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The 77 Most Unforgettable Movie Songs

In celebration of summer movie season, we've whipped up this "definitive" list of the most memorable movie songs. We reviewed hundreds of films to find these 77 gems. Everything was fair game ... EXCEPT MUSICALS (if you're looking for 'Rent,' go to Broadway). Enjoy the show.

77. Coolio, 'Gangsta's Paradise' ('Dangerous Minds,' 1995)
Michelle Pfeiffer's character uses tough love to keep inner-city students in school and away from crime in 'Dangerous Minds,' but the real crime was that Coolio stole an entire Stevie Wonder song to create his biggest hit. -- Jason Persse

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76. Dashboard Confessional, 'Vindicated' ('Spider-Man 2,' 2004)
In the second installment of Spidey's saga, Dashboard Confessional delivers one of the catchiest movie songs in history. It provided the right amount of whiny emo vocals and soaring rock riffs to capture both Peter Parker's love-struck identity crisis and his ass-kicking alter ego. -- Kim Davis

Watch the 'Vindicated' Video

75. Alanis Morissette, 'Uninvited' ('City of Angels,' 1998)
One year after Alanis penned this heavenly, Oscar-worthy tune for a syrupy film about angels, she was cast as God in Kevin Smith's brilliantly blasphemous 'Dogma.' Coincidence? -- M. Tye Comer

Watch Alanis Perform 'Uninvited' Live

74. The Champs, 'Tequila' ('Pee-wee's Big Adventure,' 1985)
The Champs' sax-heavy surf-rock classic made a major comeback when a peculiar man-boy named Pee-Wee donned a pair of platform shoes, hopped up on the bar, and danced his little heart out for the Satan's Helpers motorcycle gang. -- JP

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73. Nico, 'These Days' ('The Royal Tenenbaums,' 2001)
Time comes to a stop -- and this Jackson Browne-penned heartbreaker (sung by Nico) swells -- as Tenenbaum siblings Margo and Richie are reunited at the bus depot. Only a song this gorgeous could make their incestuous attraction seem sweet. -- JP

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72. Bruce Springsteen, 'Streets of Philadelphia' ('Philadelphia,' 1993)
Bruce's Oscar-wining ballad was inspired by the pioneering film 'Philadelphia' that exposed the loneliness and discrimination faced by AIDS victims. Fifteen years later, both the movie and the music are still as poignant as ever. -- Mindy Monez

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71. The Pixies, 'Where Is My Mind' ('Fight Club,' 1999)
David Fincher's brutal, split-personality brawlfest ends with fireballs, falling skyscrapers and this sanity-questioning alt-rock anthem from the Pixies, which became the ideal musical accompaniment for urban armageddon. -- JP

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70. Bon Jovi, 'Blaze of Glory' ('Young Guns II,' 1990)
Emilio Estevez originally asked that 'Wanted Dead or Alive' become the theme to his Wild West It-Boy blockbuster, but Jon Bon wouldn't allow it. Instead, he wrote 'Blaze of Glory' and roped in an Oscar nomination. -- JP

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69. OMD, 'If You Leave' ('Pretty in Pink,' 1986)
Written especially for the John Hughes masterpiece, 'If You Leave' became OMD's biggest hit. We may never understand why Andie choose Blane over Duckie, but this rousing synth-pop classic made it a little easier to swallow. -- JP

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68. Joe Cocker / Jennifer Warnes, 'Up Where We Belong' ('An Officer and a Gentleman,' 1982)
This kissy-face hit by Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes kicks in just when Richard Gere sweeps Debra Winger into his arms and carries her away from her crappy factory job and into the sunset. 'An Officer and a Gentleman' is one of the most romantic dramas ever, and of all the movie songs in history, this one still turns womens' knees to jelly. -- JP

Watch a Live Performance of 'Up Where We Belong'

67. Seal, 'Kiss From a Rose' ('Batman Forever,' 1995)
In 'Batman Forever,' Val Kilmer didn't fill the Caped Crusader's tights as well as Michael Keaton did in the original -- but at least 'Kiss From a Rose' was better than Prince's 'Batdance.' And you KNOW Seal sings it to Heidi Klum, like, every day. -- MTC

Watch the 'Kiss From a Rose' Video

66. Roxette, 'It Must've Been Love' ('Pretty Woman,' 1990)
It's unfathomable that a broke-ass prostitute would turn down a free penthouse and spending account from a John, but somehow, Julia Roberts made it believable in 'Pretty Woman,' with the help of a cheesy little Roxette song. -- KD

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65. Air, 'Playground Love' ('The Virgin Suicides,' 1999)
Sofia Coppola proves time and time again that her biggest asset (besides her last name) is her impeccable taste in movie songs. Props to her for pegging Air to compose the atmospheric score for her directorial debut, which resulted in this downbeat beauty. -- MTC

Watch the 'Playground Love' Video

64. Audrey Hepburn, 'Moon River' ('Breakfast at Tiffany's, 1961)
This Johnny Mercer and Henry Mancini composition in 'Breakfast at Tiffany's,' written specifically to fit Audrey Hepburn's limited vocal range, won the 1961 Best Song Oscar. Oddly, no one thought to put out Hepburn's original version until after her death in 1993. -- JP

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63. Tina Turner, 'We Don't Need Another Hero' ('Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome,' 1985)
Riding high on her early-'80s comeback, Tina got cast as Mel Gibson's silver-haired nemesis in the 'Mad Max' sequel and recorded this bombastic ballad about a better life beyond the Thunderdome. -- MTC

Watch the 'We Don't Need Another Hero' Video

62. Katrina and the Waves, 'Walking on Sunshine' ('High Fidelity,' 2000)
From 'The Secret of My Success' to 'American Psycho,' 'Walking on Sunshine' has become one of cinema's most reliable guilty pleasures. Its diabetes-inducing sweetness made it the perfect opening track for Jack Black's so-lame-it's-cool "Monday Morning Mixtape" in 'High Fidelity.' -- JP

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61. The Jesus & Mary Chain, 'Just Like Honey' ('Lost in Translation,' 2003)
We'll never know what Bill Murray whispers to Scarlett Johansson in the last scene of this subtle romance (set in anything-but-subtle Tokyo), but the hazy guitars and moody vocals of this shoegazer classic by the Jesus & Mary Chain summed up the pair's pained emotions perfectly. Score another one for Sofia. -- MTC

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Blogger

Cool List you have here, check out my Top Movie Soundtracks at http://tad.co.in/?p=814

November 09 2012 at 11:21 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
The Critical Fan

If you're a fan of lists, this one is sort of a fun list of music (great songs about animals--a random but fun topic)
http://www.fansandcritics.com/?q=node/365

August 23 2012 at 11:40 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Cap

The two top jazz musicians' songs--lush melodies and fascinating chord changes--are "On Green Dolphin Street" (made popular by Miles Davis and indispensable to any musician who plays jazz) and "Stella by Starlight" (dramatic song with ingenious chord changes--impossible to get tired of it--works as ballad or up-tempo). 50 years of experience as a musician has confirmed these 2 choices. But from the requests I as a pianist receive, I must include: "An Affair to Remember."

July 30 2012 at 4:41 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Refusor

Tastes differ, and so do top lists, I understand that. But not listing "The Last Unicorn" here is nothing short of blasphemy!

April 15 2011 at 1:31 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Eric

What happened to "Highway to the Danger Zone"? Top gun...classic scene...Definitely should have been in the top 10

August 11 2010 at 9:52 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Sumon

Great

July 14 2010 at 7:42 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Su

One of mine is the Italian Job "On Days Like These"
Matt Munro Mmmmmmm summer love

July 08 2010 at 5:06 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ros

No James Bond movies? The Living Daylights AHA, Diamonds are Forever, Shirley Bassey and loads more

July 07 2010 at 7:22 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
catch22

the fact that "moving in stereo" by the Cars is missing from the list (let alone the top 10) proves the list writer did no homework in writing this

say "fast times at ridgemont high" to ANYONE who's seen the movie, and all they hear in their head is that song and mental images of the iconic pool scene

...shame on you

June 30 2010 at 9:03 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
rob

please check out Iron and wine's Trapeze swinger from In good company. It definately belongs on the list and it's got to be Danke schon instead of twist and shout

June 29 2010 at 8:46 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply