Moonlight (2016):

“Skyline To”- Frank Ocean

Chiron navigates his sexuality and identity in this film. The film explores Chiron’s life, highlighting the beauty of human connection and the complexities of hidden desire. “Skyline To” similarly touches on the fleeting youth with lyrics referencing how summer “ain’t long how it used to be”, like the fleeting years between Chiron’s high school years and him being an adult. The lyric “Can you come when I call again?” represents the longing between Kevin and Chiron after years of separation.

“Do You Like Me?”- Daniel Caesar

The movie fundamentally centers around the need for love, and being too afraid to ask for that love. The song “Do You Like Me?” builds around this fear, as it seems like the relationship Daniel Caesar describes is filled with uncertainty.

“You’re Not Good Enough”- Blood Orange

This song represents what Chiron hears from the people around him, about his masculinity, about how soft he is, and about his sexuality. It internalizes his shame and makes him more aware of how he’s perceived.

In The Mood For Love (2001):

“Easy Lovers”- Piero Picconi

In The Mood for Love portrays Chow and Su’s relationships as very restrained, and there’s a forbidden feeling. The melancholic undertone in Easy Lovers is like Chow and Su’s connection, very beautiful and melodic, but also doomed in the end. The song kind of has a feeling of intimacy, just like the intimate moments between Chow and Su.

“I Only Have Eyes for you”- The Flamingos

This 60s classic was made to describe the captivation someone feels when they love someone so much that they can’t focus on anything else. We see in the film that there are intimate shots of characters, whether it’s through lingering stares or shared walks through narrow spaces. They only ever have eyes with each other, yet that’s all they can share.

“Strangers In The Night”- Frank Sinatra

In my opinion, this song is the exact movie equivalent of the movie. Frank Sinatra wrote this to tell the story of two lonely people meeting by chance at night, and they instantly have a romantic connection, which is exactly what happened between Su and Chow. The song fits the era of time that the movie is situated in.

The Holdovers (2023):

“Landslide”- Fleetwood Mac

This song reflects the reevaluation of one’s life and the fear of growing older. The Holdovers focuses on the transitional aspects of the character’s lives, and as they form bonds, they experience regrets, loneliness, and have to learn to accept themselves. Both works represent change and growth.

“Death With Dignity”- Sufjan Stevens

D’avine Jo Randolph’s character, Mary Lamb, is mourning her son, and she navigates her trauma more silently, mirroring the song’s more reflective, solemn tone. The song is based on Sufjan Steven’s experience with mourning a loved one and trying to move forward, just like Mary is trying to do with losing her son.