Scores and musical tracks are a big part of the movie going experience. Quite often much bigger than the typical audience members really perceives consciously upon first watch. Other times, particularly with selected pop tracks, the movie instantly becomes easily accessible for many with the inclusion of highly popular and very specific emotion laden tracks. Since these very iconic tracks can be used effectively, many times a track will get so over used that we start eye rolling the second the first three notes have been emitted from the speakers. Heck, RowThree’s own Kurt Halfyard has refused to see Kung Fu Panda based solely on the fact that they use one of the tracks from this very list in their marketing campaign.
At any rate, thanks to Jena for letting us repost this list of the most overused songs in movie history. Personally, I’d have to add James Brown’s “I FEEL GOOD” to the mix as well, but otherwise this is a pretty good list. What other can you think of that should maybe be included here?
*UPDATE* – I’ve added Spotify links to the individual track for each song. If you don’t have Spotify, you don’t poperly appreciate music or you’re in Canada.
“London Calling,” The Clash
The Clash were a fantastic punk band that formed at a pivotal time for rock music and shaped what was to come. They started blowing up in the U.K. in 1977, but it was 1979′s London Calling, their third album, that took them to a new level of fame at home and abroad. Make no mistake, “London Calling” is a great song, a soaring, minor-key, doomsday tune that summed up fears about the future in a new way for young listeners. But it’s since become a cheap go-to for movies looking to score a montage set in London. It’s as if there’s a California law requiring the song to be used every time a movie character heads to England. Do yourself a favor: skip those movies and stick with the record.
Spotify
“At Last,” Etta James
Etta James has a set of pipes like no other, and in her heyday she produced some of the best R&B/blues singles of the century. That’s a fact. But listening to movies, you’d never know she’s had a career spanning 60 years. You’d only know her for one song: “At Last,” a 1960 recording of a song penned in 1941. Granted, James’ powerhouse vocals make the song her own, and after hearing her sing it, it’s impossible to imagine anyone else bringing the same mix of joy and yearning to the tune. But it’s been used so often as a default romantic song that the novelty’s worn off. Instead of being a real expression of story or character, it’s a way for a filmmaker to telegraph that all is well and that you should applaud.
Spotify
