When I was a kid, I remember visiting my uncle in California when he used to work at Warner Bros. Studios. His job was to pitch songs to be used in the backgrounds of movies. He was responsible for some of the songs in movies like the “Harry Potter” franchise, “Charlie & the Chocolate Factory”, and “The Polar Express”. I always thought that this was a cool job, but I never realized just how amazing and significant it was until later in life. We hear songs all the time inserted in the background of some of our favorite movies that heighten the emotions of the scenes that we’re watching. Now, we can’t even listen to these songs without reminiscing those very scenes in movies. On top of that, I can’t imagine these movies without these scenes and song choices because they were so memorable. These are some of my favorite movie moments that made these songs and scenes eternal in cinematic history.
“Johhny B. Goode” in “Back to the Future”
An oldie but a goodie (no pun intended), this music moment in the classic Michael J. Fox movie about a boy who accidentally travels back in time and meets his parents is 100% the reason why I own this song. Near the movie’s end, Fox’s character, Marty, who’s a rock-and-roll fan, plays this song for a school dance in the 50’s. This “new” style was a big hit for the crowd, both in and out of the movie. What’s even funnier is that the band’s lead singer quickly runs offstage to phone his cousin Chuck Berry, who is the real artist of the song, in order to inspire him with this new sound! Probably one of the funniest moments in music and film.
“Don’t You (Forget About Me)” in “The Breakfast Club”
I dare you to try and not read those words in the exact same way it was done in the movie about a group of high schoolers from different social standings that spend detention together. This song was essentially the theme of the movie, playing at the beginning and end. It still rings the same emotions today as we see the principal read their letter to him while Judd Nelson walks across the football field, making it extremely hard to forget.
“Twist and Shout” in "Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”
I’m honestly not sure what made this song more famous, the Beatles or Matthew Broderick. This unbelievable and unforgettable scene in the movie about a boy who cuts school one day with his friends and has the adventure of a lifetime, is one of mine and my family’s favorites. In this particular scene, Ferris somehow hijacks a parade float and gets the entire crowd dancing and singing along with him as he rocks the parade in front of everyone (and gets away with it). I can’t even get through the chorus of this song without remembering Broderick shaking and twisting like a maniac.
“Stuck in the Middle With You” in “Reservoir Dogs”
This song and this scene make one of the craziest moments in film, and my friends and I love it! In this movie about a diamond heist gone wrong, one of the thieves, the sociopathic Mr. Blonde (Micael Madsen), interrogates and tortures a cop they caught for information. In the middle of his interrogation, he plays this song as he cuts the cop’s ear off and pretends to speak into it, all while dancing to the song. This scene is as disturbing as it sounds, but it’s way awesome. I can’t help but picture Madsen speaking into the ear even now as I listen to the song.
“Old Time Rock N’ Roll” in “Risky Business”
Look me in the eyes (if you can find me, that is) and tell me you never did or wanted to do this dance that Tom Cruise made famous. In this movie, Cruise plays a young boy whose parents leave him home alone and things get out of hand as he tries to supervise himself. This awesome scene near the beginning features Cruise as he dances to this song pants-less (don’t worry, he still has underwear, ladies). Seriously, go look this up on YouTube and tell me you would never do this in a million years…. Liar.
“Day-O” in “Beetlejuice”
Harry Belafonte may have been big, but this movie HAD to be what made his songs famous. This film is about a newly dead couple that tries to get a family that just moved into their house out by haunting them (and failing at every turn) until they get the crazy and unpredictable poltergeist Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton) involved. The couple, however, had a deep fondness for Belafonte music and in this famously hilarious scene, they possess a dinner party to sing and dance to this Caribbean style song. When I was a kid, this scene both scared me and made me laugh!
“Tchaikovsky Overture 1812” in “V for Vendetta”
Bet you didn’t see this one coming. This classic opus (their words, not mine) appears in the beginning and end of this movie about a freedom fighter whose vengeance inspires a nation to overthrow a tyrannical British government. During these two scenes, the man known as V (Hugo Weaving) plays this music over the loudspeakers for everyone to hear, and as it get to the climax he blows up a building (yes, in both scene… no spoilers). What makes tis truly magnificent is how the explosion and his added fireworks and laughter seem to run in sync with the song’s rhythm. Who said classical music is boring?
“Bohemian Rhapsody” in “Wayne’s World”
How could I not talk about this scene? In this hilarious comedy about two rock-and-roll slackers that try to get their show to the next level, they begin by driving to a concert while rocking out with their friends to this song. You cannot watch this scene without laughing or singing along with Wayne (Mike Myers) and his friends. What’s especially memorable is when the guitar solo breaks out, all of the long-haired passengers rock their heads back and forth to the rhythm of the music. Because of this scene, overtime I listen to this song I get a headache from the constant head rocking!
