2012's The Perks of Being a Wallflower soundtrack highlights the journey of the young protagonist during the uncertain, exciting, and heartbreaking times in high school. The 2012 coming-of-age drama was a critical and commercial success upon its release, and the collective music continues to introduce viewers to playlist-worthy artists. In fact, even a key sequence in The Perks of Being a Wallflower involves the protagonists discovering a '70s classic by David Bowie. Based on Stephen Chbosky's eponymous 1999 novel, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is further elevated by its impactful soundtrack.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower stars Logan Lerman as Charlie Kelmeckis, a shy 9th grader who struggles to make new friends while dealing with clinical depression. At school, two "wallflowers" named Sam ( Potter star Emma Watson) and Patrick (The Flash's Ezra Miller) befriend Charlie, resulting in numerous shared experiences throughout the year. Full of uplifting party hits and even a few moody tracks from the '80s, The Perks of Being a Wallflower soundtrack is indeed time specific. Since the film is set in 1992, the music is inherently nostalgic and retro. Here's every featured song in The Perks of Being a Wallflower:
All Songs in The Perks of Being A Wallflower
"Could It Be Another Change" - The Samples
"Asleep" - The Smiths
"Teen Age Riot" - Sonic Youth
"Love Him" - Perfect
"Come On Eileen" - Dexys Midnight Runners
"What You've Got" - Valentine's Revenge
"Low" - Cracker
"Falling Elevators" - MC 900 feat. Jesus
"Tugboat" - Galaxy 500
"No New Tale to Tell" - Love and Rockets
"Here" - Pavement
"Heroes" - David Bowie
"All Out of Love" - Air Supply
"Dear God" - XTC
"Don't Dream It" - Tim Curry
"Temptation" - New Order
"Seasick, Yet Still Docked" - Morrissey
"Bust a Move" - Young MC
"Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" - Joey Ramone
"Hot Wax" - Alex Silverman
"Ye Olde Backlack" - Bongwater
"Toucha Toucha Touch Me" - Susan Sarandon from The Rocky Horror Picture Show
"Don't Dream It's Over" - Crowded House
"Eternity with You" - Robert and Johnny
"Evensong" - The Innocence Mission
"Counting Backwards" - Throwing Muses
"Pretend We're Dead" - L7
"Araby" - The Reivers
"Perly Dew Drops Drop" - Cocteau Twins
When Each Song Plays In The Perks Of Being A Wallflower
"Could It Be Another Change" by The Samples - The coming-of-age drama begins with this song playing over the opening credits. The point-of-view shot of a car going through a tunnel foreshadows the most famous scene in the movie as well as its most memorable musical moment. The song has a sad yet somewhat hopeful tone which fits the movie well while the lyrics seem to mirror Charlie's feelings for Sam.
"Asleep" by The Smiths - After Charlie's sister Candace (Nina Dobrev) gets a mixtape from her boyfriend Derek (Nicholas Braun), she gives it to Charlie. Hearing this sad song opens Charlie's mind up to new music which helps him connect with Sam.
"Teen Age Riot" by Sonic Youth - This song plays as Sam and Patrick drop Charlie off at his home after hanging out for the first time. It highlights their more rebellious and youthful energy compared to Charlie's reserved nature.
"Love Him" by Perfect - This song is playing at a school dance, the slow and romantic tune has the young couples dancing together, making Charlie feel even more out of place.
"Come On Eileen" by Dexys Midnight Runners - This song also plays at the school dance with Sam and Patrick using it to perform an elaborate dance routine together in the middle of the dance floor. The upbeat and fun tune also encourages Charlie to come out of his shell and them on the dance floor.
"What You've Got" by Valentine's Revenge - This song plays outside the party at Bob's (Adam Hegenbuch) house as Charlie, Sam and Patrick arrive.
"Low" by Cracker - When Charlie enters the part at Bob's this song plays as he is exposed to a new and more relatable high school crowd. It continues to play as he is introduced to the other of their friends group, including Mary Elizabeth (Mae Whitman) and Alice (Erin Wilhelmi). The party scene also features "Falling Elevators" by MC 900 feat. Jesus playing in the background.
"Tugboat" by Galaxy 500 - This song plays after Charlie unknowingly eats a weed brownie and gets high. After telling Sam he wants a milkshake, she makes one for him as he absent-mindedly tells her about his best friend who killed himself.
"No New Tale to Tell" by Love and Rockets - As Charlie wanders around the party high and looking for the bathroom, this song plays as he accidentally walks in on Patrick and Brad (Johnny Simmons) kissing. Their secret and complicated relationship is reflected in the song's lyrics.
"Here" by Pavement - This song plays as Charlie is officially welcomed into the inner circle of Sam, Patrick and the so-called "island of misfit toys." Patrick gives a speech honoring Charlie and his ability to sit back and observe the world around him, dubbing him a wallflower. It is a turning point at Charlie is accepted like he has never been before.
"Heroes" by David Bowie - Certainly the most famous scene in the movie, the David Bowie song comes on the radio as Sam, Patrick and Charlie are driving. Never having heard it before, Sam insists Patrick drive through the lighted tunnel as it plays and she stands up on the back of the car with her arms outstretched as if she is flying.
"All Out of Love" by Air Supply - Inspired by Derek's earlier mixtape, Charlie decides to make one for Sam, including some of the power ballads she claims to love. This particular ballad plays over a montage on Charlie getting to know his new group of friends as well as his ive English teacher Mr. Anderson (Paul Rudd).
"Dear God" by XTC - As Charlie gets to know the lives of his friends, his inner monologue explains the details he learned about Patrick and Brad's relationship as this song plays. Due to Brad's upbringing, he is reluctant to get too close to Patrick and is scared of his father or anyone else finding out about them.
"Don't Dream It" by Tim Curry - Several songs from The Rocky Horror Picture Show are featured in the movie as the group of friends put on their own show of the classic cult musical. This song is featured first as Patrick lipsynchs in the iconic Timmy Curry role.
"Temptation" by New Order and "Seasick, Yet Still Docked" by Morrissey - These two songs play backstage at the Rocky Horror Picture Show performance as part of the mixtape that Charlie makes for Sam. Their sad tone fits Charlie's own feelings as he watches on as Sam dances with older college boy Greg.
"Bust a Move" by Young MC - To punctuate Charlie's humiliation over losing Sam to Greg, the older boy remarks how sad the playlist is and switches it up to this more upbeat and popular music to get the party going.
"Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" by Joey Ramone - This punk cover of Darlene Love's classic Christmas song begins playing as Charlie tutors Sam for the SATs and continues on through a montage of Cahrlie celebrating the holiday season with his new friends, including having a secret Santa gift exchange.
"Ye Olde Backlack" by Bongwater - As Charlie continues to experiment with drugs, this song plays while he takes an LSD tablet and has flashbacks to his late Aunt Helen (Melanie Lynskey) leading to him ing out in a snowbank.
"Toucha Toucha Touch Me" by Susan Sarandon - Another song from The Rocky Horror Picture Show is featured as part of the performance. When Greg flakes on his role as Rocky, Charlie is asked to fill in for him and s Sam on stage while she performs this suggestive number.
"Don't Dream It's Over" by Crowded House - After Mary Elizabeth invites Charlie to the dance, this song is playing as he chooses to talk with Sam instead.
"Eternity with You" by Robert and Johnny - After the dance, Mary Elizabeth invites Charlie to her house where she puts on this song and expresses how she wants to teach him about old music. After making out briefly, she calls Charlie her boyfriend, much to his shock and horror.
"Pretend We're Dead" by L7 - In another of Charlie's letters to his friend, he explains that he does not like Mary Elizabeth and finds himself stuck in this relationship. The song plays over the funny montage showing their incompatibility, including a moment when Mary Elizabeth calls him and doesn't notice when Charlie puts down the phone and walks away.
"Counting Backwards" by Throwing Muses - Charlie's relationship drama with Mary Elizabeth comes to a head when he kisses Sam at a party instead of her. While it causes more than a little time to blow over, Mary Elizabeth eventually gets over it and tells Charlie she is now dating Peter as this song plays.
"Araby" by The Reivers - After a dramatic falling out between them, Patrick gets into a fight with Brad and his friends at school with Charlie stepping in to protect him. Afterward, Charlie and Patrick drive around together with Patrick letting his guard down slightly as this song plays.
"Perly Dew Drops Drop" by Cocteau Twins - This song plays over Charlie narrating all of his friends graduating from high school and moving on to the next phase of their lives. Charlie expresses happiness for them as well as jealousy that he is not going with them.
What Song Plays During The Perks Of Being A Wallflower's Iconic Tunnel Scene?
Of all the songs in The Perks of Being a Wallflower’s soundtrack, “Heroes” by David Bowie is probably the most significant, as it accompanies the iconic tunnel scene. As Charlie, Sam, and Patrick drive home from a party, “Heroes” comes on the car radio, prompting Sam to have Patrick drive through the Fort Pitt tunnel so she can stand up in the truck bed. Watching her from below, Charlie confesses to Patrick that he feels “infinite,” one of The Perks of Being a Wallflower’s most profound moments.
The lyrics to “Heroes” are especially fitting here, as the lines “I, I will be king/ And you, you will be queen,” seem to pertain to Charlie and Sam at that moment. Later, The Perks of Being a Wallflower ends with the return of "Heroes," as Charlie once again feels "infinite."
Some Wallflower Soundtrack Songs Were Also Vital In The Book
While The Perks of Being a Wallflower movie features an iconic soundtrack, many would be surprised to know that some featured songs play an important role in the book — and there are some that were left out. For example, one of the major changes Perks of Being a Wallflower made to the book as the original song is Fleetwood Mac's "Landslide." However, writer/director Stephen Chbosky chose the David Bowie song "Heroes" to play instead. His reasoning behind the switch was that he wanted something more bombastic to play, and he felt that "Heroes" fit better.
The Smiths' song "Asleep" was featured in the book and the movie, as was some choice music from The Rocky Horror Picture Show. The dance song "Come on Eileen" by Dexys Midnight Runners made it into the movie during the dance itself, as Chbosky claims it's one of the best songs to dance to.
How Wallflower Absolutely Nails The Teenage Mixtape
The music for The Perks of Being a Wallflower received critical acclaim, and that's mostly thanks to novel and screenwriter Stephen Chbosky, who selected most of the soundtrack. The soundtrack itself is intimately tied to the film's characters and their experiences, making it a perfect teenage mixtape. The power of music drives most people's teenage years, so it's important that The Perks of Being a Wallflower soundtrack should reflect that, especially given music's prominence in the source material.
Various music critics have stated that the collection makes for one of the best teen movie soundtracks ever, as it perfectly melds with the longing, insecurity, and joy of the teenage experience depicted in the movie. The songs help spark audience emotion (and nostalgia), which in turn, creates a deeper bond with the characters seen on the big screen. Connecting watchers with a film's characters is critical to a movie's success, and The Perks of Being a Wallflower does so through its soundtrack.
