Bottoms (soundtrack)

Bottoms (Original Motion Picture Score) is the soundtrack to the 2023 film of the same name directed by Emma Seligman. Released in conjunction with the film's limited theatrical premiere on August 25, 2023 by Milan Records, the album consisted of 27 tracks from the film's score composed in their collaborative effort between singer-songwriter Charli XCX and composer Leo Birenberg; Bottoms further marked the former's feature film scoring debut. The soundtrack is further produced by George Daniel and A. G. Cook, who also composed additional music with Ramiro Rodriguez Zamarripa.

Development
During the production of the film, Seligman and the lead actress-screenwriter Rachel Sennott wanted a Y2K sad girl anthem for the film, based on the lines of "Come Clean" by Hilary Duff. She listened to Charli XCX's songs in her playlist while writing the script, and Charli happened to record a song "Hot Girl" for Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022) that also starred Sennott. In a podcast conversation with Senott, Charli claimed that she was a fan of Sennott and Seligman's Shiva Baby (2020) and insisted on her contribution to the film. Though Sennott felt that Charli would collaborate for one of the songs, she persuaded her to write the film's score for the film. Seligman claimed that: "'What is so amazing about her, not only does she have a singular voice, but she can do an emotional [song], she can do fun, she can do exciting, everything. She also happens to be a queer icon who is so beloved, is such an incredible ally, and supports queer artists so much.'"Later, Birenberg was involved in the film's music composition process, by augmenting the production and solely composing few of themes, making it as a collaboration between the two artists.

Reception
Katie Rife of IGN wrote "Even the music has a lot going on, combining Charli XCX's '80s-style synth score with hilariously timed needle drops from Avril Lavigne and Bonnie Tyler. An excess of material is far from the worst problem a comedy can have, to be fair." Monica Castillo of RogerEbert.com complimented "The movie features needle drops aplenty, and extra modern beats provided by Leo Birenberg and Charli XCX. It’s one silly bit after another, like candies rolling off a conveyor belt."