The 50 best uses of songs in movies

TONY ranks the coolest soundtrack moments of all time.

By David Fear, Joshua Rothkopf and Keith Uhlich Thu Jan 12 2012

30. "Bohemian Rhapsody," Queen, Wayne's World (1992)

Who can forget Wayne and Garth's headbanging downtown drive to this operatic power ballad? Director Penelope Spheeris was hesitant to use the song, but costar Mike Myers insisted, and its pop-cultural status soared. If a recent Muppets cover is any indication, this is the hit that keeps on giving.—Keith Uhlich

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Watch the video for "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen

29. "Perfect Day," Lou Reed, Trainspotting (1996)

Whether Reed's tune is a direct reference to heroin has been long debated, but what isn't arguable is how effectively Danny Boyle employs it—as an overdosing Ewan McGregor imagines he's in a shag-carpeted coffin. The song's blissful lyrics make this junkie nightmare even more disturbing; it's the "perfect" example of needle-drop irony.—David Fear

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Watch the video for "Perfect Day" by Lou Reed

28. "Old Time Rock and Roll," Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band, Risky Business (1983)

From 1983—a time when the whole world could love Tom Cruise unreservedly—comes this euphoric scene of geeked-out underwear dancing, set to the scratchy bar-band stylings of Bob Seger. Cruise even jumps on a couch and it's okay.—Joshua Rothkopf

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Watch the video for "Old Time Rock and Roll" by Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band

27. "Oh Yeah," Yello, Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)

John Hughes, that poet of teen-pop angst, was bound to appear on this list somewhere. Not so surprisingly, it's via this Swiss-recorded dance beat, a perfect complement to the Ferrari-stealing antics of the title character. Just try not smiling (devilishly) when you hear it.—Joshua Rothkopf

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Watch the video for "Oh Yeah" by Yello

26. "Blue Moon," Sam Cooke, An American Werewolf in London (1981)

David Naughton's lupine transformation is set to Cooke's crooning cover of the Rodgers and Hart standard, making it the most memorable (and jarring) of John Landis's wink-nudge musical choices. Rick Baker's groundbreaking makeup work may bring on the howling, but this lunar ballad adds a dark dose of levity.—David Fear

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Watch the video for "Blue Moon" by Sam Cooke

25. "Tiny Dancer," Elton John, Almost Famous (2000)

Never underestimate the healing power of Elton John: As the '70s rock band of Cameron Crowe's autobiographical drama piles into its tour bus, everyone's in a funk. Then this uplifting 1971 tribute to an L.A. lady comes on, and soon, everybody is singing along—including you.—David Fear

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Watch the video for "Tiny Dancer" by Elton John

24. "Rock Around the Clock," Bill Haley and the Comets, Blackboard Jungle (1955)

Rock & roll was the soundtrack to juvenile delinquency, so how better to kick off a film about high-school hoodlums than with a real poodle-skirt scorcher? Bill Haley's 1954 B-side turned on tons of teens to this raucous new sound—the first use of rock music in a movie, but far from the last, Daddy-o.—David Fear

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Watch the video for "Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley and the Comets

23. "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)," the Delfonics, Jackie Brown (1997)

This impassioned 1970s single is the soul of Quentin Tarantino's most romantic movie: Robert Forster's grizzled bail-bondsman hears the tune in the living room of beleaguered, beautiful client Pam Grier. It sends him from charmed to infatuated—and straight to the record store.—Keith Uhlich

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Watch the video for "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)" by the Delfonics

22. "Hurdy Gurdy Man," Donovan, Zodiac (2007)

This near-primal scene starts with two young adults flirting in a Corvair at a lovers' lane, until the headlights of a mysterious car pull up behind them. Suddenly, the song on the radio can only signify evil. By the time David Fincher returns to Donovan's sinuous groove in his closing credits, the tune has been transformed. (A clearer clip of the scene is here.)—Joshua Rothkopf

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Watch the video for "Hurdy Gurdy Man" by Donovan

21. "The Sound of Silence," Simon and Garfunkel, The Graduate (1967)

Hello darkness, my old friend: The signature track off the duo's 1966 album perfectly underscores Dustin Hoffman's descent into suburban bummersville, as the song's melody casts a melancholic pallor over his interchangeable lazy afternoons and numbing sexual trysts.—David Fear

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Watch the video for "The Sound of Silence" by Simon and Garfunkel

50–41
40–31
30–21
20–11
10–1

Raging Bull (1980): The overcooked steak

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(4 ratings)

Did you forget - the movie The Deer Hunter Cant Take My Eyes Off Your - Frankie Valli - 4 Seasons

clara alfieri Tue May 28
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Drive college ft electric youth - "a real hero" drive kavinsky "nightcall" drive desire's "under your spell" drive instrumentals by cliff martinez drive drive drive dri....

00 Wed May 8
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Well, thought out list - Kudos. One that HAS to be in the top ten though - "Falling Slowly" in Once. Its use near the beginning of the film was fantastic, and set the entire tone for the movie. But its use in the ending was the best use of music in a movie ending ever.

Kevin Wilson Fri Mar 29
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Oh and of course white Christmas in home alone when he's shaving. Great scene!

PJA_Master Tue Mar 5
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Great list bit it's missing dont you forget about me - Simple Minds from the breakfast club. Perfect match of song to movie.

PJA_Master Tue Mar 5
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Did I miss Clockwork orange or was it forgotten as well?

Db Sat Feb 23
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I really expected to see something from Forrest Gump (the entire soundtrack) and Dazed and Confused (the entire soundtrack)

Smurfe Sat Feb 2
Rated as: 4/5
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Comment puis-je importer mon blog vers un autre compte gmail?

вибропогружатель свай Wed Jan 16
Rated as: 3/5
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Have yourself a merry little Christmas from The Victors, as the young soldier faces the firing squad!

Eelnodrog Tue Nov 13 2012
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Great list. You included so many that I thought you would miss.

AJRN Tue Nov 6 2012
Rated as: 5/5
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