Q&A: Best Use of Music in the Movies
May it be a pop song, a classical tune or a film score, the appropriate use of music in a movie can elevate an ordinary scene into something memorable and a good scene into a great one. When it happens, it’s as if the scene and the song were meant to be brought together. The question of the week is: What are your favorite use of music in movies? I realize it’s tough to choose from the hundreds of scenes and montage you like so keep them coming!
For me, the most powerful combination of music and imagery I have had the chance to see on screen is the “Promentory” sequence at the end of The Last of the Mohicans. Watching Alice look back at Magua and then jump to her death is absolutely gut-wrenching. I don’t think anything has ever come close in terms of emotional climax, choreography, music and visuals. And the tune itself is simply a classic, addictive and magnificent.
More recently, I was also blown away by Terrence Malick’s use of music in The Tree of Life. If you have seen the film, you know that the first half hour is quite unconventional so I wasn’t quite sure what I was watching until Jack was born and there was a montage to the tune of Smetana Die Moldau (video on the right) with him joyfully running around his parents in the yard.
Mentions must also be made of Zbigniew Preisner’s Lacrimosa used in the birth of the universe sequence and Couperin’s Les Barricades Mysterieuses in a wonderful scene as father and son play the song together. The Tree of Life is really a case where the combination of Malick’s dreamy visuals and the music sold the film to me.
Others recent ones I would mention off the top of my head: In Blue Valentine, Ryan Gosling tells Michelle Williams about how he wants a song just for them, something that no one else has. Penny & The Quarters’ “You & Me” was a brilliantly heartbreaking choice. I also thought Nick Cave’s “O Children” in Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 1 was a beautifully unexpected use of a pop song and although the scene isn’t in the book, it managed to convey boatloads about this wonderful friendship between Harry and Hermione.
There you have it, it’s your turn! As a reminder, this isn’t about soundtracks but particular songs and scenes. What are your favorite use of music in movies? Let it be known in the comments!
The question of the week is an opportunity for you to open up and reveal more about yourself and your movie taste. Have a question you would like us and the readers to answer? Don’t hesitate to Email Me
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Apocalypse Now – both Ride of the Valkyries, by Wagner, and The End, by The Doors.
2001: A Space Odyssey – The Blue Danube, by Strauss.
Shawshank Redemption – Canzonetta sull’aria, by Mozart.
… I think these, in no order, are my top three… but I’m probably forgetting millions…
Great choices Ben. Nothing like the smell of napalm in the morning to the tune of Wagner!
Ben, the top two for me are incredibly memorable. I guess I will also attribute ‘Almost Famous’ with Tiny Dancer for the rest of my life though.
Two thumbs up for “Tiny Dancer.” I love when a movie gives a new lease on a song you’ve always known but then it makes you truly love it.
Yeah, let’s not forget the use of “I want you to want me” in 10 things I hate about you…
Man, so perfect. I have a post I’m putting up on Friday for reasons that will be made clear then that totally piggybacks on this post.
Not using that film, I would say Foggy Mountain Breakdown in Bonnie and Clyde and Best of My Love in Boogie Nights and Star Lfur in Life Aquatic and Tracks Of My Tears in Platoon and Sergio Leone’s score throughout Once Upon A Time In The West and……oh, I could go on for days.
Looking forward to your post Nick! Is it going to be about that Last of the Mohicans ending?
Unfortunately not. Although I can usually find any excuse to write about the ending to Last of the Mohicans.
Ohhh Boogie Nights. Good one.
Nice call on Life Aquatic, the Sigur Ros scene really just blew me away that first time. It’s such a sort of different choice when you consider Anderson’s usual sound, too. If we’re mentioning W.A. at all, though, we have to throw in “These Days” in Royal Tenenbaums and, well, all of Rushmore.
The last really powerful one I can think of is probably the last 8 minutes or so of ‘I Am Love’ with the John Adams score. Holy shit, the buildup and emotional resolution there is incredible. I’ve seen that movie a few times now and EVERY TIME i’m left pretty much on the verge of tears JUST BECAUSE OF THE MUSIC. Ok…and Tilda Swinton’s mad skills.
The ending of Requiem of a Dream.
I’m the only one?
That movie is too depressing. Everyone probably was contemplating suicide instead of listening to the music ahaha
lol i could see that. Actually i saw Pi recently, and i was shocked tat the main character did not die at the end.
That movie isn’t that depressing. It might just be too real for people to deal with. I’ve seen a few times, but I know people who say that seeing the movie once is good enough for them.
Off the top of my head, the music that starts when you first meet the hobbits in The Fellowship of the Ring. I think it epitomises the hobbits very well; it’s music with a spring in its step. I also love the track ‘The Bridge Of Khazad Dum’. Howard Shore is a very talented man!
I’m not sure which one it is. I remember liking some of the tunes in the LOTR trilogy but there are so many it’s tough to find them
You mean that you remember liking ALL of the tunes?
And yes, Khazad Dum is amazing as well. Certainly gets the blood pumping faster.
I have always enjoyed:
1. Barbossa is Hungry from the 1st Pirates of the Caribbean,
2. Eye of the Tiger from Rocky,
3. Saving Private Ryan theme,
4. Forrest Gump theme,
5. The Italian Job opening sequence, (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYsUDA9VOvE)
6. Duel of the Fates from Star Wars (gotta mention that)
7. My Name is Lincoln from The Island (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7V-9X35vB4M)
8. Prologue from Lady in the Water (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_24lK1u9JaA&feature=fvsr)
9. Intro to Disney’s Beauty & the Beast
10. Chopsticks in BIG
*in no particular order.
GREAT post!
All great ones. I love the Saving Private Ryan score as well. John Williams outdid himself on that one.
I thought you meant the opening sequence of the 1969 The Italian Job! That, for me, is also a classic: http://youtu.be/lKqCtOUeXbY
You’re right Claire. It is a classic. I love and own both versions. I just liked the opening for the newer one more myself.
Thanks for the link! Awesome!
I seem to remember ‘Gonna Fly Now’ from Rocky more than ‘Eye of the Tiger’. How about ‘Hearts on Fire’ from Rocky 4? Lot’s of great tunes.
All music in I’m Not There. I know I’m a stereotype.
Excerpts from “Cavalleria Rusticana” were used, perhaps most iconically, in the opening credis sequence to Raging Bull, but I think I most loved the way it was used in the final minutes of The Godfather: Part III. Say what you will about that movie, but that whole “finale on the stairway” sequence served as a perfect coda to the movie (and trilogy), which ended on absolutely the perfect note. The music used lent itself perfectly to that feeling.
Heard so much bad things about The Godfather III that I never even gave it a chance. Should I?
There’s a Godfather III? (Knows this does exist but likes to pretend it doesn’t exist). I’ve tried watching a few times and I always turn it off. Just not worth it IMHO.
On its own merits, Godfather III is a better than average film. Compared to the first two though – not even worth a mention.
I’m with Kevyn. It goes without saying, Castor, that you can go your entire life without seeing Part III and you’ll probably be just fine (whereas your life would be less rich should you never see the first two), but I ultimately like the direction Part III takes its characters — Sophia’s lousy acting and that Vatican nonsense notwithstanding.
In terms of score I’d have to say The Godfather Waltz. It sends shivers down my back when its played over the black screen at the beginning. Also Ecstasy of Gold – same reason.
Well we both have music on our minds today eh Cas? Well, I’ve covered Hans Zimmer on my post, but I too love the music in The Last of the Mohicans. You are so right that the use of music is almost crucial in creating the tone and mood of a film, so it’s no small matter at all in the whole filmmaking process. John Williams’ Jurrasic Park score evokes the perfect sense of wonder the first time I saw the film, and Patrick Doyle’s melancholy music in Sense & Sensibility (especially the part when Kate Winslet sung ‘My Father’s Favorite’) captures the sense of sorrow of that scene perfectly, yet it’s romantic as well as it’s the first time Brandon fell in love with her. The last music that I think really enhanced the scene was Henry Jackman’s score for X-Men: First Class, especially in the submarine-lifting scene. Just wow!
Great post, Castor!
Ah yes, the Jurassic Park score is awesome! Always brings me back to my childhood when I hear it.
The Jurassic Park theme always gets me pumping. It is strangely exciting while also even more strangely haunting. I know, I am a dork.
“King of Pride Rock” when Simba ascends at the top at the end of The Lion King never fails to bring me chills. The musical composition for that movie was, in my opinion, the best of Disney.
“Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” by Santa Esmeralda in the final battle scene in Kill Bill vol.1 is another perfectly chosen piece for that particular moment.
Those are the only two I can think of although I am sure there are many more I’ll remember as soon as I post this.
Wow I totally forgot King of Pride Rock tune, AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I would have expected you to name 20 different Harry Potter songs instead
That goes without saying
I figured I’d try to at least dig into the old noodle and reminisce of movies of yore.
The entire track:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwwRqxlOCUU
Can’t get over it. Probably my favorite Zimmer piece.
That reminds me of the video game so much!
oh gosh, are you talking about the game boy (classic 2 lbs white brick) version? That game was so freaking hard. How on earth do you manage to jump from giraffe head to giraffe head via the monkeys without falling into the crocodile infested waters? The dilemma of a 10 year old.
Noooo. THIS: http://youtu.be/AdMu1WvXzTE
Same game on the gameboy system. Look at 1:00 on that video, that is where I was forever stuck
Stupid monkeys who refuse to catch you…..
Here is the Kill Bill one (including the actual scene). Masterful.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9E-iK-IvIs
Given my love for Lynne Ramsay as of late, I cite this scene from “Morvern Callar” to the tune of Lee Hazelwood & Nancy Sinatra’s “Some Velvet Morning”: http://youtu.be/m1l0YXayBrU
For me its got to be two John Murphy scores. The first being the scene from 28 Weeks Later with Robert Carlyle being chased through the field to In a Heart Beat http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KW0RX02SeQw.
And secondly Adagio In D Minor from Sunshine where Cillian Murphy is engulfed by the Sun. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQXVzg2PiZw
I could listen to both for hours!
That opening scene of 28 Weeks Later is heart-pounding tense. Easily the best scene of the movie so it’s kind of downhill from there.
Yeah its no 28 Days. Another song in a film that really puts a smile on my face is Twist and Shout in Ferris Beullers Day Off. Not ashamed to say i always have a cheeky sing along!
As long as you are not dancing along, buck-naked…
Fortunate Son (Creedence Clearwater Revival) in Forrest Gump
The End (The Doors) in Apocalypse Now
Hey Jude (The Beatles) in The Royal Tenenbaums
Forrest Gump’s soundtrack is gigantic, there might be 40 songs on it. The End is iconic.
The theme from Shaft, the entirety of the soundtrack for Super Fly, and the entirety of the soundtrack from Harold and Maude.
Love the sequence you mentioned in The Last of The Mohicans. I’m a big fan of A Clockwork Orange and the sequence still gives me goosebumps is this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v90KPJ6n4Ew
It was so beautifully shot by Kubrick and his DP; Zack Snyder is still trying to copy that kind of slo-mo in his films and failed most of the time.
Ahaha hilarious scene too.
Check out South Park’s parody of the scene:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBgZhoPRlQ0
Love it.
Ahahah another great moment in South Park history!
I’m not terribly sure this counts, but Milla Jovovich singing in any scene from dummy. Especially near the end, where she does punk-tinged klezmer.
And the party scene in Superbad, where they’re dancing to the Rapture’s ‘Echoes’. Because that song rocks.
As always, I’m completely useless at this.
Anything with music counts!
Gotta mention the Diva singing Opera during The Fifth Element! That whole sequence: amazing!
^^^^^^This
I watched The Fifth Element for the first time the other day and I thought she was fantastic! So surreal seeing a blue alien singing opera
Cool! First to name drop Star Wars!! Woot! (Duel of the Fates is in the prequels, which do not actually exist in my world)
Those movies would literally be 1/3 as beloved if the music were average.
Instead? They’re filled to the brim with awesome, inspiring, majestic, classical themes.
Just think of that first note. There isn’t a font big enough to capture how big it feels.
That’s just brilliant.
Im laughing as I type this. I bolted to hit reply so I could post mid laugh!!
Bahhhh… but for those of you playing along at home, be forewarned. Hitting “Add Comment” stops the video clip!!
I guess I’m the last person in the world to see that, but you just made my day, so I thank you!
I love Lego. I’m not gonna lie, those crazy Harry Potter lego trailers that are shown in loop on the DVDs of the movies are awesome!
I hadn’t seen it either prior to this.
You can’t see everything that exists on YouTube, I dont think its possible.
As much as we might wish we could.
So yeah, thanks for sharing Cap!
I always come back to the very last scene in Fight Club when the Pixies’ “Where’s My Mind?” starts blaring. There are a ton of contenders but that one’s my favorite. I guess the runner-up would be “Layla” in Goodfellas as they’re finding all of the corpses.
Love that ending John
Is it wrong that I just love that Sax player in Lost boys….maybe a little too much?
The music that accompanies anything Rohirrim in Lord of the Rings. It has such a Nordic feel to it, it’s the perfect match up of character and music in film for me.
The pool scene in Let the Right One In is magnificent as well.
I was hoping you’d vote for the LOTR soundtrack, Red!
I love the violins, especially in the ‘The King Of The Golden Hall’. http://youtu.be/Om_BKWttz18
On my old MP3 player, King of the Golden Hall was one of the Top 5 most played songs.
Thought of another one. Might not be as high in anyone else’s list, but I love when ‘In the court of the Crimson King’ plays in ‘Children of Men’
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEvRk2tL82U
Martin Scorsese has always been great at fitting music into his films. Even though I had heard it thousands of times before Scorsese got ahold of it, to this day I cannot hear the refrain of Layla without seeing all those dead bodies popping up everywhere in Goodfellas.
Another director with a talent for putting the right music at the right place is Cameron Crowe. I am not a big fan of his work but he sure knows how to pepper a soundtrack.
I really love Sofia Coppola and Cameron Crowe when it comes to music in films. They just seem to know what I would like, but haven’t discovered myself yet.
I love how in “Somewhere” the ENTIRE Gwen Stefani song plays during the ice skating sequence. That’s so Sofia.
Plus, I love that song. “Cool.” Because I love Gwen Stefani. That’s right. I said it. I LOVE GWEN STEFANI. And I don’t care who knows it!
That’s bananas.
B-A-N-A-N-A-S!!
Kevyn, me either. Everytime that refrain plays, I see that camera shot in my head peeking up over the front of the grill of that pink Caddy!
The way he splices up the tunes on the day of Henry’s bust adds a ton of intensity to that scene, as well.
To me, the music in any Tarantino film is awesome, especially and most recently with Inglourious Basterds. But my favorite is probably the use of music in Reservoir Dogs… Of course in the ear-cutting scene!
Oh, and the moment in (500) Days of Summer when JoGo is bouncing the ball all depressingly, and then finally gets in rhythm with the music is a stroke of genius. Actually, ever piece of music in the film is, quite frankly.
The first ones that come to mind are, “You Make My Dreams Come True” in 500 Days of Summer, “Accidents Will Happen” in E.T.,”Madame Butterfly” in Fatal Attraction, “Somebody’s Baby” in Fast Times at Ridgemont High, “New Slang” & “Oldest Living Boy In New York” from Garden State and “Reel Ten” from Repo Man. Now I’m gonna stop because I could go on forever.
Saw that someone has mentioned Scorcese – he is v. good at integrating contemporary music into his movies.
Overall scores by Bernard Hermann in his collaborations with Hitchcock in the 50′s did a lot to establish the tone and mood of the films.
I often find myself in a film and go – “I love that song” – in part due to its placement in the film.
iTunes and other music purchasing services are making a mint on this idea – (1) go to the movies (2) like a song – (3) you immediately go out and purchase the songs.
Obvious choices aside (John Williams for example), one of the most underrated scores ever written, which suits the on-screen images perfectly, is John Debney’s score for Cutthroat Island. While the film might not be everyone’s cup of tea, the perfect match between pirate-themed visuals and the rousing, adventureous score, stands equal to anything John Williams might have put out in the 80′s.
The best use of an original song in a film, in my opinion, was Randy Newman’s “When She Loved Me” from Toy Story 2, because I always cry during that (that’s to Sarah McLachlan’s superb vocals).
Best use of a pop-song in film? Well, there’s plenty that could be at the top of the list, but the one which stands out at the moment is Bob Dylan’s “The Times, They Are A-changin’” from Zack Snyder’s Watchmen. Possibly the best use of a pop-rock ballad against genre-specific visuals ever, I think. It puts you in the right mood, is reflective of the tone and narrative of the imagery it accompanies, and is easily one of Dylan’s more hummable tunes.
I’ve always personally liked the use of Duran Duran’s “Ordinary World” in Layer Cake, especially because it is sped up/slowed down and altered in tandem with the scene. And I think the use of “I’m A Man” in Rocknrolla and “Diamond” in Snatch were used to perfection…even if I’m a little biased being a Guy Ritchie fan boy and all:P
Also pretty much all of Clint Mansell’s work, specifically the theme from Requiem for a Dream, the track Dead Reckoning in Smoking Aces (man his efforts were wasted on that p.o.s. film) and the track Welcome to Lunar Industries in Moon.
Also since everyone pretty much gave Williams and Zimmer all the fan service they need here, I want to give proper due to James Horner for The Rocketeer and Alan Silvestri for Who Framed Roger Rabbit for their underrated gems.
I second Mansell’s work on Moon. That WAS an awesome score.
Ha, you sir have great taste:P
When I think about music in films, these usually come up
- Simon & Garfunkel in The Graduate 1967
- Comptine d’un autre in Amelie (one of my favourites)
- Creep choir in Social Network
- Dean and Cindy’s song in Blue Valentine
- Pride and Predjudice soundtrack
- Dirty Dancing soundtrack
Great question! Looking forward to discovering some new music here.
I find myself returning to Roses theme from Titanic
Currently sharing some Pearl Jam/Eddie Vedder at moviesandsongs365, and his Into the Wild soundtrack is very powerful stuff.
Yes the Titanic score is ridiculously addictive. If I even think about it, it will probably stay stuck in my head for the rest of the day ah
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