Lorelai’s Teenage Posters

There are four Duran Duran posters on the wall in Lorelai’s childhood bedroom, in the scene where Lorelai and Rory talk. Duran Duran are an English new wave band formed in 1978, with their classic line up being Nick Rhodes, John Taylor, Roger Taylor, Andy Taylor, and Simon le Bon. Their first album came out in 1981, and they found mainstream success by 1984. They are most famous for their 1980s hits such as Hungry Like The Wolf, Rio, and The Reflex.

There is a large Echo & The Bunnymen poster over the bed. Echo & The Bunnymen [pictured] are an English post-punk rock band founded in 1978, with the original line-up being Ian McCulloch, Will Sergeant, and Les Pattinson. Their first album came out in 1980 to critical acclaim, and they found mainstream success by 1983. Although a hit in the UK, they were not so well known in the US in the 1980s, perhaps suggesting that despite her Duran Duran mania, teenage Lorelai’s musical knowledge was a cut above her peers.

One wonders why Emily has left the posters up, or why Lorelai has asked that they be left up – her comment that time has stood still in the room makes it sound as if she hasn’t up here since she left home, which seems a bit unlikely. It is almost as if Emily has kept Lorelai’s (eerily untouched) room like a shrine, as if she died rather than ran away as a teenager.

Shirley Temple

LORELAI: Here. [hands Rory a drink]
RORY: What is it?
LORELAI: Shirley Temple.
RORY: What are you drinking?
LORELAI: A Shirley Temple Black.
(Lorelai lets Rory smell her drink.)
RORY: Wow.
LORELAI: I got your Good Ship Lollipop right here, mister.

Shirley Temple (1928-2014) was a multi award-winning box office-topping American Hollywood child star who began her career at the age of three. In 1934, she became famous starring in the film Bright Eyes, written specifically as a vehicle for Temple. On the Good Ship Lollipop is Temple’s musical number from the film, which became her signature song.

Later in life after leaving Hollywood, Shirley married a wealthy businessman named Charles Black so that her name became Shirley Temple Black. Strongly interested in conservative politics, she was US ambassador to Ghana and Czechoslavakia, and was the first female Chief of Protocol of the United States.

The Shirley Temple Lorelai hands Rory is a non-alcoholic cocktail, made for children and named after the child actress. Traditionally it’s made from ginger ale with a splash of grenadine, decorated with a cocktail cherry. Modern versions may be made with lemonade, lemon-lime soda or orange juice. Shirley Temple herself disliked the cocktail, finding it too sweet.

Lorelai indicates that her own drink is the grown-up version of a Shirley Temple (or just a very grown-up cocktail). It is possibly a Dirty Shirley, a Shirley Temple with vodka or rum added to it.

Happy Birthday

This 1981 song by Scottish new wave band Altered Images plays when Rory is at Chilton, discovering that her grandmother has sent out invitations to all her classmates. It was released as a single from their album of the same name, and went to #2 in the UK.

Although it didn’t chart in the US, it would be familiar to many from being included on the soundtrack to the 1984 teen movie, Sixteen Candles. The movie about a girl’s 16^th birthday seemingly gone wrong mirrors Rory’s feelings when she discovers that Emily has sent out the invitations without asking her. The difference is that in the film, everyone has forgotten the girl’s birthday, while in Rory’s case too many people have been reminded of her birthday.

Justin and Britney

(Sees Rory on the phone)
LORELAI: “And Justin is just so dreamy. He can’t marry Britney, I’ll just cry and cry and cry.”

Lorelai mockingly supplies imaginary dialogue for Rory, based on a stereotype of what teenage girls talk about on the phone. She is referring to singers Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears, who began dating in 1999, and who were frequently rumoured to be engaged. They broke up in 2002 and eventually married other people.

Rory is actually talking to the pizza delivery service.

Elvis and Jim Morrison

Lorelai jokes that Elvis and Jim Morrison will attend Rory’s birthday party and bring chips.

Elvis Presley (1935-1977) was an American singer and actor. One of the great icons of the twentieth century, he is often referred to as The King of Rock and Roll or The King. Elvis’ first single, Heartbreak Hotel, came out in 1956 and went straight to #1. Later that year he made his film debut in Love Me Tender. Successful in rock, pop, blues, and gospel, Elvis is one of the biggest-selling musical artists in history. He won three Grammy Awards, including a Lifetime Achivement Award, and has been inducted into numerous musical halls of fame.

James “Jim” Morrison (1943-1971) [pictured] was an American singer, songwriter, and poet. He was the lead singer of The Doors, an influential rock band founded in 1965 that also included Ray Manzarek, Robbie Krieger, and John Densmore. The band shot to fame in 1967 when their song Light My Fire went to #1. Since his death, Morrison has remained famous, and is regarded as as the archetypal sexy, rebellious rock star. He, along with the other members of The Doors, were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993.

Barbra Streisand

RORY: So, is this party Grandma’s having going to be a big deal?
LORELAI: Not really. The government will close that day. Flags will fly at half-mast. Barbra Streisand will give her final concert … again.

Barbra Streisand (born Barbara Streisand in 1942) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and film-maker who is one of the best-selling recording artists of all time, and is the best-selling female artist. She is the only recording artist to have a #1 album in each of the last six decades. She has won ten Grammy Awards, including the Lifetime Achivement Award and the Legend Award, two Academy Awards, five Emmy Awards, a Tony Award, and numerous other awards.

In 1999-2000, Barbra Streisand undertook her Timeless tour, which she said would be her last one, and might signal her retirement from the concert stage. Her final concert on the tour was given September 28 2000 at Madison Square Garden, about a month before Rory’s birthday (so if she appeared at Rory’s party she would be giving her final concert again).

However Streisand has toured twice more since then, and given eight other concerts.

During the show, it became apparent that Barbra Streisand was one of Lorelai’s favourite entertainers, and her movies in particular got several mentions.

Like a Virgin

RORY: You couldn’t get her to cave.
LORELAI: No, but she did agree to make the string quartet learn Like A Virgin.

This 1984 dance song by Madonna is from her album of the same name, written by Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg. A world-wide success, it was her first single to go to #1, and helped make her a pop icon. It has often been covered, and is now regarded as a classic pop song.

Truly, Truly

This song plays during the scene when Dean apologises to Rory for annoying her, and she tells him that she is interested in him, before running off. It was a single from the 1998 album Jubilee by American rock band Grant Lee Buffalo, and reached #11 on the alternative music charts. The song was written by Grant-Lee Phillips, who went on to have a solo career, and played the town troubadour in Gilmore Girls. He isn’t related to Sam Phillips, who wrote the score for the show.

I Thought About You

This is the song that Morey plays on the piano at the wake, identifying it as “Cinnamon’s song”. It’s a 1939 song with lyrics by Johnny Mercer and music by Jimmy Van Heusen, which has gone on to become a jazz standard, covered by numerous artists. The narrator in I Thought About You tries to put someone out of their mind, but finds themselves continually thinking about them. The theme of feeling depressed at losing someone, and dwelling on sweet memories, is very suitable for a wake.

Rap Music

LORELAI: Do you like rap music?
MAX: Yeah.
LORELAI: Me too.

Lorelai is often shown listening to music in Gilmore Girls, and talking about her favourite musical artists, yet we never hear any more about her supposed love of rap music. It seems very unlikely that either Max or Lorelai is a big fan of rap music.