Editor’s Choice: TOP 5 Film-Music Moments


Videos by American Songwriter

Editor’s Choice: TOP 5 Film-Music Moments

Mostly stuck in the ’80s

Editor’s Choice: TOP 5 Film-Music Moments

Mostly stuck in the ’80s

UB40’s “Red Red Wine” (written by Neil Diamond)
From Sliver
This reggae fueled re-make of the Neil Diamond classic is the steamiest scene and accompanying music video I can think of…the likes of which I haven’t seen since. William Baldwin and Sharon Stone are perfect accomplices to the lovers’ musical mayhem.

Stevie Wonder’s “I Believe” (written by Stevie Wonder)
From High Fidelity
I bought the soundtrack because of this closing song. It hits home, hard…a perfect 10/10. Kudos to the film’s co-music supervisors, D.V. DeVincentis and John Cusack, for this classic track selection.

Frank Sinatra’s “Come Fly with Me” (written by Bart Howard)
From Wall Street
What an opening credit to set the mood…dawn in Manhattan, ‘Ol Blue Eyes crooning and the smell of the late ‘80s overindulgence seeping through the screen.

INXS’s “People Are Strange” (written by The Doors)
From The Lost Boys
The heavyweight of all vampire movies, The Lost Boys’ opening song placement is chilling, eerie, gripping and feverish. The flexing cinematography helps bring the tune to a whole new level.

Randy Newman’s “Burn On”
From Major League
“There’s a red moon rising/on the Cuyahoga River/rolling into Cleveland/to the lake.” I’ve loved the Cleveland Indians and Randy Newman ever since…

Check out the new issue (July/August) for film-music picks from Ethan Hawke & Cameron Crowe.