The Movies' 50 Greatest Pop Music Moments
September 22, 2014 4:53 AM   Subscribe

What's that you say? You like to read movie and music related lists on the Internet? Well here you go: The Movies' 50 Greatest Pop Music Moments from the folks at The Dissolve.
posted by AlonzoMosleyFBI (43 comments total) 10 users marked this as a favorite
 
A bunch of recent movies on the list and blue oyster cult as pop music? I declare a proclamation of "I disagree with someone's subjective crap on the internet"
posted by chasles at 5:02 AM on September 22, 2014


Ah c'mon, there's some obscure stuff in there.
posted by h00py at 5:16 AM on September 22, 2014


GRUMBLE where is the end of Lost in Translation
posted by Quilford at 5:18 AM on September 22, 2014 [7 favorites]


I would have picked Elton John's Your Song as sung by Ewan McGregor in Moulin Rouge! - - that is my own personal single most transcendent moment of movie pop bliss.
posted by fairmettle at 5:25 AM on September 22, 2014 [4 favorites]


No Vera Lynn?
posted by octothorpe at 5:28 AM on September 22, 2014 [2 favorites]


When I purchased the soundtrack to "The Big Lebowski" shortly after the movie came out, I remember doing a double take while reading the track listings: "THAT'S Kenny Rogers?!?!?"
posted by AlonzoMosleyFBI at 5:42 AM on September 22, 2014 [3 favorites]


This is one of my favourites (Harold and Maude is a hard movie to choose a favourite scene from).

David Bowie's appearance in 'Christiane F' is spectacular.

Chrissy Amphlett's appearance in the Australian film 'Monkey Grip' was a revelation.
posted by h00py at 6:09 AM on September 22, 2014 [1 favorite]


I'm very amused that three of the clips are from three completely different John Cusack movies. Maybe the dude was a dj in his past life.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:45 AM on September 22, 2014 [2 favorites]


When I purchased the soundtrack to "The Big Lebowski" shortly after the movie came out, I remember doing a double take while reading the track listings: "THAT'S Kenny Rogers?!?!?"

* mind blown *

And the drummer was that character actor from Justified among a bunch of other roles!
posted by boubelium at 6:50 AM on September 22, 2014 [1 favorite]


Now I have to go watch Morvern Callar because clearly someone has stolen the soundtrack of my life for her film.
posted by the painkiller at 7:43 AM on September 22, 2014


No "Old Time Rock 'n' Roll" from Risky Business?
posted by dances with hamsters at 8:37 AM on September 22, 2014


Mickey Jones also played drums with Bob Dylan and the Hawks during his famous 1966 tour. He played on that great version of "Like a Rolling Stone" at "Royal Albert Hall" (really the Manchester Free Trade Hall)---"play it fucking loud!"

In conclusion, Mickey Jones is pretty cool.
posted by entropicamericana at 8:40 AM on September 22, 2014 [2 favorites]


Leaving aside the characterization of Chuck Berry as a plagiarist, the “Johnny B. Goode” sequence in Back To The Future is as memorable as movie-music scenes get—

the thing is, I can't put that characterization aside. It's not just that it's some preppy-white kid that Chuck plagiarized -- it's Michael J Fox!?!?! The preppiest white kid on the planet at the time (perhaps ever), who as Mojo Nixon famously pointed out, was the only human on earth known NOT to have any Elvis in him.

But seriously. I appreciate this list for some of the digging it does. These are not ALL obvious/popular choices. Also, it helps to be reminded just how valuable the right POP nugget can be toward helping a movie tell its story, (sell its point). Why did such-and-such a song cost the filmmakers so damned much money for just a few seconds of screen time? Because it was worth it. Worth more than some of the actors, worth more than all those props and costumes.

There's a pile of effective shorthand in the right few seconds of superlative pop.
posted by philip-random at 8:41 AM on September 22, 2014 [2 favorites]


No "Old Time Rock 'n' Roll" from Risky Business?

Greatest? I think of this as more the opposite.
posted by philip-random at 8:42 AM on September 22, 2014 [2 favorites]


I am shocked that the Head Over Heels part from Donnie Darko, when they are going to school, isn't included. I can't hear that song without imagining that scene!
posted by gucci mane at 8:43 AM on September 22, 2014 [2 favorites]


Here's my recommendation for should have been included: Sonic Youth's "Kool Thing" from Hal Hartley's Simple Men.

God I love Martin Donovan.
posted by wyndham at 8:55 AM on September 22, 2014 [2 favorites]


Greatest? I think of this as more the opposite.

Agreed. This scene alone spawed thousands of pantless drunk dudes sliding around dance floors at wedding receptions for at least two decades forward.
posted by JoeZydeco at 9:06 AM on September 22, 2014 [1 favorite]


I have a different list, kind of. I don't know what to call it, and actually I haven't even written it down yet, but I already know what the #1 movie song is.

It would be the wonderful, horribly goofy music video of theme song to Big Trouble in Little China, performed by John Carpenter and his band, the Coup De Villes, in all his tweed and flannel glory.
posted by chambers at 9:19 AM on September 22, 2014 [2 favorites]


My own list would include the following:

The Sun Whose Rays Are All Ablaze from Mike Leigh's Topsy-Turvy

The scene in SLC Punk set to The Velvet Underground's Rock and Roll

The Ballad of Maxwell Demon from Velvet Goldmine

Queen Bitch from A Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou (not to mention all of Seu Jorge's Portuguese Bowie covers)

Danke Schoen/Twist and Shout from Ferris Bueller's Day Off

That Thing You Do! by the Oneders

Toots and The Maytals performing Sweet and Dandy in The Harder They Come

Junior Murvin's Police and Thieves from Rockers

Black Flag's TV Party on the Repo Man soundtrack

Lou Reed performing My Name Is Mok from Rock & Rule
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 9:48 AM on September 22, 2014 [3 favorites]


I also love the way the "Kool Thing" scene in Simple Men echoes the dance scene from Bande à part.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 9:52 AM on September 22, 2014 [1 favorite]


John Carpenter and his band, the Coup De Villes, in all his tweed and flannel glory.

It gets better. The other two Coupes are Tommy Lee Wallace, director of Halloween 3: Season of the Witch, and Nick Castle, who played Michael Myers in the first Halloween and directed The Last Starfighter.
posted by Iridic at 9:54 AM on September 22, 2014 [1 favorite]


A bunch of recent movies on the list and blue oyster cult as pop music? I declare a proclamation of "I disagree with someone's subjective crap on the internet"

"Recent" is obviously a disqualifier here, given that Guardians of the Galaxy appears nowhere on this list despite its excellent use of pop music.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 10:00 AM on September 22, 2014


Agreed. This scene alone spawed thousands of pantless drunk dudes sliding around dance floors at wedding receptions for at least two decades forward.

I don't think that you can blame the original for becoming cliche (including every other "chick flick" in the 90's) anymore than you can blame Citizen Kane for every M. Night Shayamalan plot twist. The original was iconic, and yes, one of the greatest.

Yeah, I went there. I just compared Tom Cruise's tidy-whities to Citizen Kane. Take a deep breath. You'll be alright.
posted by dances with hamsters at 10:11 AM on September 22, 2014 [2 favorites]


Junior Murvin's Police and Thieves from Rockers

Love that movie but I would have picked "Steppin' Razor" by Peter Tosh.
posted by octothorpe at 10:11 AM on September 22, 2014 [1 favorite]


Danke Schoen/Twist and Shout from Ferris Bueller's Day Off

I respectfully submit for your consideration Yello - "Oh Yeah".
posted by the painkiller at 10:39 AM on September 22, 2014


This list is missing "I'm Alright" by Kenny Loggins, from Caddyshack.
posted by Room 641-A at 11:19 AM on September 22, 2014 [2 favorites]



Yeah, I went there. I just compared Tom Cruise's tidy-whities to Citizen Kane. Take a deep breath. You'll be alright.


no I won't
posted by philip-random at 11:20 AM on September 22, 2014


If there's a list for strangest choice of music in a film scene I nominate Good Will Hunting and Baker Street.
posted by rocket88 at 11:26 AM on September 22, 2014


Danke Schoen/Twist and Shout from Ferris Bueller's Day Off

I respectfully submit for your consideration Yello - "Oh Yeah".


I see your Yello and raise you English Beat - March of the Swivelheads
posted by Gronk at 11:28 AM on September 22, 2014 [1 favorite]


I guess you can argue it is over the top, but I always respected the bravado of Paul Thomas Anderson stopping "Magnolia" in its tracks for a cast sing-along of Aimee Mann's Wise Up
posted by The Gooch at 11:41 AM on September 22, 2014 [2 favorites]


"Tighty-whiteys", not "tidy-whities". Y'know, tight, in contrast to loose boxers.
posted by benito.strauss at 11:49 AM on September 22, 2014


They got "Stayin' Alive" right, but mistakenly chose Saturday Night Fever over Airplane!
posted by Daily Alice at 12:01 PM on September 22, 2014 [3 favorites]


It's almost impossible to choose one for Trainspotting, but I'd have to go with "Born Slippy."
posted by Navelgazer at 12:49 PM on September 22, 2014 [1 favorite]


Awww, they included "Tequila" from PeeWee's Big Adventure!

The man on the edge of his platform heels, gesticulating wildly towards his penis and his anus, gurning all the while, endearing himself to a wild biker gang.

Ahhh, it is delightful.
posted by Katemonkey at 1:06 PM on September 22, 2014 [1 favorite]


gesticulating wildly towards his penis and his anus

...I never noticed that before.

what is seen cannot be unseen
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:32 PM on September 22, 2014


"I swear I barely touched them!"
"I say we kill 'im!"
"Yeah!"
"I say we hang 'im then we kill 'im!"
"Yeah!"
"I say we scar 'im!"
"Yeah!"
"Then we tattoo 'im!"
"Yeah!"
"Then we hang 'im! And then we kill 'im!"
"Yeah!"
*high-pitched voice* "I say we let him go..."
"NO!"
*whistle*
"I say...you let me have 'im first!"
*laughter*
"Wait...don't I get a last request?"
*pause*
"Why not?"

I just typed that all in from memory. PeeWee's Big Adventure might be highly influential to my life.
posted by Katemonkey at 1:56 PM on September 22, 2014 [2 favorites]


The end of Sid and Nancy
posted by Brian B. at 3:42 PM on September 22, 2014 [1 favorite]


I'm not holding out as an all-time best of anything, but I've always thought that Almost Famous made very good use of Tiny Dancer.
posted by Nerd of the North at 4:33 PM on September 22, 2014


..given that Guardians of the Galaxy appears nowhere on this list despite its excellent use of pop music.
This may be something we have to agree to disagree on, but I hated Guardians of the Galaxy's use (or misuse) of music.

By the time it was over I felt like I'd sat through a movie and a K-Tel infomercial -- the "buy our mix-tape" message was neither subtle nor appreciated.
posted by Nerd of the North at 5:03 PM on September 22, 2014 [1 favorite]


Nerd of the north, the "Tiny Dancer" scene is on the list.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 5:25 PM on September 22, 2014


My mistake.. I looked at the beginning of the list and didn't agree with any of the picks. So I skipped to the end and thought "yeah, maybe a few of those.." But you caught me fair and square -- I skipped a fair bit of middle.
posted by Nerd of the North at 6:58 PM on September 22, 2014


On my personal list -

"Just in Time" in Before Sunset
"Hello Vietnam" in Full Metal Jacket
Every ABBA song in Muriel's Wedding
"Ceremony" in Marie Antoinette
"Damn It Feels Good to be a Gangsta" in Office Space
"My Cherie Amour" in Almost Famous
posted by sallybrown at 7:14 PM on September 22, 2014


A few of these are from musicals (or close to it)--Hedwig, Dancer in the Dark, A Hard Day's Night. Doesn't seem like those should count. But not too bad overall, I guess.

Should've had "A Quick One While He's Away" from Rushmore, though.
posted by equalpants at 11:44 PM on September 22, 2014 [2 favorites]


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