We’re halfway done! Today’s category is…
A Song Used Well in a Film or TV Show
Here are the staff picks:
Dan Milliken: “Hold On” – Wilson Phillips
It’s in Bridesmaids. Go see Bridesmaids.
Tara Seetharam: “Will You Be There” – Michael Jackson
I love this song, Free Willy and killer whales with equal passion. Don’t judge.
Kevin Coyne: “Hey Ho” – Gin Wigmore
Weeds uses music more effectively than just about any show I’ve seen, especially in their season finales. For pure brilliance, it’s impossible to top the way that June Christy’s “A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening” was used in the season five closer. But in terms of truly expanding on the action on screen. “Hey Ho” was the perfect choice, ending season six on the perfect note.
I think Wild Horses by the Sundays was used well in a prom episode of Buffy. Also the infamous scene in the 1996 movie Fear.
A recent one would probably have to be “God Only Knows” by Natalie Maines in Big Love. I never really watched the show but I thought the song for the finale was good.
Anything by MJ will always get a vote by me. Really miss him.
/Maria
Jessica Andrews’ song “Who I Am” was used to good effect as the theme song for the TV show SUE THOMAS FBEYE, about a deaf BI agent
“Eye of the Tiger” from Rocky III.
Iris DeMent’s “Our Town”” was used wonderfully in the final episode of Northern Exposure
Linda Ronstadt’s live versions of “Tumbling Dice” and “Poor, Poor, Pitiful Me” from the 1978 movie FM, where she showed she could be as fiery a rocker as she was the most exquisite ballad singer (IMHO).
I am totally with Kevin regarding the use of music on Weeds. I was never a fan of the opening song “Little Boxes”, but I’ve found their placement of just the right song to be strokes of genius. I’ve even bought 2 of the show’s soundtrack albums.
I enjoyed “California” by Phantom Planet as the theme song of the OC.
I’m not a huge fan of the opening song for Weeds either (though it was appropriate), but I liked it when they did a different version, in different genres, of the song for each episode for Season 2.
My all time favorite baseball song, “Centerfield”,
written and performed by John Fogerty, was in “Bull Durham”.
‘It Ain’t No Grave’ used on NCIS
‘When You Come Back to Me Again’ used in the movie Frequency
Pretty much any song used during Scrubs. The people in charge of picking the songs did a great job there. One of the moments that sticks out in my mind is when “I Will Follow You Into The Dark” by Death Cab For Cutie was used after someone had passed.
I’d probably have to go with “With or Without” when it was used at the end of “The One Where Ross and Rachel Take A Break”.
*”With or Without You”
‘Who I am” by Jessica Andrews
and no one has mentioned it yet, so i will: “I cross my Heart” George Strait
Nobody ever remembers this show, but there was a really cool episode of “Strange Luck” that used Fuel’s “Lightning Crashes” in an episode about an innocent man about to be sent to the electric chair.
“You’re So Good When You’re Bad” -Charley Pride
used in Designing Women‘s season 2 finale, it fit as the women and men danced to this song after a big fight about gender equality. This show managed to cover a lot of great music.
Wow. I haven’t seen Designing Women in so long, Zack. I may have to look for some old episodes online.
You’re right about Scrubs, Billy. Other shows that have used music well include Cold Case and, surprisingly, Ugly Betty.
One of my favorite uses of music was The Rolling Stones’ “Thru and Thru” which was played at the close of the second season of The Sopranos.
“Somebody’s Baby” – Jackson Browne
I’ve never actually seen Fast Times At Ridgemont High, but I like this song so I’m going to assume it was used well.
I was kinda surprised no one mentioned “Unchained Melody” in ‘Ghost.’ Oh, well. I guess I just did.
I love it every time they use “Carry On Wayward Son” on the television show ‘Supernatural.’
And how about the scene in ‘Shawshank Redemption’ when one of the inmates sings along to Hank? (I think it was “Lovesick Blues,” but I don’t remember.)
There’s “Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head” in ‘Spider-Man 2.’
I could go on…
I also like when the whole restaurant spontaneously sings “I Say A Little Prayer” in ‘My Best Friend’s Wedding.’ To this day, I have not seen any other part of that film, but that one scene is pretty priceless.
I heard that they used “Trans-Europe Express” by Kraftwerk in the TV series “Trailer Park Boys”, so I’ll go with that. Yeah, Im talking about Kraftwerk on a country site. Probably the first time that’s ever been done.
Oh! And I thought “Ain’t No Love in the Heart of the City” was a great opener for ‘The Lincoln Lawyer.’ Plus, there’s a show about female inmates that uses Seal’s “The Weight of My Mistakes” as its theme. I don’t know the title or the Network, but I was flipping channels and heard the song and watched it a little. Seal was well-used.
“Brand New Day” by Ryan Star on the TV series “Lie to Me”. I love the opening sequence for that show and the music is perfect. ellyn deuink
Alison Krauss singing “Down to the River to Pray” in “Oh Brother Where Out Thou”. I’m getting chills thinking about her angelic voice.