Music in Film and Television

[Karlifornia]

What are some of your favorite instances of music in film and television? The moments where the music and the on-camera action came together and really hit you. Sometimes, there's the obvious choice ("The Good, the Bad, and Ugly"), and sometimes there's a match up that is so contrasting that it somehow works. Here are a few of my favorites off the top of my head:

-The X-Files episode "Home". It's the one with the inbred family, and they have Johnny Mathis' "Wonderful, Wonderful" playing at certain times, the most disturbing time being when mother and son are having sex in the trunk of the car. It cast a different light on what was one of the most disturbing hours of television I had ever seen, and gave a sense of closure.

-The Sopranos final scene. As most of you are probably aware of, Journey's late 70's/early 80's mega power ballad "Don't Stop Believing" was the score to the last moments of one of the biggest cable shows of all time. It was surprising to me, although it shouldn't have been, as David Chase had used a wide variety of pop music through the shows 6 season run. Using a song like that in an non-ironic sense takes a lot of courage, in my mind, and could easily backfire. This time, it really worked for me, though.

-Office Space using "Damn it feels good to be a gangsta". I don't even know for sure who did this song (Geto Boys?), but seeing two WASPs and an Indian guy doing their shady business to this song always puts a smile on my bitter, cynical face.


NOW YOU GO!

[MJ4H]

The ending of ET. One of the few times when a director edited the film to fit the music rather than the composer writing music to fit the director's edit. Works spectacularly well.

The scene in Return of the Jedi where the Alliance fleet is about to go to hyperspace. The scene and music cut ends as the fleet jumps to hyperspace. The music fits the tension and excitement so well and the build-up is terrific.

I could probably list 100 of these. I might add some more later, but I'll start with these two. They are definitely at or near the top of my list.

[Groundhog]

One of the best things about the Star Wars films (even the new ones) is the use of music with the scenes IMO. Generally it matches what's on the screen nearly perfectly.

I personally prefer it when the music is sparse (which is probably why I like foreign films so much), and is used just to heighten the emotion, rather than a cheat way to show the audience that something good/bad/whatever is happening, or about to happen. Lots of older movies do that really well, but I'm struggling to come up with a recent example.

As for more mainstreamish films, Romeo and Juliet (the Leo DiCaprio version) did a good job with integrating a solid soundtrack in to the movie, and of course there's Kill Bill Vol. 1, which really nailed it.

[rowech]

I gotta go with Star Wars.

[Butter]

The Gimp scene in Pulp Fiction. Most of that movie was well done in that way, but especially that scene.

[Dr. Sak]

There are a lot of scenes in Jaws where the music is excellent.

[Neon_Chaos]

Do Musicals count? :)

[JPhillips]

Almost every James Bond movie has a tremendous first scene. There are only a couple of movies where the action doesn't hit a high point with the main theme music.

I love the selections used in American Beauty.

In Platoon I like the use of Barber's Adagio for Strings and in Apocalypse Now the use of The End is great.

[oliegirl]

My choice would have to be The Godfather, the music carries through the mood of the scene, the drama, the pain, the celebration...I've always thought the score for that movie was amazing.

[Passacaglia]

The Graduate.

[Surtt]

IMHO the closing scene of Streets of Fire, with a 19 year old Diane Lane in a silky red dress singing Tonight is What it Means to be Young, is very under rated.


On a more serious note:
I think O Brother Where Art Thou? had a great music score.

[cthomer5000]

- The use of Massive Attack's "Angel" while Brad Pitt is watching his mother's trailer burn in Snatch and being held back from rushing into it.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=zPAMCAkbwEs

- Sam Jackson's character listening to Johnny Cash's "Tennessee Stud" outside in his car before going in to talk to/try to kill Pam Grier's character in Jackie Brown.

- The use of Elliott Smith's "Needle In The Hay" while Luke Wilson's character attempts suicdie in The Royal Tennenbaums.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=9pyBB7y8fDU

I could probably come up with a dozen Quentin Tarantino and Wes Anderson examples. They are probably the two most consistently great directors in terms of using soundtrack (and in the case of Wes Anderson, original scores as well).

[NoMyths]

- The use of Elliott Smith's "Needle In The Hay" while Luke Wilson's character attempts suicdie in The Royal Tennenbaums.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=9pyBB7y8fDU

Outstanding mention, and one I'll second. Rushmore and The Royal Tenenbaums are flawless in terms of their soundtracks. Also:

Little Jimmie Scott singing "Under the Sycamore Trees" on the Twin Peaks series finale

The closing montage of Six Feet Under with Sia's "Breathe Me" playing over the images of the ends of each character's story

The Door's "The End" playing over the climactic scene in Apocalypse Now.

[Butter]

- - The use of Elliott Smith's "Needle In The Hay" while Luke Wilson's character attempts suicdie in The Royal Tennenbaums.

I'll third this. Absolutely wonderful.

I'll also chime in with The Virgin Suicides. The Air soundtrack to that is fantastic as a separate listen, and even more impactful in the film.

[panerd]

The piano part of Layla from Goodfellas.

[DeToxRox]

I'd say "Disarm" by Smashing Pumpkins during an episode of the Shield (Can't remember which now)

[Warhammer]

Pretty much any score by John Williams is absolutely amazing. ET, Star Wars, and Jaws have all made this list, but let's not forget Indiana Jones.

Other than that, I can't really remember any perfect melding of aural and visual entertainment.

I take that back, the other song that seemed to fit was the last scene of "The Breakfast Club" when they are all leaving and then as the guy walks across the football field, Don't You Forget About Me is playing. Cheesy, but it actually makes a point in that the kids should not forget that they have much more in common than they realize, etc.

[sabotai]

- The use of Massive Attack's "Angel" while Brad Pitt is watching his mother's trailer burn in Snatch and being held back from rushing into it.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=zPAMCAkbwEs

This scene as well for Snatch (chase scene, starts about half-way in)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=D-0_sL5AAVQ

And the ending fight (SPOILERS!)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=h2SqUEvtVyI

And the opening credit

http://youtube.com/watch?v=_E8HIfDGdos


Ah fookit, de entirfookinmovie doosagreetjob of fookinusinmusic

[cthomer5000]

This scene as well for Snatch (chase scene, starts about half-way in)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=D-0_sL5AAVQ

And the ending fight (SPOILERS!)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=h2SqUEvtVyI

And the opening credit

http://youtube.com/watch?v=_E8HIfDGdos


Ah fookit, de entirfookinmovie doosagreetjob of fookinusinmusic

Yeah, im also very fond of the use of "Golden Brown" in this scene:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Ag_HToYi_Uc


Some directors just get it more than others basically and make it part of their job rather than just leaving it to soemone else. It's why Tarantino and Wes Anderson nail it so consistently. Guy Ritchie unfortunately appears to have run out of gas after his first 2 movies.

[Bubba Wheels]

1. The slo-mo pratice seen in Rudy when he's getting nailed with the song 'Loyal Sons of Notre Dame' being played.

2. The music from "Speed' whenever a new long-shot of the bus is shown.

3. Whatever that song is being played in the attack-the-fort scene from "Glory'. Now the music (some kind of Gothic-sounding chant) is so overused its become a cliche.

[MrBigglesworth]

I love the Six Feet Under Finale and all the Snatch stuff that was mentioned earlier.

I'll also add the them to The Natural, both in The Natural and also during the final narration of the Wonder Years finale.

[Radii]

The piano part of Layla from Goodfellas.


This was the very first thing i thought of as well. The End being used in Apocalypse Now is a biggie for me too.

How about any Rocky training montage?

[Andiamo]

The main instramental piece of Cinema Paradiso - so beautiful and I've seen grown men cry during that movie. Jack Black's character even makes reference to it in The Holiday.

[ThunderingHERD]

"Wise Up" in Magnolia.

[Izulde]

Ennio Morricone's soundtrack for the Adrian Lyne directed version of Lolita, especially the music that plays in the opening scene... that gorgeous, gorgeous composition, combined with the mist and the imagery of Humbert's erratic driving and the sliding of the gun and Jeremy Irons's character-perfect voice reciting the opening lines in a voice-over is one of the most incredible music-related moments I've seen/heard in film.

[st.cronin]

The Jeff Bridges movie Fearless, towards the end, when Gorecki's Symphony of Sorrowful Songs swells up.

The original Halloween comes to mind as well.

I haven't seen Snatch, but Massive Attack's "Angel" is possibly the most perfect song ever.

[Vinatieri for Prez]

I still like the main theme music you hear in Gladiator, especially when you see Maximus walking through the fields to his wife and kid. It does fit perfectly.

[ageofquarrel]

i agree with the piano part in goodfellas

And add Futrama "I will wait for you" by Connie Francis at the end of the Jurassic Bark episode

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWoTMTsIKX8

[Groundhog]

i agree with the piano part in goodfellas

And add Futrama "I will wait for you" by Connie Francis at the end of the Jurassic Bark episode

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWoTMTsIKX8

Oh god yes.

I remember the night I bought the DVD set of that series. I brought it around to my mate's place and we watched a bunch of episodes, including that one. When it finished, we were both just devestated, and the music made it about a million times worse.

[Crapshoot]

Outstanding mention, and one I'll second. Rushmore and The Royal Tenenbaums are flawless in terms of their soundtracks. Also:




Good stuff, but I'd go with Life Aquatic - I don't think I've ever enjoyed Space Oddity in Portuguese, but there is a first time for everything. :D

[MrBigglesworth]

Oh god yes.

I remember the night I bought the DVD set of that series. I brought it around to my mate's place and we watched a bunch of episodes, including that one. When it finished, we were both just devestated, and the music made it about a million times worse.

I actually liked the end of 'Luck of the Fryish' better, when Fry realized that it wasn't his jealous brother that had achieved great success by stealing his clover and his name, but rather his nephew that his brother had named after him. The camera pans out to Simple Minds' 'Don't You Forget About Me'.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXm3smJ73zU

[Buccaneer]

The opening of Gettysburg.

[Groundhog]

I actually liked the end of 'Luck of the Fryish' better, when Fry realized that it wasn't his jealous brother that had achieved great success by stealing his clover and his name, but rather his nephew that his brother had named after him. The camera pans out to Simple Minds' 'Don't You Forget About Me'.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXm3smJ73zU

Yeah, I was going to mention that one too. Futurama has a surprising amount of downbeat endings.

[lcjjdnh]

As mentioned earlier, the Layla coda in Goodfellas is great.

I'm also fond of the music near the end of the second-to-last episode of Season 2 of The Wire as Frank Sobotka heads to meet the Greeks at the docks. The music helped build an incredible tension.

[Mustang]

If I had to pick music in a commercial.. I'd go with 'Mad World' in the Gears of War commercial.

[Crapshoot]

Oh god yes.

I remember the night I bought the DVD set of that series. I brought it around to my mate's place and we watched a bunch of episodes, including that one. When it finished, we were both just devestated, and the music made it about a million times worse.

"". That absolutely killed me - only cartoon that has ever had that kind of effect. Just powerful stuff.

[cthomer5000]

I actually liked the end of 'Luck of the Fryish' better, when Fry realized that it wasn't his jealous brother that had achieved great success by stealing his clover and his name, but rather his nephew that his brother had named after him. The camera pans out to Simple Minds' 'Don't You Forget About Me'.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXm3smJ73zU

I have to fight back a tear every time I watch that episode. It has some amazing comedic moments, but the reveleation in the end is really fantastic and heart-warming and all that stuff.

[larrymcg421]

Hans Zimmer's score for Rudy is one of the most uplifting I've ever heard in a movie. It's been used countless times for movie trailer since then.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vR2wOHwJ-Jo

As for TV, one of the best uses of music was Family Ties plucking Billy Vera's "At This Moment" out of obscurity for the Alex-Ellen romance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5vNR2tDXiw