The Practical Magic soundtrack playlist is a collection of songs that perfectly complement the enchanting and mystical atmosphere of the movie. The music is a blend of various genres, including folk, rock, and pop, creating a captivating and ethereal sound experience. The playlist features iconic songs like "Crystal" by Stevie Nicks, which sets the tone for the film's magical themes. Other standout tracks include "If You Ever Did Believe" by Stevie Nicks, "Here Comes the Sun" by The Beatles, and "Faith" by Sheryl Crow. Each song brings its own unique energy to the movie, enhancing the emotions and actions taking place on screen. The Practical Magic soundtrack playlist is an essential addition to any music lover's collection, offering a magical journey through sound.
An October Playlist
One of my all time favorite pastimes is creating playlists. I am all for creating a diverse music library, but sometimes it can be overwhelming to put every song you have ever loved on shuffle on an average day. There is so much in a song, whether it serve as the background music or as the unspoken words of your own biography. A song written about one thing can live a million different lives through listeners. The “he” and “she”s can be given a million names. In the end, we all have a soundtrack for different phases or seasons or our life.
Many of my playlists are just smaller versions of my library, as they have no theme and consist of whatever random blend of songs I care for at the particular moment, but the true beauty in forming a collection of songs is to make a soundtrack for a time, place, person, moment or feeling. To hear a song and be transported to a memory, even the smallest, seemingly insignificant moment in time, is the quality that makes music an art form. Genuine lyricism over hand-crafted instrumentals paint unforgettable pictures that still hang from the walls of the mind decades later.
Many people have created fall playlists of soft, acoustic, coffee shop style songs that are reminiscent of fall’s coziness, and many are full of songs specifically chosen for Halloween, whether they tell scary stories or feature the scores of Halloween films. This playlist has both, and other things as well. This playlist captures the essence of October in a genre-bending whirlwind of tunes. Just plug in and enjoy.
1. King Harvest- Dancing in the Moonlight
To me, this track feels like a sequel to or a continuation of the magic in Earth, Wind and Fire’s “September”, despite differences in style. When I hear this track I am instantly transported to a a place of twinkling lights and pumpkin patches and lovestruck teenagers dancing barefoot on the grass, and of course, a beautiful full moon “Dancing in the Moonlight” will have you on your feet and ready to celebrate the season. Many prefer Toploader’s more modern cover of it, so check that out if the original is not for you.
2. Billie Eilish- bury a friend
If you are a fan of Billie Eilish, like me, you probably played this song non-stop after its release and may have grown tired of it from overplay. Now, over a year later, I am finally able to return to it and appreciate its picturesque story over its percussion and bass. It’s lyrics, while simple question death, specifically the death of a friendship.
3. Michael Jackson- Smooth Criminal
I know that in every other playlist ever, this spot would be given to “Thriller”, and yes, “Thriller” would be a good addition to this playlist, however, “Smooth Criminal” and its cinematic presence has always haunted me more. It is my favorite song by Jackson, and it’s eerie vibes laced over irresistible instrumentals leaves it’s listener curious.
4. Maggie Rogers- Overnight
This reminiscent track by up and coming American pop singer/songwriter, Maggie Rogers, is brutally honest, yet led by blind faith. She admits the mistakes of a prior relationship, while simultaneously admitting that she is not ready to give up on the connection between her and the other person for good.
5. The Eagles- Witchy Woman
Rock and Roll legends Glenn Frey and Don Henley took to this track to talk about a captivating California woman. Many speculate that this song is about classic rock’s “witchy woman” herself, Stevie Nicks, but unfortunately, due to the timelines of Nick’s rise to fame with Fleetwood Mac, it is made impossible for her to be the subject of the song, despite having been romantically involved with both Henley and guitarist Joe Walsh. However, the song fits Nicks to a tee and should continue to be her theme song.
6 . Fleetwood Mac- Rhiannon
“This is a song about an old Welsh witch!” a twenty-something Stevie Nicks would shout before performing one of her most memorable tracks. The song that dazzled fans and Mick Fleetwood himself serves as the perfect, magical track for October. “She rules her life like a bird in flight” rings true as an anthem for women almost 40 years later.
7. Florence and the Machine-
Sky Full of Song
Speaking of ‘Welch’ witches, “Sky Full of Song” is the first single off of their most recent record, “High As Hope”. From the isolated vocals that open the track to its harmonious close, this song is hauntingly stunning.
8. Blink 182- I Miss You
Chock -full of creepy references and the idea to have “Halloween on Christmas”, Blink 182’s pop-punk classic tune is an October anthem.
9. Halsey- Graveyard
This song’s obvious references to the graveyard give it an obvious spooky feel, but instead of talking about “monsters” or “ghosts”, “Graveyard” tells the story of a woman haunted by her past relationship and the horrors of watching a relationship deteriorate in front of you. Halsey seemingly loses herself in the process, and she knows it, but she just keeps running. This track beautifully addresses toxic relationships in a way that only Halsey can.
10. Tori Amos- Crucify
This track is probably long forgotten or never known in the first place to this generation, as it was released in 1992 and only receives airtime on 90s radio stations. However, this is not an old song that deserves to be buried. Amos pleads for relief as she feels suppressed by her own thoughts and insecurities.
11. My Chemical Romance- The Sharpest Lives
What better time than October to unleash your inner (or express your outer) emo? Dress up in black, because we are joining the black parade. This entire album fits this playlist and the Halloween aesthetic, but this song is one that has always stuck out as a favorite to me. Nothing beats vampire Romeo and Juliet during spooky season, right?
12. Lorde- 400 Lux
Seven years later, Lorde’s “Pure Heroine” that she released at age 16, is still poetic and beautiful and is thematically a perfect album for fall. “400 Lux”, like the rest of the album is a depiction of teenage life and the thoughts and feelings of a teenager in a suburban area who dreams of bigger things while suffering boredom.
13. Taylor Swift- All Too Well
But alas, if a heartbreak in the fall had a soundtrack, it would be this. This track is my personal favorite track in the Taylor Swift discography and the one that many refer to as Swift’s best work. “All Too Well” rehashes the best memories of a relationship that is defined by the scarf, “autumn leaves falling down like pieces into place” and “plaid shirt days and nights”, but quickly transcends into a desperate plea for closure. You can hear the emotion in Swift’s voice as she describes the never ending fall she is mentally trapped in.
14. Tom Petty- Mary Jane’s Last Dance
If you have seen the music video for this song, you probably do not doubt why this track has a perfect place on this list, but even aside from its unforgetable video, Mary Jane dances away with the last memories of summer.
15. Hayley Williams- Creepin’
This year, Paramore front-woman Hayley Williams wowed critics and fans alike with her first solo album release. It is obvious why “Creepin’” is a good fit for this playlist, but it serves as an interesting tune that touches on obsession with another.
16. Stevie Nicks- Crystal (For Practical Magic)
A song that originally debuted on “Buckingham Nicks” in 1973, was repressed onto Fleetwood Mac’s self titled record, and rerecorded again by Stevie Nicks on the soundtrack for 1998’s beloved film, “Practical Magic”, this tune is the stuff legends are made of. “I have changed, oh, but you, you remain ageless,” Nicks sings in a true testament to this magical track that still feels like stepping into a moonlit forest of dancing fairies reflecting on a lake after all this time.
17. Jack White- Lazaretto
The American guitar god himself pulls the listener into the nonsensical world inside of his own head in the title track for his second solo record. Its guitar rifts and production can be felt throughout the body as you listen to it. And that one line, “quarantined on the island, man, and I’m trying to escape any way that I can,” hits a little too close to home in 2020.
18. The Red Hot Chili Peppers- Scar Tissue
“Scar Tissue”’s soft opening chords and easy-going spirit feel like a fall breeze to listen to, and lyrics “Autumn’s sweet; we call it fall. I’ll make it to the moon if I have to crawl,” remain on my forever favorite list.
19. Pink Floyd- Brain Damage
In the midst of plastic pumpkins and bedsheet ghosts, the real horror is losing one’s own mind. This idea is made a reality in this nearly four minute track
20. 5 Seconds of Summer- Teeth
“Fight so dirty, but your loves so sweet. Talk so pretty, but your heart’s got teeth.” 5 Seconds of Summer sings in their tumultuous love song that is ironically creepy enough for fall
21. Brand New- Millstone
This track is one off of another album that screams “fall vibes.” “Millstone” tells the story of a mans descent into a total loss of confidence. He horrifically looks back on how he has changed as he has aged and determines that the end is near.
Whether you love her or hate her, or think she’s the Carole Baskin of the 90s or fiercely defend her, Courtney Love is the eternally reigning queen of grunge music, whether you believe it to be by marriage or by her genuine talent. “Violet” shines as the single from 1994’s “Live Through This”, released only a few days after Kurt Cobain’s death, which is creepy enough to land it a spot.
23. Fall Out Boy- Grand Theft Autumn/ Where is Your Boy
Nothing hits harder than losing your girlfriend to some other guy after the summer passes, at least not if you are Fall Out Boy in 2003. This classic will take you all the way back to your best middle school heartbreak.
24. Lord Huron – The Night We Met
In case you are not feeling heartbroken and nostalgic enough after this playlist, listen to Lord Huron’s alternative modern classic.
I tried to refrain from featuring the same artists twice, but there are many tracks in Halsey’s discography that are perfect for this playlist. “Control” uses horrific illustrations and intense sound effects to express Halsey’s never-ending fight to take charge over her bi-polar disorder and other mental conflicts induced by trauma. She screams back at her thoughts, fighting them for control.
The CHIRP Blog
The Practical Magic soundtrack playlist is an essential addition to any music lover's collection, offering a magical journey through sound. So, dim the lights, light some candles, and let the music transport you to the world of Practical Magic..
KSanders writesTop 10 Stevie Nicks Deep Cuts
wiritten by Kyle Sanders
If there's one thing I've learned in life, it's that "time makes you bolder." And Stevie Nicks is getting older, too. Yes, this year the Gold Dust Woman turned 70 on May 26th, and as a musician "taken by the wind" she seems to show no signs of slowing down.
The band that made her a household name, Fleetwood Mac, is about to embark on another tour (albeit sans guitarist Lindsey Buckingham), and earlier this year she and her band mates received the MusiCares "Person of the Year" award. Nicks even became "meme-worthy" when her song "Dreams" was included on a meme that went viral.
Looking back on her forty-five years in the music industry, Nicks has proven herself a fashion icon, a musical influence for aspiring female musicians, and one of rock's most celebrated songwriters. She's responsible for such enduring hits like "Rhiannon," "Landslide," "Dreams," "Gold Dust Woman," "Edge of Seventeen," and "Stand Back," but she has also written many other songs that are as valuable as any of those other classic rock mainstays.
In honor of her 70th birthday, here's a list of Stevie Nicks deep cuts (listed in chronological order):
"Crystal" (Buckingham Nicks, 1973/Fleetwood Mac, 1975/Practical Magic, 1998)
The only Nicks-penned tune with ex-boyfriend Lindsey Buckingham on lead vocals, "Crystal" has popped up multiple times throughout Stevie's career, first introduced on the Buckingham Nicks LP, then as a track on the duo's debut with Fleetwood Mac in 1975.
Almost a bookend to Nicks' classic "Landslide," the lyrics showcase a theme of reflection and emotional growth: "How the faces of love have changed turning the pages / And I have changed, oh but you, you remain ageless. "
Nicks would ultimately dust off this song some twenty years later, as a contribution to the Practical Magic soundtrack, this time with her own weathered voice as lead.
"Storms" (Tusk, 1979)
Fleetwood Mac's Tusk is one of the most widely discussed and revered albums in the band's discography. A passion project for guitarist Lindsey Buckingham, he took over the production reins and directed the follow-up to the mega-hit Rumours in a completely different direction. The double-album is dominated by Buckingham songs reflecting early New Wave, but some remnants remain of the familiar Mac sound--particularly Nicks' contributions.
While the pleasant "Sara" became a top ten hit from an otherwise less radio-friendly album, "Storms" leaves the listener emotionally exhausted. "Every hour of fear I spend / My body tries to cry / Living through each empty night / A deadly call inside. " The sparse guitar strings and ghostly background vocals set a dark and depressing tone, but Nicks' raw lyrics and fragile vocals help make this deep cut one of her most heartbreaking compositions.
"Outside the Rain" (Bella Donna, 1981)
Stevie's debut solo album included some of her biggest hits, including the Tom Petty duet "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" and the Grammy-nominated "Edge of Seventeen (Just Like the White-Winged Dove)." While those tracks typically show up in her usual solo set lists, this deep cut used to be an opener, even though it was never a big hit.
With a breezy drum beat reminiscent of "Dreams," Nicks delivers a moody tune about the struggle of finding love and getting it to stick. "Love is a word that some entertain," Nicks sings. "If you find it, you have won the game. "
"Sleeping Angel" (Fast Times at Ridgemont High, 1982)
Sometimes a prolific songwriter such as Nicks has an abundance of tracks that are produced for an album, yet ultimately get cut for run time. Sometimes those lost tracks get sanctioned for use on a film soundtrack, as has been the case for many songs in Nicks' catalog, including this underrated gem that was used for this eighties classic movie.
On an album busting with some of the era's most notable artists, including The Go-Go's and Oingo Boingo, Nicks' song is a quieter ballad. Stevie begins to sing "Take me if you need me, but never hold me down / You're asking me to trust you, well there's little of that around. " just as Jennifer Jason Leigh's character is left abandoned by the father of her unborn child, and the words serve as a poignant moment in this quintessential teen comedy.
"That's Alright" (Mirage, 1982)
After a debut solo album that reached number one on the Billboard charts and a string of top twenty hit singles, there was really no need for Nicks to return to Fleetwood Mac. But as she has always defended, her solo career was never meant as a severing of ties with the band. She cut short a successful tour to get back to work with the other members to release Mirage, the band's first album released in a post-MTV culture.
While Nicks' "Gypsy" would become an endearing hit for the band (as well as be the first MTV music video to cost $1 million), it's this country-tinged song that's an underrated standout. Finding herself at the proverbial train station, Nicks writes about moving on and leaving her lover, and hoping he's able to "find a love, [his] own designs of love, that's alright. "
"Enchanted" (The Wild Heart, 1983)
Dubbed "The Queen of Rock and Roll" by Rolling Stone magazine in the early eighties, Nicks has never really ventured into rockabilly territory, until this song was recorded for her sophomore album The Wild Heart. Backed by what sounds like an unused piano riff by Jerry Lee Lewis, Stevie channels an aching Wanda Jackson on verses such as "Love don't mean what it says at all / And my destiny says I was destined to fall. "
"Ooh My Love" (The Other Side of the Mirror, 1989)
Released during the "post-cocaine habit/pre-Klonopin addiction" phase of Stevie's career, TOSOTM tends to be a forgotten album in Stevie's repertoire (Even her set lists tend to neglect adding any songs from this album). Aside from one single released, "Rooms on Fire," the tracks on this underrated album boast some of Stevie's best work, including "Ooh My Love."
Using medieval imagery of castle walls and corridors, Stevie crafts a fairy tale of a woman separated from her long lost love, and the pain and torment it causes her: "It was a strain on her / Watching her castles fall down / Ooh, but there was a time when he called her angel. ".
Nicks has always had a fondness for fantasy and romance within her lyrics, and considering how this album was produced at a castle in Buckinghamshire, England, she had more than enough inspiration for solid songwriting.
"Doing the Best I Can" (The Other Side of the Mirror, 1989)
While most songs in Stevie's repertoire are about hopeless romantics and mystical women, she rarely writes about her troubled history with drug addiction, including her highly publicized stint at the Betty Ford Clinic in the mid-eighties. Yet we get a slight idea about what she went through in this track off her first solo album post-rehab experience.
"In my distress, well I wanted someone to blame me/In my devastation, I wanted so to change / In my way, disaster was the only thing I could depend on. " Balancing a rock and roll lifestyle between one of the most successful bands in rock history, as well as your own burgeoning solo career, can take its toll. With this song, Nicks understands that her choices with reaching the top ultimately found her hitting rock bottom.
"Illume" (Say You Will, 2003)
The Mac's first album of new material in the new millennium reflected a change in lineup (Christine McVie took early retirement after the massive success of their comeback album The Dance in the late nineties) and a change in the social landscape.
The September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center were still fresh and relevant, and Nicks happened to be in New York supporting her last solo effort at the time, Trouble in Shangri-La, at the same time. As the prolific songwriter that she is, Nicks was inspired by those events to write a song about loss and despair, dropping slight references to New York City, whose coastline glitters "like a diamond snake in a black sky." "I cannot pretend / That the heartache falls away / It's just like a river, it's never-ending. " With all the pain and loss after the events of 9/11, Nicks perfectly captured those emotions with this song.
"Mabel Normand" (24 Karat Gold: Songs from the Vault, 2014)
As Nicks was battling cocaine addiction in the eighties, she found a kindred spirit in actress Mabel Normand. Upon watching a documentary about the ill-fated silent film star, Nicks related to the Normand's lifestyle and dealings with the excesses of fame and downfall, and was inspired to write a song that would ultimately see the light of day on her most recent album.
"She did her work / But her heart was quietly crying / I guess she even felt guilty / About even dying. " Nicks has always had a penchant for writing deeply personal songs, yet with this track she manages to write about the tragic lifestyle of someone who had taken a similar path to stardom.
Categorized: Top Five
Discography
Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version or update your Flash plugin.
.
Reviews for "Behind the Scenes of the Practical Magic Soundtrack: An Interview with the Music Supervisor"
1. Jennifer - 2 stars
I was really disappointed with the soundtrack playlist for Practical Magic. I felt like it didn't capture the essence of the movie at all. The songs were bland and didn't evoke any emotion. I was expecting more magical and enchanting tunes, but the playlist fell short. It didn't enhance my viewing experience and I found myself wishing for better music throughout the film.
2. Ryan - 1 star
The Practical Magic soundtrack playlist was a complete letdown for me. The songs were so generic and forgettable that I couldn't even tell you one that stood out. It felt like the music was an afterthought, which is a shame because a good soundtrack can really elevate a movie. I was hoping for some mystical and haunting melodies that would complement the story, but instead, I got a playlist that sounded like something I could find on a random radio station.
3. Emma - 2 stars
I wasn't impressed with the soundtrack playlist for Practical Magic. The songs didn't resonate with me and didn't add anything to the overall experience. I felt like the music lacked depth and complexity, which could have enhanced the magical atmosphere of the movie. It was a missed opportunity to create a memorable soundtrack that would stay with the audience long after the credits rolled. Overall, I found the songs to be forgettable and unremarkable.