You know that feeling when a movie just sounds like New York City? Not the gritty, subway-screeching New York, but the romanticized, 1990s version where everyone wears oversized coats and drinks coffee in diners that actually stay open all night. That’s exactly what happens when you put on the It Could Happen to You soundtrack. It’s a time capsule.
Nicolas Cage plays a cop who tips a waitress (Rosie Perez) with a lottery ticket. It’s a sweet, somewhat cheesy premise based on a true story from the 80s involving Robert Cunningham and Phyllis Penzo. But honestly? The music is what keeps this flick in the cultural rotation. While the movie is a standard rom-com, the soundtrack is a masterclass in mid-century jazz curation. It doesn't just sit in the background. It carries the weight of the city’s soul.
The Genius of Carter Burwell and Classic Standards
Most people know Carter Burwell for his moody, atmospheric work with the Coen Brothers. Think Fargo or Miller's Crossing. Here, he pivots. He manages to weave his original compositions around giants like Frank Sinatra and Billie Holiday without it feeling jarring. That’s a hard trick to pull off. Usually, when you mix modern film scoring with legendary jazz standards, one of them feels like a cheap imitation. Not here.
The title track, "It Could Happen to You," is the heart of the whole thing. Written by Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Burke back in 1944, it’s been covered by everyone from Miles Davis to Peggy Lee. In the context of the film, it’s the thesis statement. The version by Frank Sinatra included here isn't just a song; it's the sonic embodiment of the "what if" factor that drives the plot.
Music supervisor Mary Ramos—who later became a legend working with Quentin Tarantino—clearly knew what she was doing. She didn't just pick "hits." She picked moods.
Why This Tracklist Works So Well
If you look at the tracklist, it’s basically a "Greatest Hits" of vocal jazz, but it avoids the clichés of "Fly Me to the Moon." You’ve got Chet Baker’s "Young@Heart." Chet’s voice is famously fragile. It’s got that wispy, almost-breaking quality that perfectly mirrors the vulnerability of the characters. When you hear him sing, you aren't thinking about a lottery ticket. You're thinking about the risk of being nice to a stranger.
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Then you have Mary Chapin Carpenter doing "The Hard Way." It’s a bit of a departure from the jazzier stuff, but it fits the blue-collar vibe of Cage’s character, Charlie Lang. It’s a reminder that the movie is rooted in a working-class struggle. Life is hard, and sometimes you just need a win.
The Heavy Hitters
Billie Holiday’s "They Can't Take That Away From Me" shows up, and it’s just... perfection. There is something about Holiday’s phrasing that makes every word feel earned. The way she drags slightly behind the beat creates this sense of longing that a million-dollar lottery win can’t fix. It grounds the movie. Without this music, the film might have floated away into pure fluff.
And don't forget Tony Bennett. His version of "The Best Is Yet to Come" provides the necessary swagger. New York is a city of ego and ambition, and Bennett’s voice is the soundtrack to that ambition. It’s the sound of a guy who just won the jackpot and actually believes his life is about to be perfect.
The Sound of 1994 New York
There was a specific trend in the early-to-mid 90s. Sleepless in Seattle had done it in '93. When Harry Met Sally did it in '89. These movies were obsessed with the Great American Songbook. Why? Because it provided an instant sense of timelessness. Even though the It Could Happen to You soundtrack came out in 1994, it sounds like it could be from 1954 or 2024.
That’s the secret sauce for ranking on Discover—longevity. People are still searching for this soundtrack because it’s a gateway drug for jazz. If you’ve never listened to Miles Davis or John Coltrane, this album is a safe, melodic entry point. It’s "dinner party jazz" in the best possible way.
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Does it hold up?
Honestly, yeah.
If you stream it today, the transition from Burwell’s "Slot Machine" cues into a classic ballad still feels seamless. The production on the Burwell tracks is clean but warm. He uses a lot of piano and soft woodwinds that bridge the gap between "movie music" and "jazz club music."
Common Misconceptions About the Music
One thing people often get wrong is thinking the entire score is jazz. It’s not. There are several pop and contemporary country-leaning tracks that were added to help the album sell in the 90s. While they aren't the highlight for purists, they provide a necessary contrast.
Another misconception: that the movie's version of the title track is the "best" one. While the Sinatra version is iconic, many fans of the film actually prefer the instrumental variations peppered throughout the score. They feel more intimate. They feel like the quiet moments in a Queens diner at 3:00 AM.
Real-World Impact
The soundtrack actually helped revitalize interest in some of these standards for a younger generation. In 1994, grunge was king. Nirvana and Pearl Jam were everywhere. To release a soundtrack dominated by 40-year-old jazz songs was a bit of a gamble. But it worked. It offered an alternative to the angst. It offered "sophistication."
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How to Experience This Music Today
If you're looking to dive into the It Could Happen to You soundtrack, don't just shuffle it on Spotify. Listen to it in the order it was intended. There is a narrative arc to the tracklist that mirrors the rising and falling action of the film.
- Start with the standards. Focus on the phrasing of Billie Holiday and Frank Sinatra. Notice how they tell a story with just a slight pause in a lyric.
- Listen for the Burwell cues. These are the shorter tracks that usually get skipped. They contain the melodic DNA of the film.
- Compare versions. If you like the title track, go find the version by Sonny Rollins or Wynton Marsalis. See how different artists interpret the same "luck and love" theme.
Actionable Insights for Music Lovers
If you want to build a collection or a playlist inspired by this vibe, look for "Cool Jazz" and "Vocal Jazz" from the late 50s. The It Could Happen to You soundtrack is essentially a curated "Best Of" for the West Coast Jazz sound—relaxed, melodic, and deeply emotional.
For those trying to track down a physical copy, the original CD is still relatively easy to find in used bins, and it’s worth it for the liner notes alone. They provide a glimpse into the licensing world of the 90s, where getting these masters together was a Herculean task.
If you’re a songwriter or a filmmaker, study how Burwell uses a simple four-note motif to link his original music to the legendary songs. It’s a lesson in musical economy. You don't need a 100-piece orchestra to make someone feel the weight of a life-changing moment. Sometimes, a solo trumpet and a soft brush on a snare drum are all you need to tell a story about a guy, a girl, and a lottery ticket.
Final Takeaway
The It Could Happen to You soundtrack isn't just movie merchandise. It’s a beautifully sequenced introduction to an era of music that never goes out of style. Whether you're walking through Central Park or just doing the dishes, it makes life feel a little bit more like a movie. And isn't that why we listen to music in the first place? It gives the mundane a sense of magic. It makes you believe that, yeah, it really could happen to you.
Seek out the high-fidelity versions of the Holiday and Sinatra tracks to hear the true depth of the original recordings. Most modern streaming services now offer "Ultra HD" or "Lossless" versions of these classics, which reveal the subtle room acoustics and tape hiss that give this music its character. Once you’ve mastered this soundtrack, move on to the Round Midnight or Mo' Better Blues soundtracks for a deeper dive into how cinema and jazz have stayed married for decades.