Top 10 Music Moments in Movies
June 26th, 2008
A movie without music would most definitely be flat. Boring. Unfinished. Music is essential to a film - it provides colour, creates emotion, establishes mood, or simply just reminds you to have a good time. Sure, there are Movie Musicals (pffft please), but even in a regular ol’ Talkies, sometimes the most interesting plot or character developments happen with the aid of song. Some of these moments are definitely more memorable than others, so let’s take a look at some of the best, shall we?
10. Adventures In Babysitting’s Babysitting Blues
Elisabeth Shue has fallen off the radar a bit as of late, which is sad since she is an Academy Award nominee for Christ’s sake! And oh yes - she starred in one of the greatest family films of all time: Adventures In Babysitting. Even though she shouldn’t be cutting a record anytime soon, when Shue, as the overwhelmed babysitter, found herself on a stage in a crowded bar and was forced to sing the Babysitting Blues, she instantly became the dream ‘Sitter of kids everywhere (and their parents’ worst nightmare). [WATCH]
9. Trainspotting’s Lust for Life
“Choose life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Choose a family, choose a f*cking big television, choose washing machines, cars, compact disc players, and electrical tin openers. Choose good health, low cholesterol and dental insurance. Choose fixed-interest mortgage repayments. Choose a starter home. Choose your friends… Choose your future. Choose life. I chose not to choose life: I chose something else. And the reasons? There are no reasons. Who need reasons when you’ve got” …a great opening Iggy Pop song to accompany one of the best monologues of the past 15 years. [WATCH]
8. The Breakfast Club Library Dance
In what may arguably be one of the best teen movies of the 80s, 5 students of different backgrounds and archetypes are forced to spend a Saturday together in the school library for detention. What follows is a character journey where these 5 seemingly different teens slowly begin to realize that they have a lot more in common than originally thought. The scene where this becomes clear is when they have an impromptu dance party to kill the time. We see the prom queen dancing pretty, the nerd with no rhythm, the bully working out his aggression and the psycho girl dancin’ all odd-like - but they are all bonding to the same song: We Are Not Alone by Karla DeVito whose lyrics fittingly spell out the entire message of the movie. Looking back on it now, it’s just as lovable as ever. [WATCH]
7. Se7en’s Opening Credits
Se7en, which is the creepiest movie of the 90s also has the creepiest opening title sequence - all due to a remix of Nine Inch Nails‘ Closer (precursor). In said sequence, we see the hands of our John Doe meticulously writing, cutting, crafting - but our focus is elsewhere as Trent Reznor’s unusual white noise/creaky instrumentation kicks in. It puts us directly where masterful director David Fincher wants us: on edge and freaked out. [WATCH]
6. Jack Rabbit Slim’s Twist Contest in Pulp Fiction
Yeah, yeah, I know - if I’m going to pick a film where John Travolta dances, why wouldn’t I go with the dance-heavy Saturday Night Fever? (Or its ill-conceived sequel Staying Alive?) Well, because disco is dead, folks. And in Pulp Fiction, a non linear movie full of carnage, Royales with cheese, Gimps and adrenaline shots administered directly into the heart, watching two beautiful people simply do the Twist for a few minutes is certainly unexpected but also most welcome. [WATCH]
5. Shaun of the Dead’s Queen Smackdown
Zombie movies have been the horror genre du jour as of late, and so it was refreshing to see one that added a lil’ humour to the mix with Shaun of the Dead. One of the funniest scenes is the unintentionally choreographed self-defense routine to Queen’s Don’t Stop Me Now. The song adds the needed tension yet provides some much deserved laughs. The next time I’m smacking down zombies, I’ll make sure to have some Freddie blasting on my iPod. [WATCH]
4. Reservoir Dogs‘ Bloody Ear
Quentin Tarantino likes his blood and he likes his music. He’s well-known for infusing his graphic films with some major classic tune-age, but no more so than in 1992’s Reservoir Dogs - the film that put the then up-and-coming Tarantino on the map. Case in point, the pivotal scene in which Michael Madsen’s Mr. Blonde tortures Officer Marvin Nash is beautifully juxtaposed with the “Dylan-esque pop bubble gum favourite,” Stuck In The Middle With You by Stealers Wheel. You end up cringing as you see an ear get sliced off, but your foot doesn’t stop tapping. [WATCH]
3. Napoleon Dynamite’s Canned Heat Dance
Napoleon Dynamite helped launch the age of the quirky comedy and definitely spawned a few catchphrases (”Tina, come get some ham!”), but what sells the movie is one of the final scenes where Napoleon, everyone’s favourite underdog, bravely hits the stage to help save his best (and only) friend’s attempt at winning the Class President elections. As he puts his practiced D-Qwons Dance Grooves to use, one can’t help but both laugh at and cheer for the guy. He is the ultimate, lovable moonboot-wearing dork who, with a few hilarious moves to Jamiroquai’s Canned Heat, becomes the coolest guy in school (even if it’s just for an afternoon). [WATCH]
2. Pretty In Pink’s Prom Finale
In 1986’s Pretty In Pink, Molly Ringwald’s Andie is sought after by a trio of boys: Steff, the stuck-up rich boy; Blane, the misunderstood nice guy; and Duckie, the platonic best friend. It all comes to a head during the final scene at their Prom where Duckie might finally have his chance to take the relationship to the next level, where Blane finally sticks it to Steff and then professes his love to Andie - leaving Duckie in the dust. Yay! to Andie and Blane, but poor Duckie! Just like high school, the scene is confusing and wrought with emotion, which is only elevated by OMD’s classic If You Leave. In the end, it’s the song’s yearnful strings and ‘ooohs’ which make the scene what it is: one of the most heartbreaking yet uplifting teen movie moments. [WATCH]
1. Wayne’s World Car Sing-A-Long
Years before the unfortunate incident that is The Love Guru, Mike Myers brought us this quintessential pop culture moment: the car ride headbang to Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody in Wayne’s World. Now, because of this scene, no one is safe on the road when this song hits the radio. The scene perfectly articulates the suburban idea of a bullshit-free good time. I mean, who hasn’t at some point mindlessly driven around with friends (going to the next great party or stripmall) and just rocked it out to that great sing-a-long song of the moment? If you haven’t, you poor bastard, let Wayne & Garth show you how it’s done. [WATCH]
Posted on Thursday, June 26th, 2008 at 9:38 am by Soja and is filed under Music & Videos.
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118 Responses to “Top 10 Music Moments in Movies”
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I have two words: Lloyd Dobler.
Otherwise, though, this list is beautiful!
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Gary Jules’ cover of Mad World during the ending credits of Donnie Darko should be here. That said, I completely agree with no. 1
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Wayne’s World … definitely #1. Napolean Dynamite … now there’s someone who can dance (LOL)! Is there gonna be a sequel?
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i’d add twist and shout from bueller
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Waynes world was the best.
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the movie Airplane! with it’s hilarious dance to Stayin’ Alive.
that should be number one.
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Sev7n had a great opening, possibly best matchup of Nine Inch Nail’s closer which was totally created to be put in the beginning of a horror film.
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The Pixies from the end of Fight Club. Simply a great song at a great moment. Donnie Darko is a good point as well.
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this is all a bit 80’s biased isnt it?
My personal favourites are the Radiator Lady in Eraserhead, Christina Ricci tap dancing in the bowling Alley in Bufallo 66, Sparkle Motion dancing to Notorious in Donnie Darko and Cameron Diaz and her terrible karaoke performance in My Best Friends Wedding.
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Agree with Zach, Mad World should be in this list somewhere, and Reservoir Dogs should be higher!
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+1 on the Lloyd Dobler.
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What about Platoon and Samuel Barbers Adadio for Strings?. The scene where Elias(?) has been left behind, he’s being shot in the back by the vietnamese, on his knees arms raised to the sky. You know, the picture on the dvd cover. That was very emotional.
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My favorite is in “The Royal Tenenbaums” when Luke Wilson slits his wrists and they play “Needle in the Hay” by Elliot Smith.
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I don’t know how many people have even seen this movie, but the scene in “Manhunter” (1986) when Inspector Graham (William Peterson) comes crashing through the kitchen window and tackles the killer, Francis Dollarhyde (Tom Noonan) with Inna-Gadda-Da-Vida blaring in the background is, in my opinion, absolutely priceless! For those who haven’t seen it before, “Manhunter” is the first screen adaptation of Thomas Harris’s hit novel, “Red Dragon”; and although Edward Norton delivered a commendable performance in 2002’s “Red Dragon”, there’s just something that makes “Manhunter” nostalgically superior. If you haven’t seen “Manhunter” before, I would most certainly make it a priority. It’s the type of movie that must be seen at least once on principle alone. By principle, I mean that if you’ve seen “Silence of the Lambs”, “Hannibal”, and/or “Red Dragon”, you’re practically obligated to see “Manhunter” being that it was the first screen adaptation of the Hannibal Lecter saga. You will not be disappointed!
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OH MY GOD
I can’t believe that the suicide moment from Tenenbaums isn’t here : s
with Ellitt Smith - Needle in the Hay
oooogh my goooooosh ._.
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I totally agree with you. A movie without music isn’t a movie at all. Music subtly underscores the narrative , creates mood and it is just essential for a great movie. Who can forget Cream slamming into Sunshine of your love in Good Fellas as they start finding the bodies ?
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How Could You Leave Out Where Is My Mind At The End Of Fight Club? That Should Be Top 5 At Least
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no Pixies/Fight Club? worst article on the internet.
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D00d–no Spinal Tap? What a wanker!
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What about Foot Loose? Kevin Bacon fight dancing to feel better then the parody of it in Hotrod
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Concerning Trainspotting I would’ve gone with Lou reed during the overdose scene. Concerning Shaun of the Dead I would’ve gone with I Monster during the opening scenes (supermarket, etc.). Otherwise i’d definitely add T Rex in the opening scene of Billy Elliot.
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I can’t believe the parade scene from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off isn’t on this list!
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How about the pixies at he end of Fight Club?
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What, no mention of the fact that the Adventures In Babysitting clip features The Ice Man Albert Collins? He was one of the last of the old school Chicago bluesmen left at that time ….right up there with the Wolf and Muddy…
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Spiritualized during the elevator scene in Vanilla Sky.
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LOL, Ahh the Breakfast Club! best movie of ALL time!
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And to think, Mike Myers didn’t want to do that scene and bitched at the director about it!
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where’s Tiny Dancer from Almost Famous.
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How could you leave Blues Brothers off of this list?
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The Pixies playing at the end of Fight Club. And Sigur Ros at the end of Life Aquatic! Good list.
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I second Office Space and what about Little Miss Sunshine?
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Tiny Dancer from Almost Famous…..classic scene!
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Err … Korngold, Steiner, Rozsa, Waxman, Herrmann, Goldsmith, Williams — any of these names ringing any bells?
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Tiny Dancer on the bus in Almost Famous
Club Scene in 25th Hour (Cymande - Bra)
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The helicopter scene from Apocalypse Now when they play Ride of the Valkyries
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What about Tiny Dancer in Almost Famous?!?
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Missing: Goodfellas - ‘Bodies all over’ sequence set to Derek and the Dominoes ‘Layla’ piano outro..
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Elisabeth Shue is NOT an Academy Award winner. She was nominated, but did not win.
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What about the Elton John - Tiny Dancer scene in Almost Famous?
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you guys on crack. Back to the future. The Enchantment Under the Sea Dance. where Marty McFly took to the stage and single-handedly invented rock and roll as we now know it.
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Elizabeth Shue was NOMINATED for an Oscar for Leaving Las Vegas, but she didn’t win, and hasn’t since.
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Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey closing should be up there. From the Steve Vai intro to KISS’s God Gave Rock And Roll To You II.
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Donnie Darko - ending
Michael Andrewes - Mad world
May you rot in hell for forgoting such a masterpiece of movie&music put together!
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I have to agree w/ Kathy here.
This scene from Say Anything shouldn’t have been omitted.
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Come on people:
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I don’t see Stanley Kubrick on that list. He is the god of matching music with the movie.
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you forgot bout the end of fight club probably the best music for movie scene
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Two words, Tiny Dancer.
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You can’t have this list without “Bombtrack/Take the Power Back” in the escape scene from Natural Born Killers. That was epic.
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I would add the printer smashing scene from Office Space. The gangster music used there makes it hilarious. Fun list!