The Gilmore Girls music soundtrack takes the show’s cozy vibes to the next level. Listening along is another way to get that Stars Hollow aesthetic, especially if you’re taking the Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge and reading from the Gilmore Girls book list with us, which we’ve done since 2020, with me as your fearless book club leader. I rewatch the show on a loop for pop culture references and share them on our podcast!
From the theme song, “Where You Lead” by Carole King, to the ever-present “la la” sounds of Sam Phillips and the timely serenades of the town troubadour, Grant Lee Phillips, here you’ll find a breakdown of the most iconic songs in the Gilmore Girls universe and get a curated playlist to listen to. Note that there are spoilers for scenes in which they appear! Let’s tune in to the music that makes the show so magical.
What is the best Gilmore Girls music?
Let’s start with the best of the best! These are the songs that are most iconic in Gilmore Girls:
- “Where You Lead” by Carole King (who also guest-starred as Sophie): the opening theme song
- “There She Goes” by The La’s: opening scene in the Gilmore Girls Pilot
- “My Little Corner of the World” by Yo La Tengo: Lorelai and Rory talk in Luke’s Diner to end Season One
- “How to Dream” by Sam Phillips (composer of the show’s original score): The “la-las” heard throughout the series
- “Reflecting Light” by Sam Phillips: Luke’s and Lorelai’s wedding song in A Year in the Life on Netflix
I checked Spotify to see which ones are most popular with listeners (based on number of listens), and the results may surprise you!:
More of the Best Gilmore Girls Music by Season, Episode, and Scene
Below is the best of the Gilmore Girls soundtrack. I re-watched the entire series multiple times to compile it (not that I minded), and I picked the songs based on this criteria:
- The most memorable musical moments on Gilmore Girls
- Deference to songs by Sam Phillips (the composer) and Grant Lee Phillips (the troubadour)
- The most relevant songs of the era
- Fit the aesthetic of the show
My goals are for you to immediately picture the moment when you hear the song and/or feel like you’re in Stars Hollow as you listen, not to catalog a list of everything heard on the show.
Season 1
|
Title |
Artist |
Episode |
Scene |
|
“There She Goes” |
The La’s |
1 (“Pilot”) |
Opening scene as Lorelai heads to Luke’s Diner |
|
“Where the Colors Don’t Go” |
Sam Phillips |
1 (“Pilot”) |
Lorelai looks at pictures on the mantle |
|
“I Try” |
Macy Gray |
1 (“Pilot”) |
Plays after Lorelai and Rory fight about Dean |
|
“I’m the Man Who Murdered Love” |
XTC |
Lane plays it |
|
|
“I Don’t Know How to Say Goodbye to You” |
Sam Phillips |
2 (“The Lorelais’ First Day at Chilton”) |
Lorelai and Rory drive around town |
|
“Truly Truly” |
Grant Lee Buffalo |
When Dean apologizes to Rory |
|
|
“Someone to Watch Over Me” |
Rickie Lee Jones |
Luke sees Lorelai and Max in the snow |
|
|
“Pictures of You” |
The Cure |
8 (“Love and War and Snow”) |
Lane listens in Rory’s room |
|
“Fade Into You” |
Mazzy Star |
9 (“Rory’s Dance”) |
Dean and Rory dance |
|
“Thanks For Christmas” |
Exohxo |
Lorelai gives Luke a new hat |
|
|
“Earn Enough For Us” |
XTC |
12 (“Double Date“) |
Opening sequence with Lorelai and Rory getting ready in the morning |
|
“God Only Knows” |
Claudine Longet |
12 (“Double Date”) |
Rory and Lane listen to it |
|
“Hero Takes a Fall” |
The Bangles |
13 (“Concert Interruptus“) |
The Bangles concert |
|
“Eternal Flame” |
The Bangles |
13 (“Concert Interruptus”) |
The Bangles concert |
|
“Beautiful Dreamers” |
Grant Lee Phillips |
14 (“That Damn Donna Reed“) |
Troubadour sings when Luke and Lorelai move paint |
|
“Oh My Love” |
John Lennon |
16 (“Star-Crossed Lovers and Other Strangers”) |
Dean gives Rory a car |
|
“What Do I Do” |
Sam Phillips |
17 (“The Breakup, Part 2”) |
Lorelai goes to Max’s |
|
“Everyday I Write the Book” |
Elvis Costello |
17 (“The Breakup, Part 2”) |
Plays at the party |
|
“My Little Corner of the World” |
Yo La Tengo |
21 (“Love, Daisies and Troubadours”) |
Last scene of Season One |
Season 2
|
Title |
Artist |
Episode |
Scene |
|
“I Found Love” |
The Free Design |
1 (“Sadie, Sadie”) |
Opens Season Two |
|
“Love Will Keep Us Together” |
Captain and Tenille |
2 (“Hammers and Veils”) |
Miss Patty’s dancers perform |
|
“One Fine Day” |
The Chiffons |
2 (“Hammers and Veils”) |
Lorelai goes to Luke’s Diner |
|
“Love Is Everywhere I Go” |
Sam Phillips |
2 (“Hammers and Veils”) |
Max and Lorelai dance |
|
“Get Happy” |
Judy Garland |
3 (“Red Light on the Wedding Night”) |
Lorelai’s bachelorette party |
|
“True” |
Spandeau Ballet |
3 (“Red Light on the Wedding Night”) |
While Emily talks |
|
“Thank Heaven For Little Girls” |
Maurice Chevalier |
6 (“Presenting Lorelai Gilmore”) |
Debutante ball |
|
“Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” |
Cyndi Lauper |
7 (“Like Mother, Like Daughter”) |
Fashion show |
|
“Human Behavior” |
Bjork |
10 (“The Bracebridge Dinner”) |
Rory and Lorelai see their snowman ruined |
|
“Whatever Will Be, Will Be” |
Doris Day |
11 (“Secrets and Loans”) |
Lorelai falls through the porch |
|
“Legal Man” |
Belle and Sebastian |
14 (“It Should’ve Been Lorelai”) |
The CD dropoff scene |
|
“What a Wonderful World” |
Joey Ramone |
15 (“Lost and Found”) |
Luke makes a hole in the apartment wall |
|
“Someone to Watch Over Me” |
Frank Sinatra |
16 (“There’s the Rub”) |
Emily dances with a man at the bar |
|
“White Lines” |
Grandmaster and Melle Mel |
19 (“Teach Me Tonight”) |
Kirk dances in his film |
|
“I Can’t Get Started” |
Ella Fitzgerald |
22 (“I Can’t Get Started”) |
Sookie tries to pick a wedding song; also closes the season at Sookie’s wedding |
Season 3
|
Title |
Artist |
Episode |
Scene |
|
“Those Lazy Hazy Crazy Days of Summer” |
Nat King Cole |
1 (“Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days”) |
At the Stars Hollow festival |
|
“In the Mood” |
Glenn Miller |
7 (“They Shoot Gilmores, Don’t They?”) |
Opening scene and plays at the dance marathon |
|
“Sing Sing Sing (With a Swing)” |
James Horner Prima |
7 (“They Shoot Gilmores, Don’t They?”) |
Start of the dance marathon |
|
“Then She Appeared” |
XTC |
8 (“Let the Games Begin”) |
Rory’s and Jess’s first real kiss |
|
“99 Luftballoons” |
Nena |
13 (“Dear Emily and Richard”) |
Lorleai listens while in labor with Rory |
|
“One For My Baby” |
Frank Sinatra |
14 (“Swan Song”) |
Miss Patty sings at her show |
|
“Prologue: Into the Woods” |
Into the Woods cast |
16 (“The Big One”) |
Paris sings to Brad |
|
“Fell in Love With a Girl” |
The White Stripes |
19 (“Keg! Max!”) |
The band plays |
|
“Catch a Wave” |
The Beach Boys |
21 (“Here Comes the Son”) |
When Jess is on the beach |
Season 4
|
Title |
Artist |
Episode |
Scene |
|
“Tell Her What She Wants to Know” |
Sam Phillips |
2 (“The Lorelais’ First Day at Yale”) |
Rory and Lorelai say goodbye |
|
“Shadow Dancing” |
Andy Gibb |
5 (“The Fundamental Things Apply”) |
Lorelai avoids Emily in the car |
|
“The Whiffenpoof Song” |
The Whiffenpoofs |
9 (“Ted Koppel’s Big Night Out”) |
Richard sings at the tailgate |
|
“Mona Lisa” |
Grant Lee Phillips |
13 (“Nag Hammadi Is Where They Found the Gnostic Gospels”) |
Troubadour plays at the Firelight Festival |
|
“So Says I” |
The Shins |
17 (“Girls in Bikinis, Boys Doin’ the Twist”) |
Plays at the club |
|
“Windy” |
The Association |
18 (“Tick, Tick, Tick, Boom!”) |
Dean stops Rory in the street |
|
“Time Bomb” |
Rancid |
19 (“Afterboom”) |
Hep Alien plays |
|
“Too Shy” |
Kajagoogoo |
21 (“Last Week Fights, This Week Tights”) |
Liz and TJ’s wedding |
|
“Reflecting Light” |
Sam Phillips |
21 (“Last Week Fights, This Week Tights”) |
Luke and Lorelai dance at Liz and TJ’s wedding |
|
“Satellite of Love” |
Lou Reed |
22 (“Raincoats and Recipes”) |
When Dean is at the house |
Season 5
|
Title |
Artist |
Episode |
Scene |
|
“If I Could Write” |
Sam Phillips |
1 (“Say Goodbye to Daisy Miller”) |
Lorelai and Rory prepare for their European trip |
|
“The Candy Man” |
Sammy Davis, Jr. |
1 (“Say Goodbye to Daisy Miller”) |
Rory’s and Dean’s song |
|
“Lily-A-Passion” |
Sam Phillips |
3 (“Written in the Stars”) |
Lorelai’s and Luke’s first date |
|
“My Happy Ending” |
Avril Lavigne |
4 (“Tippecanoe and Taylor, Too”) |
Clara plays loudly |
|
“Believe It or Not” |
Joey Scarbury |
4 (“Tippecanoe and Taylor, Too”) |
Jackson’s song |
|
“Here Comes Pippi Longstocking” |
Astrid Lindgren |
5 (“We Got Us a Pippi Virgin”) |
Lorelai and Rory sing |
|
“As Time Goes By” |
Frank Sinatra |
7 (“You Jump, I Jump, Jack”) |
The Life and Death Brigade sings |
|
“Come On-A My House” |
Rosemary Clooney |
8 (“The Party’s Over”) |
Lorelai plays at Luke’s |
|
“Wedding Bell Blues” |
The 5th Dimension |
13 (“Wedding Bell Blue”) |
Richard’s and Emily’s dance |
|
“Moon River” |
Audrey Hepburn |
13 (“Wedding Bell Blue”) |
Lorelai and Luke dance |
|
“Do You Love Me” |
Fiddler on the Roof cast |
15 (“Jews and Chinese Food”) |
Kirk sings |
|
“Woo Hoo” |
The 5.6.7.8s |
17 (“Pulp Friction”) |
Quentin Tarantino party |
|
“You Never Can Tell” |
Chuck Berry |
17 (“Pulp Friction”) |
Quentin Tarantino party |
|
“Aquarius” |
The 5th Dimension |
18 (“To Live and Let Diorama”) |
Plays at the diorama |
|
“Walking on Sunshine” |
Katrina and the Waves |
20 (“How Many Kropogs to Cape Cod?”) |
Paris sings |
|
“I Think It’s Going to Rain” |
Claudine Longet |
22 (“A House Is Not a Home”) |
Rory moves into the pool house |
Season 6
|
Title |
Artist |
Episode |
Scene |
|
“Magic To Do” |
Pippin cast |
5 (“We’ve Got Magic To Do”) |
Performed at Miss Patty’s recital |
|
“Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree” |
The Andrews Sisters |
5 (“We’ve Got Magic To Do”) |
Richard and Emily dance at the DAR function |
|
“Zydeco Boogaloo” |
Buckwheat Zydeco |
15 (“A Vineyard Valentine”) |
The zydeco band audition |
|
“Hollaback Girl” |
Gwen Stefani |
16 (“Bridesmaids Revisited”) |
Hep Alien Plays |
|
“Heart of Glass” |
Blondie |
19 (“I Get a Sidekick Out of You”) |
Plays at Lane’s and Zack’s wedding |
|
“I’m a Believer” |
The Monkees |
19 (“I Get a Sidekick Out of You”) |
Plays at Lane’s and Zack’s wedding |
|
“Taking Pictures” |
Sam Phillips |
22 (“Partings”) |
Troubadour performs |
Season 7
|
Title |
Artist |
Episode |
Scene |
|
“Funny Face” |
Fred Astaire |
4 (“‘S Wonderful, ‘S Marvelous”) |
Plays at the movies |
|
“You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling” |
The Righteous Brothers |
6 (“Go, Bulldogs!”) |
Kirk sings |
|
“Hot in Herre” |
Nelly |
9 (“Knit, People, Knit!”) |
Paris and Doyle dance |
|
“Work It” |
Missy Elliott |
9 (“Knit, People, Knit!”) |
Plays at the 2002 party |
|
“I’ll Be Home For Christmas” |
Bing Crosby |
12 (“To Whom It May Concern”) |
Lorelai mails Luke’s letter |
|
“My Heart Will Go On” |
Celine Dion |
14 (“Farewell, My Pet”) |
Zack plays at Chin-Chin’s funeral |
|
“Raise the Spirit” |
Grant Lee Phillips |
18 (“Hay Bale Maze”) |
The troubadour plays in the maze |
|
“Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?” |
Culture Club |
20 (“Lorelai? Lorelai?”) |
Kirk sings karaoke |
|
“I Will Always Love You” |
Dolly Parton |
20 (“Lorelai? Lorelai?”) |
Lorelai sings karaoke |
|
“You’re the Top” |
Cole Porter |
21 (“Unto the Breach”) |
Richard and Emily sing to Rory at her party |
|
“How to Dream” |
Sam Phillips |
22 (“Bon Voyage”) |
Rory sleeps |
|
“Inside Out” |
The Mighty Lemon Drops |
22 (“Bon Voyage”) |
Luke and Lorelai kiss |
A Year in the Life (Netflix)
|
Title |
Artist |
Episode |
Scene |
|
“Winterglow” |
Grant Lee Phillips |
Winter |
Troubadour sings |
|
“Top of the World” |
The Carpenters |
Winter |
Kirk sings |
|
“Time” |
Tom Waits |
Winter |
Richard’s funeral |
|
“I’m the Man” |
Joe Jackson |
Winter |
Hep Alien rehearses |
|
“Valley Winter Song” |
Fountains of Wayne |
Winter |
Troubadour sings |
|
“Here You Come Again” |
Dolly Parton |
Winter |
Plays at the end |
|
“Pick Yourself Up” |
Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers |
Spring |
Rory says she’s moving home |
|
“Bubbles” |
The Free Design |
Summer |
Rory and Lorelai walk with parasols |
|
“These Boots Are Made For Walkin'” |
Nancy Sinatra |
Summer |
Rory delivers newspapers |
|
“I Feel the Earth Move” |
Carole King |
Summer |
Sophie plays |
|
“Waterloo” |
ABBA |
Summer |
Sung at the end of the Stars Hollow musical |
|
“With a Little Help From My Friends” |
The Beatles |
Fall |
The Life and Death Brigade scene |
|
“Reflecting Light” |
Sam Phillips |
Fall |
Luke’s and Lorelai’s wedding |
How Gilmore Girls Music Reflects the Show’s Themes
According to Vice, there is so much music in Gilmore Girls because:
“Amy Sherman-Palladino and her husband [Danny Palladino] both wanted the show to have its own sound, putting a significant amount of focus on the theme song and score.”
The result is a musical blend of indie rock, folk, classic rock, alternative, and acoustic tracks, often featuring lesser-known artists.
The tone is generally as emotional, introspective, and nostalgic as Gilmore Girls itself, highlighting the small-town, coming-of-age themes. The show also nicely weaves in punk for the rebellious characters, such as Lane and Jess.
And, it’s reflective of the 2000s era. I worked at Gap, a casual American retailer known for its music, at the time, and many of these songs overlap– like all good mixtapes do.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Gilmore Girls soundtrack was composed by Sam Phillips, who created the show’s signature “la-la” musical cues. Her soft styles added emotional depth, shaping the series’ cozy atmosphere.
Musician Grant Lee Phillips portrays the town troubadour in Gilmore Girls. He appears throughout the series, performing songs around Stars Hollow that contribute to the small-town charm.
Hep Alien is a fictional band from Gilmore Girls, formed by Lane Kim and her friends. While the actors performed some music on screen, the band itself does not exist outside the show.
Zack from Gilmore Girls is played by Todd Lowe, an actor who is also a real musician. Outside the show, he has performed with bands like Pilbilly Knights, blending his acting and musical talents in both television and real life.
Sebastian Bach, former guitarist and lead singer of Skid Row, plays Gil in Gilmore Girls. He joins Lane’s band, Hep Alien, bringing real rock star energy to the fictional group and adding authenticity to the show’s musical scenes.
