Wed Sep 17 19:20:00 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text:
**Summary:**
“The Summer I Turned Pretty” on Amazon Prime concluded its three-season run, gaining popularity across age groups, including viewers aged 35-44. Showrunner Jenny Han, also the author of the books, meticulously selected music from the 90s and early 2000s to enhance key moments in the show, aiming to introduce classic songs to a new generation and evoke nostalgia for older viewers. The article highlights six specific musical choices and how they connect to pivotal scenes, character emotions, and Han’s personal experiences, drawing parallels to iconic pop culture moments from the past. Some of the songs are Teenage Dirtbag by Wheatus, Steal My Girl by One Direction, I’m Kissing You by Des’ree, Landslide by Fleetwood Mac, Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Queen and With or Without You by U2.
**News Article:**
**’The Summer I Turned Pretty’ Soundtrack: A Millennial Nostalgia Trip Curated by Jenny Han**
NEW YORK – Amazon Prime’s hit young adult drama, “The Summer I Turned Pretty,” wrapped up its three-season run this week, leaving a lasting impression not only on Gen Z but also on older viewers thanks to its carefully curated soundtrack. Showrunner Jenny Han, the author of the original books, personally selected the music, drawing heavily from the 1990s and early 2000s – a period that resonated with her own coming-of-age experiences.
Han’s musical choices weren’t arbitrary. She strategically employed iconic tracks to heighten emotional impact and create deeper connections with the characters’ journeys. For example, Wheatus’s “Teenage Dirtbag” underscored a scene of first romance, tapping into the universal feeling of youthful angst. Des’ree’s “I’m Kissing You”, famously used in Baz Luhrmann’s “Romeo + Juliet,” was employed to portray the first sexual experience between Belly and Conrad.
Han told The New York Times that she aimed to reintroduce these songs to a younger audience while simultaneously triggering a sense of nostalgia for older viewers. This approach seems to have paid off, as data from Luminate reveals that “The Summer I Turned Pretty” has outperformed similar streaming content among viewers aged 35 to 44.
The show’s use of classic rock like Queen and U2 also offered a peek into the character’s preferences. It emphasized his personality of Conrad and his connection to a timeless aesthetic.
By blending contemporary storylines with carefully selected throwbacks, Han has crafted a series that appeals to multiple generations, proving the enduring power of music to evoke memories and bridge divides. “The Summer I Turned Pretty” may be over, but its soundtrack promises to live on, introducing a new wave of listeners to beloved hits from the past.
First Piper 