You can basically hear the late nineties just by thinking about the opening strings of "Bittersweet Symphony." It’s visceral. When Cruel Intentions hit theaters in March 1999, it wasn't just another teen movie trying to be edgy by transplanting Les Liaisons Dangereuses into a Manhattan prep school. It was a stylistic reset. A lot of that credit goes to the Cruel Intentions soundtrack, a curated collection of Britpop, trip-hop, and alternative rock that did more than just provide background noise. It actually told the story.
Music supervisor Mary Ramos and director Roger Kumble didn't just pick hits. They picked moods.
Honestly, the soundtrack functions like a diary of a very specific, very wealthy, and very bored demographic. It’s dark. It’s sexy. It feels like expensive silk and bad decisions. While other soundtracks of the era, like American Pie or Can't Hardly Wait, were busy leaning into the pop-punk explosion, this record went in the opposite direction. It went moody. It went European.
The Bittersweet Symphony of Branding
The most iconic moment in the film—and arguably in 90s teen cinema—is Sarah Michelle Gellar’s Kathryn Merteuil sitting on the steps of the church as her world falls apart. The song? The Verve’s "Bittersweet Symphony."
It’s perfect.
But there is a bit of a weird history there. Richard Ashcroft and The Verve famously lost the rights to that song to ABKCO Records (and Mick Jagger/Keith Richards) because of a Rolling Stones sample. For years, they didn't see a dime from it. Yet, its inclusion in the Cruel Intentions soundtrack cemented it as the anthem of a generation's disillusioned youth. The song feels like a victory and a funeral at the same time, which is exactly how the movie ends.
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Why the Tracklist Works Better Than Most
Most soundtracks are just a pile of songs. This one is different.
Take "Every You Every Me" by Placebo. Brian Molko’s nasal, sneering vocals kick off the movie while Sebastian Valmont (Ryan Phillippe) drives his 1956 Jaguar XK140. It sets the tone immediately: hedonism, bisexuality, and a complete lack of moral compass. If you swap that song out for something like Blink-182, the entire movie breaks. It becomes a comedy. With Placebo, it stays a psychodrama.
Then you have the softer, more deceptive tracks.
- "Colorblind" by Counting Crows plays during the pivotal scene where Sebastian and Annette (Reese Witherspoon) finally... well, you know. It’s a vulnerable song. It strips away the artifice. Adam Duritz’s piano-heavy ballad provides the only moment in the film where the characters feel like actual human beings instead of chess pieces.
- "Coffee & TV" by Blur brings a weird, jerky energy that fits the awkwardness of the supporting characters, specifically Cecile (Selma Blair).
- Fatboy Slim’s "Praise You" is tucked in there too, reminding us that 1999 was also the year of the superstar DJ.
The Trip-Hop Influence and the "Sexy" Factor
People forget how much trip-hop influenced the "cool" aesthetic of the late 90s. The Cruel Intentions soundtrack leans heavily into this. You have Sneaker Pimps with "6 Underground" (the Nellee Hooper Edit, specifically). It’s a slinky, down-tempo track that feels like the interior of a dark lounge.
Then there’s "Secret Smile" by Semisonic and "Porn Star" by Craig Armstrong.
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Armstrong’s inclusion is actually pretty high-brow. He’s a classical composer who worked with Massive Attack. Having him on a teen movie soundtrack gave the project a level of sophistication that its peers just didn't have. It didn't feel like "kid stuff." It felt like something you’d hear at a party where people drink expensive wine and talk about things they shouldn't.
The Legacy of the Virgin Records Deal
The business side of this record is actually kind of interesting if you're a nerd for music industry history. Virgin Records handled the release. Back then, soundtracks were massive revenue drivers. This wasn't just a promotional tool; it was a platinum-selling product.
It stayed on the Billboard 200 for months.
It’s one of the few albums where the "filler" tracks are just as good as the singles. "Bedroom Dancing" by Day One? Total vibe. "Comin' Up From Behind" by Marcy Playground? It captures that post-grunge haze perfectly. Most people bought it for The Verve, but they stayed for the eclectic mix of sounds they couldn't find on Top 40 radio.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Music
A common misconception is that the music was "too cool" for the movie. Some critics at the time thought the soundtrack was doing the heavy lifting for a shallow plot.
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I disagree.
The music acts as the subtext. Since the characters spend the whole movie lying to each other, the lyrics of the songs—like those in Aimee Mann's "You Could Make a Killing"—reveal what they’re actually feeling. It’s a layer of storytelling that’s often missed if you’re just watching for the drama. The music is the only honest thing in the world of the movie.
How to Experience the Soundtrack Today
If you're looking to revisit the Cruel Intentions soundtrack, don't just shuffle it on a streaming service. It was designed to be heard in order.
The flow from the aggressive energy of Placebo into the ethereal vibes of the Sneaker Pimps, and eventually into the soaring climax of "Bittersweet Symphony," is a deliberate arc. It mirrors Sebastian’s journey from a predatory cynic to a guy who actually, briefly, finds some redemption.
The 20th-anniversary vinyl reissues are probably the best way to consume it now. There’s something about the warmth of the analog sound that fits the 1950s aesthetic of Sebastian’s car and the old-world architecture of the Manhattan townhouses. It’s a tactile experience.
Practical Steps for Collectors and Fans
- Check the Tracklists: Not every regional release of the soundtrack is identical. The UK version sometimes featured different edits or additional tracks due to licensing quirks with Virgin and Astralwerks.
- Look for the Score: While the "Soundtrack" is the hits, the actual score by Edward Shearmur is haunting. It’s mostly strings and dark ambient tones. It’s often sold separately but is worth a listen for the atmosphere alone.
- Verify the Pressing: If you’re buying vinyl, look for the pink or "coke bottle clear" variants. They were mastered better than some of the early 2000s budget represses.
The Cruel Intentions soundtrack remains a masterclass in how to use music to define an era. It wasn't trying to be "timeless," which is exactly why it has aged so well. It is unapologetically 1999. It’s the sound of a very specific moment in pop culture where the mainstream was flirting with the underground, and for a few weeks in March, the two felt exactly the same.
To get the most out of the record today, listen to it while reading the original Les Liaisons Dangereuses or watching the film's director's cut. The juxtaposition of the 18th-century themes with the 90s electronic production is where the real magic happens. It highlights the universality of the story: people have been manipulative, bored, and obsessed with status forever. The only thing that changes is the music playing in the background.