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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If you’ve never seen the movie “Fearless”, just check it out for the climactic scene where they use the beginning to U2’s “Where the Streets Have No Name”. I doubt you can watch it and not get choked up.
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Tiny Dancer , on the bus in “Almost Famous” .. And Remy Zero “Fair” in “Garden State” in front of the fireplace…well actually garden state has quite a few.
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Lynard Skynard “Freebird”…. “The Devil’s Rejects”
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how could you leave out the “you’ve lost that lovin’ feelin’” sing along in Top Gun?!
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@amarax & Eitan: you’re both right and i’m an idiot! hehe. i fixed it in the post.
also - i have to be honest, i really struggled with both ferris bueller and say anything. both great movies and great movie moments, but yes, if i included them, it would DEFINTELY have been way too 80s-heavy. i should’ve done a top 100.
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Mary Poppins?
Singing in the Rain?
Movies were made before 1980.
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Gotta agree with BeefHeartHead… No Crossroads?!?!?
Oh well, here’s my version of #1.
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you apparently have forgotten the scene from back to the future where marty plays jhonny b. goode. pure awesomeness.
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i agree…you should have included back to the future and the under the sea dance as well as you’ve lost that lovin feeling from top gun. great music moments.
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The film ‘M’ has a whistling tune every time the villain is shown - its a cool effect.
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Apocalypse Now - Ride of the Valkyries which was also mentioned, and I would take another from Farris Bueller’s Day Off - Danke Schoen
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Wow, I am ecstatic that Adventures in Babysitting is on here. That was my favorite movie growing up. It brings back such fun memories. I wish I could go back to being that young again, life isn’t the same ;(
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Another great Nine Inch Nails remix movie moment comes from Man on Fire. When Creasy is contemplating offing himself and there is a mash-up of Linda Ronstadt’s ‘Blue Bayou’ and NIN’s ‘The Art of Self Destruction.’
Also, the Kronos Quartet pieces in Requiem for a Dream pretty much sell the movie. The final scenes where everything goes to crap are amazingly powerful, which can be attributed almost solely to the music.
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Excalibur Carmina Burana - Arthur and his knights are going to war with Morgana and the world is being restored while they ride.
2001 - Thus Spake Zarathustra - bone found near the obelisk, cracks skull
Blues Brothers - The Old Landmark - James Brown: “Do you see the light?!!”
Casablanca - As Time Goes By - Bogart: “Play it Sam, you played it for her, you can play it for me.”
Hedwig & The Angry Inch - “Angry Inch” - The word faggot leads to a brawl.
Rocky Horror - “Time Warp” - the crowd goes wild in the aisles
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Guitar duel in “The crossroads” by Steve Vai
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0QKbnCDW94
best moment ever,…
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Two words: Danger. Zone.
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APOCALYPSE NOW, JESUS.
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Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer” moment on the bus in “Almost Famous.”!
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Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer” moment on the bus in “Almost Famous.”!
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2 more
wake up at the end of the matrix
time is on my side in fallen
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I agree that music is essential and it helps create a soul for a movie. The one exception is “No Country For Old Men”. The way the Coen brothers used natural sounds instead of music really made it a better movie for me.
One of my favorite music scenes was from “Pump Up The Volume” when Hard Harry first played Leonard Cohen’s “Everybody Knows”.
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No mention of Empire Records? Come on…there’s like 3 good dance scenes in that movie (not counting the ridiculous music video) and the one at the end is just awesome!!
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Empire records needs to be on that list!
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Ugh. The list is fine, but the Napoleon Dynamite scene? What? Bleh.
That movie isn’t, IMO, a “quirky” comedy. It’s not even funny in a really stupid way.
John Heder is a fine actor, but it’s a shame he had to get his “big break” in that horrible excuse for a film.
But, like I said, the rest of the list of great. A few more I think I would have had, but I can’t complain. =P
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I miss “Wise Up” from Magnolia. And I second the dance scene from Little Miss Sunshine.
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What about the creepy-ass scene in Silence of the Lambs with Buffalo Bill dancing and Goodbye Horses playing?
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and what about almost famous’ bus sing along?!?!?
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i absolutely loved this list, except for napoleon dynamite, but great list seriously
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priscilla queen of the desert
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What! You have clearly not seen “Across the Universe” specifically:
Across the Universe
For the Benefit of Mr. kite
I Want You/Heavy
Plus “Clockwork Orange” - Stanley Kubrick knew how to do it better than anyone:
William Tell Overture /Sex Scene - a classic!
Ode to Joy / Alex at Home
Singin’ in the Rain / Rape scene
Hell - the whole picture is loaded with it!
Blues Brothers:
You Better Think! - Aretha Franklin
Shake A Tail Feather - Ray Charles
Rawhide
C’mon!
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The Tiny Dancer tour bus sing-a-long in Almost Famous.
I’m not sure anything beats that one.
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I think you may have forgotten a key scene in America cinema, such as Patrick Bateman’s famous moment with Huey Lewis and the News’ “Hip to be Square.”
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Good list. Mine would look something like this:
1. As Time Goes By - Casablanca;
2. Bohemian Rhapsody - Wayne’s World;
3. Unchained Melody - Ghost;
4. Ride of the Valkyries - Apocalypse Now;
5. Tiny Dancer - Almost Famous;
6. A’int No Mountain High Enough - Remember the Titans;
7. You Never Can Tell - Pulp Fiction;
8. Didn’t I - Jackie Brown;
9. Inna-Gadda-Da-Vida - Manhunter;
10. Wonderful World - Good Morning Vietnam;
11. A Love Supreme - Mo’ Better Blues
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you cannot possibly forget pulp fiction’s remixes, when he goes to the live concert.
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how about Johnny B. Goode in Back to the Future….Classic
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um how bout the beginning of apocalypse now when the doors song the end is playing, talk about a song setting the mood for the movie
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who comes up with these stupid lists anyway is what i’d like to know ?? obviously everyone has different taste so what the fuck is the point really ?
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Ride of the Valkyries from Apocalypse now has been mentioned, but what came to mind even before that (for me) was “The End” by the Doors, from the same.
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cant believe the “afternoon delight” scene from anchor man didn’t make this list.. it was so awesome!
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Who the fuck cares? i love movies and all but, who the fuck cares about your list? Why? i see this crap all over the place. Is it some official list? people just get off making stupid lists of stuff for people to agree with and jerk each other off? bleh.
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and i see you have to approve the comments before they go up. yeah wouldn’t want anybody to say anything mean or disagreeable now would we!!! lol well have fun making lists of dumb crap and editing and censoring peoples reactions to suit your ego.
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START of Donnie Darko - Killing Moon (Echo and the Bunnymen) - tch!
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No mention of Old Time Rock & Roll from Risky Business? Come on now, do your research……
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Agreed with @Geo, Risky Business is one of the most parodied or copied musical moments in history. List fails without it.
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What about the Wreckless Eric cover of Whole Wide World? When Will Ferrell starts playing the song he shows how much he has changed and the scene and music just grows from there.
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How can you forget the cover of “Let’s Get It On” from the end of Hi Fidelity? Pure genius.
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What about the buffalo Bill scene in Silence of the Lambs with Goodbye Horses playing … classic …
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When Gladys Knight spins at the lunch counter in “Blues Brothers” and belts out “Respect”, it is so unexpected, delightful and funny it must rank as one of the most effective uses of a song in any movie.
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How about the opening scene of Kelly’s Heroes, where they’re driving around in the Nazi camp, with the happy sounding pop song, “Burning Bridges,” playing in the background-It’s hilarious.
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Waynes World was the best but what about Animal House with shout… Ferris Bueller with twist and shout… and as a previous post commented, Office Space fax machine scene and ‘damn it feels good to be a gangster’… The departed with ‘gimme shelter’… ???? there are too many teen movies on this list