Many songs have been lucky enough to find a resurgence in popularity after appearing in a movie. The members of the Hits and Clips editorial team have chosen their favorite songs. For each song, you will have the video of the extract from the film in which it appears, but we have also prepared the playlist of original songs for you to listen to at the end of the article.
2022 has seen the resurgence of two once-popular songs across two different mediums: Corey Hart’s 1984 track ‘Sunglasses at Night’ appeared in Jordan Peele’s film Nope, while Season 4 of Stranger Things covered Kate Bush’s 1985 single “Running Up That Hill”. This concept is ingenious for revitalizing old successes while emphasizing a project.
Even though the featured song is a cover, audiences will search for the original by association to compare and contrast. Some songs elicit nostalgia while others introduce new listeners to a whole new musical universe. The Hits and Clips editor shares their favorite songs that have reappeared in hit movies over the years.
A Thousand Miles of Vanessa Carlton in FBI: Fake blondes infiltrated
2004 saw the release of Keenan Ivory Wayans’ film FBI: Fake Blondes Undercover, which featured his brothers Shawn and Marlon Wayans. The movie features plenty of laughs, but Alexia Leduc recalls Vanessa Carlton’s “A Thousand Miles” achieving major status in pop culture for being starred in this comedy flick.
A delightful piano hook and catchy lyrics make this 2002 hit shine with pop poetry. However, this is an example where the fact that a song is permanently associated with a production is not always an advantage. “A Thousand Miles” achieved longevity, but was reduced to a gimmick scene rather than being enjoyed.
The Sign of Ace of Base in The Hit Girl
The Hit Girl is a popular musical film franchise. Many songs were covered in all three films, but Ace of Base’s rendition of “The Sign” in the first film is quite remarkable. Our editor Morgane Parizeau wonders “who doesn’t remember the vomit scene and the choreography every time we hear this song? “.
The 1993 single seamlessly blends musical notes from Europop and techno reggae, creating a playful bop. Such a catchy song was a fitting choice for The Hit Girl’s competition singing group, the Barden Bellas, to perform an a cappella version. Although Bellas captain Aubrey (Anna Camp) puking in the middle of the routine brings a hilarious moment to the song.
In Your Eyes by Peter Gabriel in A world for us
After his extremely innovative title “Sledgehammer”, released in 1986, Peter Gabriel created “In Your Eyes”, adding art rock atmospheres and notes of African funk. Benjamin Marcoux points out how the song originated from “John Cusack’s boombox scene in Un monde pour nous” in 1989.
Cameron Crowe’s teen drama oozes warmth, vulnerability and love. The sophisticated and ethereal romantic ballad “In Your Eyes” symbolizes Lloyd’s (Cusack) love for his girlfriend Diane (Ione Skye), regardless of the odds. Since the film’s release, the boombox scene of A World of Us has been constantly recreated in pop culture.
Mad World of Tears For Fears in Donnie Darko
Christophe Auclair suggests “Mad World, in Donnie Darko” as a song with renewed popularity. The limited budget of 2001 psychological thriller Donnie Darko worked in its favor, as it allowed lesser-known songs to be chosen for the soundtrack. One of these was Tears for Fears’ 1982 single, “Mad World”, covered by Michael Andrews and Gary Jules.
The beautiful and haunting combination of Michael Andrews’ dark vocals and Gary Jules’ piano chords give the famous synthesized pop song a melancholy feel.
Jump In The Line of Harry Belfonte in Beetlejuice
Thomas Guérin mentions the 1961 song “Jump in the Line (Shake, Senora)”, saying “I probably never would have known Harry Belfonte if it wasn’t for Beetlejuice”. Tim Burton burst onto the cinematic scene with his 1988 horror comedy about spirits moving in and out of the underworld.
Jamaican-American Harry Belfonte fused calypso and salsa for ‘Jump in the Line,’ creating a tropical ’50s pop vibe. tune to the song with a crew of ghosts behind it, fits in with the film’s goofy themes and becomes a memorable moment in cinema.
Layla from Derek and the Dominos in Goodfellas
“Layla” by Derek and the Dominos in “Les Affranchis” is Pauline Huard’s selection of songs brought up to date. Providing one of Martin Scorsese’s finest cinematic climaxes, the 1990 criminal biopic and 1971 rock jammer are actually one despite their different mediums.
Both tracks are a frantic rush throughout their deliveries, calming down to a solemn beat for the end. The seductive interlude of acoustic guitar and piano playing to the aftermath of the 1978 Lufthansa flight adds a surprising elegance to the film’s penultimate sequence. “Layla” is also one of his songs to play during the Goodfellas end credits.
The End of The Doors in Apocalypse Now
Apocalypse Now, Francis Ford Coppola’s 1979 war epic, went through development hell for years before coming to fruition, so the debut had to go off with a bang. Supported by Thomas, Christophe proclaims that the Doors’ 1967 song “The End”, played in the opening scene, “launched their whole catalog”.
Hypnotic organs, Indian strings and the suave voice of Jim Morrison create a hybrid of psychedelic/gothic rock. Jim Morrison having heavily incorporated the themes of death and reincarnation into his lyrics, the fact that the song featured in a war movie using the same elements was practically written in the stars.
Jamiroquai’s Canned Heat in Napoleon Dynamite
Benjamin Marcoux notes that 1999’s “Canned Heat de Jamiroquai” is that song that received new recognition after appearing in a movie. Although popular when it was released in 2004 for its bizarre darkness, 2022 today considers Napoleon Dynamite an overrated comedy. However, the titular character (Jon Heder) who goes wild with his performance on Jamiroquai’s track is a favorite among moviegoers.
The funk and nu-disco sounds of “Canned Heat” beautifully showcase Jon Heder’s ambitious dance moves. Four years earlier, an ultra-fresh remix of this song lit up the stage for the final number of the drama Danse ta vie, in 2000.
Tiny Dancer of Elton John in Almost Famous
Another Cameron Crowe classic, Almost Famous, released in the 2000s, is loosely based on Cameron Crowe’s experience as a teenage Rolling Stone editor. Alexia Leduc believes that the inclusion of Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer” was “introduced to young audiences” during her appearance in the comedy-drama.
The 1972 single features a beautiful piano melody, sweet electric strings and a meaningful chorus. All of these elements lend a sense of elevation to the tour bus song featuring the film’s fictional band, Stillwater, and their entourage. In 2022, Elton John remade the song as a duet with American pop princess Britney Spears, titled “Hold Me Closer.”
Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody in Wayne’s World
Based on one of the best Saturday Night Live sketches, the 1990 film Wayne’s World helped renew the legacy of what is now considered one of the greatest songs in music history. Pauline Huard mentions how singing “Bohemian Rhapsody” has “introduced Queen to a whole new generation”.
The epic character of Wayne (Mike Myers) and Garth (Dana Carvey) headbanging with their friends on this transcendent rock symphony from 1975 is out of this world. Bohemian Rhapsody was also the name of the 2018 biopic about Freddie Mercury starring Rami Malek, which led to the song’s certified diamond status in 2021.
And here is for the pleasure of the ears, the Hits and Clips playlist of the top 10 songs that have become popular again thanks to films.
We would like to give thanks to the writer of this article for this outstanding material
