Priscilla (soundtrack)

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Priscilla (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the music collection for the 2023 Sofia Coppola film Priscilla, which explores the life of Priscilla Presley and her relationship with Elvis. The movie stars Cailee Spaeny and Jacob Elordi.

Key details
- Soundtrack supervision: Phoenix (the French indie pop band led by Thomas Mars) and Randall Poster. Phoenix helped create original music for the film and also supervised the overall music, while Poster handled music supervision without using traditional temp music.
- Content: 17 tracks are featured on the official soundtrack, drawn from about 51 songs used in the film.
- Lead single: “My Elixir,” a cover by Sons of Raphael of a Phoenix song from Alpha Zulu (2022), released on November 2, 2023.
- Labels: ABKCO Records and A24 Music released the soundtrack on November 2, 2023.

Creative approach
- The music blends anachronistic choices with original scores. Coppola, Mars, and Poster aimed for mood and emotion rather than a strictly period-accurate sound.
- The score draws inspiration from Phil Spector’s wall-of-sound style, with lush strings and big production, while also emphasizing moments of silence for emotional impact.
- Elvis music from Elvis Presley Enterprises was not licensed, so the film relies on the score and carefully chosen songs to tell the story.

notable musical moments
- The film opens with Alice Coltrane’s “Going Home,” which segues into a 1980s Ramones cover of “Baby, I Love You.” Ravi Coltrane supervised the use of his mother’s music.
- Phoenix provides a cover of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons’ “Venus” during Elvis and Priscilla’s first meeting, which becomes a theme for the couple.
- “Crimson and Clover” by Tommy James and the Shondells plays at the first kiss, described as epic and reflective of Americana love.
- The final scene in the film uses Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” (not part of the official soundtrack) to heighten the emotional moment.
- Two Elvis-adjacent songs, “Aura Lea” and “Guitar Man,” appear in the film via impersonator performances.

reception
- Critics praised the soundtrack for its lush, non-typical approach and for how Phoenix’s score fits Coppola’s mood and style. Reviewers highlighted the effectiveness of the anachronistic music choices and the score in shaping the film’s tone.

extras
- The project planned to involve Lana Del Rey for a track, but timing prevented it.
- The team emphasized the balance between music and silence to elevate the storytelling.