Movie Music

Great Movie Music from Non-Musicals

TDMB's list of great movie music moments from non-musicals: “Deliverance,” “Anatomy of a Murder,” “The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissis,” “The Bridge Over the River Kwai,” “Pulp Fiction,” “The Fifth Element,” “Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid,” “Wayne’s World,” “Dog Day Afternoon,” “Performance,” “Shaft,” “Pee Wee’s Big Adventure,” “Casablanca,” “Reservoir Dogs,” “Midnight Cowboy,” “Do the Right Thing” and “Dr. Strangelove, Or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb.”

There are concert movies, biopics about musicians and documentaries about performers, bands and events. There are also movies in which music is not front and center–but have great music in them. Indeed, there are tons of them. A song can make or break a movie. There are two issues to making it all work: The music itself and effectively integrating it into the film.

There is no shortage of great music in movies–and great stories about that music. Two examples courtesy of Songfacts and Wikipedia, respectively: A musician hid behind the kid during the dueling banjos scene in “Deliverance” and worked the fret board. Bob Dylan’s “Lay Lady Lay” originally was slated for “Midnight Cowboy” but “Everybody’s Talkin’ ” was used instead. Click here or on the image for a great selection of movie songs from Amazon. Here it is at iTunes. Check out “A History of Film Music” for more. Click here.
Below is the first half of a list of 30 great movie musical moments. Please comment on this list and suggest which movies should be in part 2, which will be posted soon.

This list is in no particular order. Please use the comments to offer suggestions.

“Deliverance”: The scene in which the urbanite (Ronnie Cox) and the kid from the Georgia backwoods (Billy Redden) work through “Dueling Banjos” is iconic. The two characters seem to be creating a shared language. It feels like a scene from a sci-fi film in which extraterrestrials drop by. Director John Boorman may simply be saying that people from the cities and the sticks are from different planets, which certainly is true. Also note also how long he took to build the scene. My modern sensibilities want it to happen faster. There are all sorts of interesting sidelights to the scene, which include a hidden banjo player and a lawsuit. The instrumentalists are Eric Weissberg (banjo) and Steve Mandell (guitar). The movie was released in 1972.

"Dueling Banjos" from "Deliverance"
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"Dueling Banjos" from "Deliverance"
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movie music

“Anatomy of a Murder”: I’m stretching the definitions here because this really is an entire soundtrack. But this scene — in which Jimmy Stewart sits at the piano with Duke Ellington — is not as iconic as it should be. The roadhouse atmospherics are great.

The movie, which was released in 1959, was directed by Otto Preminger. It is famously forthright and honest in its treatment of sex crimes and in the realism of the trial. I believe it has been used in law schools. The judge is Joseph Nye Welch, who took on Joe McCarthy during a 1954 Congressional hearing on communist influences in the armed services. Ellington for some reason is not credited. The director was Otto Preminger.

Jimmy Stewart sits in with Duke Ellington in "Anatomy of a Murder"
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Jimmy Stewart sits in with Duke Ellington in "Anatomy of a Murder"
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movie music

“The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissis”: This odd 2004 Bill Murray film features Seu Jorge, a Brazilian singer. He plays a great, simple version of David Bowie’s “Changes” in Portuguese. It’s interesting that upbeat rock songs always sound good when they are slowed down and simplified. Eric Clapton’s acoustic version of “Layla” is another example.

Seu Jorge plays "Changes" in “The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissis”:
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Seu Jorge plays "Changes" in “The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissis”:
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movie music

“The Bridge Over the River Kwai”: The 1957 hit features “The Colonel Boogie March.” The backstory is interesting. David Lean is considered one of the great directors in movie history. His credits include “Lawrence of Arabia,” “Doctor Zhivago,” “Great Expectations,” “Oliver Twist” and “In Which We Serve” (with  Noël Coward).  It stands to reason, then, that idea of having the prisoners whistle would be a bit of genius from the director.

Not so. Wikipedia says that the extras playing POWs couldn’t march in time, annoying Lean. A fellow on the project happened to be a great whistler and thought that “The Colonel Boogie March” would help. It did, and Lean got the credit.

"Bridge on the River Kwai Theme"
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"Bridge on the River Kwai Theme"
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movie music

“Pulp Fiction”: John Travolta and Uma Thurman dancing to Chuck Berry’s “You Never Can Tell” alongside intentionally cheesy Marilyn Monroe and Ed Sullivan imitators is one of many surreal and deeply comedic (as opposed to funny) moments in the film, which was released in 1994. Most of the credit for the scene–and everything else in the one-of-a-kind film–go to director Quentin Tarantino.

Travolta and Thurman dance in "Pulp Fiction"
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Travolta and Thurman dance in "Pulp Fiction"
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movie music

“The Fifth Element”: This is one of the most entertaining films I’ve ever seen, from beginning to end. Bruce Willis is like James Taylor and Willie Nelson.  All three make things that are very hard look easy. Other people try to do what they do–and most fail. A note at iMDB says that the extraterrestrial diva in this scene—Diva Plavalauna—sings “Il dolce suono,” which was written by Gaetano Donizetti. It is, according to the note, “an aria from the opera Lucia de Lammermoor. It is one of the most difficult arias because of its length, its soaring arpeggios, and the high F above high C.” That bit of classiness doesn’t stop the beautiful Milla Jovovich from giving The Three Stooges a shout out towards the end of the clip. The iMDB trivia notes are interesting.

"The Diva Dance" from "The Fifth Element"
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"The Diva Dance" from "The Fifth Element"
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movie music

“Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid”: Bob Dylan plays a character named “Alias” in the 1973 film. Acting is not Dylan’s thing, to say it kindly. His real contribution is the epic, dirge-like “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door.”  The scene – in which a dying Slim Pickens looks forlornly and apologetically at his significant other (I’m not sure who she is) is sad and poignant. It’s a perfect match of music and content. The movie also features James Coburn, which is another thing in its favor.

"Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid" with Dylan's "Knockin' on Heaven's Door"
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"Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid" with Dylan's "Knockin' on Heaven's Door"
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movie music“Wayne’s World”: For a while back there Mike Myers was a genius and Garth, Wayne and friends trying not to hurl while driving to “Bohemian Rhapsody” is on the list of reasons why. It’s use of an iconic song that itself became iconic. The movie was released in 1992. Party on, forever.

"Bohemian Rhapsody" in "Wayne's World"
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"Bohemian Rhapsody" in "Wayne's World"
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movie music“Dog Day Afternoon”: The Daily Music Break has already touched on the opening sequence, a montage in which director Sidney Lumet checks out what else is happening in New York City on August 22, 1972. This is a counterpoint to the claustrophobic action that is about to get underway at a bank in Brooklyn.

Lumet is right up there with Woody Allen and Martin Scorsese as great directors of movies about New York City. I think he understood that New Yorkers love the city and think it sucks for the same reason: A million parallel universes are lumped haphazardly atop each other and each is blissfully ignorant of the others. The montage is set to Elton John and Bernie Taupin’s great song “Amoreena.”

Opening credits, "Dog Day Afternoon" with "Amoreena" by Elton John
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Opening credits, "Dog Day Afternoon" with "Amoreena" by Elton John
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movie music

“Performance”: The song “Memo from Turner” was recorded three times. Two were by the Rolling Stones and one by Traffic’s Steve Winwood and Steve Capaldi. It’s likely the 1970 movie was just as skeevy and grim as the song.

"Memo From Turner" sung by Mick Jagger in "Performance"
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"Memo From Turner" sung by Mick Jagger in "Performance"
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movie music“Shaft!”: This list also wouldn’t be complete without Isaac Hayes’ “Theme from Shaft,” the opening sequence from the 1971 movie starring Richard Roundtree.

"Theme from Shaft" by Isaac Hayes
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"Theme from Shaft" by Isaac Hayes
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movie music

“Pee Wee’s Big Adventure”: While certainly not a good look for a kids’ entertainer, the virtual end of Paul Reubens’ career due to an arrest at a porno theater in 1991 was a sad thing.  Reubens’ Pee Wee Herman man-child character had the rare ability to entertain kids while winking at the grownups…and entertaining the grownups while winking at the kids.

In this scene, Herman yells at a bunch of bikers to shut up because he was trying to make a phone call and dancing on the bar to “Tequila” in the 1985 film. It isn’t “Citizen Kane,” but in its own way a great moment in cinema history.

"Pee Wee's Big Adventure," Biker bar sequence, "Tequila"
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"Pee Wee's Big Adventure," Biker bar sequence, "Tequila"
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movie music“Casablanca”: Of course, the 1942 film is famous for Rick and Ilsa and Sam (Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman and Arthur “Dooley” Wilson) and “As Time Goes By.” But the most stirring moment of the film is the Frenchies singing “La Marseillaise” in a symbolic beat down of the Nazis at Rick’s Place. I suppose the soap opera elements of the movie get a pass since it was released during the war. People needed heroes.

La Marseillaise - Casablanca (HD)
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La Marseillaise - Casablanca (HD)
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movie music


“Reservoir Dogs”: The fact that it’s so difficult to watch Mr. Blonde — Michael Madsen — torture a cop is proof that it’s good filmmaking. One critic wrote that the scene’s tension is due to viewers’ developing identification with Mr. Blonde due to his goofy dancing. Perhaps. Or maybe it’s simply is difficult to watch a bound man being sliced with a knife.

The song is Stealers Wheel’s “Stuck in the Middle with You.” “Breaking Bad” used the same trick of superimposing a light song on a dark scene. In that case, it was Walter White freaking out and getting pepper sprayed and arrested in a scene which began with America’s “A Horse with No Name,” the poster child for innocuous songs.

"Reservoir Dogs" Torture Scene
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"Reservoir Dogs" Torture Scene
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Midnight Cowboy”:  Like “Dog Day Afternoon,” an opening credits masterpiece. “Everybody’s Talkin’ ”  was written by Fred Neil and sung by Harry Nilsson, a Beatles favorite. It’s a cliché, but true: It doesn’t get any better than this. The movie was released in 1969 and was the only X-rated film to win the Best Picture Oscar.

"Everybody's Talkin', " opening sequence from "Midnight Cowboy"
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"Everybody's Talkin', " opening sequence from "Midnight Cowboy"
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“Do the Right Thing”:  Spike Lee has said that the title of his 1989 film was chosen because the expression is common in both the African-American and Italian communities. I’m no expert, but it seems safe to say that “Fight the Power” by Public Enemy is deeply ingrained in hip hop’s DNA.

Opening sequence, "Do the Right Thing" features "Fight the Power" by Public Enemy
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Opening sequence, "Do the Right Thing" features "Fight the Power" by Public Enemy
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movie musicBonus Track: A headline about the top 16 of anything looks a bit odd. Why 16? So I went with 15 and a bonus.

What are the odds that songs featuring Slim Pickens would be the only actor to make two appearances on a music list? Of course, the second is his ride to immortality aboard an atomic bomb in director Stanley Kubrick’s classic (and oddly punctuated) 1964 film “Dr. Strangelove, Or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb.”

It’s brilliant, but I’ve always been a bit bothered by the sardonic use of “We’ll Meet Again.” The song was popularized by Dame Vera Lynn as the world struggled against the darkness of World War II. TDMB has written about this almost sacred song. Like it or not, it was a perfect choice. Originally, it was about the triumph of good. In Kubrick’s use, the other side wins.

Closing sequence of "Dr.. Strangelove" is "We'll Meet Again" sung by Dame Vera Lynn
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Closing sequence of "Dr.. Strangelove" is "We'll Meet Again" sung by Dame Vera Lynn
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The TDMB covers media and music on a regular basis. Check out our list of media-related music sites in the Internet Music Mapping Project. A list of top rock movies is here and music closely related to television is here.

Our New Things: Links to Music Sites and Info on Analog Tech and Vinyl

TDMB has focused on music and musicians. We will continue to do that, of course. We're also expanding our coverage to include vinyl and analog equipment.

More specifically, we'll look at this huge and interesting world from the perspective of music lovers who want a better experience, not committed non-audiophiles.

Check out is some of what we've written so far:

-- Assessing the Value of Vinyl Records: An Overview

-- 7 Quick Tips on Optimizing Your Turntable Cartridge

-- Why Vinyl Records Continue to Thrive

-- Finding the Best Amplifier

-- Finding the Best Phono Preamp

-- What Speakers Do I Need for My Turntable?

Check out more articles on analog equipment and vinyl.

The site also is home to The Internet Music Mapping Project, an effort to list and describe as many music-related sites as possible.

Our Music

--A Tribe Called Quest to The Dick Hyman Trio (In other words, A to H)

--Indigo Girls to Queen Ida (I to Q)

--Radiohead to ZZ Top (R to Z)

Reading Music

The stories of the great bands and musicians are fascinating. Musicians as a group are brilliant, but often troubled. The combination of creativity and drama makes for great reading.

Here are some books to check out.

Duke Ellington brought class, sophistication and style to jazz which, until that point, was proudly unpolished and raucous. His story is profound. The author, Terry Teachout, also wrote "Pops," the acclaimed bio of Louis Armstrong. Click here or on the image.

🎼🎺🎻🎹🎷🎶🎵


What else is there to say? Here is the story behind every song written by The Beatles. Click here or on the image.

🎼🎺🎻🎹🎷🎶🎵

The Grateful Dead don't get enough credit for the profound nature of its lyrics. Many of the band's songs are driven by a deep and literate Americana ("I'm Uncle Sam/That's who I am/Been hidin' out/In a rock and roll band" and "Majordomo Billy Bojangles/Sit down and have a drink with me/What's this about Alabama/Keeps comin' back to me?").

David Dodd's exhaustive study tells the story, song by song. Click here or on the image.

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Here’s What’s Here

The Daily Music Break explores every genre of music, from hip hop to opera. It's simple: Boundaries are dumb. It's all good. Here is more about the site and here is our index:

--A Tribe Called Quest to The Dick Hyman Trio (In other words, A to H)

--Indigo Girls to Queen Ida (I to Q)

--Radiohead to ZZ Top (R to Z)