The 77 Most Unforgettable Movie Songs -- Part 4

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30. The Shins, 'New Slang' ('Garden State,' 2004)
When quirky, disaffected 20-somethings meet in their shrink's waiting room, they need something cool and sensitive to bond over. Good thing Natalie Portman had the Shins on her discman in 'Garden State' -- a move that helped the band sell buttloads of albums and made Zack Braff the John Hughes of his generation. -- JP

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29. B.J. Thomas, 'Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head' ('Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,' 1969)
The mid-movie montage of Old-West gunfighters riding around on a bicycle was an odd cinematic interlude in 'Butch Cassidy,' but this "aww-gee" Burt Bacharach/Hal David composition caught on fast and became the 'Don't Worry, Be Happy' of its day. -- JP

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28. Harry Belafonte, 'The Banana Boat Song (Day-O)' ('Beetlejuice,' 1988)
Feel an uncontrollable urge to sing a Calypso folk song by Harry Belafonte? Well then you're either a Caribbean banana-boat worker or one of the bizarre modernist homeowners possessed by Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis in 'Beetlejuice.' -- JP

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27. Lou Reed, 'Perfect Day' ('Trainspotting,' 1996)
Every song in 'Trainspotting' is addictive, but you can't deny the moment when Renton finally has one hit too many, and the carpet becomes his coffin while Lou's earnest voice lulls him with a bittersweet bite. Genius. -- MTC

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26. Public Enemy, 'Fight the Power' ('Do the Right Thing,' 1989)
Radio Raheem didn't like nothin' but P. E., and his boombox blasted this power-to-the-people anthem throughout Spike's entire joint, giving Chuck D more lines than most of the film's main characters. -- MTC

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25. Ben E. King, 'Stand by Me' ('Stand by Me,' 1986)
Through thick and thin, leeches and corpses, Gordy, Chris, Teddy and Vern built a bond that Ben E. King sang about 25 years before the movie's release. Sadly, the song still makes us miss River Phoenix. -- KD

Watch a Live Performance of 'Stand By Me'

24. Urge Overkill, 'Girl You'll Be a Woman Soon' ('Pulp Fiction,' 1994)
What's the perfect way to unwind after a delicious meal at Jackrabbit Slims? If you're Mrs. Mia Wallace in 'Pulp Fiction,' it's a drink, this super-smooth Neil Diamond cover, and an accidental heroin overdose. Whoops! -- JP

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23. Bryan Adams, '(Everything I Do) I Do It for You' ('Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves,' 1991)
This syrupy ballad from Bryan Adams shot to No. 1 in every country with a film projector after this blockbuster came to town. It still sounds a million times better than Kevin Costner's pathetic attempt at an English accent. -- JP

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22. Michael Sembello, 'Maniac' ('Flashdance,' 1983)
Dancing like she'd never danced before, Jennifer Beals jogged in place so fast in 'Flashdance,' her thighs nearly caught fire. This video single-handedly increased domestic leg warmer sales by 500 percent. -- JP

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21. Otis Day & the Knights, 'Shout' ('Animal House,' 1978)
A made-for-the-big-screen band ramped up the most awesome toga party ever with their cover of this fist-pumping Isley Brothers classic in 'Animal House.' The song has been ramping up bar mitzvahs ever since. -- JP

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20. Ray Parker Jr., 'Ghostbusters' ('Ghostbusters,' 1984)
Walk up to any random stranger that survived the Regan era and ask them who they're gonna call. Not only will they scream "Ghostbusters!" at you like a mental patient, but Ray Parker Jr. will earn either percent on the royalties. God knows he must need it now. -- MTC

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19. Des'ree, 'Kissing You' ('Romeo + Juliet,' 1996)
Actors have literally been playing out the moment when Romeo meets Juliet for centuries, but Des'ree's haunting and beautiful love ballad in 'Romeo + Juliet' helped Leo and Claire's interpetation feel fresh, real and crazy romantic. *SwOon* -- MTC

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18. The Rolling Stones, 'You Can't Always Get What You Want' ('The Big Chill,' 1983)
A college friend's suicide reunites a group of angsty baby boomers in this coming-of-middle-age film, and this spirit-lifting Stones classic sets the tone. Movie trivia: The corpse was played by an un-credited Kevin Costner, who gave the best performance of his career. -- JP

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17. Survivor, 'Eye of the Tiger' ('Rocky III,' 1982)
Rocky had to regain his killer instinct in order to go mano-a-mohawk with Mr. T, and Survivor helped out the champ with some adrenaline-pumping montage music. Two-and-a-half decades later, it still makes us want to punch the piss out of side of beef. -- JP

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16. Whitney Houston, 'I Will Always Love You' ('The Bodyguard,' 1992)
The romantic pairing of Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner in 'The Bodyguard' was enough to earn $120 million at the box office and make a Whit's version of Dolly Parton's 1974 heart-melter one of the most overplayed hits in history. It's also Bobby Brown's least favorite song of all time. -- JP

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