Effective use of songs in film and television
Have you ever wanted to see a movie just because of the music used in the trailer? I can think of two: Indecent Proposal, which used Sade’s "No Ordinary Love," one of the most romantic songs ever written, and Closer, which uses Damien Rice’s "The Blower’s Daughter," also a contender.
Who can forget the use of "Twist and Shout" in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off? Or "Bohemian Rhapsody" in Wayne’s World? Or "In Your Eyes" in Say Anything?
Forrest Gump was a movie that used music in a way I don’t think I’ve ever seen before. It actually had songs whose lyrics related to what was going on in the scene. Like the use of Jackson Browne’s "Running on Empty" during the scene where Forrest is jogging across the nation. My favorite scene, though, is when Jenny’s in a 70′s disco pad, and her boyfriend is passed out. She’s gathering up her stuff to leave, and the song playing is the Doors’ "Love Her Madly." It says, "Don’t you love her madly, don’t you love her face" while she takes off her sunglasses to look at her black eye in the mirrored wall, and then she slams out of the apartment as it continues, "Don’t you love her as she’s walking out the door."
BTW, there is also a movie called Running on Empty, which uses the Jackson Browne song as it’s theme, but I don’t know how it came to be made and what the song may have had to do with it.
Alias is a tv show that uses great music for reflective, quiet scenes. Usually along the lines of Sarah McLachlan and Damien Rice. I once heard a song on there that blew me away, and I tried to find out who it was later and couldn’t. I don’t remember now how it went.
John Hughes’ 80′s teen movies always had great music in them. One scene I always remember is Ducky in Pretty in Pink sitting in the rain as the Smiths’ "Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want" plays.
Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? is another movie that used music really effectively–bluegrass/Americana/folk.
I also loved the scene in Reality Bites where Ethan Hawke’s character’s father (?–memory’s bad) is in the hospital and U2′s "All I Want Is You" is playing.
I need to break into Hollywood and become the person who recommends songs for movies and television. What a dream job that would be! Here’s a couple songs just begging to be used:
Nothern Sky – Nick Drake
Fisherman’s Blues – the Waterboys
I’m sure I’ll think of more. Any number of Van Morrison or Ryan Adams songs!
What songs can you think of that were used effectively in film? I’m already thinking of more, but that’s good for now.
Posted on January 14, 2005, in Movies, Music, Television. Bookmark the permalink. 27 Comments.
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The Fisherman’s Blues was used in Good Will Hunting – fabulous song and fabulous movie.
Could someone please tell me where to find the instrumental song at the end of INDECENT PROPOSAL? When they are on the pier, holding hands at the end?
Please, I’m desperate!
Gary, Nick Drake was the best thing about Serendipity. That movie was utterly forgettable otherwise. But Almost Famous was fantastic, I agree.
What about Scorsese and his music? In my mind, he takes a back seat to Coppola (either father or daughter). Tough to beat Lost in Translation.
What’s not to like about Serendipity? John Cusack, Kate Beckinsale, and Gabriel Garcia-Marquez. How could you go wrong?
No, really.
Reading back through the comments, I see no one has mentioned A Knight’s Tale which features anachronistic use of great songs like “We Will Rock You” at a jousting tournament. Good clean fun.
The attempted suicide scene in the Royal Tenenbaums has to the be one of the most memorable uses of movie music for me. But then, I really like Elliott Smith.
Also, if anyone has seen Amores Perros, there is a great sequence with a Control Machete song.
How about “As Time Goes By” in Casablanca? (I think that’s the name of the tune–D., somebody tell me if I’m wrong)
Or, “Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darlin’” in High Noon? Though, this one may not qualify as it was written for the movie by the film scorer Leo Tiomkin.
hey…i only pointed out they used a nick drake song in that film. but john cusack is uber cool. i agree with the above comment about elliott smith. love elliott smith. wes anderson wanted him to score the actual film and smith just wasnt up to it…and of course he comitted suicide not long after. sad.
scorsese and music… the guy is the master of creating moments. people talk about how good QT and wes anderson are with music in their films, but they all learned it from this man.
mean streets: rollings stones, the chantells, eric clapton, the shirelles
The fight scene in the pool hall is INCREDIBLE.
raging bull: the music in this film is so unexpected and works so brilliantly. The opening credits are some of the best ever…a man in the ring with himself. sets the whole tone and theme of the film.
goodfellas: every bit of music in here is brilliant. take a look at the stedicam shot going through the copacabana with THEN HE KISSED ME (performed by the crystals) playing. sid vicious singing MY WAY in the end credits is pretty great as well.
taxi driver: bernard herrmann is a genius…pain and simple.
just a couple of comments…
nick drake’s northern sky was used in the movie ‘serendipty’ with john cusack. great song. anything by drake is good in a movie…wes anderson used him in ‘rtb’.
tiny dancer is THE best in almost famous…that song literally made the movie for me.
martin scorsese has to be my personal favorite for using music in his films….well everything from mean streets to goodfellas.
“I’m surprised no one’s mentioned Risky Business yet. What’s that song in the famous underwear dance scene?”
The song is “Old Time Rock and Roll.”
Sorry, “Old Time Rock and Roll” was sung by Bob Seger.
I stumble upon this post some time later, but I want to second what Steve says about Magnolia. The scene that always gets to me is at the very end, with Aimee Mann’s “Save Me,” and then Claudia smiles. I love anything Jon Brion does (Magnolia, Punch Drunk Love, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, I Heart Huckabees).
May I add Wes Anderson to the list? *Great* songs in The Royal Tenenbaums and The Life Aquatic (though I don’t particularly remember any songs from Rushmore or Bottle Rocket?).
I’d also throw Garden State on the table for consideration. The Postal Service, that song by Frou Frou that plays over the credits, and of course The Shins.
I haven’t seen Closer yet (but I would like to). I did notice there is a song by Suzanne Vega (“Caramel”) in the preview.
In general the Coens do a great job. With their last film the music was about the only good thing.
The Big Lebowski has a funny use of “Looking Out My Back Door.”
I also thought that “Alleluia” in Shrek was very well done.
Forrest Gump used music pretty well — I liked the “Fortunate Son” use in particular.
Pretty Woman and Footloose both had a number of well-used songs.
Also, pretty much anything Pixar / Randy Newman.
I’m surprised no one’s mentioned Risky Business yet. What’s that song in the famous underwear dance scene? I’ve never seen that movie. I think Top Gun had some famous song too, but I never saw that one either.
Anything by Quentin Tarantino. Seriously he’s the best at it. Let’s all admit it.
Most things by David Lynch, who does wonders with sound. Everyone remembers Twin Peaks, of course. But he had some amazing stuff in Lost Highway and Mulholland Drive. Not to mention getting Nicholas Cage to sing Elvis in the midst of a speed metal concert. I have every album by David Lynch and they are all well worth it. (As a side note, the composer he works with, Angelo Badalamenti, also did the soundtrack to City of Lost Children and The Beach)
While I don’t think he’s that great a director Robert Rodriguez has had some soundtrack/film mixings nearly as good as Tarantino. Consider Desperado (for which he wrote and performed many songs) Fantastic album and is the album for From Dusk to Dawn. (Don’t see the latter movie, but do buy the soundtrack)
Of course the all time classic in my eyes is still Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey. Everyone knows Richard Strauss’ opening fanfare for Thus Spake Zarathustra which opens the film. It’s become a cliche but it is still just as powerful in the film. And the use of Johanne Strauss’ Blue Danube Waltz is breathtaking.
In my mind, no recent film uses music as well as Magnolia uses Aimee Mann’s. What a great movie, and a fantastic soundtrack.
An American Werewolf in London merits viewing if you like soundtracks that mesh well with the movie. Who doesn’t want to howl with Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Bad Moon Raising”? Or Dance under Van Morrison’s October Skies among other things?
Rusty, if you don’t have Damien’s whole album, you need to get it. Every song is as good as that one. Actually, the ones with Lisa Hannigan singing more vocals are even better.
Oddly, The Blower’s Daughter by Damien Rice was the only music in Closer. At the beginning and the end. It’s possibly one of the most beautiful songs I’ve ever heard, and very appropriate for the movie (though the movie was often way more explicit than I had imagined, it was, in a way, a beautiful portrayal of terrible people doing terrible things to each other).
Ohh, and one of the best ever . . .
“Do not forsake me, oh my darling . . . ”
(High Noon).
Also, the instrumental music in The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. And the Godfather.
That reminds me–”Is That All There Is to a Fire?” in After Hours, and “Blue Moon” in Blue Velvet.
I love that movie 10 Things I Hate About You, too, but I have a weakness for silly teeny bopper movies. (I actually own a few on DVD besides that one.) That movie was filmed at the high school my niece when to when she lived with us in Tacoma, Stadium High. Very cool building, however not that great of a school–all the kids called it Stay Dumb and High. An amazing building though:
http://www.northshorepier.com/stadium/schoolpictures.htm
http://www.dragonwyck.net/images/stadium.jpg
Particularly good scenes that come to mind off the top of my head:
“Bittersweet symphony” at the end of Cruel Intentions.
“Tiny Dancer” in Almost Famous.
“Mickey” in Bring it On.
Of course, “Don’t You Forget About Me” in The Breakfast Club, and also in as a bit of the spoof in the Breakfast-Club spoof of Along Came Polly.
“Don’t Break my Heart” in Something About Mary.
Of course, “Girl, You’ll be a Woman Soon” in Pulp Fiction.
Karen, my wife and I both love “10 Things I Hate About You.” We purchased it and its one of those movies we can stand to watch every now and then without getting too tired of it.
Dan…I love that movie. I know it falls into the teen crap genre, but I watch it everytime it comes on cable.
My favorite use of music was in the season six finale of Buffy, a whole story arc about fall and redemption, and it ended with Sarah McLachlan singing the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi. It makes me cry everytime I watch it.
The movie “10 Things I Hate About You” (a modern remake of The Taming of the Shrew) used a number of songs very effectively.
There is the scene where Heath Ledger sings “Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You” from the bleachers (is this song originally by Frankie Valli?) to his less-than-interested love interest.
A great song … and btw Lauryn Hill does one of my favorite versions of this song as well.
Also, there is a scene where Heath Ledger’s character follows the Julia Stiles character into a guitar store while Joan Armatrading’s song “The Weakness in Me” plays. This song is beautiful. Oddly though, its sung from the perspective of a person who is cheating on her lover and doesn’t want to give up either partner. But in the film it still sounds very romantic. I’d like to listen to a lot more of Joan Armatrading’s music but just haven’t gotten around to it. She’s obviously a very gifted songwriter.
Finally (I’m not going in order probably) there is the scene where Julia Stile’s character gets drunk and dances on top of a table to Notorious B.I.G.’s rap song “Hypnotize.”