Clueless (1995) turns 30 this year. Celebrate this ’90s classic with a playlist full of bangers that perfectly capture the movie’s vibes!
The film stars Alicia Silverstone as Cher Horowitz, a wealthy and popular high schooler who makes it her mission to commit good deeds. Along the way, she makes new friends, has some hilarious mishaps, and begins to discover what she really wants in life.
With its recognisable quotes, eye-catching fashion, and groovy soundtrack, Clueless was — and still remains — one of the most influential and era-defining films of the 1990s. The movie was the basis of Versace’s 2018 fall collection, was the inspiration for Iggy Azalea’s ‘Fancy’ music video, and has recently been adapted into a stage musical. Talk about iconic!
“Material Girl” – Madonna
It seems only fitting that one of the most fabulous songs of the 1980s should embody one of cinema’s most fabulous characters. Obsessed with fashion, makeovers and shopping, Cher is a ‘Material Girl’ through and through.
The film showcases her materialistic side from the jump, opening with a montage of her using a high-tech touchscreen to select her outfit for school. Her closet is full of only the best outfits; my life would be complete if my style was only half as amazing as hers! This song is effortlessly chic and super fun, much like Cher herself.
“Just A Girl” – No Doubt
This song is part of the movie’s soundtrack, and it couldn’t be more fitting. Whilst initially sounding playful on the surface, No Doubt’s lyrics hold an ironic and feminist message. It is sung from the perspective of a girl frustrated with the limitations placed on women by society.
The lyrics — “I’m just a girl in the world / That’s all that you’ll let me be / I’m just a girl, all pretty and petite / So don’t let me have any rights” — embody Cher well. She longs to be seen as more than a superficial and pretty girl; she wants to make a real difference in the world and help others (though sometimes this is for her own gain!).
“No Scrubs” – TLC
Much like Clueless, the girl group TLC were a defining part of ’90s culture. Their most popular song “No Scrubs” describes men with no prospects and poor manners. This is exactly the kind of man Cher despises.
She can’t fathom why Dionne, her best friend, is dating a high school boy, describing them as ‘dogs’ who women are expected to clean and care for. Her disdain for high school boys is where her famous “Ugh as if!” quote derives from. Cher’s standards for dating are high, just like TLC’s.
“Girls Just Want to Have Fun” – Cyndi Lauper
Cyndi Lauper’s iconic “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” is a feminist party anthem. It is a fantastic song about female friendship and the fun side of girlhood.
This song embodies Dionne and Cher’s friendship, but also their newfound bond with Tai later in the film. The girls take Tai under their wing and teach her how to be popular like them. This song fits Tai’s makeover scene so well!
“Just Like Magic” – Ariana Grande
This song is all about manifestation, the law of attraction and good karma. With her money and her brains, Cher is able to get get anything she wants if she puts her mind to it. For example, after initially getting disappointing grades, she sets her teachers up to improve their moods.
This not only boosts her grades for the semester, but she also feels happy about the good things she is doing for people. Ariana’s lyrics: ‘Just like magic/I’m attractive/I get everything I want ‘cos I attract it’ are Cher’s mantra for life.
“After Midnight” – Chappell Roan
Whilst preppy for the most part, Cher loves to let her hair down from time to time. This song is all about having fun, letting go of worries and making the most of your youth.
Throughout the film, Cher and her friends attend several parties. It makes me wish I was a teen in the ’90s! If Clueless was made in 2025, I can totally imagine Chappell Roan playing in the background of these party scenes.
“Primadonna” – Marina
Cher is the epitome of the saying “spoiled but not rotten.” She is used to having everything on a silver platter, but she also uses her money for altruistic purposes. However, there are a few instances where her bratty, ‘primadonna’ side comes out. Marina’s satirical lyrics — ‘All I ever wanted was the world’ — nails her initial character to a T.
After failing her driving test midway through the movie, she then realises she can’t argue her way out of everything and needs to take responsibility for her own problems.
“Love is Embarrassing” – Olivia Rodrigo
This song perfectly reflects Cher’s quest for love in Clueless. And when she meets a new student — Christian — she think she’s finally found it. However, after much pursuing and shameless flirting, she finds out Christian is actually gay. On top of that, all of her friends seem to have no problem finding love.
Olivia Rodrigo’s “Love is Embarrassing” captures the emotional rollercoaster of dating in your teens, exploring the angst and humiliation that accompanies everyone’s journey to find ‘the one.’
“Piano in The Sky” – Mikayla Geier
After a fight with Tai and her failed romance with Christian, Cher begins to feel more dejected than ever. Mikayla Geier’s newest single — ‘Piano in The Sky’ — explores the difficulties of finding love.
The lyrics — ‘I’m more likely to find a piano in the sky/So many fishes in the sea, so why can’t one of them be mine?’ — represent Cher’s hopelessness. She knows she has so many options but she struggles to, as Geier describes, find ‘a shoe that fits.’ Little does she know, her perfect match was in front of her face all along…
“Head Over Heels” – Tears For Fears
The movie ends with Cher realising the true love of her life is Josh, her ex-stepbrother and her father’s apprentice. After she has this realisation, she makes an effort to amend all the problems in her life. She volunteers for charity, patches up her friendship with Tai, and finally confesses her feelings to Josh.
In the fashion of any classic rom-com, all of the characters are loved-up and happy by the end. Clueless‘s ending, much like ‘Head Over Heels’ by Tears For Fears, is deeply nostalgic and feel-good; I think it’s a totally fitting song to conclude this playlist!
You can find the playlist via this link. Clueless is available to stream on Netflix, Paramount Plus and Disney Plus. Move over ‘Brat summer’, a Cher Horowitz summer is about to begin!
