A Walk to Remember turns 15 this week, which means a lot of time has passed since I graduated high school in Vancouver, Canada (“Grad ’02! Grad ’02!”). Shortly after the film’s release, I used the contents of three red envelopes collected over Chinese New Year to buy the official soundtrack. It was the latest in my movie soundtrack library, a library that would die only two years later because soundtracks — and CDs — made way for the iPod. (That, and increasingly my money was better spent on pizza, Subway sandwiches, and other college necessities). The soundtrack was released during the second half of my senior year and provided the most excellent send-off to my first semester of college. It made my hour-long commute on the no. 99 bus charming and bearable. 15 years later, Mandy Moore and I are in our early 30s (we’re the same age) and we both seem to have jobs we love. (There’s even talk of an onscreen reunion with Shane West so fingers crossed, everyone). In honor of the film’s anniversary and more importantly, the music it gave to the world, I threw a little listening party at my desk. Here’s how I spent my afternoon.
1. “I Dare You to Move” by Switchfoot
Oh my goodness, of course, this song. Goosebumps are forming on my arms. I first heard this song midway in the trailer, when Landon shows off to his awful buddies by the lockers and pretends he’s too good for Jamie. I really wanted to punch Shane West’s beautiful face at the time. I still do, because no one deserves that, especially not poor, sweet Jamie and her neat bangs.
2. “Cry” by Mandy Moore
This song plays at the end of the film, when Landon looks off into the sunset shortly after Jamie’s death and says something about how her love is like the wind (he can’t see it but he can feel it). It is so incredibly sappy but I bought it then and I still buy it now. Try listening to this song without crying. I dare you (to cry).
3. “Someday We’ll Know” by Mandy Moore and Jonathan Foreman of Switchfoot
Can someone tell me why this soundtrack is out of order? Am I expected to dry my tears and think happy thoughts like how Landon gets dancing lessons from his mom before trying it out with Jamie while this song plays? Oh and wonderful news, after all these years, I finally realize why the New Radicals are on the soundtrack (see second to last entry). This is a cover of their song, duh. Also, whatEVER happened to Amelia Earhart?
4. “Dancing in the Moonlight” by Toploader
OMG she’s in two places at once and he made it all possible! I’m done. Also, tell me you’ve never gotten up to sing along once the drums take a wee break near the end of the song.
5. “Learning to Breathe” by Switchfoot
This is the second of four Switchfoot songs on the album and unfortunately my least favorite so yeah, I skipped this one a lot during my commutes. It’s not a bad song, it’s just not as great as the other tracks. I totally get why it’s on here though: I can easily picture Shane West and his cheekbones walking along the pier to this. But seriously, does anyone know if it’s even in the movie?
6. “Only Hope” by Mandy Moore
Yes! The school play! The blue dress. Mandy’s ~hair~. Shane’s cute suspenders and tie. I used to clasp my hands together like that (at the word “pray”) whenever I was on the bus. Did people look at me? Probably. Did I care? Of course not. WWJD (What Would Jamie Do)? True story: I tried playing this on the piano but failed because I became too distracted and lazy during the summer before college. Maybe it’s time to try again.
7. “It’s Gonna Be Love” by Mandy Moore
I call this the butterfly song because it’s when Landon puts a temporary butterfly tattoo on Jamie’s shoulder, right after she’s in two places at once and right before he kisses her. Can’t say these lyrics apply to the bleak climate of American right now. (It’s not gonna be great or free. Ugh).
8. “You” by Switchfoot
Scratch what I said earlier about Switchfoot song number two. I have no recollection of this one whatsoever. We are entering what I’d like to call the dark section of the album because Mandy Moore’s work is done. Again, I can picture Landon looking sad while taking a scenic stroll, but I can’t place this song. Disclaimer: I hit next around the 1-minute mark because I don’t have time to figure out if it’s “in you” or “me.” Sorry.
9. “If You Believe” by Rachael Lampa
Is this song supposed to be here? Why isn’t Mandy singing? Good news: I managed to finish this song because I was looking for photos of Mandy and Shane. Look, cheekbones:
10. “No One” by Cold
I’m awful because I skipped this song 15 years ago and just did the same thing. Sorry to the person who decided this would add to the roughness of Landon’s character. (It doesn’t).
11. “So What Does It All Mean” by West, Gould and Fitzgerald
Did you know that Shane West was in a band? I didn’t until this movie came out and this song magically made its way to the soundtrack. Some Shane West trivia for you: his band was originally called Average Joe but they weren’t allowed to use that because of legal reasons, so when it came time for A Walk to Remember, Shane and his band just used their last names. They later went by the name Jonny Was and even had a MySpace page. MySpace! I’ll never forget the way Shane sings/screams “I’ll show my colorful life (it’s more like “co-luh-ful”).
12. “Mother, We Just Can’t Get Enough” by New Radicals
The listening party is almost over. To speed the process, I’m not going to finish this song but I’ll offer one thought: I’ll always remember the New Radicals for their hit, “You Get What You Give.” It was inescapable on Canadian radio when I was in eighth grade. If you knew the song, you were alright among the cool kids. Yeah, my school was ~cool~.
13. “Only Hope” by Switchfoot
While the soundtrack could’ve used some work on the order of songs, it succeeded in saving the best for last. This version of “Only Hope” is the version Jamie and Landon get married to, at the chapel her parents got married in. This also marks Mandy’s last scene before her character’s death transformation into the wind that follows Landon wherever he goes. I don’t know if it’s the violin or the light guitar notes — this is a beautiful stuff.
Final thoughts:
For a Nicholas Sparks adaptation, this movie is coming-of-age romance at its best. It’s cheesy, but it’s the kind of cheese you want to warm in your oven 10 minutes before your dinner party guests arrive, the kind of cheese you want to share with everyone you know and buy more of the second it runs out. As an album, A Walk to Remember will never be The Graduate or even Garden State, but it doesn’t have to be. All a good soundtrack needs to do is make you think of the story and characters you fell in love with and look back on a time when commuting on the no. 99 bus was all you had to worry about (besides mid-terms, finals, and the occasional crush on a TA).
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