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23: Feb; 2009

Great use of pop music in great films

The selection of popular music in films is one of the most important parts of the film-making project. The importance of music consists of that special, unique way music connects a certain scene from the film with the audience, much different from the narrative. This connection goes far beyond, it connects you, the audience, with the film- on another, more personal level. Suddenly we find ourselves building relationships with the film's characters because of their taste in music, we're fancying the director/music supervisor for their selection of music, or we simply relate to the film better with the help of music.
This list is a personal selection of great use of pop music in great films.

"Canned Heat" by Jamiroquai in Napoleon Dynamite

"Canned Heat" by Jamiroquai in Napoleon Dynamite Video

"Super Freak" by Rick James in Little Miss Sunshine

"Super Freak" by Rick James in Little Miss Sunshine Video

"Hotel California" performed by Gipsy Kings in The Big Lebowski

"Hotel California" performed by Gipsy Kings in The Big Lebowski Video

(please disregard the last 30 seconds of the video)

"I want Candy" performed by Bow Wow Wow in Marie Antoinette

I want Candy" performed by Bow Wow Wow in Marie Antoinette Video

"Lust for Life" by Iggy Pop in Trainspotting

"Lust for Life" by Iggy Pop in Trainspotting Video

"Where is my Mind" by Pixies in Fight Club

"Where is my Mind" by Pixies in Fight Club Video

"Confusion (Pump Panel Reconstruction Mix)" by New Order in Blade

"Confusion (Pump Panel Reconstruction Mix)" by New Order in Blade Video

"On the Beautiful Blue Danube" by Johann Strauss in 2001: A space odyssey

"On the Beautiful Blue Danube" by Johann Strauss in 2001: A space odyssey Video

"Little Green Bag" by George Baker Selection in Reservoir Dogs

"Little Green Bag" by George Baker Selection in Reservoir Dogs Video

"Stuck in the Middle with you" by Stealers Wheels in Reservoir Dogs

"Stuck in the Middle with you" by Stealers Wheels in Reservoir Dogs Video

"You never can Tell" by Chuck Berry in Pulp Fiction

"You never can Tell" by Chuck Berry in Pulp Fiction Video

"Girl, you'll be a Woman" cover by Urge Overkill in Pulp Fiction

"Girl, you'll be a Woman" cover by Urge Overkill in Pulp Fiction Video

"After Dark" by Tito & Tarantula in From Dusk till Dawn

"After Dark" by Tito & Tarantula in From Dusk till Dawn Video

"Twisted Nerve" by Bernard Herrmann in Kill Bill 1

"Twisted Nerve" by Bernard Herrmann in Kill Bill 1 Video

"Down in Mexico" by The Coasters in Death Proof

"Down in Mexico" by The Coasters in Death Proof Video

"Hold Tight" by Dave, Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mich and Tich in Death Proof

"Hold Tight" by Dave, Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mich and Tich in Death Proof Video

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9 Comments to Great use of pop music in great films

1. Lud Says: February 24, 2009 18:18 GMT

Lovely post! You are missing some great movies / directors / composers. Perhaps Hitchcock, more Kubrick, and of course Ennio Morricone's film music would probably fit nicely here. // Great job Thanks, LB

2. Orchida Says: February 25, 2009 16:10 GMT

@Lud: Thanks Lud! I do agree that the music you're talking about is great, but this would be a completely different post, maybe one for original music score.. This post refers only to popular music, music which wasn't composed especially for a film, music that was pre-existing before the movie was made, and later adapted in a certain scene by the music supervisor, or director.

3. Webpagecollection Says: February 26, 2009 17:01 GMT

Good work

4. Eoin Says: March 09, 2009 23:59 GMT

Apparently the Blue Danube in 2001 was originally just being used a temp track for editing and they ended up sticking with it...

5. Orchida Says: March 10, 2009 12:35 GMT

@Eoin: I didn't know that, thanks! Apparently Kubrick & co made the perfect choice, after all, Kubrick's films are best examples of great selection of music in film.rnrnP.S. Your "Adolescent Hal" cartoon is great :)rnhttp://www.spaceavalanche.com/?paged=2

6. Eoin Says: March 10, 2009 20:51 GMT

cheers! Keep up the good work :)

7. auto glass arizona Says: March 17, 2009 18:39 GMT

very nice work. would like to see more

8. David Watson Says: April 05, 2009 20:00 GMT

Re 2001 - Alex North was hired by Kubric to write an original score, and duly did so, but it was never used. It was recorded about 20 years later - it's interesting to compare the opening titles sequence (where Richard Strauss's Also Sprach Zarathustra was used) with North's version - his brief was abviously "compose music that sounds like this" It does, but isn't as good IMHO

9. Orchida Says: April 06, 2009 09:47 GMT

@ David Watson: Unfortunately, I haven't had the chance to hear North's original score, and compare the opening with Strauss's Zarathustra. But, from what I know about Kubrick, I'm not surprised he never used North's music. In "Kubrick's boxes", a documentary about him, there are thousands of boxes filled with all sorts of materials for his movies, and most of them were never used.

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