The Holidate soundtrack includes plenty of festive standards, but also funks up the storyline with club music and a classic Boyz II Men slow jam. Dan "The Automator" Nakamura scored the TV-MA romantic comedy, and even provides his own solo track to close out John Whitesell's film. Holidate, which was written by Tiffany Paulsen, released in October 2020 on Netflix.
Starring Emma Roberts as Sloane and Luke Bracey as Jackson, Holidate follows two hopeless romantics in Chicago. Hoping to avoid the pressures of seasonal date expectations, the new friends link up for the sake of appearances and vow not to make it sexual. That's not a problem for Sloane in the Netflix movie, as she's initially turned off by Luke's Overconfident Bro demeanor, which is merely a cover for his inner Teddy Bear. Per rom-com rules, Sloane and Jackson hit a rough patch, which sets up the inevitable grand gesture.
Holidate doesn't begin with a heavy amount of music, but the film picks up the pace when Emma and Sloane become more comfortable with each other. In fact, they even re-create a famous Dirty Dancing scene just 20 minutes into the film. After that, the collective music is best described by one of the song titles: "SexyTime." Here's every featured track in Holidate.
"Jingle Bells" - The Morrie Morrison Orchestra
"It's Not You Girl" - Sandy Szigeti
"P.A.R.T.Y." - Ofenbach & Lack of Afro feat. Wax and Herbal T
"Summer Running Up" - Studio Musicians
"Crazy for Tonight" - Studio Musicians
"Bloodprint" - Studio Musicians
"Can't Get Enough" - Artist
"(I've Had) The Time of My Life" - Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes
"No Need to Rush" - Audio Network
"Auld Lang Syne Crooner" - Studio Musicians
"Lazy Day" - Studio Musicians
"Smash the Windows" - The Tossers
"Here's to a Drink with You" - The Tossers
"Move Bitch" - Disturbing Tha Peace featuring. Ludacris, Mystikal, I-20
"Cielito Lindo" - Studio Musicians
"Tequila" - Studio Musicians
"String Quartet No. 67 in D OP. 64/5 (The Lark), 1 Allegro Moderato" - Studio Musicians
"Somewhere in America" - Derrick Procell
"American Man" - Tom Dobson
"Let Go" - Audio Network
"I Could Make You Mine" - Joel Evans Big Band
"Get On Down" - Rokotto
"I'll Make Love to You" - Boyz II Men
"SexyTime" - Smoota
"All the Rage" - Allie X
"Howlin' to the Moon" - Topaz Jones
"Night After Night" - Studio Musicians
"Shopping Mall" - Studio Musicians
"Deck the Halls" - Studio Musicians
"Joy to the World" - Studio Musicians
"Dancing on Top of the World" - Dan "The Automator" Nakamura
Holidate kicks off with "Jingle Bells" - always a reliable choice for Christmas movies. On New Year's Eve, Sloane and Jackson get up close and personal while grooving to "Can't Get Enough" before putting on a show with "(I've Had) The Time of My Life."
On St. Patty's Day, "Smash the Windows" boosts a drinking-themed sequence, and "Move Bitch" ironically scores an Easter egg hunt involving kids. "Tequila" plays when Sloane and Jackson have a suggestive conversation about romance.
Holidate's final act begins with a father and daughter awkwardly making a wedding dance memory to "I'll Make Love to You." When that's over, "All the Rage" gets a Halloween party going, and "Joy to the World" plays during a climactic kiss scene. Holidate on Netflix ends with "Dancing on Top of the World."
The Holidate soundtrack was supervised by Michael Turner (Under the Silver Lake).
