Top 10 Favorite Songs From Movie Soundtracks

Movies and songs go together like butter on toast. They are meant to enhance the movie, add to the scene, create a mood, or simply capture the essence of the movie. Many songs are as emblematic as the movie itself, some songs could be argued are remembered more than the movie they originated from, but what is true for all them is that these songs have become part of the soundtrack of our lives.

Let’s dig into soundtrack vault and talk about 10 of our favorite songs from movie soundtracks.

“Shallow” from A Star is Born (2018)

When the news broke that Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga were going to star on the fourth and newest remake of the classic film there were a lot of doubts, mainly surrounding whether or not the world needed yet another remake of this film. Gaga would be filling in the shoes of a character that was played by none other than Barabara Streisand and Cooper was writing, directing, and composing songs for the film. But, from the moment the trailer for the film dropped it was obvious “Shallow” was going to be a great song, one that would make this film go from uncertainty to intrigued. Anyone who hears the song instantly knows two things: this movie might be good and Lady Gaga singing “I’m off the deepened, watch as I dive in. I’ll never meet the ground.” will forever try to recreate her powerful verse while singing in their car, shower or karaoke room knowing full well that no matter what they do, they are not doing Gaga or this powerful tune any justice.  According to Thrillist, “the instant we heard Gaga belt her series of “ahhs” in the bridge of “Shallow,” it seemed like it would work — and it did. The collaboration between Gaga, Cooper, Lukas Nelson, and other artists like Jason Isbell and Diane Warren stands completely on its own with its marriage of roots rock and pure pop (Thrillist Entertainment, 2020).”

“Stayin’ Alive” from Saturday Night Fever (1977)

The soundtrack to Saturday Night Fever by the Bee Gees has been a staple disco-era staple filled with signature defining tunes. Ever since the movie hit the scene and John Travolta wooed us with his dance moves, Stayin’ Alive has been a staple of the era and instant classic. While at the time the movie and soundtrack were released the Bee Gees were not considered cool and rather more a thing of the past, the way Travolta’s moves seamlessly blended in “Stayin’ Alive” clearly contributed to an unforgettable song, soundtrack, and overall cultural revival of the genre and the band(Thrillist Entertainment, 2020). Currently, it impossible to talk about disco and not think of the Bee Gees, Saturday Night Fever, or not want to start dancing like Travolta did in the movie when Stayin’ Alive comes on.

“The Sound of Silence” from The Graduate (1967)

The Graduate is one of those movies that has stayed relevant for over 50 years. It has managed to accomplish the timelessness that many films have strived to achieve but simply have not. The soundtrack for the movie has also achieved the same level of timelessness. The theme of the movie has always been about the uncertainty of the future and a bit of emptiness. These themes are best represented by the classic tune, “The Sound of Silence,” which for the writers for Consequence of Sound, is the real theme song of the film (COS Staff, 2017). Simon & Garfunkel delivered an unforgettable song that was able to capture the major themes of the film so flawlessly that it has now become a classic song. The song has taken a life of its own and has now been covered countless times and also been included in TV shows.

“Show Yourself” from Frozen II (2019)

Disney has always been associated with princesses and magic. Frozen, the first movie, was no exception and it quickly captured the world with its incredibly catchy “Let It Go,” so much so that it became a favorite among kids and adults alike. The second installment of the film was long-awaited and when the soundtrack dropped, many were not as impressed with the songs because nothing seemed to have the potential to be as powerful as “Let It Go,” but “Show Yourself” has a similar feeling of release as “Let It Go.” The song possesses a level of empowerment that no other song on the soundtrack does. In the movie,  Elsa sings this song as she reaches the end of her quest in the film. The song also has themes of Elsa finally finding herself and understanding who she is. The song is cathartic and emotional and extremely powerful, it truly is the best song in the soundtrack. The duet between Evan Rachel Wood and Idina Menzel possesses power, excitement, and a level of intensity that achieves to deliver an anthem that conveys the complexity of finally feeling like you’ve found yourself (Romano, 2019).

“And I Am Telling You I Am Not Going” from Dreamgirls (2006)

This movie is based on a Broadway musical that already possessed great songs, but listening to Jennifer Hudson‘s rendition of “And I am Telling You I Am Not Going” for the film is pure magic. This song manages to convey and an array of emotions that carry throughout the film. Hudson’s soul-crushing interpretation made us feel everything and more (The Editors, 2020).  The song is packed with the raw emotions and sadness of Effie, Jennifer Hudson‘s character, as she discovers that her partner and manager is leaving her and that she is basically out of the group. Hudson’s vocals make this song a showstopper moment in the film and the soundtrack.

“Don’t You (Forget About Me)” from The Breakfast Club (1985)

There’s no doubt that John Hughes had the ability to capture adolescence like no other filmmaker. He managed to create movies with universal themes that fully described the teenage experience and “The Breakfast Club” is no exception (COS Staff, 2017). This film managed to tell us more about how something as simple as detention can change the view of a teenager than anything. This film also gave us a great soundtrack, but by far the best thing that it has given us is the tune of triumph and celebration. The iconic scene when Judd Nelson is walking across the football field and pumps his fist in the air to the Simpleminds’ “Don’t You (Forget About Me) has been remembered for decades and the song has stayed just as unforgettable as this scene. It embodies the theme of the film and also Judd’s celebration that he got the girl.

“Bittersweet Symphony” from Cruel Intentions (1999)

Cruel Intentions, a film about sexual blackmail, turned out to have a great soundtrack. It has a beautiful selection of Alt-rock and Britpop, which at the time was definitely all the rage. But this also possesses one of the best musically synchronized ending sequences that is very cathartic (COS Staff, 2017). The truth is that a person may know nothing about Britpop, but they know about Bittersweet Symphony from The Verve. This song is equally as popular as the movie, if not more. This tune posses unforgettable lyrics and a violin-driven melody that will get stuck in your head for days and if you’ve seen Cruel Intentions, it has will always remind you of Sarah Michelle Geller’s character shedding one single tear as she reads Sebastian’s diary.

“New Slang” from Garden State (2004)

Garden State, written and directed by Zach Braff,  is a romantic comedy based in the early 2000s. The movie is quirky and it became a symbol of hipster culture and at some point during the last 16 years,  the world has hated the movie (COS Staff, 2017). But, what is true is that the soundtrack of this film reminded us of a more subtle indie rock scene and it has given us a lot of nostalgic happiness.  The best example of this is The Shins’ New Slang. The song is indie rock bliss. It is subtle but it holds the kind of nostalgia that people will remember forever and people have. New Slang and Garden State are almost synonyms and they paint a picture of a different, maybe simpler, time for both films and indie rock. It is also good to point out that the soundtrack for the film won a Grammy and solidified the importance of the film’s soundtrack(Fox, 2014).

“My Heart Will Go On” from Titanic (1997)

Titanic and Celine Dion are basically both classics. The film has given un a plethora of pop culture moments that have not evolved to the memes and legitimate questions that even scientists have weighed in on like whether Jack and Rose both fit in the door (of course they did!). But this unforgettable classic also has one of the most lucrative songs ever made for a  movie. Celine Dion’s My Heart Will Go On has sold over 11 million copies and is now probably one of her greatest hits (Thompson, 2018). The unforgettable flute sequence paired with the touching and catchy lyrics makes this a great and unforgettable love song.

“I Will Always Love You” from The Bodyguard (1992)