Six Commonly Used Sountrack Songs that Never Seem to Get Old
A Seriously Random List /
Dustin Rowles
Seriously Random Lists | November 5, 2009 | Comments (65)
6. Rock the Casbah by The Clash
5. The Wind by Cat Stevens
4. Sound of Silence by Simon and Garfunkel
3. Blister in the Sun, by the Violent Femmes
2. Mr. Blue Sky by ELO
1. Under Pressure by David Bowie and Queen
Posted by: swingdude at November 5, 2009 5:32 PM
Swingdude, I think "Born To Be Wild" is the laziest song ever for me. Any badassery was bled out of that tune long, long ago. Probably when Dana Carvey used it.
Posted by: mrcreosote at November 5, 2009 5:35 PM
I was just personally disappointed that Steppenwolf didn't score the entirety of Disney's "Aladdin".
Posted by: Ian at November 5, 2009 5:40 PM
I only recognize #2 from some old car commercial.
Posted by: MelBivDevoe at November 5, 2009 5:40 PM
@MelBivDevoe: BLASPHEMY
Posted by: Claire at November 5, 2009 5:49 PM
@MelBiv Mr Blue Sky has been all over the place, Eternal Sunshine had it, Run Fat Boy Run, Role Models, The Martian Child... And was in the trailer for that new Ricky Gervais movie, The Invention of Lying or whatever.
Posted by: Reina at November 5, 2009 5:51 PM
I was Jeff Lynne for Halloween two years ago, and when I took off my shades, I was Bob Ross.
If you did an instrumental music list, I'd wonder if Requiem for a Dream's theme by Clint Mansell would be there. Dude scored big with it in RFAD, reused it in Smokin' Aces, and then sorta ripped himself off with it in Moon. Still trying to decide if he's found his voice or fallen into a rut.
Posted by: laredo at November 5, 2009 6:06 PM
This one is seriously random. And I'm not even sure if the word accurate could be applied.
Posted by: Optimus Rhyme at November 5, 2009 6:13 PM
Because it's easier to think of the most overused songs I second swingdude's "Walking on Sunshine" nomination for hackneyed lazy storytelling device and also nominate five more:
Kung Fu Fighting - Carl Douglas (except as used in Kung Fu Panda)
I Want Candy - Bow Wow Wow
Ballroom Blitz - Sweet
Born to be Wild - Steppenwolf
Dreams - Cranberries
Posted by: Jiffyzen at November 5, 2009 6:13 PM
Ahh... Under Pressure. Such magic in musical form. It is the only redeeming thing about the abominable Hot Space album.
Posted by: FabMax at November 5, 2009 6:25 PM
Actually, I'm a little "Mr. Blue Sky"-ed out. Its everywhere. I remember it was like everyone, myself included, forgot all about that song then it pops up in a Volkswagon commercial and suddenly its all over everything. I'm going to go ahead and say its gotten old.
I will add "She Sells Sanctuary" by The Cult to the list and I would mention Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time" but it might be a couple films away from being old too. Maybe. I don't know.
Posted by: bubblegumshoe at November 5, 2009 6:26 PM
I would add
Bad To The Bone - James Thorogood & The Destroyers
Posted by: Forbiddendonut at November 5, 2009 6:27 PM
mrrcreosote-
I agree wholeheartedly, and I would also say that "Back in Black" is right there with it, especially when some product or person is trying to reinvent themselves.
"Roll to Me" would have been on this list in the 1990s. I swear to Godtopus, that song was attached to every single 90s summer rom-com.
Posted by: Cat at November 5, 2009 6:28 PM
Naw, most of these aren't common. Once Cat Stevens put on the beard he turned into a schmuck as far as I'm concerned, and I hate "Mr. Blue Sky".
I'll certainly defend "Sound Of Silence" in "Watchmen"...cause it works!
"Under Pressure"...well...I could hear it every day. I'll definitely give you that one.
Posted by: Jay at November 5, 2009 6:34 PM
What, no Hallelujah?
I keed, I keed...
Posted by: Eep at November 5, 2009 6:41 PM
ooh! how about Oh Yeah by Yello! also known as the "chick chick chickaww day BOW BOW" song
Posted by: bubblegumshoe at November 5, 2009 6:43 PM
want to seek a verified quality sugardaddy? well,join (Sugarloves-com) and have fun!
Posted by: lostrabbit at November 5, 2009 6:50 PM
It's George Thoroughgood. Not James. I just went and got hammered at lunch with my coworkers. Fuck yes! I'm Bad To The Bone.
Posted by: John Denver's Wingman at November 5, 2009 6:56 PM
How about Most Overused Song of All Time:
RESPECT.
Oh good lord it's everywhere. EVERYWHERE. Commercials, tv shows, movies, ugh. I'm so completely sick of it.
Posted by: figgy at November 5, 2009 7:04 PM
Where is my Mind - The Pixies !!!
Posted by: joe at November 5, 2009 7:14 PM
I would add:
Steppenwolf - "Magic Carpet Ride" (Whenever someone gets high you can cue this)
Posted by: Fredo at November 5, 2009 7:15 PM
Ah, I love "Under Pressure."
On a related matter, Vanilla Ice's sampling of the bass line for "Ice Ice Baby" was a noxious poison upon Freddie Mercury far worse than anything AIDS could do.
Posted by: George at November 5, 2009 7:35 PM
How about Viva Las Vegas by Elvis? Or I feel Good by James Brown?
And, good call on #1. I will never tire of hearing that song in a movie. It's so powerful.
Posted by: stardust (now with 100% less savant) at November 5, 2009 7:37 PM
@Fredo: see my above comment.
Posted by: Ian at November 5, 2009 7:42 PM
Fortunate Son by CCR.
Posted by: kerim at November 5, 2009 8:44 PM
How about Most Overused Song of All Time:
RESPECT.
Posted by: figgy at November 5, 2009 7:04 PM
I see your thread hijack and raise you My Sharona by The Knack. That song is practically undead.
Posted by: Squirrelgripper at November 5, 2009 8:53 PM
I'd have to say it's Fortuna from Carmina Burana. Every knight with flying colors rides to that piece. I think every single medieval movie has it at one point or another. And it never fails to give me the chills!
Posted by: Cuca at November 5, 2009 9:14 PM
#1 should be "All Along The Watchtower" (Jimi Hendrix version). Would you mind updating the list? Thanks!
Posted by: Marisol at November 5, 2009 9:35 PM
When I had my baby, the first thing I thought of was the "Under Pressure" scene from Grosse Point Blank.
Posted by: lawnjart at November 5, 2009 10:02 PM
99 Red Balloons.
Posted by: Daniel Hall at November 5, 2009 10:09 PM
I really can't deal with the Sound of Silence. It makes me feel violent.
Posted by: Cindy at November 5, 2009 10:11 PM
"Mr. Blue Sky" is definitely overused to the point of making me ill.
"Let My Love Open the Door" gets top honors my list of most abused songs.
I guess these songs are most used in trailers, though, not necessarily on soundtracks.
Posted by: Christina at November 5, 2009 11:35 PM
I cannot ABIDE All Along the Watchtower ever since it was inexplicably and bizarrely used as a recurring theme on BSG.
I loathed that.
I HATED it.
I wanted to KILL IT IN THE FACE.
So, yeah, #1.
Posted by: Lindsey with an 'e' at November 5, 2009 11:55 PM
yay blister in the sun, always able to resurrect nightmares of adolescent psychosis!
Posted by: idleprimate at November 5, 2009 11:56 PM
How has nobody mentioned Peter Gabriel's "Solsbury Hill" yet? That track is EVERYWHERE.
Posted by: DP at November 6, 2009 12:15 AM
Seriously, Sound of Fucking Silence never gets old for you? The sophomore dorm room lyrics, the beyond-lame riff, the terrible B-section verse melody (wa-AS sleeping)? That shit wasn't old to you the first time you heard the thing?
Posted by: JoeBlu at November 6, 2009 12:56 AM
"Under Pressure" was a Bowie song. Qy=ueen borrowed it.
---
I was Jeff Lynne for Halloween two years ago, and when I took off my shades, I was Bob Ross.
Posted by: laredo at November 5, 2009 6:06 PM
---
Godtopus, laredo, you're a funny motherfucker.
Posted by: , (TCFKAB) at November 6, 2009 1:44 AM
Also, am I just in early onset or does "Burning Down the House" get used a lot?
Posted by: , (TCFKAB) at November 6, 2009 1:47 AM
Who cares!!! My boyfriend also agrees with me. He is 10 years older than me, lol. We met online at age-gap club -- http://AgelessMeet.COM/. Maybe you wanna check out or tell your friends.
Posted by: Kyra at November 6, 2009 1:53 AM
DP beat me to it. Solsbury Hill is practically in every second trailer or soundtrack.
Posted by: Adere at November 6, 2009 1:59 AM
Does it have to be one or the other Big Daddy?
Posted by: Lindsey with an 'e' at November 6, 2009 2:37 AM
#1 for the opposite of this list is "I feel good."
If I never hear that song again it will be too soon.
Talk about lazy soundtrack songs, I nominate "I feel good" as the laziest.
Posted by: Mebe at November 6, 2009 3:40 AM
@ Eep - I see your "Hallelujah" and raise with "All by Myself" (numerous incarnations)
Posted by: cricketmum at November 6, 2009 8:08 AM
Classical Gas
How many other pop songs were made famous by the house band on the Red Skelton Show? Huh? Just this one.
Posted by: BWeaves at November 6, 2009 9:37 AM
Anyone already mention "Baba O'Riley" also known as "Teenage Wasteland"? So abused. It's in nearly every indie coming-of-age movie.
Posted by: lucy at November 6, 2009 10:10 AM
Van Morrison in every rom com baby montage and wedding montage. Just sayin'sall
Posted by: Bethers at November 6, 2009 10:41 AM
Does it have to be one or the other Big Daddy?
Posted by: Lindsey with an 'e' at November 6, 2009 2:37 AM
---
Now that was just mean ... eh ... um, whatever your name is.
Whippersnapper.
Posted by: , (TCFKAB) at November 6, 2009 10:45 AM
A Mason Williams reference. Nice.
Posted by: laredo at November 6, 2009 11:20 AM
Howsabout "Werewolves of London? I can think of 2 movie of the top of my head (An American Werewolf in London," "The Color of Money"), and I suspect there are more if I think on it...
Posted by: Moog! at November 6, 2009 11:50 AM
I'll join your Thread Hijack - Abused / Overused Tunes
I'll see your Respect and raise you I Will Survive.
For instrumentals, the mighty fifth by Ludwig Van, Bach's Ode to Joy, and Wagner's Valkyrie theme - abused to death after Apocalypse Now.
I'm not sure whether Bohemian Rhapsody and Shout belong in "most used" or "most abused." That's kind of the same thing says my love life (TMI, there.) - but they belong somewhere.
And right now I'm terribly disappointed that Fanfare for the Common Man (Copeland - Aaron, not Stewart) hasn't been used AFAIK. It would be brilliant, straight or ironic.
Posted by: BierceAmbrose at November 6, 2009 1:21 PM
BierceAmbrose, how about Bach's unaccompanied cello suites?
Posted by: caroline at November 6, 2009 1:55 PM
"How has nobody mentioned Peter Gabriel's "Solsbury Hill" yet? That track is EVERYWHERE."
I. Hate. That. Song. Hate it, hate it, hate it.
Posted by: samantha t at November 6, 2009 2:06 PM
Solsbury Hill was just on Sirius 129 "The Overplayed BritPop Songs that could be morphed into TV Dinner Parodies Channel".
Posted by: laredo at November 6, 2009 5:14 PM
Yeah, I was just commenting on FB about how over "Mr. Blue Sky" I am. Although I've noticed it more in trailers than in the actual movies.
I'm glad that the period of using "American Idiot" in every comedy trailer is over. That got old fast. Or how about "Suddenly I See" for every Girl Power movie? Ugh.
Posted by: Mimi at November 6, 2009 7:26 PM
Good call, Caroline.
Posted by: BierceAmbrose at November 6, 2009 10:36 PM
Outstanding!
Posted by: great mango at November 8, 2009 10:46 PM
I know I'm late on this one, but what about Carl Orff's Carmina Burana. Music from that piece is everywhere.
Posted by: Codeman at November 8, 2009 11:03 PM
For instrumentals, the mighty fifth by Ludwig Van, Bach's Ode to Joy
Actually, the piece usually referred to as "Ode to Joy" is also by Beethoven (the 9th symphony). Do you mean that one, or Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring"?
Before I go back to polishing my monocle, I should add another classical-ish piece to the list. I don't know the official name, but it's from the original (1968) Romeo and Juliet movie. You'd all know it if you heard it. It's always used when a character sees another and falls instantly in love (but usually "comically," like if the two main characters are dogs). I guess it wouldn't be considered a soundtrack song, though.
Posted by: Pistachio at November 9, 2009 1:09 AM
It seems liked Cobrastyle by The Teddybears was in every other movie for a while. You might not be familiar with the name of the song, but once you hear, you'll know the song.
Posted by: Maira at November 9, 2009 5:36 PM
That Breathe song. Not the Faith Hill one. The other one. Also How to Save a Life. Those are more on TV though.
Posted by: Az at November 10, 2009 12:11 PM
History Repeating - Propellerheads
Posted by: Jocko Botzi at November 15, 2009 4:54 AM
Ring of Fire by JC...
of course that is overused in commercials too.
Posted by: curmudgeon at November 17, 2009 2:32 PM
Since the comments are focusing on "abused" songs now . . . . . Lux Aeterna by Clint Mansell is everywhere. It may not make it into a movie but sure as hell abused in trailers. I cannot watch Requiem for a Dream without cringing a bit now. Yes, that song disturbs me more than all of the Keith David scenes put together. Love Mansell's work but this song must be retired. I swear in a year of two it'll be on an iPod commercial.
Posted by: Blotto at November 26, 2009 3:28 AM
"Ring of Fire" by Johnny Cash is about is wife's buhgina.
She was a redhead.
For that reason alone, it shall not be dismissed.
Posted by: cynicalwilliam at December 2, 2009 11:30 AM
"Ring of Fire" by Johnny Cash is about his wife's buhgina.
She was a redhead.
For that reason alone, it shall not be dismissed.
Stupid pone typing.
Posted by: cynicalwilliam at December 2, 2009 11:32 AM
Video ads popping up after each page view? Try clearing your browser's cookies.
Thank goodness, you didn't list "Walking on Sunshine". I'm glad the Katrina and her Waves can still collect a paycheck, but that song combined with the inevitable accompanying montage has become the laziest storytelling device EVER.