Memorable Music Scenes in Movies
 

One of my favorite things about movie soundtracks is that the movie can create some pretty interesting connotations to songs. Sometimes movies can make mediocre songs fun and fantastic when paired with memorable scene. Sometimes the contrast between the song playing in the background and the visuals on screen can burn an image into an audience's head. I know that Tarantino, for example, often contrasts his ultra-violent movies with an eclectic mix of songs.

What are some examples of songs that you LOVE based on the role that they play in movies - These could be songs that you had never heard of before you saw the film... Or songs that you were ambivalent to until you saw this certain scene...

One that comes to mind for me is Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now" from Shaun of the Dead - I had never heard of this song prior to the movie, but I absolutely love the role that it plays in the climactic moment in the bar. It's funny but also nail-biting at the same time.

For my boyfriend, this scene turns what he always thought was a "mediocre" song to something fun and memorable.



Scene is at 1:50

--- Kill the Queen!
--- The What?!
--- The jukebox!

Cool topic and excellent example. The first thing that popped into my mind is the scene in The Lost Boys with the greased up sax player. I have no idea what his name is or the songs name but it has always stuck out. A lot of the songs in that movie are memorable to me and take me back to the scene that it played.

Playing with the Boys...

Sistinas666 - TOTALLY agree. That movie has some fantastic iconic songs. Also, it's been too long since I've seen it - I might have to check it out this weekend... BTW, I (finally) responded to your note about Red State (sorry for the delay; apparently I have no idea when people write on my wall) - Sent a PM to you earlier.

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Straker - Ok, that made me LOL a bit. Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyy....... ;)

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Wicker - Absolutely. That is possibly my favorite when thinking of this topic - I have to say that the way that Tarantino wove songs in Reservoir Dogs really made me think twice about how to interact with a movie's soundtrack. Utterly brilliant.

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Another big one for me... I have to say, I was never really into The Pixies until the utterly brilliant and climactic finale...



It's a love story for today's modern sadomasochist.

If this was FB I would "like" this comment...........

BUBBLES has given me an appreciation for Rush that I don't think I ever would have had without Trailer Park Boys...

And another "like" for a Chrono-post.....

OK, a few more sensible offerings this time...

Deer Hunter- Can't take my eyes off you


Platoon- Adagio for strings


The Pianist- Ballad No. 1 in G minor, Opus 23


Blue Velvet- In dreams


Deliverance- Dueling Banjo's


There really are so many great examples, these are just a few that came to mind....Hell, I didnt even mention footloose yet.

Definitely agree with Elias scene from Platoon. It's the first thing that came to mind for me. One of my favourite scenes of all time and the music just makes it.

The mighty Skynyrd's tune was put to good use in The Devil's Rejects. It actually chokes me up a little:



Buffalo Springfield's Learning To Fly in Fear & Loathing In Las Vegas was great too... couldn't find a decent video :mad:

Donovan's tune Atlantis really made this scene in Goodfellas (starts 1:04). I seriously get goosebumps every time I watch it:



Johnny Boy's entrance in Mean Streets to The Stones' Jumpin' Jack Flash:



You could argue Scorsese really wrote the book on this shit.

One more...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4WJlLNIsyY

and to make up for trashing a John Zorn song in another thread:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgczU...eature=related

Blue Moon

Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries

Blues in Hoss Flat by the Count Basie Orchestra

Gotta love:



One of my recent favorites:



Of course, one of my favorite intros in recent times:



Love the Adagio For Strings Elias scene from Platoon to bits, as well.

Will think of more later.

OK, I have to admit, I've never seen Deer Hunter, Platoon, Goodfellas, Mean Streets, OR Easy Rider. :o

EC, I definitely agree about Scorsese, though - I thought that his use of songs in The Departed was brilliant as well (I'd argue that his placement of Drop Kick Murphies in his movie kickstarted their career again).



Dueling Banjos is CLASSIC.

Newb and Wicker - Good call with the Apocalypse Now scenes - Those definitely come to mind for me when I think about this topic.

V - Love, love, LOVE Pulp Fiction... This also comes to mind:

All these directors owe everything to Kubrick. Just watch through 2001 and Clockwork Orange for multiple examples of startling and clever uses of music for mood and commentary on the action.

I know its a bit off topic but what do you mean about the Dropkicks? Did someone say that? Way before and after The Departed the Dropkicks have been on my radar, one of my favorite bands since the late 90's.

Another song that comes to mind:

People Who Died by The Jim Carroll Band in The Basketball Diaries.

I'm not much of a fan of Kubrick but i'll definitely agree with you there.

Everybody's Talking...Midnight Cowboy

Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells

B J Thomas "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head"--Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

ONE MORE

I LIED

Siiiiiiiiiiiiinging in the rain...



Right - sorry - I don't think I expressed what I meant very well...

I know that the Dropkicks were popular in the 90s (I liked them then as well), but I always considered them more "indie" as they weren't really played on the bigger radio stations (more on college stations)... I remember, at the time I had to go out of my way to consume them and they eventually fell off my radar.

When The Departed came out, "Shipping Up to Boston" was on the radio all the time... It was awesome - And there was a lot more radio advertisement for their tours... Whereas before I had to go out of my way to hear them, they would just come on the radio now in my car... I think, ultimately I was trying to say that the movie really significantly boosted their popularity and really got their name out in the "Popular" space, whereas they were more "underground" before. It probably more accurate to say that the movie lead to a surge in their popularity.

YES

I keep reading this as "Tubular BALLS."

Tuco running around the graveyard in THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY.

Excellent, sfear!



And who can forget the fantastic score for the final showdown?!

Agreed. Push comes to shove THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY is probably my favorite movie. Thanks for the video excerpts.

:eek: Really? You should put Goodfellas at the top of your list of things to watch.

Gotta agree about Oldfield's Tubular Bells and The Banana Boat Song in Beetlejuice also add Bobby Vinton's Blue Velvet from Blue Velvet and Lady In The Radiator song from Eraserhead.

Bumping this as I figured we could have fun with it...

While not as iconic as other scenes mentioned, I figured I'd bring up songs from movies that have really stuck with me...

"Find You Waiting" by The Shaggies - I've already raved about the movie "The Revenant" - This song plays during the credits and I can't get it out of my head - Reminds me of the final scene in Fight Club with The Pixies...

***WARNING - YOUTUBE VIDEO CONTAINS ENDING SPOILER***




"When he Calls me Kitten" by The Kelly Deal 6000 - LOVE the movie May - Great scene too... I just had to download this song based on the connotations...




"Stuck in the Middle with You" by Steelers Wheel - Wow, can't believe I haven't brought this up yet (or Tarantino in general) - Tarantino was really the first director that made me pay attention to songs in movies and how they impact mood... Also how the movie impacts listening to these songs...

I have seen Ghostbusters more times than I have seen any other movie. I quit counting at 100, and that was before I was 10 years old.

This scene, and the music with it, still fills me with dread. I've said it elsewhere before, but it's the beginning of the End (both of the world and of the movie). You just know the big showdown with the big boss is right around the corner.

As a side note, if you've ever heard the complete soundtrack to Ghostbusters, this song is weird as hell. This cool part is probably less than 1/5 of the whole song. The rest of it sounds like if Hall & Oates did the soundtrack to The Neverending Story.

^^ Awesome reference - What I always remember about Ghostbusters is that it is truly dark in some parts (Winston quoting "And the seas boiled...")

Definitely an unsettling scene.

Great scene, one of my favorites. Driving across the Brooklyn Bridge with the Twin Towers in the background. Talking about Judgement Day.

It was always a very serious moment in the film, but perhaps made a bit more poignant these days. Regardless, I love that shot of New York, and Ghostbusters is certainly a very New York movie. In fact, I'm pretty sure that the last line of the film (besides random chatter during the credits) is, "I love this town!"

Sorry if I went off on a tangent there, but that Magic song has always filled me with dread and , to me, is still one of the best uses of a song in a movie ever.

I also liked the use of Patsy Cline and "Jesus Loves Me" in Phantoms. There are quite a few more but I had to throw the Breakfast Club in there as soon as I saw this thread.

This clip was actually posted on the first page of this thread, but the video has been deleted, so I thought I'd post it again.




Things that impress me about this clip:
Watch Dennis Hopper as he mouths the lyrics to the song. You can really feel the pain behind his eyes, which lends a lot of depth to his character.
Watch the guy on the couch in the back. He's moving in slow motion. Everyone around him is at regular speed- it's just him in slow mo.

Would you fuck me? I'd fuck me. I'd fuck me hard. I'd fuck me so hard.

How about True Faith by New Order in 1 Lunatic, 1 Ice Pick? ::big grin::

"Tiptoe Through the Tulips" from Insidious.