Top 10 Rock songs in movies
Great music is the base of a phenomenal directed piece of the movie.
Epic battles, romantic scenes, car races, daring adventures, and spectacular fistfights would all be nothing without the ideal music. It magnifies storytelling, creates a cinematic atmosphere, and makes us viewers feel the scene and the characters bit by bit.
Our top 10 rock songs in movies – a blast:
- Tom Petty, Free Fallin’ – Jerry Maguire (1996)
After closing a vital deal, Jerry Maguire, a former sports agent, sits in his car, celebrating his accomplishment while singing along to the radio music. While it seems like none of the songs, such as “Bitch” by the Rolling Stones and “She” by Gram Parsons convince him, the smile on his face is enough to understand that Tom Petty’s “Free Fallin'” is the one.
Petty’s legendary folk-rock song displays feelings of releasement and happiness for Jerry after going through a very rough time, paving the way to his last chance of getting his life in order and becoming an honourable man.
- Redbone, Come and get your love – Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
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Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy is known for its authentic display of excellent rock music and humorous acting. Carrying all the great hits on one single tape, Peter Quill, aka Starlord, is on his way to stealing a precious orb while dancing across abyss and space creatures. No other song than Redbone’s “Come and get your love” is playing, giving the scene and the character a genuine entitlement of passion for music. Created by a band of Native Americans, the song confronts the stereotype of their ancestors in modern society and calls for a harmonic way of living between cultures.
This swampy funk-rock hit is one in a million, surpassing almost 38 years of listeners’ excitement and interest for extraordinary music.
- Kenny Loggins, Footloose – Footloose (1984)
Ren Cormack, the main character of Footloose, has to deal with a big shock after discovering that the town where he moved to has banned rock music and Dancing.
The uncontrollable desire to rebel against this outdated law, the upcoming senior prom, and the romance with Ariel will help Ren, and his friends let rock loose once again in town.
Most of the songs on the soundtrack of this movie, such as Let’s hear it for the boy, Holding out for a hero, and Dancing in the streets, were already at the top of the US lists. By the time the movie was released, “Footloose” had already appeared on the top 40 to finally rest on the top on March 31st, 1984.
The movie and its music are an invitation to set yourself free, dancing down the street, Footloose.
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- Smash Mouth, All Star – Shrek (2001)
Even though being formed in San Jose in early 1996, also the new generation of kids seems to acknowledge the rock band and its well-known hit “All Star”. Thanks to Pixar’s breakthrough with the animated movie Shrek, the youngest hum along nonstop to Smash Mouth’s exceptional creation of punk, pop, and rock.
Seeing their big green hero on-screen dancing to “All Star” made even their parents love the new anthem of self-love and encouragement. The song “All Star” is a message to people who don’t believe they are someone. It tells listeners to stop desiring to fall in line with social norms and stop thinking that glitter and glamour mean joy and happiness.
Being a lesson for young and old, this hit is worth being placed on our top 10 rock hits in movies.
- Survivor, Eye of the tiger – Rocky III (1982)
Sylvester Stallone’s powerful and fistfighting ventures in Rocky are a marvel of a movie. Starting out as a young and poor guy in Philadelphia, Rocky conquers the world of boxing when getting the chance to a once-in-a-lifetime fight with the champion. Putting all his bravery, passion, and eagerness into this chance, there is only one song that can display the life of the authentic Rocky: Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger”.
The song is a tangible symbol of a sportsman who fights to keep his dreams alive. Focusing on his inner and outer self, he strives for survival and uses all his given abilities to become the best version of himself.
- Eric Clapton, Layla – Goodfellas (1990)
Our review of the top 10 rock songs in film cannot miss out on Eric Clapton’s epic blues-rock hit “Layla”.
The song finds its place in the famous movie Goodfellas by Martin Scorsese, maker of Wolf of Wallstreet and Departed.
The movie is said to be one of the best Drama movies ever made in history, and that is also thanks to the melodic background music created by Eric Clapton. In Goodfellas, “Layla” is used as a soft piano version, mainly at the end of the movie, when New York’s mafia’s blood-chilling masterpiece is displayed in a 4-minute montage. “Layla”s charming piano notes stand in critical contrast to the barbaric massacre that reveals the movie’s end. A true classic.
- Bon Jovi, Livin’ on a prayer – Rock Star (2001)
The up-and-coming musician Chris Cole, played by Mark Wahlberg, struggles with life, his own authenticity, and his relationship when he suddenly becomes famous. It is a movie about finding yourself and leaving the shades of your mistakes to live faithfully. Exactly these aspects are taken by Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a prayer”, which once again describes the importance of living in faith. The main characters Chris and Emily are followed by this note when they reach the gates of their new luxury home, which marks the beginning of a romantic and musical tragedy.
- Queen, Bohemian Rhapsody – Wayne’s World (1992)
“I thought we’d go for a little Bohemian Rhapsody, gentlemen?”. Wayne opens an epic heavy rock car session with his friend Garth and their companions with this determination. This legendary scene was honoured by many fans of progressive rock when this act with one of Queen’s biggest hits was displayed on the screen. The comedy is known for its excellent music taste and humour brought into the movie by legendary characters, Wayne and Garth, two slobs who get the chance to direct their own TV show. “Bohemian Rhapsody” is without question one of the best songs ever written and, for years, was the most-played tune on people’s radio.
This historic movie cannot be missed out on our list of the top 10 rock songs in film.
- Elton John, Tiny Dancer – Almost Famous (2000)
A masterpiece of music, fame, and Elton John.
Almost Famous is a beautiful story about 15-year old William, whose biggest desire is to become a music critic. Being presented with the chance of his life, he joins the band Stillwaters on tour.
But how things are on the road, the band is confronted with a fight which leaves them in complete silence and anger the following day on the bus. Only until Elton John’s magnificent “Tiny Dancer” plays on the radio and unites the band members who all sing along to this memorable hit.
The scene is one of the most cherished moments in modern movie making as it captures the moment of the time.
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Being a critic in itself, it is no question that the hit “Fortunate Son” finds a spot in this legendary movie.
Forrest Gump is on his way to the military front of the Vietnam War, ready to fight for his home country America. Ironically, that is the exact moment in which the Creedence Clearwater masterpiece comes in place. “Fortunate Son” is a song that became a hymn for an anti-war movement that criticised the lucrative business of private persons to be the reason why they were able to withdraw from the war. And Forrest is the perfect display for their sorrows.
Combining politics, modern criticism, humour, and great tunes, this combination of music and film is worth being named within the top 10 rock songs in movies.
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