10 Out of Place Songs That Work Really Well in Movies
#1
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10 Out of Place Songs That Work Really Well in Movies
10 Out of Place Songs That Work Really Well in Movies
Published by Natty at 9:15 am under Editorial
Sometimes songs just seem to fit a movie. For example, it’s pretty obvious that one would use the song “Singing in the Rain” in a movie where the guy is actually singing and it’s actually raining.
However, some movies play a song and you think to yourself, “Dude, what the hell is going on here?” and you just can’t fathom why the song has been used.
However, after thinking about it you realize how disturbing, yet indescribably appropriate the use of that song was.
Here are my picks (in no particular order) for the 10 most out of place songs that work really well in movies
American Psycho - “Hip to be Square” by Huey Lewis and the News
A whole myriad of songs could be chosen for American Psycho but it was either Huey Lewis or Phil Collins for this pick. “Sussudio” is great but Huey Lewis is just too comical to pass up.
A Clockwork Orange - “Singing in the Rain” by Nacio Heb Brown
Another movie where I could have gone in another direction. “Beethoven’s 9th” could have been used but if you’ve ever seen A Clockwork Orange and then hear the song “Singing in the Rain,” you just don’t think of Gene Kelly anymore.
Boogie Nights - “Sister Christian,” by Night Ranger
Remember how long the camera was on Wahlberg’s face at one point during this scene? It was over a minute. One of my all time favorite scenes in a movie. Amazing.
The Game - “White Rabbit” by Jefferson Airplane
This is the insane scene where Michael Douglas sees a picture of his dead father in a toy clown’s mouth. His entire house is covered in UV lights and what song is playing? “White Rabbit.” So eerie. David Fincher is the man.
Roger and Me - “Wouldn’t it Be Nice” by the Beach Boys
Remember this guy?
Great parody work here. Michael Moore may be fat and annoying but the guy can make a movie… no matter what people’s opinions are. And when you play this song during evictions and heartache, it’s effective.
Fallen - “Time is on my side” by the Rolling Stones
I for one, always think of this movie whenever I hear this song. It’s definitely appropriate for the movie’s theme but certainly “out of place” enough to warrant a mention on this list. You just don’t associate this song with serial killers do you?
Blue Velvet - In Dreams/Blue Velvet by Roy Orbison
Sure it’s the name of the movie but come on! Dennis Hopper is draining laughing gas and acting like a complete loon and that same movie contains a sweet Roy Orbison song? Check. David Lynch is certainly strange.
The Big Lebowski - “Hotel California” by The Eagles, sung by The Gypsy Kings
This one was debatable only because all the other movies involve some kind of whacked out horror. However, it’s just completely random and amazing that the Spanish version of Hotel California is played when John Turturro is licking a bowling ball.
Full Metal Jacket - “Chapel of Love,” The Dixie Cups
Something’s amiss when you are filming a Vietnam scene in the mud and frankly “the shit” and you hear “Going to the chapel and we’re….gonnnnna get maaarried” playing. Kubrick, as usual, stuns his audience in a great great way.
Reservoir Dogs - “Stuck in the Middle with You,” by Stealers Wheel
This one goes without saying and is clearly the best.
Obviously this list isn’t set in stone, if you have any suggestions please feel free to participate in the comments.
Published by Natty at 9:15 am under Editorial
Sometimes songs just seem to fit a movie. For example, it’s pretty obvious that one would use the song “Singing in the Rain” in a movie where the guy is actually singing and it’s actually raining.
However, some movies play a song and you think to yourself, “Dude, what the hell is going on here?” and you just can’t fathom why the song has been used.
However, after thinking about it you realize how disturbing, yet indescribably appropriate the use of that song was.
Here are my picks (in no particular order) for the 10 most out of place songs that work really well in movies
American Psycho - “Hip to be Square” by Huey Lewis and the News
A whole myriad of songs could be chosen for American Psycho but it was either Huey Lewis or Phil Collins for this pick. “Sussudio” is great but Huey Lewis is just too comical to pass up.
A Clockwork Orange - “Singing in the Rain” by Nacio Heb Brown
Another movie where I could have gone in another direction. “Beethoven’s 9th” could have been used but if you’ve ever seen A Clockwork Orange and then hear the song “Singing in the Rain,” you just don’t think of Gene Kelly anymore.
Boogie Nights - “Sister Christian,” by Night Ranger
Remember how long the camera was on Wahlberg’s face at one point during this scene? It was over a minute. One of my all time favorite scenes in a movie. Amazing.
The Game - “White Rabbit” by Jefferson Airplane
This is the insane scene where Michael Douglas sees a picture of his dead father in a toy clown’s mouth. His entire house is covered in UV lights and what song is playing? “White Rabbit.” So eerie. David Fincher is the man.
Roger and Me - “Wouldn’t it Be Nice” by the Beach Boys
Remember this guy?
Great parody work here. Michael Moore may be fat and annoying but the guy can make a movie… no matter what people’s opinions are. And when you play this song during evictions and heartache, it’s effective.
Fallen - “Time is on my side” by the Rolling Stones
I for one, always think of this movie whenever I hear this song. It’s definitely appropriate for the movie’s theme but certainly “out of place” enough to warrant a mention on this list. You just don’t associate this song with serial killers do you?
Blue Velvet - In Dreams/Blue Velvet by Roy Orbison
Sure it’s the name of the movie but come on! Dennis Hopper is draining laughing gas and acting like a complete loon and that same movie contains a sweet Roy Orbison song? Check. David Lynch is certainly strange.
The Big Lebowski - “Hotel California” by The Eagles, sung by The Gypsy Kings
This one was debatable only because all the other movies involve some kind of whacked out horror. However, it’s just completely random and amazing that the Spanish version of Hotel California is played when John Turturro is licking a bowling ball.
Full Metal Jacket - “Chapel of Love,” The Dixie Cups
Something’s amiss when you are filming a Vietnam scene in the mud and frankly “the shit” and you hear “Going to the chapel and we’re….gonnnnna get maaarried” playing. Kubrick, as usual, stuns his audience in a great great way.
Reservoir Dogs - “Stuck in the Middle with You,” by Stealers Wheel
This one goes without saying and is clearly the best.
Obviously this list isn’t set in stone, if you have any suggestions please feel free to participate in the comments.
Any others you guys can think of?
Last edited by MartinBlank; 06-29-08 at 11:37 AM.
#2
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American Psycho - “Hip to be Square” by Huey Lewis and the News
A whole myriad of songs could be chosen for American Psycho but it was either Huey Lewis or Phil Collins for this pick. “Sussudio” is great but Huey Lewis is just too comical to pass up.
A whole myriad of songs could be chosen for American Psycho but it was either Huey Lewis or Phil Collins for this pick. “Sussudio” is great but Huey Lewis is just too comical to pass up.
#3
I don't see how any of those songs are out of place.
American Psycho takes place in the 80s. Boogie Nights, that particular scene, the 80s.
If you wanna see out of place songs turn on A Knight's Tale.
American Psycho takes place in the 80s. Boogie Nights, that particular scene, the 80s.
If you wanna see out of place songs turn on A Knight's Tale.
#5
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Originally Posted by PopcornTreeCt
I don't see how any of those songs are out of place.
American Psycho takes place in the 80s. Boogie Nights, that particular scene, the 80s.
If you wanna see out of place songs turn on A Knight's Tale.
American Psycho takes place in the 80s. Boogie Nights, that particular scene, the 80s.
If you wanna see out of place songs turn on A Knight's Tale.
#9
Originally Posted by Shannon Nutt
"Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head" - Butch Cassidey & The Sundance Kid
Spoiler:
#10
DVD Talk Legend
Tarentino is the master of this type of thing. In fact, I can only really think of one time it didn't work, and that's the "Nobody but Me" sequence in Kill Bill.
#12
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I know it sounds disturbing but every time I listen to "Bleeding Love" by Leona Lewis on the radio all I can think about is how it should be used ironically in a horror movie/TV show ala Dexter. It makes the song a lot more bearable.
#13
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Originally Posted by MartinBlank
What scene is that?
Spoiler:
And re: American Psycho, the factor of Huey Lewis and Phil Collins were core to the book, as Bateman laments on their careers in entire chapters of the book (unfilmable aspects well integrated into the film).
#14
DVD Talk Legend
How about Lou Reed's "Perfect Day" in Trainspotting?
One that wasn't really out of place given the song's meaning, but certainly unexpected, was "He Needs Me" from Popeye used in Punch-Drunk Love.
One that wasn't really out of place given the song's meaning, but certainly unexpected, was "He Needs Me" from Popeye used in Punch-Drunk Love.
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House of 1000 Corpses: Slim Whitman - I Remember You. The scene it plays over is easily the best in the film. The song itself is so complacent that it lulls you into a calm state, all while brutal violence is erupting around everyone.
#17
"If you leave me now" - Three Kings
#18
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Blue Velvet - In Dreams/Blue Velvet by Roy Orbison
Roy Orbison didn't sing Blue Velvet, so I'm not sure what this guy was smoking when he wrote the list. In Dreams is a completely different song.
Roy Orbison didn't sing Blue Velvet, so I'm not sure what this guy was smoking when he wrote the list. In Dreams is a completely different song.
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Originally Posted by Doc MacGyver
Another one from Goodfellas: The intrumental second half of Derek & The Dominos' "Layla" as we discover Bobby's cleaning house.
-Doc
-Doc
#22
DVD Talk Reviewer
Originally Posted by Mikael79
Blue Velvet - In Dreams/Blue Velvet by Roy Orbison
Roy Orbison didn't sing Blue Velvet, so I'm not sure what this guy was smoking when he wrote the list. In Dreams is a completely different song.
Roy Orbison didn't sing Blue Velvet, so I'm not sure what this guy was smoking when he wrote the list. In Dreams is a completely different song.
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"We Have All the Time in the World" by Louis Armstrong in On Her Majesty's Secret Service. At first, a song like that seems incredibly out of place for a Bond movie. But in the end, it all makes perfect sense, and you can see why it was written for the film.
#24
DVD Talk Reviewer
Originally Posted by Merkin Muffley
"We Have All the Time in the World" by Louis Armstrong in On Her Majesty's Secret Service. At first, a song like that seems incredibly out of place for a Bond movie. But in the end, it all makes perfect sense, and you can see why it was written for the film.
#25
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by Doc MacGyver
Another one from Goodfellas: The intrumental second half of Derek & The Dominos' "Layla" as we discover Bobby's cleaning house.
-Doc
-Doc
I always thought that the Sex Pistols' version of 'My Way' playing over the credits was very odd. I guess it's mixing old with new and keeping with the time span/progression of the film.