Music in Movies (Part 1 - Pop Songs)

I wanted to post something about music in movies, but that's such a broad topic. How do you cover something like that? So I figured I'd break it up into parts, and to start I'd cover the one that inspired me to write this post in the first place: the pop song. I was driving home from work when a song came on the radio and I was vividly reminded of a scene from a movie.

So what I want to do is offer up another list, this time of great pop song moments in movies. Some of these will overlap with entries in my cathartic moments list, but that's to be expected. The following is comprised of great pop song moments using the actual studio recording. I'll follow this up soon with another list of great "Pop Songs Being Sung by Movie Characters."

I gotta start though by saying, "No, the Peter Gabriel song (was it "In Your Eyes"?) from Say Anything is not on this list. Yeah, I suppose it's memorable, but that scene just really didn't do that much for me. Also, I'm not necessarily saying these are the best, but they're the ones that come immediately to mind. To really give you my ten best pop song movie moments, it would take months of keeping the topic in mind while watching and re-watching hundreds of movies. I'm not going to do that for a blog post.

10. CRASH - In the Deep
This one finds itself at number 10 because it's not exactly what I'm talking about with great pop song moments. This is one of those "pop song over a montage at the end of the movie where we see all the different characters coming to a realization of one kind or another" moments. I've got to put one of those on here I suppose, and this is the most memorable to me. But hearing the song doesn't evoke a concrete memory of the scenes to which it's tied.

9. WAYNE'S WORLD - Bohemian Rhapsody, Foxy Lady & Dream Weaver
All of these songs were put to great comedic use in this movie, and so silly. But they're both very memorable moments, are they not?

8. CLUE - Sh Boom (Life Could Be a Dream)
Who can forget the guests at the dinner party dancing with the corpses to this classic recording by the Crew Cuts?

7. BEETLEJUICE - Day-O
Would this scene have been nearly as good without the comedic talent of Catherine O'Hara or the ubiquitous Jeffery Jones? We'll never have to find out, because the actors and Tim Burton did Harry Belafonte proud with this one.

6. ALWAYS - Smoke Gets in Your Eyes
Steven Spielberg is the master of setup and payoff, and man this one kills me. After Richard Dreyfuss' heart is broken, the song comes on and Holly Hunter puts on the dress and dances alone. Fantastic movie-making here!

5. UNSTRUNG HEROES - You Are My Sunshine
This is the scene from my cathartic moments post, so I won't say too much. But this Ray Charles arrangement juxtaposed with the action of the scene is nothing short of genius.

4. SHALL WE DANCE - The Book of Love
Another from my cathartic moments list. This is just a great song, then when it's put over the action from this scene, everything clicks together and it's brilliant.

3. GROSSE POINTE BLANK - Under Pressure
This is the song that came on the radio. And I just love this scene; it's a tenderhearted moment in a zany, outrageous comedy. The hired assassin stares down at this infant in his arms as David Bowie builds the song's famous climax.

2. TITANIC - My Heart Will Go On
People who've known me for years will have their own ideas of why I include this song on my list. Well to dispel any of that, I have to explain that the way this song was overplayed on the radio and its utter mushiness have really driven me to detest the song itself. And I'm not even such a big fan of the movie, to be honest. But it's hard to deny the impact this song had, and several moments in the film brought almost any audience member to tears. This song has to be here.

1. FATHER OF THE BRIDE - The Way You Look Tonight
This movie never did find its place on my cathartic moments post, though it came very close. However, when considering the impact of a pop song on a movie, it claims the top spot in my mind. When Steve Martin watches his newlywed daughter from across the room and this song plays, it's magical. I don't even have a daughter, yet through this scene I understand every emotion the character is experiencing.