It is basically impossible to think about 1998 without smelling Midnight Margaritas and hearing that specific, jangly acoustic guitar intro to "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic." Most movie soundtracks are just background noise. They fill the silence while people talk. But the songs from Practical Magic? They’re different. They aren't just a playlist; they are the actual connective tissue of the Owens family legacy. If you take the music out of that house, the house basically falls apart. Honestly, Alan Silvestri’s score is beautiful, but the needle drops are what people still talk about twenty-five years later.
There is a specific kind of alchemy that happened when music supervisor Karen Glauber started pulling tracks for this film. It wasn't just about what sounded "witchy." It was about capturing a very specific, late-90s feminine energy that felt both ancient and modern. You have Stevie Nicks—the reigning queen of the ethereal—sharing space with Nick Drake and Joni Mitchell. It’s a vibe.
The Stevie Nicks factor and the soul of the Owens house
Let's be real. You cannot talk about the songs from Practical Magic without starting with Stevie Nicks. She didn't just contribute music; she basically blessed the production. Stevie recorded two versions of "Crystal" for the soundtrack. Interestingly, the song wasn't new—it was originally a Fleetwood Mac track from their 1975 self-titled album, written by Stevie but originally sung by Lindsey Buckingham. For the movie, she took it back. She reclaimed it.
The version on the soundtrack is slower, more atmospheric. It feels like woodsmoke. When you hear it, you aren't just watching Sally and Gillian; you’re feeling the weight of the "blood on the moon" curse. It’s heavy.
Then there’s "If You Ever Did Believe." This track is peak Stevie. It was produced by Sheryl Crow, who also has a heavy presence on the soundtrack. There’s a rumor that Stevie actually felt a "presence" while recording these tracks for the film, which, if you know anything about her, isn't surprising. She’s the spiritual godmother of the movie. Without her raspy, haunting vocals, the Owens sisters wouldn't feel nearly as grounded in their own magic.
That kitchen scene: More than just tequila
Everyone remembers the "Midnight Margaritas" scene. It is the pinnacle of female friendship and family bonding on screen. But the song playing—"Coconut" by Harry Nilsson—is a weird, frantic, wonderful choice. It’s a silly song. It’s a song about a lime and a coconut and a stomach ache.
But in the context of the songs from Practical Magic, it serves a huge purpose. It breaks the tension. Before that scene, the movie is actually kind of dark. There’s a corpse in the garden. There’s a lot of fear. Then, the aunts get the blender out.
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The song represents the chaotic, messy side of magic. It’s not all candles and spells; sometimes it’s just getting drunk with your aunts and dancing like a maniac in a kitchen that’s older than the United States. It’s one of the few moments where the music is diegetic—meaning the characters are actually hearing it and reacting to it. It makes them human. It makes them relatable. We’ve all been there, maybe without the necromancy, but definitely with the margaritas.
The folk-rock influence and the sound of New England
The movie is set in a fictionalized version of Massachusetts, and the soundtrack leans hard into that coastal, moody, autumnal feeling. "A Case of You" by Joni Mitchell is a masterclass in songwriting, and its inclusion here is a stroke of genius. It’s a song about longing and being "frightened by the devil," which fits Sally Owens almost too well.
Then you have Nick Drake’s "Black Eyed Dog."
This is a deep cut. Nick Drake wasn't exactly a household name in 1998 for the general public, though he was a legend among musicians. Including him on the soundtrack gave the film a layer of indie credibility that most rom-coms of that era lacked. It’s a haunting song. It sounds like a cold breeze off the Atlantic. It underscores the "darkness" that Gillian is constantly running away from.
A quick look at the standout tracks:
- "This Kiss" by Faith Hill: This is the most "90s" moment in the film. It’s pop, it’s bright, and it represents the hope of normal, "white bread" love that Sally thinks she wants.
- "Is This Love" by Bob Marley and the Wailers: A weird choice on paper? Maybe. But it works in the scene where they are trying to banish Jimmy Angelov. It’s about vibration and energy.
- "Got To Give It Up" by Marvin Gaye: Another party track that grounds the aunts' eccentricity in something groovy and timeless.
Why the soundtrack works when others fail
Most soundtracks are just marketing tools. They’re a way to sell a CD (remember those?) by packing in three hits and ten filler tracks. But the songs from Practical Magic were curated to tell a story.
There is a narrative arc in the music. We start with the innocence and longing of Michelle Lewis’s "Nowhere and Everywhere" and end with the triumphant, soaring feeling of the townspeople coming together. The music mirrors Sally’s journey from a woman who is terrified of her own power to a woman who is jumping off her roof with an umbrella just because she can.
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The music is also incredibly tactile. You can almost feel the velvet and the herbs. When the soundtrack uses bridge music or transition tracks, it often relies on world instruments—harmoniums, bells, and strings—that feel "expensive" and "old world." It creates a sense of history.
The "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" debate
A lot of people forget that the version of "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" in the movie isn't the original Police version. It’s a cover by Shawn Colvin. Colvin was a staple of the late 90s Lilith Fair era, and her voice is much softer and more introspective than Sting’s.
By using a female artist to cover a song about obsession and magic, the film flips the perspective. It’s no longer just a song about a guy watching a girl; it becomes a song about the inherent magic of being alive and being in love. It’s subtle, but it’s a big reason why the opening of the movie feels so welcoming. It invites you into this world of "practical" magic where the extraordinary is just part of the daily routine.
The legacy of the music in 2026
It’s wild that in 2026, we are still talking about this. But "Whitchcore" and "Cottagecore" are huge on social media, and Practical Magic is the aesthetic blueprint for both. People are making TikToks and Reels using these specific songs to romanticize their lives.
The soundtrack has a longevity that most 90s films don't. It’s because the music doesn't feel dated. Sure, Faith Hill is very 1998, but Joni Mitchell, Nick Drake, and Stevie Nicks are timeless. They exist outside of trends.
The songs from Practical Magic provide a sense of comfort. It’s "comfort food" music. When you put it on, you’re transported to a house where there’s always a pot of tea (or a pitcher of margaritas) waiting, and where the women are powerful enough to handle whatever comes their way. It’s a sonic safety blanket.
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How to bring the Practical Magic vibe into your daily life
If you're looking to capture that specific energy, you don't need a spellbook. You just need a decent speaker and some intention.
First, go beyond the official soundtrack. The 1998 release left off some of the best incidental music. Look for the "Midnight Margaritas" expanded playlists that fans have curated. They often include more blues and soul tracks that the aunts would have definitely listened to while gardening at 2 AM.
Second, pay attention to the acoustics. Part of what makes the music in the film work is the "room sound." It feels like it’s being played in a big, drafty Victorian house. If you’re playing these songs at home, let the sound fill the space.
Finally, use the music as a timer for your own "rituals." Whether you're cleaning the house, cooking dinner, or actually doing some intentional manifestation, the rhythm of these songs is designed to build energy. There is a reason "If You Ever Did Believe" builds to that soaring crescendo. It’s meant to make you feel like you can flip a spark into a flame.
The most important takeaway is that the music in Practical Magic isn't about being perfect. It’s about being authentic. It’s about the "black-eyed dog" and the "midnight margaritas." It’s about the light and the dark. That’s the real magic.
To truly experience the depth of this soundtrack, start by listening to the lyrics of "Crystal" while looking at the history of the Fleetwood Mac transition in the mid-70s. It adds a whole layer of "reclaiming power" that perfectly mirrors Sally and Gillian’s journey. Then, go find the original Harry Nilsson version of "Coconut"—it’s weirder than you remember, and it’s the perfect backing track for any kitchen-based chaos you have planned.