500 Days of Summer (soundtrack)

The soundtrack to the 2009 romantic comedy-drama film 500 Days of Summer is a compilation album of alternative, indie pop, and classic rock songs that played a significant role in shaping the film's atmosphere and narrative. Released by Sire Records on July 14, 2009, it was curated by the film's music supervisor, Season Kent.

The album features a blend of well-known artists and relatively obscure bands, reflecting the eclectic taste of the film's protagonist, Tom Hansen, portrayed by Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Notable artists included on the soundtrack are The Smiths, Regina Spektor, Hall & Oates, Feist, Simon & Garfunkel, and The Temper Trap. Several songs were specifically chosen to mirror the emotional states and evolving relationship between Tom and Summer Finn, played by Zooey Deschanel.

Beyond pre-existing tracks, the soundtrack also includes original music created for the film. This includes a score composed by Mychael Danna and Rob Simonsen, as well as a cover of The Pixies' "Here Comes Your Man" by Joseph Gordon-Levitt himself.

The 500 Days of Summer soundtrack was critically acclaimed and commercially successful, praised for its effective use of music to enhance the film's emotional impact and its introduction of lesser-known artists to a wider audience. It is often credited with contributing to the film's overall popularity and enduring appeal. The album also helped to popularize the indie pop genre, influencing subsequent film soundtracks and musical tastes. The music selection directly reflects the film's themes of love, loss, memory, and the subjective nature of relationships.