Tron: Legacy is coming out soon, and one of the most exciting parts of the movie is the soundtrack itself. Daft Punk, a fairly successful techno group, is composing the entire soundtrack. The potential amount of epicness is undeniable. Did you hear me? Undeniable. They did "Robot Rock." They contributed to DJ Hero, one of the greatest music games of all time. Come on now, they did "Around the World." In other words, the music in Tron: Legacy could be amongst the best we've ever heard in the movies--it can indeed happen. But that really outlandish statement made me think: just what are the best soundtracks ever made for movies?
Well ladies and germs, its time for another list! This list is about the movies that contained the best music--whether it was composed for the movie or not. I already did video games, so might as well move on to the next medium. These movies had songs/musical moments that well-represented the entire body of work. Some movies consist of music already released, but they fit the mood, theme, and style of the film. Other movies were enchanced by the music in the background, increasing the emotions that are taking place in that very moment. I honestly hope I did not skip one or miss one (unintentionally). Well, here's the list of the 40 best soundtracks in movies ever created.
40-26 are more like honorable mentions:
40) Frida
Great mix of Mexican folk music and subtle yet effective background music as we followed the life of Frida.
39) The Sting
Ragtime piano was re-introduced and forever embedded in pop culture thanks to this movie's careful selection of Scott Joplin tunes.
38) Space Jam
This was the best part of the movie. Mix good hip-hop with some Chris Rock and some R. Kelly and you have a bonafide hit.
37) Tarzan
Phil Collins gave this movie a lot of great music
36) Sleeping Beauty
The first truly epic Disney soundtrack in its history
35) The Jungle Book
The only time the musical genre of scat is ever considered decent
34) 8 Mile
Eminem and 50 Cent at their prime infused a lot of style to this surprise-surprise smash hit
33) Batman
Batman finally has his theme music
32) Shrek
It wasn't just the content that was anti-Disney, but its selection of pop music to an animated film became a staple to modern-day computer-animated movies
31) Almost Famous
The music here is one of the few instances in which it carried a movie through its weakest portions
30) Inception
Not complex, but heavy enough to grab your attention
29) Grindhouse
Great mix of dirty jazz and forgotten tunes
28) Desperado
Great tex-mex soundtrack with some unforgettable guitar moments
27) Spider-Man
Not only did Spider-Man get his theme song, but got a great selection of songs to back him up
26) The Little Mermaid
Part of the success of this movie was its bubbly and addicting soundtrack
25) Dirty Dancing
Standout Song: I've Had the Time of My Life
This movie became an unexpected smash hit, and to this day remains a popular film--even being called the "Star Wars for Females." Part of its massive success was thanks to its soundtrack, which has the spine-tingling "Time of my Life," which capped off the rather charming film about a dance instructor and his student falling for each other. But let's not forget its other songs "Hungry Eyes," "She's Like the Wind," and its revival of "Wipeout."
24) Aladdin
Standout Song: Friend Like Me
When Disney was at its peak in animated box office smashes, it was also at its peak in music. Nearly every single song in this movie was easy to learn, and hard to forget. This movie has a great opening number, a great show-stopper, a nice love song, and a second, milder show-stopper (Prince Ali). All it was missing was a great villain song for Jafar, one of Disney's best villains. But let's not forget its instrumental score, which was also well-written by Alan Menken.
23) Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
Standout Song: We Are Sex Bomb-Omb
While this movie bombed at the theater, the soundtrack was more universally accepted, with Beck in the background, and a lot of great indie fans contributing their talent. The mix of indie rock with post-grunge and garage rock made this a great movie to listen to as well as watch. One added bonus, Zelda's Lullaby.
22) Saturday Night Fever
Standout Song: You Should be Dancing
Not sure if anyone knows this but Saturday Night Fever and the Bee-Gees actually revived disco. Disco was totally dying before the movie came out, and it was launched into a plateau of success that not a single movie soundtrack would reach until Whitney Houston's The Bodyguard over a decade later. This movie has it all, great dance tracks, nice slow melodies, and a good blend of disco music that had already been successful before (Most notably "A Touch of Fifth"). Staying Alive will forever be a hit on clubs and birthday parties everywhere, and this soundtrack will forever be associated with the disco wave of the 1970s.
21) Goodfellas
Standout Song: Layla
Over 45 songs were in this film. And every single one of these songs perfectly matched their scenes, with Layla being the best and ultimate example. All of this music were from the 70s or older, and covered such a wide variety of genres, it never grows old, no matter how many times you see this masterpiece. To this day there has not been a movie that used so many songs so intricately.
20) Jaws
Standout Song: Opening
This film created a phobia. The most amazing part is that you don't see the full shark until (spoiler alert?!?!) more than halfway through the movie. In the meantime, you need to hold the audience together. That is where the music comes in. John Williams created a scary theme that grew louder and louder everytime the shark was nudging closer and closer to its next kill. The strings start out slow, but as the shark is ready to bite, they pick up in speed and intensity. That one strategy enhanced the scare factor in Jaws, and made the overall experience that much better.
19) Raiders of the Lost Ark
Standout Song: Raiders March
As if there isn't enough John Williams love. He composed a killer soundtrack to one of the greatest movies of all-time. From the epic opening to the epic chase sequence to the epic finale, the music throughout the film was nothing short of.....well..epic.
18) Grease
Standout Song: Summer Nights
The transition from stage musical to movie musical is not an easy one, it definitely is not. It is extremely hard to re-create the magic, talent, and music of Broadway and also translate it to a cinema flavor. However, the 70s classic Grease fired on all cylinders, and succeeded in ways the producers probably didn't see coming. In 1978, it was alllll about Grease, and it was allll about the excellent music featured in the film. Olivia Newton John and John Travolta gave the soundtrack a bolt of energy with their singing, but we can't forget the great vocal talent of the rest of the crew. It is hard to listen to Grease and not end the listening session without a smile.
17) Mary Poppins
Standout Song: Jolly Holiday
One of the more underrated choices, Mary Poppins nowadays gets very little love from the Walt Disney World nowadays. Where is her musical in the park? Where is her music? Where is anything Mary Poppins? This movie is full of so many nice and wonderful songs, the soundtrack is guaranteed to undepress (not a word, shut up) the loneliest of fools. From the whimsical Chim-Chim-Cheree to the somberly beautiful "Feed the Birds," Mary Poppins is one of the most underrated musicals in history, and the soundtrack is one of the major factors of its initial success, eternal quality, and everlasting magic.
16) Nightmare Before Christmas
Standout Song: Jack the Pumpkin King
Danny Elfman has had a very subtle career as a composer. He has been responsible for Batman, the Simpsons, and nearly every Tim Burton film that has existed. But Elfman's standout tour-de-force performance was his contribution to this film. Part of why this movie will stand the test of time is Disney's everlasting love for it, and because of the music; which has some outstanding musical numbers and great background music in-between performances. Nearly all the main characters get their own song, even the villain (in a show-stopping number I must add). While the movie's pacing was a bit off, the music saved it from being a total bore.
15) Forrest Gump
Standout Song: Free Bird
Jenny is at the lowest point of her life. She steps outside and climbs on a ledge, high off the ground. She is contemplating jumping, ending it all in a swift motion. While this scene is powerful enough, they add "Free Bird' in the background, making the scene twice as powerful. The fast-paced guitar solo describes her thoughts spiraling out on control as she sees suicide as her only way out of her troubles. This is what Forrest Gump's soundtrack does, they not only provide some great songs to listen to, but they fit into every scene they are placed in. From Jenny's "Freebird" to Forrest's "Fortunate Son," every pivotal moment has a song, and they work well. The difference between this movie and Goodfellas (which used a similar strategy), is the great background score of Alan Silvestri.
14) Into the Wild
Standout Song: Guaranteed
Eddie Vedder and his guitar had provided some excellent music throughout the 90s. But perhaps his best work of music was his contribution to this superb soundtrack. All of the songs were simple, not too heavy, but provided enough emotional weight to describe the trials and tribulations of our main character. Eddie Vedder's "Guaranteed" is one of the best songs ever composed for a movie, and then add "Long Nights," "Wish You Were Here," "Rise," and "Society" to the list of great songs featured. This soundtrack clearly never got the praise it deserves, as its most likely the least popular selection I have on this entire list by far. Nonetheless, you must give this soundtrack a chance.
13) Kill Bill 1 and 2
Standout Song: The Lonely Shepherd
Quentin Tarantino knows how to weave an excellent soundtrack, because his taste in music is so diverse, spans so many decades, that no two songs are ever the same, not even close. With Kill Bill, we have a pan flute masterpiece, a superb Tex-Mex rock song, a Japanese pop song consisting of the lone lyric "Woo-hoo," disco music, classic spaghetti western tunes, Quincy Jones, and even some Nancy Sinatra. All this is one movie (a two-parter technically, but one movie at heart), one soundtrack. And do I have to include the fact that RZA AND Robert Rodruiguez also contributed?
12) Amadeus
Standout Song: Requiem
This pick is a bit unfair, since we are dealing with the music of Mozart, arguably the greatest composer in the history of man. But, picking his best work (from potential hundreds) is no easy task either. However the production staff of Amadeus pulls it off flawlessly. The music selected had one goal: to make us feel for the main character, whose hatred of Mozart stems from the fact that he knows that God handed Mozart the talent to make such beautiful music. And indeed with the flawless piano conciertos, haunting operas, and ultimate final work of art (the deep, the controversial "Requiem"), we can't help but wonder just why was Mozart given the ability to write music at age 4, compose operas at age 7, and manage to create eternal art with minimal effort. Its a beautiful movie, and it has a beautiful soundtrack to back it up.
11) Home Alone
Standout Song: Somewhere in my Memory
I don't know about you, but I am pretty sure Home Alone took every single popular Christmas tune and threw it in their movie. Even the Grinch makes an appearance in this holiday classic. Home Alone had a great musical score from John Williams, but its the massive setlist of Christmas music past and present that allows for it to stand out against any other holiday movie before and since. You can hear The Drifters, Chuck Berry, Rudolph Lee, and Mel Torme throughout the movie. Christmas just isn't Christmas until you watch this movie, and the massive assortment of holiday music is part of the reason why.
===============================
Yes, I know, I never mentioned that I was going to cut this list into two. I know, I know, shame on me. But don't you worry, the top 10 is coming up. Has your soundtrack made the list? Are you afraid it won't make the list? Speak up, speak up!
Have a good night, the top 10 will be ready soon.
No comments:
Post a Comment