Entertainment

The 'Friends' Pair Well With These '90s Songs

by Caitlyn Callegari

I don't know about you, but I think of everything in my life in terms of music. Someone accidentally says some lyrics of a song in passing conversation? I sing that song for the rest of the day. An old song that I haven't heard in a while comes on the radio? I am instantly transported back to the specific time and place where I first heard it play. Music is a feeling. And, wouldn't it be fun to attribute those feelings via comparing '90s songs to Friends characters, since they very much embodied the '90s in mind, body, and soul? You know, to channel the obsession of a 21-year-old show into something good?

I mean, I sure think so. Who doesn't want to be able to listen to a song and think, "Oh my god, this is totally Chandler Bing's anthem." Or "I can most definitely hear Phoebe singing this way, way off-key at Central Perk." Or "Ross definitely cried alone to this after saying Rachel's name at the altar during his wedding to Emily." Anyway, you get the gist of this, right? Let's take a stab at assigning our fave Friends characters the '90s song that totally embodies them.

Ross Geller

Michael Bolton's cover of "When A Man Loves A Woman" should probably be changed to, "When A Man Loves Multiple Women," but, still, the sentiment is there. And, OK, maybe I'm cheating a little, since Percy Sledge's original version came out in 1966, but this song is timeless and Bolton made it distinctly '90s.

Anyway, the song undeniably suits Ross. The dude was a hopeless romantic and his various divorces and subsequent marriages support that notion. In the end, there was only one woman for him, though.

Monica Geller

Monica is self-assured, independent, and does not take anyone's crap (except her mom's). But, once Chandler swooped in, he brought out her vulnerability. Alanis Morissette's "Head Over Feet" is her song patronus.

Joey Tribbiani

How you doin'? ...Need I say more?

Phoebe Buffay

It's quirky, overly descriptive, moody, and perfect coffee shop fodder. Of course, "Nothing Compares 2 U" is Phoebe material. I can just hear her yodeling those high notes to unsuspecting coffee drinkers. And maybe yelling at a dude eating a scone that looks sort of like he scorned a romantic partner lately.

Chandler Bing

Hear me out. Chandler struggles with awkwardness and self-esteem and has suffered through a life-long existential crisis. I think he would certainly refer to himself as a "creep and weirdo" on his Twitter bio, you know, if he had one. Also, I think there's a part of him is just in awe of the fact that Monica loves him because of it.

Rachel Green

It's upbeat, fun, and not especially serious which I think sums up Rachel's overall demeanor. Plus, the lyrics are eerily reminiscent of her and Ross's on again, off again, on again, off again, "I got off the plane!" relationship. Not to be outdone, she was also a "Heartbreaker" in her own right. Just ask Joey.

Good luck listening to these songs and not thinking of Friends ever again, guys. Sorry not sorry.

Image: Warner Bros. Television