The 77 Most Unforgettable Movie Songs
- Posted by Spinner Staff
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In celebration of summer movie season, we've whipped up this "definitive" list of the most memorable movie songs. We reviewed hundreds of films to find these 77 gems. Everything was fair game ... EXCEPT MUSICALS (if you're looking for 'Rent,' go to Broadway). Enjoy the show.
77. Coolio, 'Gangsta's Paradise' ('Dangerous Minds,' 1995)
Michelle Pfeiffer's character uses tough love to keep inner-city students in school and away from crime in 'Dangerous Minds,' but the real crime was that Coolio stole an entire Stevie Wonder song to create his biggest hit. -- Jason Persse
Watch Video
76. Dashboard Confessional, 'Vindicated' ('Spider-Man 2,' 2004)
In the second installment of Spidey's saga, Dashboard Confessional delivers one of the catchiest movie songs in history. It provided the right amount of whiny emo vocals and soaring rock riffs to capture both Peter Parker's love-struck identity crisis and his ass-kicking alter ego. -- Kim Davis
Watch the 'Vindicated' Video
75. Alanis Morissette, 'Uninvited' ('City of Angels,' 1998)
One year after Alanis penned this heavenly, Oscar-worthy tune for a syrupy film about angels, she was cast as God in Kevin Smith's brilliantly blasphemous 'Dogma.' Coincidence? -- M. Tye Comer
Watch Alanis Perform 'Uninvited' Live
74. The Champs, 'Tequila' ('Pee-wee's Big Adventure,' 1985)
The Champs' sax-heavy surf-rock classic made a major comeback when a peculiar man-boy named Pee-Wee donned a pair of platform shoes, hopped up on the bar, and danced his little heart out for the Satan's Helpers motorcycle gang. -- JP
Watch Video
73. Nico, 'These Days' ('The Royal Tenenbaums,' 2001)
Time comes to a stop -- and this Jackson Browne-penned heartbreaker (sung by Nico) swells -- as Tenenbaum siblings Margo and Richie are reunited at the bus depot. Only a song this gorgeous could make their incestuous attraction seem sweet. -- JP
Watch Video
72. Bruce Springsteen, 'Streets of Philadelphia' ('Philadelphia,' 1993)
Bruce's Oscar-wining ballad was inspired by the pioneering film 'Philadelphia' that exposed the loneliness and discrimination faced by AIDS victims. Fifteen years later, both the movie and the music are still as poignant as ever. -- Mindy Monez
Watch Video
71. The Pixies, 'Where Is My Mind' ('Fight Club,' 1999)
David Fincher's brutal, split-personality brawlfest ends with fireballs, falling skyscrapers and this sanity-questioning alt-rock anthem from the Pixies, which became the ideal musical accompaniment for urban armageddon. -- JP
Watch Video
70. Bon Jovi, 'Blaze of Glory' ('Young Guns II,' 1990)
Emilio Estevez originally asked that 'Wanted Dead or Alive' become the theme to his Wild West It-Boy blockbuster, but Jon Bon wouldn't allow it. Instead, he wrote 'Blaze of Glory' and roped in an Oscar nomination. -- JP
Watch Video
69. OMD, 'If You Leave' ('Pretty in Pink,' 1986)
Written especially for the John Hughes masterpiece, 'If You Leave' became OMD's biggest hit. We may never understand why Andie choose Blane over Duckie, but this rousing synth-pop classic made it a little easier to swallow. -- JP
Watch Video
68. Joe Cocker / Jennifer Warnes, 'Up Where We Belong' ('An Officer and a Gentleman,' 1982)
This kissy-face hit by Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes kicks in just when Richard Gere sweeps Debra Winger into his arms and carries her away from her crappy factory job and into the sunset. 'An Officer and a Gentleman' is one of the most romantic dramas ever, and of all the movie songs in history, this one still turns womens' knees to jelly. -- JP
Watch a Live Performance of 'Up Where We Belong'
67. Seal, 'Kiss From a Rose' ('Batman Forever,' 1995)
In 'Batman Forever,' Val Kilmer didn't fill the Caped Crusader's tights as well as Michael Keaton did in the original -- but at least 'Kiss From a Rose' was better than Prince's 'Batdance.' And you KNOW Seal sings it to Heidi Klum, like, every day. -- MTC
Watch the 'Kiss From a Rose' Video
66. Roxette, 'It Must've Been Love' ('Pretty Woman,' 1990)
It's unfathomable that a broke-ass prostitute would turn down a free penthouse and spending account from a John, but somehow, Julia Roberts made it believable in 'Pretty Woman,' with the help of a cheesy little Roxette song. -- KD
Watch Video
65. Air, 'Playground Love' ('The Virgin Suicides,' 1999)
Sofia Coppola proves time and time again that her biggest asset (besides her last name) is her impeccable taste in movie songs. Props to her for pegging Air to compose the atmospheric score for her directorial debut, which resulted in this downbeat beauty. -- MTC
Watch the 'Playground Love' Video
64. Audrey Hepburn, 'Moon River' ('Breakfast at Tiffany's, 1961)
This Johnny Mercer and Henry Mancini composition in 'Breakfast at Tiffany's,' written specifically to fit Audrey Hepburn's limited vocal range, won the 1961 Best Song Oscar. Oddly, no one thought to put out Hepburn's original version until after her death in 1993. -- JP
Watch Video
63. Tina Turner, 'We Don't Need Another Hero' ('Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome,' 1985)
Riding high on her early-'80s comeback, Tina got cast as Mel Gibson's silver-haired nemesis in the 'Mad Max' sequel and recorded this bombastic ballad about a better life beyond the Thunderdome. -- MTC
Watch the 'We Don't Need Another Hero' Video
62. Katrina and the Waves, 'Walking on Sunshine' ('High Fidelity,' 2000)
From 'The Secret of My Success' to 'American Psycho,' 'Walking on Sunshine' has become one of cinema's most reliable guilty pleasures. Its diabetes-inducing sweetness made it the perfect opening track for Jack Black's so-lame-it's-cool "Monday Morning Mixtape" in 'High Fidelity.' -- JP
Watch Video
61. The Jesus & Mary Chain, 'Just Like Honey' ('Lost in Translation,' 2003)
We'll never know what Bill Murray whispers to Scarlett Johansson in the last scene of this subtle romance (set in anything-but-subtle Tokyo), but the hazy guitars and moody vocals of this shoegazer classic by the Jesus & Mary Chain summed up the pair's pained emotions perfectly. Score another one for Sofia. -- MTC
Watch Video
77. Coolio, 'Gangsta's Paradise' ('Dangerous Minds,' 1995)
Michelle Pfeiffer's character uses tough love to keep inner-city students in school and away from crime in 'Dangerous Minds,' but the real crime was that Coolio stole an entire Stevie Wonder song to create his biggest hit. -- Jason Persse
Watch Video
76. Dashboard Confessional, 'Vindicated' ('Spider-Man 2,' 2004)
In the second installment of Spidey's saga, Dashboard Confessional delivers one of the catchiest movie songs in history. It provided the right amount of whiny emo vocals and soaring rock riffs to capture both Peter Parker's love-struck identity crisis and his ass-kicking alter ego. -- Kim Davis
Watch the 'Vindicated' Video
75. Alanis Morissette, 'Uninvited' ('City of Angels,' 1998)
One year after Alanis penned this heavenly, Oscar-worthy tune for a syrupy film about angels, she was cast as God in Kevin Smith's brilliantly blasphemous 'Dogma.' Coincidence? -- M. Tye Comer
Watch Alanis Perform 'Uninvited' Live
74. The Champs, 'Tequila' ('Pee-wee's Big Adventure,' 1985)
The Champs' sax-heavy surf-rock classic made a major comeback when a peculiar man-boy named Pee-Wee donned a pair of platform shoes, hopped up on the bar, and danced his little heart out for the Satan's Helpers motorcycle gang. -- JP
Watch Video
73. Nico, 'These Days' ('The Royal Tenenbaums,' 2001)
Time comes to a stop -- and this Jackson Browne-penned heartbreaker (sung by Nico) swells -- as Tenenbaum siblings Margo and Richie are reunited at the bus depot. Only a song this gorgeous could make their incestuous attraction seem sweet. -- JP
Watch Video
72. Bruce Springsteen, 'Streets of Philadelphia' ('Philadelphia,' 1993)
Bruce's Oscar-wining ballad was inspired by the pioneering film 'Philadelphia' that exposed the loneliness and discrimination faced by AIDS victims. Fifteen years later, both the movie and the music are still as poignant as ever. -- Mindy Monez
Watch Video
71. The Pixies, 'Where Is My Mind' ('Fight Club,' 1999)
David Fincher's brutal, split-personality brawlfest ends with fireballs, falling skyscrapers and this sanity-questioning alt-rock anthem from the Pixies, which became the ideal musical accompaniment for urban armageddon. -- JP
Watch Video
70. Bon Jovi, 'Blaze of Glory' ('Young Guns II,' 1990)
Emilio Estevez originally asked that 'Wanted Dead or Alive' become the theme to his Wild West It-Boy blockbuster, but Jon Bon wouldn't allow it. Instead, he wrote 'Blaze of Glory' and roped in an Oscar nomination. -- JP
Watch Video
69. OMD, 'If You Leave' ('Pretty in Pink,' 1986)
Written especially for the John Hughes masterpiece, 'If You Leave' became OMD's biggest hit. We may never understand why Andie choose Blane over Duckie, but this rousing synth-pop classic made it a little easier to swallow. -- JP
Watch Video
68. Joe Cocker / Jennifer Warnes, 'Up Where We Belong' ('An Officer and a Gentleman,' 1982)
This kissy-face hit by Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes kicks in just when Richard Gere sweeps Debra Winger into his arms and carries her away from her crappy factory job and into the sunset. 'An Officer and a Gentleman' is one of the most romantic dramas ever, and of all the movie songs in history, this one still turns womens' knees to jelly. -- JP
Watch a Live Performance of 'Up Where We Belong'
67. Seal, 'Kiss From a Rose' ('Batman Forever,' 1995)
In 'Batman Forever,' Val Kilmer didn't fill the Caped Crusader's tights as well as Michael Keaton did in the original -- but at least 'Kiss From a Rose' was better than Prince's 'Batdance.' And you KNOW Seal sings it to Heidi Klum, like, every day. -- MTC
Watch the 'Kiss From a Rose' Video
66. Roxette, 'It Must've Been Love' ('Pretty Woman,' 1990)
It's unfathomable that a broke-ass prostitute would turn down a free penthouse and spending account from a John, but somehow, Julia Roberts made it believable in 'Pretty Woman,' with the help of a cheesy little Roxette song. -- KD
Watch Video
65. Air, 'Playground Love' ('The Virgin Suicides,' 1999)
Sofia Coppola proves time and time again that her biggest asset (besides her last name) is her impeccable taste in movie songs. Props to her for pegging Air to compose the atmospheric score for her directorial debut, which resulted in this downbeat beauty. -- MTC
Watch the 'Playground Love' Video
64. Audrey Hepburn, 'Moon River' ('Breakfast at Tiffany's, 1961)
This Johnny Mercer and Henry Mancini composition in 'Breakfast at Tiffany's,' written specifically to fit Audrey Hepburn's limited vocal range, won the 1961 Best Song Oscar. Oddly, no one thought to put out Hepburn's original version until after her death in 1993. -- JP
Watch Video
63. Tina Turner, 'We Don't Need Another Hero' ('Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome,' 1985)
Riding high on her early-'80s comeback, Tina got cast as Mel Gibson's silver-haired nemesis in the 'Mad Max' sequel and recorded this bombastic ballad about a better life beyond the Thunderdome. -- MTC
Watch the 'We Don't Need Another Hero' Video
62. Katrina and the Waves, 'Walking on Sunshine' ('High Fidelity,' 2000)
From 'The Secret of My Success' to 'American Psycho,' 'Walking on Sunshine' has become one of cinema's most reliable guilty pleasures. Its diabetes-inducing sweetness made it the perfect opening track for Jack Black's so-lame-it's-cool "Monday Morning Mixtape" in 'High Fidelity.' -- JP
Watch Video
61. The Jesus & Mary Chain, 'Just Like Honey' ('Lost in Translation,' 2003)
We'll never know what Bill Murray whispers to Scarlett Johansson in the last scene of this subtle romance (set in anything-but-subtle Tokyo), but the hazy guitars and moody vocals of this shoegazer classic by the Jesus & Mary Chain summed up the pair's pained emotions perfectly. Score another one for Sofia. -- MTC
Watch Video
- Filed under: The Hit List
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