Few discographies have been used more in film than Elvis Presley‘s has. Using a song from the rock legend can immediately orient the listener to a time and place. Many filmmakers have made use of a well-placed Presley needle drop, but the three below beat out all the rest.
Videos by American Songwriter
Lilo and Stitch
Presley is The King everywhere, but he has a special fandom in Hawaii. He gave one of his final great performances in Honolulu, cementing him forever in the modern culture of the state. So, when it came time for Disney to make a movie set in the tropical islands, there was really only one choice for the soundtrack.
Lilo and Stitch makes great use of the several Presley songs the filmmakers had at their disposal. From an unlikely friendship scored with “Stuck On You” to “Devil in Disguise” being performed by a destructive alien experiment, no other artist’s discography would’ve worked quite as wonderfully as Presley’s did.
Hide in the kitchen, hide in the hall
Ain’t gonna do you no good at all
‘Cause once I catch you, and the kissing starts
A team of wild horses couldn’t tear us apart
This Is Spinal Tap
You can’t make a movie parodying the life of a rock star without playing homage to The King. Though it’s not the most flattering version of “Heartbreak Hotel” you’ve ever heard, the A cappella rendition in This Is Spinal Tap is sure to bring a smile to your face.
While visiting Presley’s grave, the core three of the fictitious rock group attempt to get on the same key–to no avail. It’s light-hearted, despite the inherent weight of Presley’s loss.
Well, since my baby left me
I found a new place to dwell
Down at the end of Lonely Street
At Heartbreak Hotel
Where I’ll be, I’ll be so lonely, baby
I’ll be lonely
I’ll be so lonely, I could die
Ocean’s Eleven
While Presley and Hawaii go hand in hand, there is nothing quite as synonymous with his legacy as Las Vegas is. They couldn’t make a heist movie set in Sin City without throwing in a Presley needle drop.
The modern remake of Ocean’s Eleven famously used “A Little Less Conversation” in its soundtrack. This Presley hit perfectly sums up the irreverent spirit and infectious energy of this action-movie classic.
Hey, a little less conversation, a little more action please
All this aggravation ain’t satisfactionin’ me
A little more bite and a little less bark
A little less fight and a little more spark
Shut your mouth and open up your heart and baby satisfy me
Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
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