Best use of a song in a movie?

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your favorites?

I like the use of Jackson Browne's "Somebodys Baby" during the scene with Damone and Stacy in "Fast Times At Ridgemont High".

― Chris V. (Chris V), Thursday, 16 January 2003 19:29 (twenty-three years ago)

The one by the stranglers in snatch.

― , Thursday, 16 January 2003 19:32 (twenty-three years ago)

I'm also partial to "Ooh Baby, Baby" - Smokey, in "Heaven Help Us"

― Chris V. (Chris V), Thursday, 16 January 2003 19:36 (twenty-three years ago)

monumental question! so i'll have to think of something more interesting than the Layla coda in Goodfellas.

― Aaron A., Thursday, 16 January 2003 19:37 (twenty-three years ago)

oh and "Everybody Wants Some" from Better Off Dead

― Chris V. (Chris V), Thursday, 16 January 2003 19:41 (twenty-three years ago)

Pretty much anything in The Graduate. Gary Jules' "Mad World" cover in Donnie Darko.

Worst: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid - "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head."

― Tep (ktepi), Thursday, 16 January 2003 19:46 (twenty-three years ago)

to die for - sweet home alabama
metropolis - i can't stop loving you

― mark b, Thursday, 16 January 2003 19:50 (twenty-three years ago)

So long as today is my day of arguing that High Fidelity is not so bad, I might as well also admit that Wes Anderson's music-use usually gets me -- I was very drunk and maudlin while watching Tenenbaums but the Nico and even the Elliot Smith (I thought I hated Elliot Smith) really grabbed me.

Also reminded by the Eureka thread of the Ayler and O'Rourke in that: maybe it's just the effect of nearly 4 hours of mostly silence but "Eureka" sounds like a relevation at the end.

― nabisco (nabisco), Thursday, 16 January 2003 19:56 (twenty-three years ago)

ah yes "Alone Again Or" from Bottlerocket is brilliant!

― Chris V. (Chris V), Thursday, 16 January 2003 19:57 (twenty-three years ago)

karate kid - you're the best

― , Thursday, 16 January 2003 20:01 (twenty-three years ago)

"Can't You Hear Me Knockin'" in Casino.

― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 16 January 2003 20:03 (twenty-three years ago)

"Magic Man" in The Virgin Suicides.

― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 16 January 2003 20:05 (twenty-three years ago)

i like that one Jody. Good ole Trip.

― Chris V. (Chris V), Thursday, 16 January 2003 20:06 (twenty-three years ago)

the Chicago song in "Three Kings"

― Aaron A., Thursday, 16 January 2003 20:11 (twenty-three years ago)

isao tomita's take on "sibelius" in chris marker's sans soleil
dionne warwick/burt bacharach's "what do you get when you fall in love?" in todd haynes' superstar
"dancing queen" in muriel's wedding
"don't fear the reaper" in john carpenter's halloween

― gygax!, Thursday, 16 January 2003 20:11 (twenty-three years ago)

I thought everyone adored Wes Anderson's use of music? Is he horribly untrendy or something?

'Worst' use of great music: when Al Green starts singing in Pulp Fiction (Bruce Willis's first appearance in it, possibly, in the bar), I cannot listen to the dialogue.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Thursday, 16 January 2003 20:52 (twenty-three years ago)

I'll refer y'all to my answers from the first time this came up, and nick the Pixies from the answer below mine.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Thursday, 16 January 2003 23:14 (twenty-three years ago)

Fightclub - Pixies "Where is my mind"

― , Thursday, 16 January 2003 23:19 (twenty-three years ago)

I can't help myself - "In Your Eyes" from Say Anything

― luna (luna.c), Friday, 17 January 2003 00:21 (twenty-three years ago)

"Dream Weaver" In Bill and Teds Excellent Adventure
"In Dreams" in Blue Velvet

― brg30 (brg30), Friday, 17 January 2003 01:41 (twenty-three years ago)

wayne's world?

― RJG (RJG), Friday, 17 January 2003 01:48 (twenty-three years ago)

"Fight the Power" in Do The Right Thing, as somebody mentioned on the other thread. "Needles In The Camel's Eye" in Velvet Goldmine, too.

― Douglas (Douglas), Friday, 17 January 2003 01:50 (twenty-three years ago)

"Making Time" in Rushmore. Happy now, Martin?

― Nicole (Nicole), Friday, 17 January 2003 01:53 (twenty-three years ago)

Any time "Who Let The Dougs Out?" is involved

― Curtis Stephens, Friday, 17 January 2003 01:55 (twenty-three years ago)

Erm, "Dogs" rather.

― Curtis Stephens, Friday, 17 January 2003 01:55 (twenty-three years ago)

"Who Let The Dougs Out?"

best title ever

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Friday, 17 January 2003 01:59 (twenty-three years ago)

It would be used in a movie about Canadian guys named Doug or Dougie. I blame Doug Gilmour for Doug explosion in Canada.

― Nicole (Nicole), Friday, 17 January 2003 02:07 (twenty-three years ago)

He needs a best pal named Gordie.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 17 January 2003 03:08 (twenty-three years ago)

When Paul Newman and what's her name fool around on the bicycle in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid while what's his name sings Raindrops Keep Fallin' On Me 'Ead.

― Aimless, Friday, 17 January 2003 04:11 (twenty-three years ago)

"cosmic dancer" in billy elliott. there are loads more, but i can't think of any right now.

― sand.y, Friday, 17 January 2003 04:22 (twenty-three years ago)

"Then Comes Dudley" by The Jesus Lizard un Amateur. Yehhhhh.

― Nordicskillz (Nordicskillz), Friday, 17 January 2003 07:30 (twenty-three years ago)

I meant "in" Amateur.

And the finnish version of "...Over The Rainbow" in Aki Kauriskami's Ariel.

― Nordicskillz (Nordicskillz), Friday, 17 January 2003 07:31 (twenty-three years ago)

Peter Lorre whispering the "Peer Gynt" theme in M.

― Amateurist (amateurist), Friday, 17 January 2003 07:43 (twenty-three years ago)

"Northern Sky" by Nick Drake. End of Serendipity.

― SittingPretty (sittingpretty), Friday, 17 January 2003 09:21 (twenty-three years ago)

Hey, will someone tell me the proper name of that whistling tune from M? It drives me crazy whenever I think of that movie and I can't remember the name of the tune.

― Dan I., Friday, 17 January 2003 09:23 (twenty-three years ago)

"Crying" from Mulholland Drive.

― Colin Meeder (Mert), Friday, 17 January 2003 09:50 (twenty-three years ago)

"Can't Take My Eyes Off of You" in The Deer Hunter -- in the bar AND at the reception!

― weatheringdaleson (weatheringdaleson), Friday, 17 January 2003 09:51 (twenty-three years ago)

I thought the use of The Clash's London Calling in Die Another Day was pretty good, much better than California Girls at the beginning of A View To A Kill.

― Ben Mott (Ben Mott), Friday, 17 January 2003 09:59 (twenty-three years ago)

Fightclub - Pixies "Where is my mind"

aw, someone got there first.
if that song didnt kick in at the end, the film would only be half as good. best music cue EVAH.

― g-kit (g-kit), Friday, 17 January 2003 10:25 (twenty-three years ago)

Best Pop/Rock/Whatever SONG USAGE in a Film....

― N. (nickdastoor), Friday, 17 January 2003 10:30 (twenty-three years ago)

The Hands That Built America - U2 in Gangs Of New York. It told me I could leave the cinema, and to KEEP RUNNING.

― Pete (Pete), Friday, 17 January 2003 10:39 (twenty-three years ago)

Layla (instrumental part): Goodfellas

― james (james), Friday, 17 January 2003 13:39 (twenty-three years ago)

Oh - Farrell had already linked to that. Oops.

― N. (nickdastoor), Friday, 17 January 2003 13:42 (twenty-three years ago)

"Definition" in the first Austin Powers is very memorable

― Alan (Alan), Friday, 17 January 2003 14:05 (twenty-three years ago)

As is BBC Four.

― Pete (Pete), Friday, 17 January 2003 14:46 (twenty-three years ago)

please please please let me get what I want in Pretty in Pink - heartbreaking

― chris (chris), Friday, 17 January 2003 14:56 (twenty-three years ago)

Wong Kar-Wai uses music very effectively in his films. "California Dreaming" is great throughout Chungking Express, and the live version of "Happy Together" at the end of, um, Happy Together works really well--it makes the end of the film feel as cathartic as it's supposed to.

― die9o (dhadis), Friday, 17 January 2003 15:05 (twenty-three years ago)

"Fly" in Royal Tenenbaums

― Chris V. (Chris V), Friday, 17 January 2003 15:24 (twenty-three years ago)

I think what Peter Lorre is whistling is the "In the Hall of the Mountain King" theme from Grieg's Peer Gynt.

― Amateurist (amateurist), Friday, 17 January 2003 16:08 (twenty-three years ago)

chris is right.
also :
'sin ella' by gypsy kings in fearless
'rubber biscuit' by the chips in mean streets
(obv. but classic-o)
'you can't always get what you want' in the big chill
'come together' (prml scrm not beatles)
at the end of human traffic
'99 red balloons' in grosse point blank
'hip to be square' in american psycho
'wheel of fortune' in l.a. confidential
'we got the beat' in fast times at ridgemont high
'all summer long' in american graffiti
(i just got a shiver thinking about that)

― piscesboy, Friday, 17 January 2003 16:21 (twenty-three years ago)

"Late For The Sky" in Taxi Driver.

― Justyn Dillingham (Justyn Dillingham), Friday, 17 January 2003 16:34 (twenty-three years ago)

Ooo ooo my friend Mark just made me watch Donnie Darko which was not nearly as great as people kept telling me but glorious use of my favorite Tears for Fears single ("Head Over Heels").

― nabisco (nabisco), Friday, 17 January 2003 16:40 (twenty-three years ago)

nabisco is now my official movie reviewer. not for the TfF thing.

― Alan (Alan), Friday, 17 January 2003 16:41 (twenty-three years ago)

The sequence in The Virgin Suicides when they're playing records to each other over the phone.
Playlist goes:

Hello It's Me (Todd R)
Alone Again Naturally (G O'S)
Run To Me (Bee Gees)
So Far Away (Carole King)

Unbearably poignant.

Also ELO's Strange Magic in the same film, and all the Wes stuff mentioned up there & elsewhere. Another vote for Mad World & Head Over Heels in DD, and howabout The Killing Moon while where at it?

In fact, now that I think about it, just hearing music played loud in a dark quiet environment (ie a cinema) is great, no matter what's being played.

― harveyw (harveyw), Friday, 17 January 2003 16:50 (twenty-three years ago)

Has no one mentioned "Kool Thing" from Simple Men?!

― Amateurist (amateurist), Friday, 17 January 2003 16:51 (twenty-three years ago)

Love the use of "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" right at the end of Real Genius as all the kids are jumping into the mound of popcorn.

― zaxxon25 (zaxxon25), Friday, 17 January 2003 17:31 (twenty-three years ago)

Bill Conti's "Gonna Fly Now" - The "theme" from Rocky.

― C J (C J), Saturday, 18 January 2003 00:04 (twenty-three years ago)

zaxxon25=OTM

in fact: all the songs in real genius well used-------even that bryan adams one and that don henley one!!!!!!!!

― RJG (RJG), Saturday, 18 January 2003 00:06 (twenty-three years ago)

zaxxon25=OTM

in fact: all the songs in real genius are well used-------even that bryan adams one and that don henley one!!!!!!!!

― RJG (RJG), Saturday, 18 January 2003 00:06 (twenty-three years ago)

normally good music choice don't affect me much. I just go "hey! apt choice!" or "hey! nice song but why is it here? trying to get music snob cred points?" or "hey! who the fuck thinks I wanna hear Peter Cetera? Fuck You!"

But though the specifics as to why this worked so well fail me, I remember being totally moved by Robert DeNiro entering a bar to the tune of "Jumpin' Jack Flash" in "Mean Streets" (a film that used music well in other scenes too).

Special credit goes to any movie with a song that shares a title with the movie, or a close appromixation to it. If they don't, I always end up making one for it.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Saturday, 18 January 2003 00:14 (twenty-three years ago)

real genius had a song called 'Number One' in and I believe that that song's title was the movie's alternate title in some places, yeah!

― RJG (RJG), Saturday, 18 January 2003 00:22 (twenty-three years ago)

I love Nillson's "Everybody's Talkin'" in Midnight Cowboy. Sinéad O'Connor's "You made me the thief of your heart" during the lighted papers being thrown from the cell windows scene in "In the Name of the Father" was powerful.

Also have deeply evocative memories of Bowie's "Heroes" in "Christiana F"

― Saskia, Saturday, 18 January 2003 00:27 (twenty-three years ago)

'axel f' in beverly hills cop.

― RJG (RJG), Saturday, 18 January 2003 00:36 (twenty-three years ago)

but the best musical filip in mean streets is when harvey is getting out of bed and there's a jump cut during the opening bars of 'be my baby'

― Amateurist (amateurist), Saturday, 18 January 2003 07:10 (twenty-three years ago)

i never remember anything about movies but i have a vague recollection of the best thing about romy and michelle's high school reunion being an interpretive dance to a cyndi lauper song, i think it was time after time.

― di smith (lucylurex), Saturday, 18 January 2003 08:32 (twenty-three years ago)

What about the "Magnolia" sequence where everybody -- Hamlet-like -- stops to sing "It's not going to stop, so just give up"?

I'm up in the air as to whether it worked or not (so maybe it did), but I've never seen anything like that in a movie.

― weatheringdaleson (weatheringdaleson), Saturday, 18 January 2003 08:42 (twenty-three years ago)

Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence - David Sylvian
Dead Man Walking - Eddy Veder and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan 'The Long Road'

― kayT (kaytee), Saturday, 18 January 2003 09:23 (twenty-three years ago)

four years pass...

Hurdy Gurdy Man, Zodiac.

― pisces, Wednesday, 28 November 2007 18:25 (eighteen years ago)

also
'Faith' George Michael,
'Colours' by Donovan,

from RULES OF ATTRACTION.

― pisces, Wednesday, 28 November 2007 18:30 (eighteen years ago)

"Bela Lugosi's Dead" in the opening scene of The Hunger.

― nickn, Thursday, 29 November 2007 00:48 (eighteen years ago)

This Woman's Work from She's Having a Baby
Across 110th Street from Jackie Brown

― craven, Thursday, 29 November 2007 04:28 (eighteen years ago)

Eno's "An Ending (Ascent)" at the end of Traffic. Perfect example of a
song evoking such post-film catharsis that one, for a moment, is convinced
the film might have been somewhat profound rather than somewhat amusing.

― peter james, Thursday, 29 November 2007 05:24 (eighteen years ago)

Silence of the Lambs throughout.

In particular; Colin Newman's 'Alone', the Fall's 'Hip Priest' and Q Lazzarus (of course).

― S-, Thursday, 29 November 2007 05:24 (eighteen years ago)

Not BEST EVAH but a couple of good New Yorkers: Naive Melody in Wall Street and Baba O'Riley in Summer Of Sam.

― Cosmo Vitelli, Thursday, 29 November 2007 05:31 (eighteen years ago)

one year passes...

lately = PAPER PLANES in SLUMDOG...
people were turning to each other and smiling and raising eyebrows and such all round us in the cinema.

YOU TUBE was invented for this thread!

― piscesx, Monday, 26 January 2009 03:00 (seventeen years ago)

"Canned Heat" by Jamiroquai in Napoleon Dynamite

― Mr. Snrub, Monday, 26 January 2009 04:25 (seventeen years ago)

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