Music

Here Are the 6 Songs Featured in the ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ Ride in Disney’s California Adventure

'Guardians of the Galaxy' features an iconic playlist, later extended to the Disney theme parks. Here's what we know about Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout.

by Julia Dzurillay

Published on May 21, 2022

2 min read

Marvel’s ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ features the ‘awesome mix’ soundtrack

‘Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind’ Disney’s new ride at Epcot Center at Walt Disney World | Gerardo Mora/Getty Images

These Marvel characters are a bunch of a-holes with a passion for music. Peter Quill’s mother actually curated the Guardians of the Galaxy playlist. Before dying, this character gifted her son with a mixtape of her favorite songs. That became the official “awesome mix” soundtrack, eventually added to music platforms like Spotify.

“She’s a music lover, but she’s completely not elitist,” director James Gunn said during an interview with Rolling Stone. “If it’s something that’s thought of as goofy and pop, she likes it. If it’s cool or funk, she likes it. She just likes hooks and melodies.”

“She’s a very quirky, young girl who fell in love with, you know, as it ends up, an alien,” he added. “And falling in love with an alien is right up there in Meredith Quill’s alley. She’s an oddball, like her son.”

While these 70s-themed songs tell the story of Peter and Meredith’s relationship, they also help tell the Guardians of the Galaxy story. While searching for the “orb,” Peter Quill danced along to “Come And Get Your Love” by Redbone. In his “dance-off” to save the universe, this character belted out the lyrics to “O-o-h Child” by Five Stairsteps.

‘Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout’ features six new songs

As a reimagined version of Tower of Terror, Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout was one of the first Marvel additions to Disney California Adventure in Disneyland. The attraction featured characters from the original feature film, as well as some of Peter Quill’s favorite songs.

That includes “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” by Pat Benatar, “Give Up The Funk” by Parliament, “Born To Be Wild” by Steppenwolf, “I Want You Back” by The Jackson 5, “Free Ride” by The Edgar Winter Group, and “Burning Love” by Elvis Presley.

This was an extension of the original awesome mix, which highlighted songs from the Guardians of the Galaxy movie. Disney even created another Marvel ride in Walt Disney World — Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.

Walt Disney World’s ‘Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind’ includes songs ‘September’ and ‘Conga’

Disney created Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind — an attraction exclusive to Walt Disney World’s EPCOT. The ride officially opens to the public on May 27 with six songs from the “Awesome Mix” playing during the experience.

That includes “September” by Earth, Wind & Fire, “Disco Inferno” by The Trammps, “Conga” by Gloria Estefan, “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears for Fears, “I Ran” by A Flock of Seagulls, and “One Way or Another” by Blondie.