Ten Movie Songs You’ll Never Forget

Waynes-WorldEveryone knows those special scenes in their favorite flicks when a song is featured over a very pivotal moment. That point when one of the main characters suddenly, and with unforeseen spontaneity, breaks into a song or performs over a tune. It’s a moment that completely changes the direction of the movie. And more often than not, the song is not a part of the score as a whole… ya know, the title tune that plays in different keys and speeds throughout the movie. No, these are songs that sorta appear from nowhere, but stay with you long after you’ve seen it. Even if you’ve seen it a hundred times, you’ll always remember the point at which the song takes over. Here are ten such examples of when the music becomes the movie.

10) Gonna Fly Now – Rocky

Everyone loves Rocky. Even people (namely chicks) who don’t like boxing like Rocky. Why? Well, because it gets all sappy and glorified the moment Rocky believes in himself and his training and realizes what he has to do. All to the tune of Bill Conti’s “Gonna Fly Now.”

9) Rainbow Connection – The Muppet Movie

This tune could easily be tops on my list of songs that make grown men cry. Sure this is the Muppets, which automatically makes it a kind of a musical already, but it’s this song that brings us back.

8) Swinging on a Star – Hudson Hawk

Though not necessarily the greatest Bruce Willis flick of all time, Hudson Hawk is still a fun film. Especially the scenes in which Hawk has to perform some sort of thievery while timing himself to old ’50s tunes. This one, “Swingin’ on a Star,” has been recorded by many artists but I’ll say it’s Sinatra’s version, cuz his is the best.

7) Bohemian Rhapsody – Wayne’s World

One of the classic slackers-make-good flicks, Wayne’s World follows the basement Cable Access channel exploits of Wayne and Garth as they do more than just “shwing.” One of the classic scenes finds the duo and their bandmates rockin’ out to Queen in the car.

6) Puttin’ on the Ritz – Young Frankenstein

Dr. Fr-AH-nkenstein has finally decided how to animate dead tissue. Sadly, his accomplice, EYE-gore has procured him a brain from Abby Normal (HA!) and what comes to life is a lumbering, yet gentle, giant. In order to impress the town, the doctor must prove that his man can behave like a man. Even if it is to the strains of “Puttin’ on the Ritz” by Irving Berlin. And possibly Taco.

5) In the Air Tonight – The Hangover

Let’s assume for a minute you are one of a few living individuals with access to a movie theater or a DVD player or even cable who hasn’t yet seen The Hangover. Fair enough. Let’s also assume you are only vaguely familiar with Mike Tyson. Fine. Either way, this scene is still gold. Oh, and the song is by Phil Collins.

4) Blue Moon – American Werewolf London

Without a doubt (and yes, in my opinion) the greatest werewolf movie of all time. When you can take humor and brutal gore and even mix in three great songs about the moon plus an amazing full-on transformation scene… whew… awesome. Anyway, here we see poor David beasting out to “Blue Moon.”

3) Singin’ in the Rain – A Clockwork Orange

Absolutely horrific. There’s little else to be said about Alex and his Droogs in this awful scene. But it’s a song you won’t soon forget. This particular clip cuts off before the scene gets more graphic.

2) Lollipop – Stand By Me

We’ve given Stand By Me a lot of love on this site, and there’s no reason not to hand it kudos one more time. For a classic in-film tune that literally takes it in a whole new direction, it’s hard to go wrong with “Lollipop” by The Chordettes.

1) Stuck in the Middle – Reservoir Dogs

As the pinnacle on this list, there truly is no other scene that purely exemplifies the brutality at the core of this movie. Not one point in all of these other movies do you really feel like something has gone completely wrong. Even in A Clockwork Orange, Alex has been a twisted prick the entire time. But here? Well, it all just goes downhill in a damn hurry. And all to the tune by Stealers Wheel.