Posted on May 6, 2017

A Definitive Ranking Of Songs From The "Josie And The Pussycats" Movie

Can't you just pretend to be nice?

by Holland Baker

Community Contributor

Ahead of its time and under-appreciated, Josie and the Pussycats brought us an amazing original soundtrack with songs written specifically for the movie (fun fact: Letters for Cleo singer Kay Hanley performed all of Josie's parts in the Pussycats' songs). So because these songs have been stuck in our heads since 2001, here is a definitive ranking:

The posthumous hit following DuJour's tragic plane crash, we hear "DuJour Around the World" in a record shop after Alan Cummings' Wyatt convinces an employee to play it over the speakers. An instant hit that both parodies the Backstreet Boys' "We Got It Going On" and convinces record shop patrons that orange is the new pink, it's only heard briefly and doesn't make quite as big of an impression as their first song.
Best lyric: "Nobody rocks the mic like DuJour/Ride on your motorbike with DuJour/Kickin' it in the Benz with DuJour/Bangin' round the world with/Wish you could be friends with DuJour." — youtube.com

The posthumous hit following DuJour's tragic plane crash, we hear "DuJour Around the World" in a record shop after Alan Cummings' Wyatt convinces an employee to play it over the speakers. An instant hit that both parodies the Backstreet Boys' "We Got It Going On" and convinces record shop patrons that orange is the new pink, it's only heard briefly and doesn't make quite as big of an impression as their first song.
Best lyric: "Nobody rocks the mic like DuJour/Ride on your motorbike with DuJour/Kickin' it in the Benz with DuJour/Bangin' round the world with/Wish you could be friends with DuJour."

youtube.com

The posthumous hit following DuJour's tragic plane crash, we hear "DuJour Around the World" in a record shop after Alan Cummings' Wyatt convinces an employee to play it over the speakers. An instant hit that both parodies the Backstreet Boys' "We Got It Going On" and convinces record shop patrons that orange is the new pink, it's only heard briefly and doesn't make quite as big of an impression as their first song.
Best lyric: "Nobody rocks the mic like DuJour/Ride on your motorbike with DuJour/Kickin' it in the Benz with DuJour/Bangin' round the world with/Wish you could be friends with DuJour."

A slow, sad song that Josie (Rachael Leigh Cook) listens to whilst taking a bubble bath—which ultimately turns Josie against her fellow bandmates Melody and Valerie (Tara Reid and Rosario Dawson) due to Mega Records' subliminal messaging. This one is a bit of a yawn, but it is instrumental in exposing Mega Records for their evil schemes.
Best Lyric: "This is the place where I sit/This is the part where I love you too much/Is this as hard as it gets?/'Cause I'm getting tired of pretending I'm tough" — youtube.com / Via youtube.com

A slow, sad song that Josie (Rachael Leigh Cook) listens to whilst taking a bubble bath—which ultimately turns Josie against her fellow bandmates Melody and Valerie (Tara Reid and Rosario Dawson) due to Mega Records' subliminal messaging. This one is a bit of a yawn, but it is instrumental in exposing Mega Records for their evil schemes.
Best Lyric: "This is the place where I sit/This is the part where I love you too much/Is this as hard as it gets?/'Cause I'm getting tired of pretending I'm tough"

youtube.com / Via youtube.com

A slow, sad song that Josie (Rachael Leigh Cook) listens to whilst taking a bubble bath—which ultimately turns Josie against her fellow bandmates Melody and Valerie (Tara Reid and Rosario Dawson) due to Mega Records' subliminal messaging. This one is a bit of a yawn, but it is instrumental in exposing Mega Records for their evil schemes.
Best Lyric: "This is the place where I sit/This is the part where I love you too much/Is this as hard as it gets?/'Cause I'm getting tired of pretending I'm tough"

This song originally came from Johnny O'Keefe in 1957 and has since been covered by the likes of Iggy Pop, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts and countless others. It's a pretty straightforward cover with a Pussycats edge and is featured as purely background music in the movie.
Best Lyric: "Well, I'm just outta school, like I'm real, real cool/Gotta dance like a fool, got the message that I gotta be a wild one" — Universal Pictures / Via youtube.com

This song originally came from Johnny O'Keefe in 1957 and has since been covered by the likes of Iggy Pop, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts and countless others. It's a pretty straightforward cover with a Pussycats edge and is featured as purely background music in the movie.
Best Lyric: "Well, I'm just outta school, like I'm real, real cool/Gotta dance like a fool, got the message that I gotta be a wild one"

Universal Pictures / Via youtube.com

This song originally came from Johnny O'Keefe in 1957 and has since been covered by the likes of Iggy Pop, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts and countless others. It's a pretty straightforward cover with a Pussycats edge and is featured as purely background music in the movie.
Best Lyric: "Well, I'm just outta school, like I'm real, real cool/Gotta dance like a fool, got the message that I gotta be a wild one"

This track was originally recorded by Barrett Strong in 1959 and co-written by Motown Records founder Berry Gordy. The Pussycats take their inspiration from The Beatles' version of the song, and we're treated to another by-the-book cover song that ties in scarily well with the commentary on consumer culture the film makes.
Best Lyric: "The best things in life are free/But you can give them to the birds and bees/I want money/That's what I want" — This track was originally recorded by Barrett Strong in 1959 and co-written by Motown Records founder Berry Gordy. The Pussycats take their inspiration from The Beatles' version of the song, and we're treated to another by-the-book cover song that ties in scarily well with the commentary on consumer culture the film makes.
Best Lyric: "The best things in life are free/But you can give them to the birds and bees/I want money/That's what I want"

This track was originally recorded by Barrett Strong in 1959 and co-written by Motown Records founder Berry Gordy. The Pussycats take their inspiration from The Beatles' version of the song, and we're treated to another by-the-book cover song that ties in scarily well with the commentary on consumer culture the film makes.
Best Lyric: "The best things in life are free/But you can give them to the birds and bees/I want money/That's what I want"

Most of the Pussycats' songs are of the break-up variety, and this one is no exception. Another purely soundtrack song, this one wishes an ex-flame well while still walking off as the bigger person.
Best Lyric: "I wish you well/I wish you love, oh/I wish myself/All of the above" — Universal Pictures / Via youtube.com

Most of the Pussycats' songs are of the break-up variety, and this one is no exception. Another purely soundtrack song, this one wishes an ex-flame well while still walking off as the bigger person.
Best Lyric: "I wish you well/I wish you love, oh/I wish myself/All of the above"

Universal Pictures / Via youtube.com

Most of the Pussycats' songs are of the break-up variety, and this one is no exception. Another purely soundtrack song, this one wishes an ex-flame well while still walking off as the bigger person.
Best Lyric: "I wish you well/I wish you love, oh/I wish myself/All of the above"

Another soundtrack song, this one rocks out while calling out a guy for being super fake. Another song that ties to the theme of the movie, this one allows you to call out all the shitty guys who've wronged you while finishing off with the nonchalance of a "whatever dude."
Best Lyric: "Gate crasher/Rehasher/If you think that's cool/Whatever dude" — Universal Pictures / Via youtube.com

Another soundtrack song, this one rocks out while calling out a guy for being super fake. Another song that ties to the theme of the movie, this one allows you to call out all the shitty guys who've wronged you while finishing off with the nonchalance of a "whatever dude."
Best Lyric: "Gate crasher/Rehasher/If you think that's cool/Whatever dude"

Universal Pictures / Via youtube.com

Another soundtrack song, this one rocks out while calling out a guy for being super fake. Another song that ties to the theme of the movie, this one allows you to call out all the shitty guys who've wronged you while finishing off with the nonchalance of a "whatever dude."
Best Lyric: "Gate crasher/Rehasher/If you think that's cool/Whatever dude"

We see this song play out while Josie does rocker poses in the mirror, which is perfectly in line with the confidence boosting lyrics this song boasts. This track is all about looking for a good time with no strings, asking a guy to "give it up, get it on or get out."
Best Lyric: "When everything's said and done/There's many more where you came from/Don't just stand there looking dumb/Baby, you're the lucky one" — Universal Picture / Via youtube.com

We see this song play out while Josie does rocker poses in the mirror, which is perfectly in line with the confidence boosting lyrics this song boasts. This track is all about looking for a good time with no strings, asking a guy to "give it up, get it on or get out."
Best Lyric: "When everything's said and done/There's many more where you came from/Don't just stand there looking dumb/Baby, you're the lucky one"

Universal Picture / Via youtube.com

We see this song play out while Josie does rocker poses in the mirror, which is perfectly in line with the confidence boosting lyrics this song boasts. This track is all about looking for a good time with no strings, asking a guy to "give it up, get it on or get out."
Best Lyric: "When everything's said and done/There's many more where you came from/Don't just stand there looking dumb/Baby, you're the lucky one"

We're treated this song while the girls all get their makeovers at Sally Hershberger's salon (oh 2001). It's the perfect makeover montage song for would-be superstars, and it really just kicks in general.
Best Lyrics: "Crank it up/Let's mess around/Be who you are/'Cause you're a star" — Universal Pictures / Via youtube.com

We're treated this song while the girls all get their makeovers at Sally Hershberger's salon (oh 2001). It's the perfect makeover montage song for would-be superstars, and it really just kicks in general.
Best Lyrics: "Crank it up/Let's mess around/Be who you are/'Cause you're a star"

Universal Pictures / Via youtube.com

We're treated this song while the girls all get their makeovers at Sally Hershberger's salon (oh 2001). It's the perfect makeover montage song for would-be superstars, and it really just kicks in general.
Best Lyrics: "Crank it up/Let's mess around/Be who you are/'Cause you're a star"

The movie starts out with the ultimate parody of a late-'90s/early '00s boy band, DuJour. The crooners open the film with their hilariously titled, "Backdoor Lover," with hunks and comedians by the likes of Breckin Meyer, Seth Green and Donald Faison, to name a few, singing directly to you.
Best Lyric: "You know that I won't hurt you, so open up and let me in/We love each other way to much for it to be a sin." — Universal Pictures / Via youtube.com

The movie starts out with the ultimate parody of a late-'90s/early '00s boy band, DuJour. The crooners open the film with their hilariously titled, "Backdoor Lover," with hunks and comedians by the likes of Breckin Meyer, Seth Green and Donald Faison, to name a few, singing directly to you.
Best Lyric: "You know that I won't hurt you, so open up and let me in/We love each other way to much for it to be a sin."

Universal Pictures / Via youtube.com

The movie starts out with the ultimate parody of a late-'90s/early '00s boy band, DuJour. The crooners open the film with their hilariously titled, "Backdoor Lover," with hunks and comedians by the likes of Breckin Meyer, Seth Green and Donald Faison, to name a few, singing directly to you.
Best Lyric: "You know that I won't hurt you, so open up and let me in/We love each other way to much for it to be a sin."

The climactic concert song that ends the film, this is the first song of the Pussycats' that the public hears without any subliminal messages. Just put down your cat ear headsets, and rock out to this girl rock anthem.
Best Lyrics: "Well I've been staring at he sun for some time/It gets dark inside, but I don't mind/And if you're gone it's like I'm going blind/I can't get by this time" — Universal Pictures / Via youtube.com

The climactic concert song that ends the film, this is the first song of the Pussycats' that the public hears without any subliminal messages. Just put down your cat ear headsets, and rock out to this girl rock anthem.
Best Lyrics: "Well I've been staring at he sun for some time/It gets dark inside, but I don't mind/And if you're gone it's like I'm going blind/I can't get by this time"

Universal Pictures / Via youtube.com

The climactic concert song that ends the film, this is the first song of the Pussycats' that the public hears without any subliminal messages. Just put down your cat ear headsets, and rock out to this girl rock anthem.
Best Lyrics: "Well I've been staring at he sun for some time/It gets dark inside, but I don't mind/And if you're gone it's like I'm going blind/I can't get by this time"

The opening Josie song of the movie, this powerful break-up anthem will make any man they ever regret breaking up with anyone. It's the perfect introduction to the rock band that truly shows that hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.
Best Lyrics: "I'm your late night head rush/Ace high royal flush/Red velvet orange crush/You just don't impress me much." — Universal Pictures / Via youtube.com

The opening Josie song of the movie, this powerful break-up anthem will make any man they ever regret breaking up with anyone. It's the perfect introduction to the rock band that truly shows that hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.
Best Lyrics: "I'm your late night head rush/Ace high royal flush/Red velvet orange crush/You just don't impress me much."

Universal Pictures / Via youtube.com

The opening Josie song of the movie, this powerful break-up anthem will make any man they ever regret breaking up with anyone. It's the perfect introduction to the rock band that truly shows that hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.
Best Lyrics: "I'm your late night head rush/Ace high royal flush/Red velvet orange crush/You just don't impress me much."

The song that puts the Pussycats on the map, it's quite possibly the perfect pop song. A plea to a shitty boyfriend to be nicer turns into a bubble gum rock song with its "ooo-y oo-y oos" and still manages to feature a rad guitar solo and an awesome key change.
Best Lyrics: "Why do you do what you do to me baby?/Shaking my confidence, driving me crazy/You know if I could I'd do anything for you/Please don't ignore me 'cause you know I adore you" — Universal Pictures / Via youtube.com

The song that puts the Pussycats on the map, it's quite possibly the perfect pop song. A plea to a shitty boyfriend to be nicer turns into a bubble gum rock song with its "ooo-y oo-y oos" and still manages to feature a rad guitar solo and an awesome key change.
Best Lyrics: "Why do you do what you do to me baby?/Shaking my confidence, driving me crazy/You know if I could I'd do anything for you/Please don't ignore me 'cause you know I adore you"

Universal Pictures / Via youtube.com

The song that puts the Pussycats on the map, it's quite possibly the perfect pop song. A plea to a shitty boyfriend to be nicer turns into a bubble gum rock song with its "ooo-y oo-y oos" and still manages to feature a rad guitar solo and an awesome key change.
Best Lyrics: "Why do you do what you do to me baby?/Shaking my confidence, driving me crazy/You know if I could I'd do anything for you/Please don't ignore me 'cause you know I adore you"

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