“I love The Smiths.”
That line, spoken by Summer (Zooey Deschanel, “Elf”) to Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt, “10 Things I Hate About You”) as she overhears The Smiths blasting through his headphones, has stemmed countless pieces of online content: clips of that fateful elevator scene, TikToks with Summer’s line as audio and meme formats featuring variations that replace The Smiths with another hobby of interest. As a result of this online presence, the rom-com has developed a sort of cult following. Every day, new eyes find the movie on their laptop screens and televisions to observe Tom and Summer’s relationship both blossom and deteriorate — which has led to some people projecting themselves onto the rom-com. The Michigan Daily Arts Contributor Emily Kim and Daily Arts Writer JC Rafal use “500 Days of Summer” as a model of what not to do when it comes to love and relationships: use music as a sign of compatibility.
Emily Kim: When I went to a coffee shop today, the cashier told me that the guy standing in front of me paid for my drink! And even better, when I went over to thank him, I saw on his phone he was playing, “Street Spirit (Fade Out)” by Radiohead. How could anyone expect me not to sit down and find out more about him?
So, we talked. I don’t even remember for how long, long enough for the layer of ice in my drink to completely water it down. Anyway, he explained that he is also a huge Radiohead fan (even if his favorite album is Pablo Honey, sorry), and Cigarettes After Sex as well (he also attentively listened to my rambling about their concert I attended last September). He had to go to some meeting, but he left me his number; so, I basically had just met my soulmate. And with us bonding over music like that? We’re just like Tom and Summer from “500 Days of Summer,” with that whole “I love The Smiths” scene that everyone is raving about.
JC Rafal: Well, first off, did we watch the same movie? In the kindest way possible, did you watch it with a blindfold on? Tom and Summer did not make it. Even though they had that shared connection of music that kickstarted their relationship, it eventually came to an end. That was the point of the film: Not every romance is meant to last. Not every person is your soulmate. Not every person is the one. In fact, we are supposed to realize that Tom’s perspective and whole philosophy are, well, flawed.
There is one more lesson to take away from Tom and Summer’s love of The Smiths: Similar music taste does not equal compatibility. Shared interests might seem like a foundation for a beautiful relationship, but it doesn’t guarantee a healthy one. Sure, one might think that because they share a favorite song, they would also have compatible love languages and personalities, but that is almost never the case. The foundation of a relationship involves far more than both having “There Is a Light That Never Goes Out” on a playlist. Just because someone has a similar music taste (or even film, literature and other art) as you doesn’t mean they are your soulmate. Don’t be like Tom. So yeah. Maybe think twice about that someone who listens to Radiohead and Cigarettes After Sex.
EK: Isn’t the whole point of music for artists to share thoughts and express feelings through meaningful lyrics and moving instrumentals? So if someone else understands the music the same way I do, wouldn’t it translate to having a compatible, meaningful understanding of the world?
Sure, Tom and Summer didn’t work out in the end, but was that really because of how they met? Wasn’t it the opening conversation about The Smiths that led them to pursue each other in the first place? Tom admittedly has several moments that might leave audiences shaking their heads, such as when Summer opens up and shares personal stories, but he fails to truly listen or understand her, preoccupied by his excitement and infatuation. However, was he really mistaken to assume such a connection, especially with Summer’s earlier enthusiasm? If that isn’t a reliable way to understand two people’s compatibility, why are so many movies displaying it as such?
JR: Music is a strong form of expression, but just because you and someone else similarly understand music, it doesn’t necessarily correlate with other affectionate aspects in life. People like music for their own reasons, and they have their own unique perspectives about it, which are shaped by their own personal experiences and emotions. Just because you and the coffee shop guy have the same music taste doesn’t mean you like it for the same reasons. Both of your tastes are fueled by your own respective feelings and values of life. As I previously mentioned, the foundation of a relationship — and compatibility as well — goes beyond just having the same song on your playlist.
Tom and Summer’s initial interaction revolved around The Smiths, and it did lead to them pursuing each other, but again, it showed that simply having a similar interest is not enough for the foundation of a relationship. The whole point of “500 Days of Summer” is to show a realist approach to love and romance. Yes, Tom was wrong to assume a connection! He completely disregarded the fact that Summer was upfront from the start that she did not want anything serious — maybe she realized that a shared interest in English rock doesn’t take a relationship far. His warped perception of the relationship was based on idealization and fantasy, and all because he thought Summer’s love for The Smiths indicated they were soulmates. “500 Days of Summer” is unique as it takes a realist approach to the romance genre. It takes a cute trope like having similar tastes, then turns it on its head, showing how it is essentially a warning that having a shared interest is not a sign of compatibility. Reality is not like the movies.
EK: That makes sense. After rewatching, I can definitely see how the movie is framing their relationship as a warning. This becomes especially evident in the scenes where Tom begins to sense Summer distancing herself and she makes it clear that she doesn’t want a committed relationship — a turning point that starts to reveal the film’s deeper message, which many viewers might miss on their first watch.
In “Before Sunrise,” Jesse (Ethan Hawke, “Dead Poets Society”) and Celine’s (Julie Delpy, “2 Days in Paris”) first meeting on a train can be seen as a more romanticized and idealistic version of how a bond fabricated through art can sprout into something bigger. In the film, Jesse strikes up a conversation with Celine on the train due to the book she is reading. As Celine is certain about their connection, she purposefully misses her stop on the train to spend more time with Jesse before they are forced to return home. Their night together is filled with deep conversations about love, life and forms of art they feel connected to. “Before Sunrise” and so many other films frame music and shared love for art as something essential to making a relationship more meaningful and fruitful. I’m not saying a relationship can’t have these traits without a deep first meeting, but the fact that quite a few films paint relationships with that foundation as successful and beautiful ones could confuse watchers on whether or not such a connection like that is necessary to maintain a relationship.
JR: I honestly believe that one of the best things for a relationship to have is for each partner to have their own unique tastes, whether it comes to music, film, art or anything else. Sharing your favorite things with your partner in this case feels more intimate and affectionate, as you are essentially inviting them to the way of how you perceive life, and sharing what makes you, well, you. It allows for genuine appreciation of the other person: showing vulnerability by sharing what is meaningful to you. For instance, when my girlfriend sends me her 2000s emo playlist and I send her my Asian shoegaze playlist in return, it feels distinctly intimate; you’re essentially sharing a piece of yourself with another person. While I’m not saying having an overlap in tastes is bad, having respective tastes can strengthen a relationship more.
And please. Please do not project yourself onto films, especially romances. You are not Tom. You are not Summer. Films are relatable, yes, but projecting yourself onto them can be incredibly unhealthy. Projecting yourself and interpreting it through your personal lens can distort the intended message of the film. In the film, we flashback to Tom watching “The Graduate” as a child and completely misreading the film and its ending; this would lead to his flawed philosophy of life and romance, and it certainly didn’t help him in his relationship. Don’t be like Tom when it comes to “500 Days of Summer.” So when it comes to you and that guy in the coffee shop, don’t try to replicate what Tom and Summer had. Instead, write your own story. It’s that simple.
Summer and Tom’s experience mirrors a common misconception that many people take and run with: Similar music taste guarantees long-term compatibility. While audiences see this couple meet and converse due to their shared love for The Smiths, the rest of the film works at framing Tom’s initial delusion and later realization as a way to communicate that reliance on common interests is not a stable way to start a relationship.
Like how Rachel (Chloë Grace Moretz, “Carrie”) exasperatedly says “Just ’cause some cute girl likes the same bizzaro crap you do, that doesn’t make her your soulmate, Tom,” it can be safely assumed that many watchers are screaming a similar variation of that line at the screen while watching Tom desperately scramble to save his already-doomed relationship. So, although “500 Days of Summer” is a beloved classic film that can satisfy anyone who wants a cheesy but moody movie, I wouldn’t wish it upon anyone to experience what Tom and Summer had.
Daily Arts Writer JC Rafal can be reached at rafaljc@umich.edu and Daily Arts Contributor Emily Kim can be reached at kimemily@umich.edu.
