by Dorothy SnarkerSearchNavigation |
Are these the top 10 songs in movies?Another list? Darn tooting! This time it’s about two great things that go great together: movies and music. CNN’s Screening Room has named its Top Ten Songs in Movies. Not soundtracks, not scores, but singles used during a particular scene. As expected, the list is heavy on the male-dominated scenes and, somewhat less expectedly, fairly violent.
Now, I love Nos. 7–5. I had a poster of Lloyd’s grand romantic gesture from Say Anything on my dorm room wall. And I dare you not to feel unbridled joy as Muriel and Rhonda come out in their white ABBA outfits in Muriel's Wedding. This movie made me forever love Toni Collette and Rachel Griffiths. Heck, let’s watch it again, just because we can. As for the other selections on CNN’s list, I would have picked a scene from Wes Anderson’s film Rushmore instead of Tenenbaums. And I would have gone for the “Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon” Uma scene from Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction instead of the unfortunate Van Goghing of a victim’s ear in Reservoir Dogs. Also, no mention of The Graduate anywhere on this list? Didn’t that film practically pioneer the use of popular music in movies?
To balance out the bloody and the manly, I thought I’d add some gay, girly and (whenever possible) gay girly selections to the list. Since CNN’s list makers seemed impressed by showy outer death and destruction, how about some quiet inner devastation? In Love Actually, Emma Thompson realizing her husband is being unfaithful — set to Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now” — will break your heart, guaranteed. To unbreak your heart (without the help of Toni Braxton), try the sheer joy of the moment in Harold & Maude when Maude takes to the piano for Cat Stevens’ “If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out.” When she gets up from the piano to dance and it keeps playing, my heart definitely sings out. For more joy tinged with absurdity (and again featuring the unstoppable Ms. Collette), how about Olive’s dance in Little Miss Sunshine to Rick James' “Superfreak.” Oh, heavens, the giggling. And, since I promised you a gay girly one, too, how about more quiet devastation? When Claude (Alison Folland) puts on Patti Smith’s “Pissing in a River,” things get intense. You also get to see cute pink-haired punk Leisha Hailey. (Note: some NSFW language, so beware.) Are there others? Certainly. The love scene between Paulie and Tori in Lost and Delirious to Meshell Ndegeocello’s “Beautiful” is, well, beautiful. Bill Murray karaoke-ing to Roxy Music’s “More Than This” in Lost in Translation was a sublime snapshot of connection set to some really bad singing. And then there are my favorite ending credits ever, the last scene in When Night Is Falling, set to a jubilant choir singing Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.” I cannot tell you how happy I was to see that the little dog lived.
So, what are your favorite songs in movies? Do you agree with CNN? Do you disagree with me? Discuss or, better yet, sing it. Submitted by on March 25, 2008 - 5:03pm. |
User login
AfterEllen.com NYC Meet-Up on May 18thWe're having a get-together on May 18th in NYC for our readers, with some of our staff and vloggers, and the cast/creators of 3Way. Go here for details. Recent blog posts
Recent comments
|





Wow, that CNN list is
Wow, that CNN list is terrible! You're right - where was "The Graduate"? That movie was legendary in every single way, and introduced a ton of people to Simon & Garfunkel.
This CNN list is worse than the list that MENSA guy made of the ten supposedly smartest TV shows of all time --> http://www.tvsquad.com/2008/02/18/mensa-chairman-picks-the-ten-smartest-shows-of-all-time/
I think the Bette Midler
C'mon...
Muriel rocks!!!!
Sketchy ...
The list started out iconic with Easy Rider, then faded into obscurity. I really like Elliot Smith's "Needle in the Hay" from Royal Tenebaums (though that's also one of my favorite movies ever), but I don't know if it's top 10 material!
What about Moon River from Breakfast at Tiffany's?
What about Dueling Banjos from Deliverance? (even though it's instrumental, it was released on the soundtrack and has become a cultural icon)
My all time favorite single in a movie:
Carly Simon, Let the River Run (New Jerusalem) from Working Girl.
For whatever we lose (like a you or a me)
It's always our self we find in the sea
Agree with Let the River Run!
If only I knew how to put a YouTube thingy in a post... Well, just YouTube it yourself everyone... Thanks for mentioning it, I had a ball. What a voice, what a song!
I'd go with the piece from
Maybe my age is showing a bit
or maybe my complete cluelessness here, but I couldn't tell u the first thing from any of those movies... well with the exception of All Over Me, When Night is Falling, and Little Miss Sunshine. But I always kind of liked Bittersweet Symphony from Cruel Intentions.
"I don't kiss girls who wear doilies"
Maybe my age is showing too
Harold and Maude has always held a special place in my heart. Ruth Gordon was brilliant. If you like films that are off the beaten path, rent it. You won't be disappointed.
http://imdb.com/title/tt0067185/
I totally agree
there is only one song on the CNN list
that i actually agreed with, and i thought it should've been no.1, that's tiny dancer from almost famous. that's one of the most genius scenes ever!!
also thinking of love actually the song at the end, God only knows by the beach boys fits really well!
also suddenly i see in the beginning of the devil wears prada, but that may be because i'm a massive KT Tunstall fan!
i'm sure there are many more great movie music moments but i can't currently think...
ooooh wait, when you say nothing at all by ronan keating in notting hill, i know not a very gay moment, but none the less a sweet one!
others -
ummm... "my heart will go on" - Titanic.
the righteous brothers' "unchained melody" - Ghost.
heart and souls - "walk like a man".. duhh.
berlin, "take my breath away" - Top Gun.
the time of my life" - Dirty Dancing.
anything from Sound of Music.
and just for fun: the donnas' "keep on loving you" - Drive Me Crazy.
Off the top of my head...
Guilty Pleasures
Wayne's World -Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
Breakfast Club- Don't You by Simple Minds
Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion -Time After Time by Cyndi Lauper
Lucy Diamond hopping through
no no, Erasure's "Give a
no no, Erasure's "Give a Little Respect" lipsynched by Lucy Diamond and her crony when Amy wasn't speaking to her. Poor misunderstood villian ;).
Hmmm...
The Royal Tenenbaums had two WAY better song/scenes than that
1. First, the most memorable scene for me in any film EVER: is when Ritchie is waiting for Margot at the bus station and she walks off the bus to "These Days" by the original "Nico". that song was a perfect choice for the slow motion footage. and it sung out to that common condition of ours--lovelonging. he loves her but is too scared to say it. :( frown face for sad beauty but :) smiley face for love.
2. Second, the Beetles chorus to "Hey Jude" synching the footage of Mordecai, Royal Tenenbaum's trained eagle/hawk, flying out over the city freely and without grudge. Gorgeous scene that's (gratuitous but) transformative and triumphant!
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
The Bicycle Ride Scene with Katharine Ross and Paul Newman to "Raindrops keep fallin' on my head." This was the first one I thought of when I saw the blog title.
Your friend,
Rusty
http://lezbang.com/
Overall, Quentin Tarantino
Overall, Quentin Tarantino probably has the best eye-ear combination for putting songs into scenes. I particularly love the music in Pulp Fiction, mostly because I love that movie overall but also because the music seems both out of place and just right. Of course I love "You Never Can Tell" playing during the twist contest, but introducing Uma Thurman's iconic Mia with "Son of a Preacher Man" playing is just brilliant. Kill Bill (volume one) also has some pretty spectacular music choices, especially the 5678's upbeat and swinging "Woo Hoo" playing right before the Bride massacres 88 yakuza!
And on a less Tarantino-esque note, I adore the scene in My Summer of Love where Tamsin plays Edith Piaf's "La Foule" for Mona. Tamsin lies about Piaf's life, and with the tragically and ironically fast-paced "La Foule" playing in the background, you can just feel the doom descending. There's also Goldfrapp's "Lovely Head" which pretty much establishes the ambiguous creepiness of the movie itself (can you tell I LOVE My Summer of Love?).
I could go on and on, but there's one song/scene combination that stirs even my cold, black, Shakespeare-hating heart: Des'ree's "Kissing You" playing when Romeo and Juliet meet at the Capulet party. Beautiful
"Out of the box is where I live." -Starbuck
agreed
des'ree's "kissing you."
.. no words.
totally agree! what a
The one that immediately came to mind
... for me was 'Lux Æterna' from the soundtrack for 'Requiem for a Dream' by Clint Mansell and the Kronos Quartet.
'Me and My Charms' by Kristen Hersh from 'Foxfire' broke my heart.
'Spiritual High' (State of Independence Part 2) on the closing credits of 'Single White Female' (bad pseudo lesbian stereotypes aside)
The 'Mad World' cover by Michael Andrews and Gary Jules from 'Donnie Darko'
'The Promise' by When in Rome from 'Napoleon Dynamite' (most of the music was used really well, like 'Forever Young' by Alphaville, 'Canned Heat' by Jamiroquai, 'So Ruff, So Tuff' by Zapp and Roger)
'Closer (Precursor)' cover of the NIN song by Coil used in 'Se7en', and 'The Heart's Filthy Lesson' by David Bowie
'Where is My Mind' by the Pixies in 'Fight Club'
Aimee Mann's 'Magnolia' soundtrack
'Clubbed to Death (Kurayamino Mix)' by Rob Dougan in 'The Matrix'
'Bela Lugosi's Dead' by Bauhaus in 'The Hunger'
'Satellite of Love' by Lou Reed in 'Velvet Goldmine' and the '20th Century Boy' cover by Placebo.
'Waiting for the Miracle' by Leonard Cohen in 'Natural Born Killers'
'Hallelujah' cover by John Cale in 'Shrek' (cough)
I'm sure I'm missing many more greats...
Priscilla
I didn't remember Rachel Griffiths was in Muriel! No wonder I love love love her.
The first song/scene I thought of was "Finally" by CeCe Peniston at the end of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert... The second was "What is Love" by Haddaway, prominently featured throughout A Night at the Roxbury. Everytime I go out, and the DJ's feeling nostalgic and plays "What is Love", there's at least one group of people (besides me and my friends) who start bopping their heads like in the movie. Pure awesomeness.
Classy choices, I know.
Once
How about "Gravity" by Sara
How about "Gravity" by Sara Bareilles in Loving Annabelle (the scene--which i think is around minuite 59-- where their hands touch and there is so much sexual tension its sick)
Oh and in the movie Camp where the character (I think her name is Jenna) has her jaw wired shut (because her dad wants her to lose weight) and she sings "here's where I stand". Beautiful and powerful song.
Another, lesser known Toni Colette song...
You can also spot another appearance by Rachel Griffiths! Before seeing this film, I'd had no idea Toni Collette could sing so beautifully. She also performs a fantastic cover of the Crowded House song "Hey Now" over the closing credits. Definately a film worth checking out as well as a memorable musical moment!
Muriel's Wedding..
And one more...
...
Out of context, that song is so gay. But then again, Sarah is pretty much the gayest straight girl ever. So that makes sense.
I agree with a couple of previously mentioned songs/soundtracks: everything from D.E.B.S. (especially Erasure's 'A Little Respect') and a lot of Tarantino stuff, mostly Kill Bill Vol. 1 & 2. 'Malaguena Salerosa' playing over the end montage is brilliant, Zamfir's 'The Lonely Sheperd' is my current ringtone and the instrumental version of 'Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood' playing during the The Bride/O-Ren fight... awesome. The entire soundtrack is great.
O Brother
I liked the Song of the Sirens from O Brother Where Art Thou. I love the Tiny Dancer scene in Almost Famous and second the merit of Aimee Mann's Magnolia soundtrack, especially the song/sad montage combination at the end of the movie (at the end of the... erm... frogs... I think the song was "Wise Up").
I might be revealing myself to be a bad lesbian here, but what is the clip with Leisa Hailey and Alison Folland from?
It's from All Over Me =)
It's from All Over Me =)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118586/
best soundtrack ever???
Hmm.
I actually like 10-4 on that list. Although I would cut out the "Almost Famous" track. That movie didn't really do much for me... I actually think that Needle in the Hay scene is one of the most effective visual/musical combinations in Wes Anderson movies. The first time I saw it I was stunned. Recently I really loved the Satyajit Ray songs on the "Darjeeling Limited" soundtrack.
My favourite song in a movie is the entire score of "The Long Goodbye", which has variations on the same theme throughout by John Williams. One of my favourite movies, it's a cool 1970s adaptation of the Raymond Chandler novel, directed by Robert Altman and starring Elliot Gould as Philip Marlowe. Unconventional YES. Fantastic YES. If you enjoy moving pictures, you should watch it.
OK, but this is supposed to be about lesbian movies. How about the Itty Bitty Titty Committee soundtrack? Full of riot grrrl goodness, as well as the Peaches cover of Joan Jett's Bad Reputation. Hmm... apart from that I don't remember any very memorable lesbian movie music moments. Someone needs to make a lesbian movie and put lots of Electrelane songs on the soundtrack. In other queer movies, Velvet Goldmine has a great soundtrack. If I can nominate a gay movie for exclusion: Brokeback Mountain should not be on this list because that stupid jangly guitar was in my head for months afterward.
For female-centric movies: f'n Kill Bill Vol. 1. Or Juno: almost any song on that soundtrack, but the Moldy Peaches duet at the end was adorable. I'm glad Hollywood finally appreciated the brilliance of Belle & Sebastian, also.
from the ridiculous to the sublime?
I am rather partial to the use of Bill Withers's "Use Me" in the film Any Given Sunday. Also, the singing by the cast of that Bacharach/David classic "I Say a Little Prayer" in the film My Best Friend's Wedding is a delight.
Cheers,
SMG
Fight Club
and the Pixies' Where is my mind - edward norton's just blown up his face, the buildings everywhere around the glass-windowed rooms collapse into rubble and dust, and slowly the magic wailing of the Pixies comes round to finish the scene. Amazing.
And definitely, John Cusack holding the boombox over his head with Peter Gabriel's In Your Eyes in the background, it's just pathetically romantic.
These next few don't deserve to be top 10, but they're certainly worthy of a mention -
-Lick The Tins' cover of Can't Help Falling in Love at the end of Some Kind of Wonderful
- 13th floor elevators' You're Gonna Miss Me and Stevie Wonder's I Believe from High Fidelity (opening and closing scenes) - actually, the whole soundtrack is amazing.
- Kath Bloom's Come Here from Before Sunrise (scene in the listening booth)
Yeah, my taste in music and movies isn't what you'd call cool and sophisticated and edgy, but it makes me happy!
Napoleon Dynamite
Scene where Napoleon dances to Canned Heat by Jamiroquai - laughed my ass off!!
But have to admit the first one that came to mind was Reservoir Dogs - Stuck in the Middle with you...
When life hands you lemons, ask for Tequilla and salt
My Summer Of Love
Choir in When night is falling?
I loved the credits in When Night is Falling too! And I've kinda been searching all over for that version of Hallelujah, does anyone know where to find it?
"Even in death Gabrielle, I will never leave you"- Xena
Hallelujah
HALLELUJAH
Written by Leonard Cohen
Performed with the permission of Stranger Music Inc.
Arranged by Leslie Barber for When Night Is Falling
I know you can buy the soundtrack but I think it just might be the score.
Top ten movie songs
1) Over The Rainbow- Wizard of Oz 2) As Time Goes By- Casablanca 3) Singin' In The Rain 4) Lady Sings The Blues 5) The Way We Were 6) Diamond's Are A Girl's Best Friend- Gentlemen Prefer Blondes 7) Cheek To Cheek- Tophat 8) Cabaret 9) Stormy Weather 10) The Lion Sleeps Tonight- The Lion King. {I could go on and on, but, I'll stop now} ;-P *sighs* I'm such a sucker for old musicals.
do the right thing-"fight
Beautiful
The dog LIVES?!?!
Songs/Scenes
Great thread! A couple of my favorites:
Samual Barber's Addagio for Strings in Platoon
"Dream a Little Dream of Me" in Beautiful Thing (And BadGirls Yvonne dancing with a woman? Bonus!)
-I Want A Mom That Will
-I Want A Mom That Will Last Forever: Cyndi Lauper from Rugrats in Paris. My mom passed away a couple years ago, and I just so identify with Chuckie in those scenes.
Wow, I just really solidified my age there, didn't I?
Anything from Juno, but especially Anyone Else But You: The Moldy Peaches when Juno goes into labor...sooooo cute!
Joni Mitchell totally should have been there
In Love Actually, Emma Thompson realizing her husband is being unfaithful — set to Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now” — will break your heart, guaranteed.
AHHHH I KNOW!!! I STARTED CRYING AT THAT SCENE!!