A movie soundtrack can define a film, with the right choice of song injected into the right scene at the right time. So in this column, I’m going to dive into some of my personal favorite soundtrack moments and why I think they were the perfect fit.
“Tiny Dancer” ó “Almost Famous”
The entire soundtrack to “Almost Famous” is stellar. It’s hard to go wrong when your movie has songs by the likes of The Who, The Stooges, Jethro Tull, and of course Led Zeppelin providing the soundtrack. Not to mention the songs by fictional band “Stillwater” (which were written by director Cameron Crowe, his wife Nancy Wilson from Heart, and Peter Frampton), which rocked pretty hard too. But it’s the bus scene and “Tiny Dancer” that do it for me. The band had just picked up their lead guitarist Russell from a night of tripping acid with some teenagers (I am a golden god!) and their hopes were low.
However an impromptu sing-along of an Elton John classic provides the moral boost that they need to keep going. It’s really moving how it starts with just one person singing, and then the entire bus, and then if you’re watching with your friends, probably the entire room.
“Where is My Mind?” ó “Fight Club”Probably one of the best uses of a song ever, and my personal favorite soundtrack moment. It’s the end of the movie and the narrator has just shot himself to get his split personality Tyler Durden out of his head. As he stands there bleeding Marla runs into the room and they embrace, just in time to watch the city skyline he had rigged with explosives come tumbling down. As soon as the explosions start, the guitar riff for “Where is My Mind” starts ó it’s just perfect. Also, “Where is My Mind” is the perfect song for a movie about a man who has definitely lost his.
“Just Dropped in to See What Condition My Condition Was In” ó “The Big Lebowski”The soundtrack to one of the funniest scenes of the movie. This song is the one playing during the “Gutterballs” sequence after the Dude has been drugged by Jackie Treehorn. The Dude, wearing a cable repairman uniform (he fixes the cable?) dances around while Maude and a bunch of women parade around as Vikings/bowling pins. And don’t forget to get your bowling shoes from Saddam! So hilariously stupid ó this song is the perfect fit for such a scene.”Still” ó “Office Space”The Ghetto Boys + Disgruntled ex-employees + smashing office equipment = AWESOME. One would not usually connect gangsta rap with white boys in a cubicle, but I’m really glad Mike Judge did because this is the scene the movie is remembered for.
Musician Jesse Reaves lives in Salisbury. He can be e-mailed at ringostrat1@yahoo.com.