shall so live on as intended.

*Oops: Paul writes in to inform the uninformed (that’s me):

Hi James

All The Young Dudes was written by David Bowie in 1972 and given to Mott The Hoople by him.

He then went on to produce the single and then their album

Cheers
Paul

Thanks, Paul!

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