Are there certain songs that instantly make you think of a scene in a movie? I’m not talking about songs that were made to be part of a movie soundtrack like “Eye Of The Tiger” for Rocky III, “Don’t You (Forget About Me) from the Breakfast Club or even “Time Of My Life” from Dirty Dancing (a movie I detest). I mean a song that was released before it appeared in a movie but now whenever you hear it, your mind instantly conjures up the scene from the movie where it’s been featured. I’ve been listening to a lot more radio lately being in my car in California and I’ve found myself instantly thinking of some classic music and movie scene pairings. Here are my Sweet 16:
“Try A Little Tenderness” by Otis Redding from “Pretty In Pink”
If you can’t bring to mind Duckie Dale (my ultimate movie hero) dancing in Trax for Andie and Iona in “Pretty In Pink” I will let you see the brilliance below. Being thoughtful of your time this will be the only video though.
“Stuck In The Middle With You” by Stealer’s Wheel from “Reservoir Dogs”
I like my movies a little quirky and “Reservoir Dogs” certainly qualifies. Just the first couple of notes of this song can instantly bring me back to Michael Madsen doing his little knife and ear dance.
Image: Rev. Xanatos Satanicos Bombasticos (ClintJCL)
“You Make My Dreams” by Hall & Oates – this one song gets two movie scenes, one from “The Wedding Singer” and one from “500 Days of Summer”
Two great movies that both feature this H&O classic song wonderfully. In “The Wedding Singer”, it’s the montage theme and in “500 Days Of Summer” it’s just a brilliantly happy scene for such a relatively sad but sweet movie.
500 Days Of Summer Scene – Image: L.A. Filming Location Expert
“In Your Eyes” by Peter Gabriel from “Say Anything”
If this song doesn’t make you think of Lloyd Dobbler holding his boombox over his head outside of Diane Court’s house trying to win her love, you have been living under a rock.
Image: 7th Street Theatre
I Melt With You” by Modern English from “Valley Girl”
“Valley Girl” is one of my favorite movies of all time and the soundtrack is phenomenal if you love early 80’s New Wave music. While tremendously overplayed, IMWY will always be intro’d by Julie dropping Tommy’s bracelet out of the limo window that she and Randy have just hijacked after the prom. **For lovers of this movie, I will say that “Angst In My Pants” by Sparks is definitely an honorable mention as well.
Image: Wikipedia
“Shout” by the Isley Brothers in “Animal House”
This might be the most overplayed song at every Sweet 16 or barmitzvah ever. I don’t like the song but I can’t help but immediately think of John Belushi and the toga party in “Animal House” whenever I hear it.
Image: tonynetone
“Old Time Rock n’ Roll” by Bob Seeger in “Risky Business”
Before Tom Cruise went off the deep end: underwear, button-down collared shirt and tube socks. Enough said.
Image: Eustace Dauger
“Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen in “Wayne’s World”
There are few people on this earth that will ever have a voice equal to Freddie Mercury and I believe that Freddie would have loved this tribute by Mike Myers and Dana Carvey. It’s brilliant. However, I will give this movie one other bonus song “Ballroom Blitz” by Sweet performed by Tia Carrere. She did a great job on this one and I’m sure I’m not the only one that thinks of Tia when I hear this song.
Image: Wikipedia
“SuperFreak” by Rick James in “Little Miss Sunshine”
While Alan Arkin steals this movie from Greg Kinnear, Toni Collette and Abigail Breslin. This surprise song as a little girl’s beauty pageant competition dance song is just hilarious.
Image: Jeremy G (Jayme Rose)
“Bittersweet Symphony” by The Verve in “Cruel Intentions”
I’m really giving away a lot of my guilty pleasure movies here but “Cruel Intentions” (a modernized adapted version of the French novel “Dangerous Liasons”) is one is pretty fun. The movie stars Sarah Michelle Gellar, Selma Blair, Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe. This song is played at the end when Annette (Reese Witherspoon) is driving Sebastian’s (Ryan Phillippe) Jaguar into NYC and it’s triumphant.
Image: joanneteh_32
“Tequila” by The Champs in “Pee Wee’s Big Adventure”
I don’t think many people of my generation can think of this 1957 song with the word “Tequila” only spoken 3 times without thinking of Paul Reuben’s as Pee Wee Herman dancing to this song.
Image: Jim Barker
“Love Is A Battlefield” by Pat Benetar in “13 Going on 30”
Jennifer Garner brings out her inner Drew Barrymore in this film and I love it. In this scene she’s dancing with a bunch of 13 year olds and it is adorable. I’ve seen this film so many times that even though I grew up hearing this song, I can’t listen to it without this scene coming to mind. JG also does a cute dance to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” in this film but the scene can’t overshadow the video in my memory.
“Waterloo” by Abba in “Muriel’s Wedding”
A bittersweet movie with Rachel Griffiths and Toni Collette that has you laugh and cry but the karaoke scene with Rhonda and Muriel is just pure fun.
Image: Wikipedia
“Ain’t Too Proud To Beg” by The Temptations in “The Big Chill”
In 1983 I didn’t truly comprehend what it might have meant for a bunch of old college friends to get together after the suicide of a friend, the dancing scene while cleaning up from dinner has always stayed with me. I also always think of “Joy To The World” being played at the end credits.
Image: Wikipedia
“It’s A Long Way To The Top” by AC/DC in “School of Rock”
A song from 1975 that Brian Johnson, the current lead singer of AC/DC won’t even sing live in deference his predecessor Bon Scott (it was Bon’s signature song – bagpipes and all). Jack Black as Dewey Finn in the movie “School of Rock” teaches this song to his class as one of their first jam session songs. I heard the song on the radio recently and all I could think of was this movie.
Image: Wikipedia
“Save The Best For Last” by Vanessa Williams in Priscilla Queen of the Desert
Another great movie with a tremendously good soundtrack. The movie has an extra special surprise during the end credits – the silhouetted drag queen lip synching this song at the end is fabulous. If you’ve missed it, go back and watch it again. You won’t be sorry!
Image: nhighberg
Did I miss any music and movie scenes that you love? Let me know!
Super fab list! What about “If You Were Here” in the birthday cake scene of “Sixteen Candles”?
WOW! You nailed it, this is SPOT ON!!
Glad you liked it!
Karen:
ITA but I have never heard the song outside of the movie (which I have seen many, many times!). Have you?
I swear EVERY time I hear “Ain’t too proud to beg,” I visualize Glenn Close dancing in the kitchen.
Also a good one — “Danke Schoen” and “Twist and Shout” for Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.
AJ – You are most definitely an old soul. I wasn’t sure anyone would connect with “The Big Chill” but of course, you did! I thought about “TAS” from Ferris but honestly, I really don’t like the movie so I didn’t include it (you can throw your tomatoes now if you’d like). I knew you’d be able to add to list. 😉
I love this! 🙂
Thank you Amy! It was fun to put together.
Yes, and yes and yes ~ especially Pee-Wee, Muriel’s Wedding, Wayne’s World, Little Miss Sunshine, and Reservoir Dogs <3 great list. I also think of "Adventures in Babysitting" every time I hear 'And Then He Kissed Me'
I have not seen “Adventures In Babysitting” in years! Good one Rachael!
Great list! I love The Breakfast Club!
I’m not a fan of Prince or the movie Pretty Woman but his song “Kiss” triggers that movie memory.
I love this list! From PRETTY IN PINK, I can’t believe you left out New Order’s “Thieves Like Us” – the “prepping for prom” montage! (When Andie is designing her dress etc.) One of my favorite songs/moments in the movie.
Ooh Chris, you picked a good one. As soon as I read it, I flashed to the scene immediately!
Susie, a good one but not a song I hear often. The one I didn’t use from PIP was “Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want” but I can hear that song and not think of sad Duckie….because who wants to think of sad Duckie?
Mine is “Twist and Shout” from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.
Ryan: That’s a good one too! I need to add a few more to this post.
sooo true about Bitter Sweet Symphony. I always think of My Best Friends Wedding when I hear You Don’t Know Me.
That absolutely makes sense!