Vanity Fair went and put together their Top 50 film soundtracks, releasing the top ten choices today — the rest will be out next month in a one-time magazine, Movies Rock. No apostrophe, so we’ll take them at their words and agree: Yes, movies do rock. But some of these don’t belong in a Top 10. The bell-bottomed part of our brains agrees with Saturday Night Fever and Superfly is just what it sounds like but … well let’s lift the curtain for the rest…
10 The Big Chill
09 American Graffiti
08 Saturday Night Fever
07 Trainspotting
06 Superfly
05 The Graduate
04 Pulp Fiction
03 The Harder They Come
02 A Hard Day’s Night
01 Purple Rain
Win some, lose some. The Graduate: classic, right? Well, somebody’s wrong: Variety? Or Roger Ebert?
Anyway, this Top 10 is literally just the beginning: On December 2 there’s going to be a Movies Rock concert at the Kodak Theatre in L.A. with Beyonce, Elton John, Fergie, Carrie Underwood, Mary J. Blige, and Jennifer Hudson taking on tunes from the films Vanity Fair selected. Via Billboard:
Beyonce will sing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” from “The Wizard of Oz,” while Underwood will tackle the title number from “The Sound of Music.” Other pairings on tap include Hudson on “Goldfinger,” Fergie on “Live and Let Die,” Blige and John Legend on “As Time Goes By” and John on music from animated films.
Do not set your Tivos!
Vanity Fair anxiously awaits you telling them how badly they fucked up.
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rushmore.
would include vanilla sky and good will hunting. glad NOT to see garden state.
Lost Highway. Now that deserves a spot.
And I almost forgot, American Beauty. Thomas Newman makes some beautiful tunes there!
come on, did you really expect to see garden state on that list? only a blog would rank that in the top 10.
Did they forget about Pretty In Pink? The Smiths, New Order, Echo!!!!
Magnolia was pretty good.
PS. That should read:
Beyonce will over-sing “Somewhere Over The Rainbow.”
Because she will. The word “somewhere” has two syllables, not fifteen.
…or the Steve Buscemi vehicle (?) Trees Lounge. Brenda Lee, the Ink Spots, Hayden, etc!
I’m not gonna lie, I really love the fact that Prince’s “Purple Rain” is in the top spot. You all know you love (and know all the words to) “When Doves Cry.”
Agree about “Purple Rain” but personally would have put “Until the End of the World” on the list.
Rushmore should be on that list!
Way to pounce all over Wes Anderson’s great music picks but kudos on the Trainspotting soundtrack. See now THAT would be funny to see someone cover a song from there.
Sorry, but any list that doesn’t include the Singles soundtrack and the original Crow soundtrack is a joke.
WTF??
Where’s Godzilla’s soundtrack?
Haha, just kidding.
come with me, come with me…
I’m surprised that no one’s menttioned the Romeo and Juliet (1997) soundtrack! That’s definitely one of my favorites!
We only know 10 of the 50, so there may be something else from the past 20 years aside from Pulp Fiction to come. I vote Singles
definitely would agree with the singles soundtrack. The soundtrack for Pump Up The Volume really stuck out for me growing up. Then of course there’s soundtracks that should have the certificate says “this soundtrack better be good because the movies about a frickin’ record store” (Empire Records, High Fidelity).
Personal favorites are: The Big Lebowski, Dead Man, Grosse Point Blank, and anything Jon Brion puts his hand to.
I was always fond of Forest Gump’s soundtrack. Nothing beats nostalgia.
Where’s the Wes Anderson?! Rushmore, Tenenbaums…Genius soundtracks! Injustice.
i’m going to have to second the ‘vanilla sky’ vote. and third.
Jimi Hendrix was born in Auschwitz Germany in 1935. He was a father of 3 adopted ballerinas and held his own productions of Swan Lake in his amphitheatre. He grew to be 900 feet tall and gave birth to his first daughter out of his asshole. This is the only recorded case of asshole births and is thought to be quite a miracle. Jimithias Hendrix was born back before ancient Rome. He is still alive today using human bodies as hosts. I am Jimi Hendrix. I will render you immobile with voodoo psychedelia. I?m outside your window. The door is unlocked. Look behind you.
-Jimi
boiler room…bitches
Amelie – Yann Tiersen
Virgin Suicides – Air! c’mon…
P.S “the ghost” I just read that Jimi Hendrix thing, very creepy…why?
Harold and Maude anyone? definitely deserves mention.
Agreed on Jon Brion. I’d throw in Eternal Sunshine.
Harold and Maude.
lost in translation anyone?
Every Scorsese movie?
Like the list and most of the comments. Agreed that there are some major ones missing. I would put About a Boy on there by Badly Drawn Boy. It’s original music written specifically for the flick but also stands on its own in case you can’t bear to watch Hugh Grant.
Purple Rain..could it have been anything else?
Such as solid,solid album.”the beautiful ones” is amazing.
Actually, I rather liked “Parade / Under The Cherry Moon”, never saw the film, but the album was one of Prince’s best. As an album, I prefer it to Purple Rain.
And few other pretty good soundtracks no one has mentioned:
- Natural Born Killers
- Until The End Of The World
- Curdled
- Flashdance (yes, I said Flashdance)
- Frida
- Marie Antoinette
- Katamari Damacy
- Priscilla Queen Of The Desert
- City of God
- Hedwig and the Angry Inch?
My #1 all time favorite movie soundtrack? O Brother, Where Art Thou? Big Rock Candy Mountains, Baby. Honorable mention to Fight Club.
Trainspotting absolutely deserves its spot.
Add to my list-
-Good Will Hunting
-Vanilla Sky
-24 Hour Party People
-Velvet Goldmine
-Rushmore
-South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut
-Spun (the last decent Corgan effort)
Um, Judgement Night anyone? Not top 10, but just wanted to add my memory since no one mentioned it. Seriously, and early 90′s classic. Admit it.
oops, I meant AN early 90′s classic. I’m drunk. And I drink because I’m sad. I’m most sad that I’m sitting here alone at 3am posting on Stereogum. Like Scotty in Boogie Nights, I’m a fuckin’ idiot. Fuckin’ idiot, fuckin’ idiot, fuckin’ idiot.
I second the Singles soundtrack (Drown is still my fave Sm.Pumpkins track), and I get the feeling I’m the only one who is happy to see The Big Chill on there. Damn they released TWO albums for The Big Chill and they both rule.
My roommate and I have a room full of vinyl and we have litle contests to where we alternate picking the best songs in our collection and he has yet to figure out that often I win by simply leaving the Big Chill soundtrack on the decks.
My other friend had a copy of it on a tape and that thing was played endlessly whenever we’d drive across the US.
The Zombies, CCR, Aretha, Beach Boys, The Band, James Brown, The Supremes, Percy Sledge, The Stones….its like the greatest hits of 1965-1975, which is possibly the best 10 year span for music in the 20th century. The soundtrack is a little “safe” with so many classics, but damnit. Still a nice collection.
this is what i want to do for a living. not post on message boards, but be a ‘music supervisor’. anyone know how i can fulfill my dream?
Hey, where’s New Jack City?!?!? Just joking. I agree with whoever mentioned “Parade” (the soundtrack to Under the Cherry Moon). No way it would make top ten, but it sure as hell better make the list. “Purple Rain” at number one is perfectly acceptable. One of the most solid albums front to back ever recorded.
How about “Gross Pointe Blank?”
Gotta put another word in for Pretty in Pink and Singles.
I listen to at least one song from the Broken Flowers, Marie Antoinette, Manhattan, and Stranger than Fiction soundtracks almost daily.
The Crow is at least top 15.
The Crow soundtrack should be somewhere in there.
The Singles soundtrack??? Are you serious??? My Sharona is by far the worst song in the history of songs, and for that reason alone the Singles soundtrack needs to be totally forgotten. Forever.
I can’t believe no one’s mentioned Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
Sorry, but My Sharona is not on Singles. Methinks you have a different mid-90s movie about twentysomethings in your brain.
LAST OF THE MOHICANS!!!!!!!!!! LAST OF THE MOHICANS!!!!!!!!!! LAST OF THE MOHICANS!!!!!!!!!! LAST OF THE MOHICANS!!!!!!!!!! LAST OF THE MOHICANS!!!!!!!!!! LAST OF THE MOHICANS!!!!!!!!!! LAST OF THE MOHICANS!!!!!!!!!! LAST OF THE MOHICANS!!!!!!!!!! LAST OF THE MOHICANS!!!!!!!!!! LAST OF THE MOHICANS!!!!!!!!!! LAST OF THE MOHICANS!!!!!!!!!! LAST OF THE MOHICANS!!!!!!!!!! LAST OF THE MOHICANS!!!!!!!!!! LAST OF THE MOHICANS!!!!!!!!!! LAST OF THE MOHICANS!!!!!!!!!! LAST OF THE MOHICANS!!!!!!!!!! LAST OF THE MOHICANS!!!!!!!!!! LAST OF THE MOHICANS!!!!!!!!!! LAST OF THE MOHICANS!!!!!!!!!! LAST OF THE MOHICANS!!!!!!!!!! LAST OF THE MOHICANS!!!!!!!!!!
I give an enthusiastic second to the Katamari Damacy soundtrack. It is utterly brilliant and will blow your mind, to bad its not a MOVIE.
I support the Vanilla Sky soundtrack and the half of The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou soundtrack that doesn’t feature Seu Jorge.
(Does anyone else agree that The Big Chill is the worst film ever?)
‘Once’
good film, good set o’tunes.
Yes Veruca, with all this Singles love I’m surprised no one has mentioned Reality Bites? That soundtrack was big-time Gen-X pandering, and we all had to have our hands on the adorable Lisa Leob song, plus a recycled U2 song from 6 years prior! And it featured Ethan Hawke, who fearlessly played against-type as a twenty-something slacker/poet/coffee-shop employee. Good times.
What soundtrack was that Red Hot Chili Peppers song Soul To Squeeze on? Was that the Coneheads soundtrack? Movies used to be so GOOD.
I would also like to put my vote in for the Batman Forever soundtrack. Kiss From a Rose OWNS you.
Personally I think whoever has been responsible for putting together Gregg Araki’s soundtracks should be given some recognition. From Doom Generation to Nowhere to Splendor to Mysterious Skin, you’ve got Slowdive, Radiohead, Elastica, Lush, Catherine Wheel, Cocteau Twins, Ride, Sigur Ros, Suede, Chapterhouse, Blur, Orbital, Air, Spiritualized, Chemical Brothers, New Order, Jesus & Mary Chain, Aphex Twin, and The Verve.
Am I right?
Little Miss Sunshine- Devotchka, Sufjan = sublime (not the band).
and
Gross Pointe Blank – Clash, Motorhead, Faith No More, Echo and the Bunnymen, etc.
Ever since I’ve owned an iPod, the Splendor soundtrack has never been taken out of circulation in my playlist.
Okay, is it “Grosse” or “Pointe?” One has an “e” and one doesn’t.
Grosse Pointe Blank. Both have E’s
Trippio beat me to it, definitely About a Boy.
Trainspotting is the greatest soundtrack ever.
I’d also like to nominate:
THE CROW
HACKERS
ROMEO + JULIET
DICK TRACY
THE CROW: CITY OF ANGELS
THE DOOM GENERATION
NOWHERE
SPLENDOR
& MYSTERIOUS SKIN
Gregg Araki’s soundtracks combined should be in the #1 spot. Okay, and what about THE BODYGUARD you guys?
The idea of that “concert” made me throw up in my mouth…
The beauty part about the Singles soundtrack is that, Hendrix and Mother Love Bone aside, all of the songs seem to have been given to Cameron Crowe specifically for the movie, even those that later ended up on albums by the band. I still think it makes the best argument for the Seattle/commercial alternative bands of the early 90s. It even provides the historical context with Hendrix and Zeppelin (via the Lovemongers) accounted for and Paul Westerberg’s pop songs reminding us that the Replacements got to punk/classic rock/metal first.
And none of the songs sound like b-side cast-offs as they often do on other soundtracks (see The Crow). The two Pearl Jam songs are easily as good as anything on Ten, if not better, and “Would?” and “Nearly Lost You” turned out to be highlights of Dirt and Sweet Oblivion. It’s a damn good primer on the glossier side of Seattle. If he’d thrown on Nirvana, the Posies, and maybe the Young Fresh Fellows or the Fastbacks, Crowe would have had all bases covered.
I can’t belive no one has mentioned this one yet…
Judgement Night!
Dating myself but… I have to agree: Singles (Dyslexic Heart? State of Love & Trust Come on!) and Grosse Pointe Blank vol. 1 are musts for that list. So good, so good.
Wow. So I’m the first to mention Dirty Dancing? Didn’t that sell 100 million copies, or at least usher in the age of the Soundtrack as Movie Marketing Add On?
BTW, if I had a time machine, I would go back and erase Judgment Night, C+ soundtrack, F- movie, from the face of our culture. Ten-plus years later, it has taken it’s rightful place as dollar bin fodder and psychological warfare.
And before y’all get judgment night in my face, I’m only reporting Dirty Dancing as an obvious exclusion, not because I think Patrick Swayze’s “She’s Like the Wind” deserves any historical recognition.
high fidelity should certainly be on the list if for nothing else jack black singing lets get it on.
i rather like The Adventures of Sebastian Cole soundtrack, myself. and Sign o’ The Times.
Footloose!
KIDS
LIFE AQUATIC. That scene where Life on Mars? is playing and Steve is smoking is my favourite. LOVE.
Oops, I apologize. My Shorona was indeed in Reality Bites, but still the worst song ever written.
Space Jam
Any Peter Greenaway movie.
Where the hell is Dazed and Confused? Are you kidding me?
two words… beverly hills cop
and young guns was a damn fine soundtrack too — do it JOVI!!!
laurel canyon
teen wolf!
“o brother where art thou” is the best soundtrack ever
i second the life aquatic all the way. “ping island” rocks my world.
HACKERS
Did a lot to popularize electronica in America. I would pick it over Trainspotting.
And Singles, obviously.
Also, why do all these bedwetters keep mentioning Good Will Hunting?
-Trainspotting
-The Crow
-Oh Brother Where Art Thou
-Royal Tenenbaums
“Also, why do all these bedwetters keep mentioning Good Will Hunting?”
I’m willing to bet it’s because of Elliott Smith.
I agree with the person who mentioned Air’s “Virgin Suicides” soundtrack (score), but the other “Virgin Suicides” soundtrack with the 70s songs on it is good too. (Actually, I think any Sofia Coppola movie soundtrack would go in my top ten.)
Ghost Dog.
Boom.
How about clerks? Chewbacca!
agreed! rushmore should be on the list along with forest gump and baz’s romeo and juliet
YES! the ultimate winner IS Air’s Virgin Suicides Score…hands down!or my Summer of Love….Goldfrapp!
I second the comment re: “Amelie” soundtrack. Yann Tiersen = genius.
Yann Tiersen = God.
donnie darko? natural born killers? pi?
reservoir dogs?
it compiled some pretty average 70s songs into an great soundtrack
ANGUS!
How about the soundtrack to “Grease”. I do believe that soundtrack had a song or two with some popularity. I wouldn’t put “Grease” in my top 10, but objectively, I think it belongs in the overall top 10.
I want to second the comments on the “Nowhere” and “Doom Generation” soundtracks. They are both excellent.
Also, no one has mentioned “Lost Boys”, which had an excellent soundtrack.
My all-time favorite, “Pretty in Pink”.
I’m really enjoying the Dan In Real Life soundtrack by Sondre Lerche
have to agree on Pump Up The Volume… meant a lot me as a kid and introduced to me to several bands.
Love Harold and Maude, but technically it was never a commercially availble (at least in the Western world) soundtrack. Eventhough no one can imagine the film without Cat Stevens, i wonder if the lack of commercial availability matters to ‘them.’
so many more…
The Last Kiss. Duh. Joshua Radin, Imogen Heap, Coldplay, and Snow Patrol. Honestly, how can it get better than that?
the royal tenenbaums is perfect.
Purple Rain? Better than Batman? Please. (Disregard, stupids).
Oh yeah, big ups to whoever mentioned Katamari Damacy, even though it’s not a movie. Katamari made me believe in video games again, and the soundtrack had a lot to do with it. And if they were available, I would buy the soundtrack of every original Mega Man game. That’s probably why I love The Advantage.
Suspiria. And Woody Allen flicks.
The Buddha of Suburbia (David Bowie)
But there is another that’s also missing which sold a whole mess load and yet to be mention here in these comments: Heavy Metal. Tis’ true.
I can’t believe only one person has mentioned Footloose! Kenny Loggins is the man. And as far as I can see no one has mentioned Across the Universe?! Other personal favorites include Reality Bites, Empire Records, The Bodyguard, Singles, Cold Mountain, Great Expectations, and Once. I see that some people have brought up scores too… that’s a whole other can of worms. I would have to say that Batman Begins and The Village are my two favorites for that list – James Newton Howard is incredible.