Ranking Every Song In Pitch Perfect, By Spotify Listens

Pitch Perfect is a timeless foray into the world of a capella singing. It’s a tale about college, music, determination, and acceptance.

The songs from this movie quickly entered the lexicon of popular culture. Whether it’s a cup-stacking song or a riff-off, the numbers on the soundtrack continue to be hits today. Which of these songs are the best? Here’s every song in Pitch Perfect, ranked by Spotify listens.

14 “The Final Countdown” (The Hullabahoos)

While “The Final Countdown” has less than two million Spotify listens, it’s impressive. The Hullabahoos are a real a capella group out of the University of Virginia, not to be confused with a British Invasion band called the Hullabaloos. “The Final Countdown” is not an easy song to put together with no instrumental accompaniment. Though much of the song is used as a montage in the film, the Hullabahoos are seen and heard carefully setting the stage for the epic competition ahead.

13 “F*** You” (The Sockapellas)

“F You” also has less than two million listens. The song is not everyone’s cup of tea, and the vocals are a little underwhelming. To add to its offense, the song’s vocalists present the tune as a sock puppet show. Most Barden Bellas make fun of the group, except for Beca, who appreciates that they’re different. Judge John Smith jokes about the sock puppets, too: “And the Sockapellas, once again proving that it doesn’t get better for everyone after high school.”

12 “Blame it On the Boogie” (The Foot-Notes)

The Foot-Notes have a clever name and an excellent tune. This recording is right up there with those of the legends–songwriter Mick Jackson’s version and the well-known cover by that other famous Jackson family. On the Pitch Perfect soundtrack, this classic lasts for less than a minute, and it has about two million listens.

It’s a great track, but the late 1970s instrumental groove is irreplaceable. Fat Amy digs the new version and fears the Bellas’ outcome: “It’s over. There’s no way we can beat the Foot-Notes and the Trebles.”

11 “Let it Whip” (The Treblemakers)

The soundtrack jumps to an audience of 13 million with “Let it Whip.” This one is catchy; it just doesn’t get as much traffic as other songs from the movie. The “Let it Whip” moment takes place during the college’s organizational fair early in the film. It’s a critical time as the Barden Bellas and the Treblemakers are hard at work recruiting. That means that it’s the first time everyone is exposed to Adam Devine’s obnoxious character, Bumper. The vocals are solid, especially those tasked with an energetic and repetitive accompaniment line.

10 “Don’t Stop the Music” (The Treblemakers)

It’s somewhat unexpected for a bunch of adolescent dudes to sing a Rihanna song, but they are convincing. “Don’t Stop the Music” weighs in at 23 million listens. This song may not be the most listened to, but it is crucial to the movie’s success. “Don’t Stop the Music” sets up the whole premise of Pitch Perfect. The Treblemakers are waiting on stage, but before they can belt out their arrangement, they sing the towering Universal Pictures theme a capella. Then, they open the International Competition with their vibrant performance, giving viewers a taste of what lies ahead.

9 “Right Round” (The Treblemakers, Kay)

There are two distinct eras of spinning right ’round. For an eyeful of disco ball, you want “You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)” by Dead or Alive. For an updated party anthem, you want Flo Rida’s “Right Round” featuring Ke$ha. The remake was insanely popular as the world entered the 2010s.

It makes sense that Pitch Perfect threw this in as a competition piece for the Treblemakers. It actually works well for all male voices, and some of the tenors even reach that high octave in the chorus using their falsetto! 24 million listens for this one.

8 Bellas Regionals: The Sign/Eternal Flame/Turn the Beat Around

The Barden Bellas have a great set for the Regionals, and 25 million people have enjoyed listening to it again on Spotify. “The Sign” is a bubbly and inviting starter, and Chloe and Aubrey are fabulous singing lead on these. The most rewarding thing to watch is the improvement in “Turn the Beat Around.” It left much to be desired at the beginning of the movie, but with the new class of Bellas and Rebel Wilson’s bold choreography as Amy, this closing song soars the second time around.

7 “Since U Been Gone” (Auditionees/Ester Dean and Skyler Astin)

Almost 30 million people have listened to “Since U Been Gone” as recorded by Ester Dean and Skyler Astin. Ester plays Cynthia Rose from the Bellas, and Skyler plays Jesse, Beca’s love interest. Dean and Astin are excellent, but it’s not the same as the song from the movie. The scene is an audition montage a la High School Musical. All kinds of singers and vocal percussionists take the stage for the Kelly Clarkson hit. The would-be a capella sensations include a Seinfeld-level mumbler, a musical theater novice, and an operatic powerhouse.

6 “Party In the USA” (Barden Bellas)

This sweet moment for the Bellas on the bus is remembered often, 33 million times, to be exact. The Miley Cyrus hit gets the ladies’ spirits up on their way to compete. It’s also a golden moment for Anna Kendrick’s characterization of Beca. The edgy freshman really softens to her teammates here, and the scene of them all making music together, just for fun, is one of the best in the movie.

5 Trebles Finals: Bright Lights Bigger City/Magic

Jesse really shines on “Bright Lights Bigger City” in the Trebles’ Finals mash-up, and so does Benji with his solo on B.o.B.’s “I’ve Got the Magic in Me.” It’s a great snapshot of the Treblemakers in their element, and it shows a positive side of their camaraderie. The most moving part of the scene is watching Beca watch Jesse. Music has a way of bringing people together; 36 million people would agree.

4 Bellas Pool Mash-up: Just the Way You Are/Just a Dream

38 million listeners have caught the magic of this mash-up. After the riff-off, Beca takes the reigns and shows her team how it’s done. She lays the groundwork for them to start Bruno Mars’ “Just the Way You Are.” Then she departs with an exquisite rendition of Nelly’s “Just a Dream.”

The commonality that so many different women share gets the spotlight. The morale is so high that they’re all smiling and clapping.

3 “Cups” (Anna Kendrick as Beca)

“Cups” is a tricky track to measure. The longer orchestrated piece has 116 million listens. However, the “Cups” Anna Kendrick first sings in Beca’s audition is a capella, and that version on Spotify has 48 million listens. Still a good amount! Cup-stacking was not new at the time of the movie, but the song inspired a new wave of it. Countless singers posted covers of themselves singing and stacking on the Internet.

2 Riff-Off: Mickey/Like a Virgin/Hit Me with Your Best Shot/S&M/Let’s Talk About Sex/I’ll Make Love to You/Feels Like the First Time/No Diggity

50 million listeners have relived the riff-off because it’s a performance scene like no other. Teams spin a wheel and land on a genre. When the wheel goes to “Ladies of the 80s,” Bumper and his crew jump in with “Mickey.” Then it’s the Bu Harmonics, whose “Like a Virgin” doesn’t last long when the Bellas belt out “Hit Me with Your Best Shot.” Cynthia Rose’s robust tone carries “S&M” before the Trebles interrupt with “Let’s Talk About Sex.” The ball continues to volley back and forth, and Jesse flirts with Beca. The medley is fun to revisit.

1 Bellas Finals: Price Tag/Don’t You (Forget About Me)/Give Me Everything/Just the Way You Are

The Bellas kill it at the Finals. They ditch their uniforms and dress according to their styles. They go from “Price Tag” to “Don’t You (Forget About Me).” This is a critical moment for Beca to patch things up with Jesse, the guy who inspired her to watch The Breakfast Club. At the end, the group closes the act with an anthem of their sisterhood, “Just the Way You Are.” Listen carefully for a snippet of “Party in the USA.” This winner has been listened to 55 million times.

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