Songs that should never be used in any movie ever again. Ever.

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1. Cyndi Lauper - "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun"

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Monday, 24 May 2004 00:52 (twenty-two years ago)

2. Katrina & the Waves, "Walking on Sunshine"

― Sean Thomas (sgthomas), Monday, 24 May 2004 00:55 (twenty-two years ago)

3. Smashmouth - "All Star"

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Monday, 24 May 2004 00:55 (twenty-two years ago)

4. Billy Idol - "Rebel Yell"

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Monday, 24 May 2004 00:56 (twenty-two years ago)

Haha "All Star" was gonna be my second post

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Monday, 24 May 2004 00:56 (twenty-two years ago)

5. Yello - "Oh Yeah"

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Monday, 24 May 2004 00:59 (twenty-two years ago)

6. Nick Cave, "Red Right Hand"
7. Jeff Buckley, "Hallelujah"

― miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Monday, 24 May 2004 01:10 (twenty-two years ago)

8. Marvin Gaye, "Let's Get it On"
9. Samuel Barber, "Adagio for Strings"
10. Louis Armstrong, "What a Wonderful World"

― Josh in Chicago (Josh in Chicago), Monday, 24 May 2004 01:15 (twenty-two years ago)

11. James Brown - "I Got You (I Feel Good)"

― Joe Ross, Monday, 24 May 2004 01:20 (twenty-two years ago)

12. Carl Orff - "O Fortuna"

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Monday, 24 May 2004 01:21 (twenty-two years ago)

13. "Old Time Rock 'n' Roll"

― stockholm cindy (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 24 May 2004 01:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Big OTM to #13, and

14. Tone Loc - "Wild Thang"

Both of which appear in GARFIELD. Me=OW!

― Ian Christe (Ian Christe), Monday, 24 May 2004 01:27 (twenty-two years ago)

15. Dick Dale "Misirlou"

― Sami (Sami), Monday, 24 May 2004 01:31 (twenty-two years ago)

16. Vanilla Ice - Ninja Rap.

...

― stephen morris (stephen morris), Monday, 24 May 2004 01:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Freedy Johnston - "Bad Reputation"

― Sam Hunt (robosam), Monday, 24 May 2004 01:38 (twenty-two years ago)

"What Goes On" by the Velvet Underground

― Leon Lighips, Monday, 24 May 2004 01:52 (twenty-two years ago)

That one song that goes "There she goes... there she goes again" which was used during every single movie made during the 1990s.

― David Allen (David Allen), Monday, 24 May 2004 01:55 (twenty-two years ago)

20. Sixpence None The Richer, "Kiss Me"

― stockholm cindy (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 24 May 2004 02:01 (twenty-two years ago)

That would be "There She Goes" by Sixpence None The Richer or the La's, David

― miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Monday, 24 May 2004 02:02 (twenty-two years ago)

21. The Doors, "The End"

(what films have used "What Goes On"? I can't think of any)

― miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Monday, 24 May 2004 02:03 (twenty-two years ago)

That would be "There She Goes" by Sixpence None The Richer or the La's, David
-- miloauckerman (suspectdevic...), May 24th, 2004.

That's it. Ive heard both versions, actually. Hate both.

― David Allen (David Allen), Monday, 24 May 2004 02:06 (twenty-two years ago)

"R-E-S-P-E-C-T"
"I Feel Good"
and I second "Walking on Sunshine"

― roger adultery (roger adultery), Monday, 24 May 2004 02:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Unchained Melody

― jim wentworth (wench), Monday, 24 May 2004 02:12 (twenty-two years ago)

16. Vanilla Ice - Ninja Rap.

...

-- stephen morris (bunchoffive...), May 24th, 2004.
i dunno, i reckon it'd be pretty entertaining to hear this in a movie OTHER THAN the ninja turtle films..

― chris andrews (fraew), Monday, 24 May 2004 02:43 (twenty-two years ago)

that Pete Townsend song that goes "let my love open the door" and Liz Phair's "Why Can't I?" seems like no romantic comedy could be made last year without one or the other. and often both.

― echoinggrove (echoinggrove), Monday, 24 May 2004 02:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Beethoven's 9th. It's everywhere. And needs to disappear.

― JG, Monday, 24 May 2004 02:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Louie Louie. That "fill me up buttercup" song. That "down with the sickness" by Disturbed.

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Monday, 24 May 2004 03:04 (twenty-two years ago)

All choices are otm so far.

32. Gloria Gaynor -- "I Will Survive"
33. Bee Gees -- "Stayin Alive"

― Barry Bruner (Barry Bruner), Monday, 24 May 2004 03:12 (twenty-two years ago)

34. Steppenwolf - "Born to be wild"
35. George Thorogood - "Bad to the bone"

― Øystein H-O (Øystein H-O), Monday, 24 May 2004 03:39 (twenty-two years ago)

Baha Men
Who let the dogs out

― startrekman, Monday, 24 May 2004 03:45 (twenty-two years ago)

37. Neil Diamond - I'm a believer (And I wish the law would've been enforced prior to Shrek and Smash Mouth's unholy alliance)
38. The Champs - Tequila

― Øystein H-O (Øystein H-O), Monday, 24 May 2004 03:49 (twenty-two years ago)

39 Rock N Roll All Night - Kiss
40 The Lion Sleeps Tonight - Robert John

― billstevejim, Monday, 24 May 2004 03:54 (twenty-two years ago)

40 The Lion Sleeps Tonight - Robert John

And how do you expect them to make wacky sex montages, then? Ugh!

― David Allen (David Allen), Monday, 24 May 2004 04:19 (twenty-two years ago)

41. Every song ever made.

― Mr. Snrub, Monday, 24 May 2004 04:40 (twenty-two years ago)

I want to make a film with all of those in the soundtrack! How would we know something good has happened unless Katrina and the Waves are playing?

― Kevin Gilchrist (Mr Fusion), Monday, 24 May 2004 04:43 (twenty-two years ago)

35. George Thorogood - "Bad to the bone"

so OTM.

41. "Break On Through" - the Doors (over "1968" montages especially)

― amateur!st (amateurist), Monday, 24 May 2004 04:44 (twenty-two years ago)

I dunno about movies but can someone stop Ira Glass from using Music for Airports again?!!!?!???!?!???!!!??

― hstencil (hstencil), Monday, 24 May 2004 04:49 (twenty-two years ago)

aaaaah cliched radio spot music deserves its own thread.

i keep hearing the same snippet from talk talk "spirit of eden"--on french and american radio.

― amateur!st (amateurist), Monday, 24 May 2004 04:53 (twenty-two years ago)

I will start a thread.

― hstencil (hstencil), Monday, 24 May 2004 04:54 (twenty-two years ago)

I find it hard to believe that the collected minds of ILM got to #42 without submitting "We Are Family" by Sister Sledge.

― DougD, Monday, 24 May 2004 04:57 (twenty-two years ago)

43. venetian snares - find candace

i mean is it his fault this track is so damn catchy and effective during montage sequences?

― harshaw (jube), Monday, 24 May 2004 06:09 (twenty-two years ago)

I dunno about movies but can someone stop Ira Glass from using Music for Airports again?!!!?!???!?!???!!!??

My best friend just completed an internship for This American Life -- one of her goals, at my encouragement was to try to get Ira to vary the underscoring music. I don't know if she succeeded or not. The one that drives me crazy is Uaxti's Aguas de Amazonia, which is a South American band covering Philip Glass -- they play that ALL THE TIME. (I think Glass Solo Piano sometimes, too.)

― jaymc (jaymc), Monday, 24 May 2004 06:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Macho Man
Wild Thing

But, the one thing Hollywood needs now is FUCKING DANA CARVEY IN THE LEAD ROLE WITH AT LEAST ONE AIR GUITAR SOLO!

― DFANi, Monday, 24 May 2004 06:15 (twenty-two years ago)

That damn guy from the Eagles: Glen Frey? Doing that song from Beverly Hills Cop, mid-80's: "The Heat is On!/The Heat is O-On!/The Heat is On!/The Heat is O-on"

― Bimble (bimble), Monday, 24 May 2004 06:19 (twenty-two years ago)

41. "Break On Through" - the Doors (over "1968" montages especially)

The 1968 montage would be nothing, however, without Buffalo Springfield's "Fortunate Son" (cue shot of helicopter over Vietnam jungle).

― jaymc (jaymc), Monday, 24 May 2004 06:25 (twenty-two years ago)

That motherfucking "I've seen you around, I think you're very attractive" song, whatever it's called. Movies, documentaries, radio ads.

Royksopp also.

― Jacob (Jacob), Monday, 24 May 2004 06:38 (twenty-two years ago)

Buffalo Springfield's "Fortunate Son"

er, do you mean CCR?

yeah, that song's overused, but it's a GREAT song, so i'd feel silly to complain.

― amateur!st (amateurist), Monday, 24 May 2004 07:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Josh in Chicago is so OTM about Barber's "Adagio for Strings" it hurts. Also ubiquitous around here in advertising and documentaries about genocide!

― Nag! Nag! Nag! (Nag! Nag! Nag!), Monday, 24 May 2004 07:11 (twenty-two years ago)

yeah, it was ubiqitous after 9/11 too.

it works at the end of "elephant man" though.

― amateur!st (amateurist), Monday, 24 May 2004 07:12 (twenty-two years ago)

That Kung Fu Fighting song.

― Mil, Monday, 24 May 2004 07:57 (twenty-two years ago)

There she goes... The La's, Sixpence none the richer AND the boo radleys...

Also, Oh Yeah.

Both these are second-ments.

― mark grout (mark grout), Monday, 24 May 2004 08:04 (twenty-two years ago)

The Romantics "That's What I Like About You" owns the thread, as of late.

― phil dennison, Monday, 24 May 2004 11:38 (twenty-two years ago)

"Born To Be Wild"
"Brown Eyed Girl" (or any Van Morrison song)

― zebedee (zebedee), Monday, 24 May 2004 11:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Royal Tenenbaums Soundtrack

― Be sure to Loop! Loop, Loop, Loop. (ex machina), Monday, 24 May 2004 12:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Any Enya.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Monday, 24 May 2004 12:47 (twenty-two years ago)

"At Last" -- Etta James
"Louisiana 1927" -- Randy Newman

― Jazzbo (jmcgaw), Monday, 24 May 2004 13:23 (twenty-two years ago)

34. Steppenwolf - "Born to be wild"
35. George Thorogood - "Bad to the bone"

Was it possible for a character in an 80s comedy to either put on sunglasses or ride a motorcycle WITHOUT on of these two songs being used?

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Monday, 24 May 2004 13:30 (twenty-two years ago)

You've Lost That Loving Feeling - Righteous Brothers
Clubbed To Death - Rob Dougan
La Femme D'Argent - Air
ANY "sensitive" acoustic cover version of ANY 1980s synth-pop hit.

― mike t-diva (mike t-diva), Monday, 24 May 2004 14:04 (twenty-two years ago)

Chariots of Fire

― Plaster Penguin, Monday, 24 May 2004 14:07 (twenty-two years ago)

When has "La Femme D'Argent" been used in a movie? I must know!!!

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Monday, 24 May 2004 14:12 (twenty-two years ago)

anything by Fluke, Chemical Brothers, Prodigy, Crystal Method, Propellerheads, Fatboy Slim etc. you get the idea

― stevem (blueski), Monday, 24 May 2004 14:13 (twenty-two years ago)

flying lizards - money

― dz, Monday, 24 May 2004 14:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Actually, Propellerheads is okay with me, but ridiculously shit knock-offs of "Spybreak" (aka THAT ONE FROM TEH MATRIX WHERE KENANU FUCKS SHIT UP), even* when used in conjunction with "hilarious" parody scenes, have got to stop.

*(for "even" read "especially")

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Monday, 24 May 2004 14:20 (twenty-two years ago)

Gorecki's Third Symphony, first movement

not because it's bad, but:
a) its use in Fearless cannot be topped
b) i don't want it associated with anything beneath its value

― mookieproof (mookieproof), Monday, 24 May 2004 14:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Ben E King - Stand by me

― MikeB, Monday, 24 May 2004 15:06 (twenty-two years ago)

ANY "sensitive" acoustic cover version of ANY 1980s synth-pop hit.
Example: "Mad World".

― Barry Bruner (Barry Bruner), Monday, 24 May 2004 15:09 (twenty-two years ago)

I dunno about movies but can someone stop Ira Glass from using Music for Airports again?!!!?!???!?!???!!!??

Dr. Dre's Chronic 2001 too!!!

― ddb, Monday, 24 May 2004 15:36 (twenty-two years ago)

When has "La Femme D'Argent" been used in a movie? I must know!!!

I've only ever seen it in a cosmetics commercial.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Monday, 24 May 2004 15:39 (twenty-two years ago)

why would you see a movie that contains any of these songs in the first place?

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Monday, 24 May 2004 15:59 (twenty-two years ago)

a lot of these tracks are good.

― stevem (blueski), Monday, 24 May 2004 16:12 (twenty-two years ago)

"I'm Too Sexy" played over 'look, I'm trying on 30 different wacky outfits before finding the perfect thing to wear' montages.

― Kim (Kim), Monday, 24 May 2004 16:32 (twenty-two years ago)

The exception being, when it's an orangutan trying on clothes.

(I don't know if I've ever actually seen this outside of my fondest dreams.)

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Monday, 24 May 2004 16:36 (twenty-two years ago)

bach - brandenburg concertos
debussy - claire de lune

― common_person (common_person), Monday, 24 May 2004 17:34 (twenty-two years ago)

"I'm Too Sexy" played over 'look, I'm trying on 30 different wacky outfits before finding the perfect thing to wear' montages.

-- Kim (grimstitc...) (webmail), May 24th, 2004 10:32 AM. (Kim) (later) (link)
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arrrrrrr otm

― amateur!st (amateurist), Monday, 24 May 2004 18:33 (twenty-two years ago)

I really don't want to hear any more Amon-Tobin-songs-I-considered-"obscure" featured in anymore car/soda/sport beverage commericals pls k thx bye.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Monday, 24 May 2004 18:36 (twenty-two years ago)

We never did figure out why Leon Lighips put "What Goes On" on this list, did we? YEAH WHADDA CLICHE.

― sexyDancer, Monday, 24 May 2004 19:02 (twenty-two years ago)

the liz phair one about being extraordinary.

― keith m (keithmcl), Monday, 24 May 2004 20:14 (twenty-two years ago)

I've never heard "Bad Reputation" in a film either.

Howsabout "Lust for Life"? Ban it from ads too, please!

― Aaron A., Monday, 24 May 2004 20:22 (twenty-two years ago)

"Dude (Looks Like a Lady)" owns this goddamn thread.

― King Kobra (King Kobra), Monday, 24 May 2004 20:53 (twenty-two years ago)

There she goes... The La's, Sixpence none the richer AND the boo radleys...

And both The La's (original) and the Boo Radleys' versions are on the So I Married An Ax Murderer soundtrack...

― wetmink (wetmink), Monday, 24 May 2004 20:58 (twenty-two years ago)

"also sprach zarathustra".

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Monday, 24 May 2004 21:06 (twenty-two years ago)

Y'know, the "Pink Panther" theme really isn't used enough, I say.

― sexyDancer, Monday, 24 May 2004 21:11 (twenty-two years ago)

In fact, the La's version is probably the best thing on a pretty crappy soundtrack (Toad The Wet Sprocket, anyone?)

1. There She Goes performed by Boo Radleys - 2:18
2. Brother performed by Toad the Wet Sprocket - 4:04
3. The Break performed by Soul Asylum - 2:46
4. Starve to Death performed by Chris Whitley - 3:14
5. Rush [New York City Club Version] performed by Big Audio Dynamite II - 3:55
6. This Poem Sucks performed by Mike Myers / D. Knowles / C. Rusk - 2:04
7. Saturday Night performed by Ned's Atomic Dustbin - 3:08
8. Long Day in the Universe [Remix] performed by Darling Buds - 4:08
9. Two Princes performed by Spin Doctors - 4:15
10. My Insatiable One performed by Suede - 2:57
11. Maybe Baby performed by Sun Sixty - 3:43
12. There She Goes performed by LA's (The) - 2:42

― wetmink (wetmink), Monday, 24 May 2004 21:18 (twenty-two years ago)

anything by Aerosmith.

― michael alan goldberg, Tuesday, 25 May 2004 03:48 (twenty-two years ago)

jefferson airplane - white rabbit

― J.D. (Justyn Dillingham), Tuesday, 25 May 2004 03:52 (twenty-two years ago)

satie's trois gymnopedies

― amateur!st (amateurist), Tuesday, 25 May 2004 03:55 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't think anyone could top the use of Abba in Tilssamans (aka Together, so no one should try.

Also, "These Boot Are Made for Walkin'".

― Arthur (Arthur), Tuesday, 25 May 2004 04:13 (twenty-two years ago)

what about the ska version, "these boots are made for stompin'"?

― amateur!st (amateurist), Tuesday, 25 May 2004 04:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Hmmm, I don't know, amateur!st, I'd have to hear it first. Is it 60s ska? Does it have a girl singer?

― Arthur (Arthur), Tuesday, 25 May 2004 04:29 (twenty-two years ago)

"Bad Reputation" played during the credits of KICKING AND SCREAMING. Not a huge offense, I believe.

― joseph cotten (joseph cotten), Tuesday, 25 May 2004 04:43 (twenty-two years ago)

"Incense And Peppermints" needs to be BANNED as the go to song for any "groovy 1960s" scene set-up.

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Tuesday, 25 May 2004 04:52 (twenty-two years ago)

arthur: yes it is 60s, no there is no girl singer.

― amateur!st (amateurist), Tuesday, 25 May 2004 05:42 (twenty-two years ago)

chopin - nocturne in Eb

― common_person (common_person), Tuesday, 25 May 2004 13:32 (twenty-two years ago)

"the future's so bright, i gotta wear shades" Timbuk 3 in every bad 80s movie.

― Carey (Carey), Tuesday, 25 May 2004 13:38 (twenty-two years ago)

Blue Oyster Cult - Don't Fear the Reaper

― Jarlr'mai (jarlrmai), Tuesday, 25 May 2004 14:24 (twenty-two years ago)

Mammas & The Papas - California Dreaming (Chung King Express)

― eleki-san (eleki-san), Saturday, 29 May 2004 04:18 (twenty-two years ago)

one year passes...

Just watched a scene from a Chopin biopic (Song of Love?) prominently featuring "Etude no. 3" AKA "Lemon Incest". Mental images of young Charlotte Gainsbourg kept distracting me from the movie.

― Okeigh, Saturday, 25 February 2006 06:47 (twenty years ago)

that delibes that's used in every gruesome slow mo mafia killing scene.

― Susan Douglas (Susan Douglas), Saturday, 25 February 2006 06:56 (twenty years ago)

Somewhere Over the Rainbow, ESPECIALLY over something ironic and not very rainbow-esque

― Abbadavid Berman (Hurting), Saturday, 25 February 2006 07:01 (twenty years ago)

Sweet Home Alabama, Nicholas Cage springs to mind.

― xgurggleglgllg (xgurggleglgllg), Saturday, 25 February 2006 07:59 (twenty years ago)

I say a little prayer

― snowballing (snowballing), Saturday, 25 February 2006 10:18 (twenty years ago)

Louie Louie. That "fill me up buttercup" song. That "down with the sickness" by Disturbed.

-- latebloomer (posercore24...), May 24th, 2004.

i stand by my choices.

the list also needs to include "i wanna be sedated", "these boots are made for walking" (except for the cripin glover version), "lust for life" and anything cameron crowe has ever used.

― latebloomer: My Baby's A Labrador, He's Beautiful (latebloomer), Saturday, 25 February 2006 13:04 (twenty years ago)

What's that one R and B song? "Aint no mountain high enough"..... somebody may have mentioned it, but if I hear that song one more time I'm gonna puke!

― xgurggleglgllg (xgurggleglgllg), Saturday, 25 February 2006 13:07 (twenty years ago)

solsbury hill, peter gabriel. although I guess that's used more in trailers than actual movies.

― kyle (akmonday), Saturday, 25 February 2006 14:24 (twenty years ago)

once again, 'O Fortuna' from STravinsky's Carmina Burana in war movies, particularly. the strangest thing is that the song isn't about war at all.

― trees (treesessplode), Saturday, 25 February 2006 18:41 (twenty years ago)

That's Carl Orff, not Stravinsky.

Also, xpost -- it's actually "Build me up, Buttercup" which makes more sense in the line "Why do you build me up, buttercup (baby) just to let me down?"

― Abbadavid Berman (Hurting), Saturday, 25 February 2006 19:26 (twenty years ago)

Orff! My dog's second favorite musician (after Bach, of course).

I always associate Carmina Burana in movies with some devil-type shit.

― casey (t. fiend), Sunday, 26 February 2006 01:08 (twenty years ago)

anything by Aerosmith.
-- michael alan goldberg (michael_a_goldber...), May 25th, 2004.

that was going to be my post verbatim

― Aaron A, Sunday, 26 February 2006 02:01 (twenty years ago)

James Brown- Payback- in gangster double-cross movies

― -rainbow bum- (-rainbow bum-), Sunday, 26 February 2006 09:56 (twenty years ago)

the thing is the john woo use of somewhere over a rainbow was masterful...

― anthony easton (anthony), Sunday, 26 February 2006 10:55 (twenty years ago)

Anything with either Lisa Gerrard or a soundalike wailing away in a historical epic or something with a desert.

― Jay Vee (Manon_70), Sunday, 26 February 2006 17:37 (twenty years ago)

But it's MYSTIC, Jay Vee! Some goth you are! *hides*

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 26 February 2006 17:38 (twenty years ago)

i just heard an instrumental version of 50 cent's p.i.m.p. being used as npr bumper music... it made such weird sense

― s1ocki (slutsky), Sunday, 26 February 2006 17:49 (twenty years ago)

(x post) Hahah - even when I was a goth I would've been annoyed at the overuse of the Lisa Gerrard Sound. Where's the Hollywood/ad agency love for Brendan Perry?!

― Jay Vee (Manon_70), Sunday, 26 February 2006 18:04 (twenty years ago)

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