New Music Fridays: 10 Things I Hate About You Anniversary

It’s been 23 years since 10 Things I Hate About You came out, and it is still as perfect as ever. On March 31, 1999, 10 Things I Hate About You hit theaters, and it changed everything.  Who could forget the iconic soundtrack, the 90’s fashion, and the star-studded cast including  Julia Stiles, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Heath Ledger, and Allison Janney?

As a refresher 10 Things I Hate About You is about two sisters in Seattle, Kat, and Bianca, whose helicopter father never let them date in the fear they’d come home knocked up. Bit much, right? Bianca, the most popular girl in school, only wants a boyfriend while her sister, Kat, couldn’t care less. Here’s the kicker. Bianca can’t get a boyfriend until Kat does. So one of the boys pining after Bianca, Cameron James, and his nerdy new friend Michael make a plan to get Joey to hire Patrick Verona (Heath Ledger) to take Kat out. While Patrick’s advances do not work at first, the two end up together.

Packed with perfect 90’s rock songs, nostalgic tunes, and one-hit wonders, the soundtrack created a lasting impression. The songs give off feelings of loneliness, power, love, independence, and anger. The songs make listeners want to be sad but rebellious; independent but longing for love.

So what scenes stand out the most? And which songs on the soundtrack are in those scenes? Check them out below!

At the Party: Hypnotize by The Notorious B.I.G

High school parties always were better on screen. Especially the party scene in 10 Things I Hate About You. Kat let herself get a little wild that night and Patrick saw the whole thing. Even the moment when she hit her head on the chandelier and Patrick was there to catch her fall. This is where viewers see Patrick taking care of Kat and that he really cares for her.  What song did Kat bust out her sick moves for? None other than “Hypnotize” by The Notorious B.I.G.

The Soccer Field: Can’t Take My Eyes off You by Frankie Valli

Perhaps the most iconic scene from 10 Things I Hate About You is when Patrick literally serenaded Kat in front of the whole school. He even got the school marching band in on it. One thing known about Patrick: he loves to make an entrance.

The Prom: Cruel To Be Kind by Letters to Cleo

Who could forget when Patrick ‘called in a favor’ and got Letters to Cleo to play at the school dance for Kat? Swoon. He was sealing the deal. The lyrics in the song, “You gotta be, cruel to be kind, in the right measure/Cruel to be kind, it’s a very good sign/Cruel to be kind, means that I love you baby” are sprinkled throughout the song. Remind you of anyone in particular? Perhaps a certain Kat who shows her affection with some playful jabs.

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