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The 77 Most Unforgettable Movie Songs -- Part 5


15. The Beatles, 'Twist and Shout' ('Ferris Bueller's Day Off,' 1986)
On his ninth sick day of the school year, Ferris Bueller takes over a float during Chicago's Von Steuben Day parade (even though the real event actually takes place in September). His spontaneous lip-synch of the Beatles' cover of 'Twist & Shout' inspires an entire city to cut a rug. We especially love when "Team Thriller" turns it out! -- JP

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14. Simple Minds, 'Don't You Forget About Me' ('The Breakfast Club,' 1985)
It didn't matter if you were a brain, a princess, an athlete, a basketcase or a criminal -- in '85, this song from 'The Breakfast Club' spoke to you ... just like Ally Sheedy's dandruff-accented desk art. (But why'd she have to get all "sorority girl" to score with Emilio Estevez? Lame move, Hughes.) -- MTC

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13. Jamiroquai, 'Canned Heat' ('Napoleon Dynamite,' 2004)
Napoleon proved what Jay Kay and John Travolta have known all along -- chicks dig dudes with moves (no matter how dorky). Dynamite's sweetest scene made Jamiroquai's funky soul jam the 'I Will Survive' of the pocket-protector generation. -- MTC

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12. Simon & Garfunkel, 'Mrs. Robinson' ('The Graduate,' 1967)
The second No. 1 single from Simon & Garfunkel originally appeared in the Dustin Hoffman flick about a disaffected teen that gets his freak on with a sexy older woman (and, later on, her daughter). Who knew a song about MILFs could be so charming? -- JP

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11. Berlin, 'Take My Breath Away' ('Top Gun,' 1986)
Tom Cruise had a need for speed in 'Top Gun,' but Berlin set the mood when it was time to slow things down. The band scored the biggest hit of their career, and helped a pre-Dianetics Cruise become Hollywood's quintessential heartthrob. -- MTC

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10. Chad Kroeger, 'Hero' ('Spider-Man,' 2000)
The Nickelback frontman teamed with the lead singer of Saliva for this two-fisted salute to, like, fire-fighters, eagles, spiders and stuff. HUGE song. HUGE movie. HUGE moolah. -- JP

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9. Jennifer Warnes & Bill Medley, 'The Time of My Life' ('Dirty Dancing,' 1987)
Nobody puts Baby in the corner! This mom-rock classic from Warnes and Medley provided the beat for Jennifer Gray and Patrick Swayze's climactic dance in 'Dirty Dancing,' which proved that sometimes it is okay to hook up with the help. -- JP

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8. Celine Dion, 'My Heart Will Go On' ('Titanic,' 1997)
... And on, and on. After a billion plays in 1990 alone, Celine's inescapable, Oscar-winning theme to one of the highest-grossing films in history is still getting airplay at weddings across the land. As "king of the world," Leo DiCaprio should issue a royal decree that this song never be heard again. -- JP

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7. Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band, 'Old Time Rock and Roll' ('Risky Business,' 1983)
Bob Seger never imagined that his all-American salute to the days of old would forever conjure images of Tom Cruise's tighty whities in 'Risky Business.' Good thing they didn't use 'Like a Rock' instead. -- JP

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6. Peter Gabriel, 'In Your Eyes' ('Say Anything,' 1989)
You have to respect a man who's willing to suffer for love -- and given how long he held that boombox over his head in 'Say Anything,' John Cusack's arms must have been killing him. He might have gotten the girl quicker if he'd played Gabriel's 'Sledgehammer' instead. -- JP

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5. The Righteous Brothers, 'Unchained Melody' ('Ghost,' 1990)
Who knew pottery could be so hot? Demi and the Swayze got down and dirty in 'Ghost' to this 1965 Phil Spector-produced hit by the Righteous Brothers, and cleaned up with a $214 million paycheck. We still blush a little when dad gives mom a clay vase for Christmas. -- JP

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4. The Bee Gees, 'You Should Be Dancin'' ('Saturday Night Fever,' 1977)
Only the Bee Gees could have scored the moment when the original JT catches a fever on the dance floor in this cinematic ode to disco. And you thought Justin got the inspiration for his 'Rock Your Body' video all by himself? Think again. -- MTC

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3. Elton John, 'Tiny Dancer' ('Almost Famous,' 2000)
Give it up to Cameron Crowe for making Elton John's 'Tiny Dancer' the new '100 Bottles of Beer on the Wall.' 'Almost Famous' was an open love letter to rock 'n' roll, and this scene was the little heart over the "i." -- MTC

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2. Eminem, 'Lose Yourself' ('8 Mile,' 2002)
If '8 Mile' is the hip-hop 'Rocky,' then 'Lose Yourself' is rap's answer to 'Eye of the Tiger.' Not only did Em's acting skills earn $300 million at the box office, he scored the biggest hit of his career and got to shout out co-star Mekhi Phifer as he spoils the film's entire plot in the song. -- JP

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1. Queen, 'Bohemian Rhapsody' ('Wayne's World,' 1992)
By itself, this operatic rocker has nothing to do with "party time," but when the tape is popped into the deck of Garth's "Mirth Mobile" in 'Wayne's World,' Queen's 'Bohemian Rhapsody' gives rise to music's most excellent cinematic moment. Let the triumphant head-banging begin! -- JP

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38 Comments

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thedudstar

What about DIana Ross and Lionel Ritchie Endless Love.

January 21 2012 at 7:59 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
seannsara

Inglorious Basterds...David Bowie. Putting out the fire with gasoline. Awesome use of that song in that scene

July 23 2011 at 6:34 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Steve

"Take my breath away"?..doesn't that make you nauseous and dizzy and sick to your stomach?...AND when you throw in this schmaltzy song.... I can hear the producers in the background.."Let's add something to make this palatable for the ladies...

July 23 2011 at 6:26 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Josie

Anything before 1970? I sure would have seen listed "As Time Goes By" from Casablanca.

July 22 2011 at 10:35 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Josie

Anything before 1970?

July 22 2011 at 10:34 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Josie

Anything before 1970?

July 22 2011 at 10:33 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
sarcanz

Like others, I agree that this list neglects older movies. Missing "Over the Rainbow" is bad, but leaving out "As Time Goes By"? It's not just a great movie song but one of the most memorable songs of the 20th century. You do get credit for including "Moon River" but what about "Memories" from "The Way We Were"? Also "Our Love Affair" which was in both "An Affair to Remember" and "Sleepless in Seattle"

My idea of a great movie song is one that runs through your head as you leave the theater, that you are still singing years after you saw the flick, and that whenever/wherever you hear it again, it immediately brings back a vision of the movie and your feelings when you saw it. A lot of the ones you list don't do that for me.

July 22 2011 at 1:42 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Bianca da Silva

what about "Iris" by Goo Goo Dolls, the teme song from "City of angels"? Who hears these song and don't remember that amazing movie?

July 04 2011 at 6:26 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
Dayna

Gone in 60 seconds-Lowrider

March 07 2011 at 4:41 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Patrick

I miss "There You'll Be" by "Faith Hill" out of "Pearl Harbour" and some others are missing too

February 22 2011 at 10:38 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply