There's this book of essays called Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs by Spin magazine writer/insane narcissist Chuck Klosterman, and most of it is less cogent than Anna Nicole Smith at that awards show where she was totally trashed. But there's this one line that elucidates existence, or at least television and film soundtracks if you're going to be petty, and it's this: "Without a soundtrack, human interaction is meaningless."

Without music as a cue, the audience has absolutely no clue how to feel about what's happening on-screen. Is it a wistful scene, a melancholy one, an ebullient moment of long-deserved sexual satisfaction?

And no other genre has so deliciously mastered the soundtrack-as-artful-necessity as the chick flick. Hence, I present the ultimate chick flick mix.

Just keep in mind that inclusion is based entirely on musical merit, and has nothing to do with the film's swoon-worthiness or gal-bonding potential.

Cyndi Lauper - "Girls Just Want To Have Fun"
The flick: Girls Just Want to Have Fun (1985)
The sound: Hip-swinging, hand-clapping, anthemic celebration of having boobs and being able to wear pink tulle without risking ridicule. Tops the list of kitschy sing-into-your-hairbrush songs (just edging out Marvin Gaye's "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" from Stepmom).

7 Year Bitch - "The Scratch"
The flick: Mad Love (1995)
The sound: Visceral shrieks, relentless rhythm and saucy, bossy, sexual bravado. When this riot grrrl thrash-fest backs a scene, you can't help but notice that the spotlighted chick is a ball-busting, queen-of-your-world rebel girl.

Faith Hill - "This Kiss"
The flick: Practical Magic (1998)
The sound: Twangy, bouncy buoyancy. Flawless first smooch song that denotes fresh, as yet unsullied feelings of adoration and mutual attraction. Plus there's that line, "ride me off into the sunset," which is downright skanky and laudable for the clean-cut Mrs. Tim McGraw.

Ronan Keating - "When You Say Nothing At All"
The flick: Notting Hill (1999)
The sound: Cheese-tastic, clichéd, falling-in-love ballad. You can't help but feel the warm fuzzies and make goo goo eyes while listening to its gentle, meandering melody and soaring harmonies. Mmm, Hugh Grant.

Tony Bennett - "The Way You Look Tonight
The flick: My Best Friend's Wedding (1997)
The sound: If a romantic comedy ever wants to achieve a chic, classy tone, all it has to do is insert this mannered, sappy song behind a slow dancing couple. Instant elegance.

Joan Armatrading - "The Weakness in Me"
The flick: 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
The sound: Soulful, sentimental schmaltz implies our heroine has hit bottom and can only be rescued by a knight in shining Abercrombie & Fitch armor. Perfect woe-is-me tune for practicing pout and dangling legs from tire swing.

Joni Mitchell - "Both Sides Now"
The flick: Love Actually (2003)
The sound: Pure, unadulterated, poignant dejection. When "Both Sides Now" hits our ears, we know there's not a morsel of hope left for our scorned leading lady, except for the few fragile threads of strength she can unearth from her shattered heart. Tissue, my dear?

Kelly Clarkson - "Breakaway"
The flick: Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004)
The sound: Yearning, soaring, find-your-true-self track that's more about spreading your wings and learning how to fly than it is about hooking up with some love interest. Every good chick flick needs an element of this.

Atomic Kitten - "See Ya"
The flick: Bring it On (2000)
The sound: A back-off-buster, break up song that's all self-assured and silly and poppier than even Britney. You can so picture some chick wagging her finger at a lame dude who doesn't have what it's got to keep her interested for more than a one-night stand.

Hilary Duff - "Why Not"
The flick: The Lizzie McGuire Movie (2003)
The sound: Irresistibly sunny, bubblier than soda-pop and just as sweet. With lyrics like "why not take a crazy chance, why not do a crazy dance," you know you're in for an independent woman montage and lots of wind-blown hair shots.