BY MICHAEL GOODPASTER
The idea here is that certain songs are used in movies and television more than others. That’s perfectly fine and understandable. Trends and favorites will dictate things more often than unique merit and personal taste. The problem is excess.
Certain songs are overused. It’s almost comical when you watch a movie or a television show and they start using a random cliché song. The funny part of this clear display of unoriginality is that it keeps happening over and over again. At this point, I think it’s probably safe to assume you probably have one or two songs in your head that you’ve heard a million times on screen. But it doesn’t automatically mean it’s horrible.
Last week we learned that not every over-used song is a bad song. At least, I found that I personally enjoy some of the songs that are over-used. I think that’s actually a big reason these songs are over-used. They ARE songs that people connect to in some way. These songs tap certain emotions and convey any specific idea they want to get across. It’s easy manipulation to sell a trailer or to push an emotion.
It’s not the song’s fault they’re that attachable. It’s the music programmer’s fault for going the easy route. Listening to and enjoying one of these songs is cool. You can listen to and enjoy whatever the hell you want. I just wish whoever is deciding to use these songs would try to spread themselves out a little bit. Why not use different songs? You can’t tell me there aren’t any other catchy emotional-anthems out there that haven’t been tapped.
Today I’m going to take a look at the top ten of my list of twenty most annoyingly overused songs in movies and television. Last week I covered the first ten, which can be read HERE. No seriously… CLICK HERE!
Now we move on to the final ten…
10: “Low Rider” by War
I don’t know any other song by the band War. I know they were before my time, but I couldn’t pick the band out of a line-up if I were forced to. Just because of these facts doesn’t mean I’m delusional. This song is great. It’s groovy, but subdued with all out coolness. It’s typically a stoner song or something that’ll involve lame stereotypical gang members. It’s just a strutty-cool type of vibe that is recognizable as a certain attitude. It can be used in multiple tones, but at this point it’s been used so much that it’s most likely not going to be taken seriously unless someone goes the artsy-crazy route. This is just one of those songs that’s cemented in pop culture history.
9: “Let’s Get it Started” by The Black Eyed Peas
“Let’s Get Retarded” was how I first heard it thanks to the movie “Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle”. It was fun, funky, and the offensive lyrics gave it a “more than pop” edge. This would all change when they dropped the re-do of “Let’s Get It Started”. The rest is history. This song got played over and over and over again. Kid movies, adult movies, television shows, and pretty much any type of visual/audio programming or production has been ambushed with this self-edited borefest. It’s just such a generic hip hop song. If this song were a 1990’s trend, it would be the rapping grandma of recent pop hits.
8: “Once In a Lifetime” by Talking Heads
I love Talking Heads. They have made some really awesome music and every time I go back and revisit their discography I take away something new. They are a band that I recommend everyone absorb and listen to at least once in their life. It’s worth it. This song is a perfect example of what they offered. Most people know this song as being the dramatic “How did I get here?” twist on the trailer. It’s when the lead character has that moment of not expecting where he they end up. It’s normally involving a family atmosphere or something like that. It’s a good song to use, but it’s just overdone. Being a nerd, I’m slightly bothered that this song is what a lot of people know the band from. It’s just one of many awesome tracks in their collection.
7: “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd
I’ve never been a fan of Lynyrd Skynyrd. I know a lot of people hold them in high esteem, but they’re just a band I never connected with. I can appreciate “Free Bird” and handful of their songs, but “Sweet Home Alabama” is just about as grating as nails on a chalkboard. It’s just a really overplayed song. So many movies, television shows, and broken jukeboxes has played this song in excess. I’m sure some of that’s by demand but THAT much? C’mon! It’s been in kid movies, trashy movies, comedies, horror movies, and everything from 8 Mile to Forrest Gump. The song doesn’t make me dislike the state or anything, but I’m pretty sure being overexposed to this one song has ruined Skynyrd for me.
6: "I Got You (I Feel Good)" by James Brown
I think James Brown should be celebrated as often as possible. He was one of the best entertainers of modern music and helped pave the way for many people. His contributions are enormous. That doesn’t mean we need to hear “I Feel Good” every three minutes. There are plenty of movies to use this song in the trailer, even more that use it in movies, and then more that have used it on television and in commercials. It’s just one of those songs that everyone knows and loved. It’s just become a running cliché now. As great of as song it is, I don’t think anyone hears the legit substance there. It’s just the happy-go-lucky funk rock song that movies with talk dogs or a Robin Williams movie has in it. Of course the song is no complete without the lame character breaking into a little private dance scene as this song plays in the cutesy background.
5: “What A Wonderful World” by Louie Armstrong
Mr. Armstrong put together a beautiful piece here. It’s one of the calmest and sweetest songs of all time. It’s a song you just want to settle in to a smile and drift through a flowing sea or comfort…. Or something. The point I’m trying to make is that this is a fantastic song that puts the listener in a happier place than before the loving tones hit your ears. As much as I like this song, it’s not like I need to hear it every single movie. It’s just way too easy of a music choice. If you need to have a happy, soul-touching moment then you’ll let everything go into a slow-motion montage as the warmest of emotions pass through you… like a cuddly kidney stone.
4: “All Along the Watchtower” by Jimi Hendrix
I love Jimi Hendrix. I find new value in his art as the years pass. There is always something new to take from listening to one of this man’s classic three albums and all the randomness to come after. The responsibility of being one the best is quality control. This song has been in A LOT of things, but mostly quality. It’s always that Vietnam, Woodstock, 1960’s drug scene that needs a bit of classing up that gets the treatment of this fine audio treat. In reality I could have went with a “Hey Joe” and not missed a beat, but I think this Dylan cover edges it out.
3: “Bodies” by Drowning Pool
This song is like a fart sponge. It takes everything resembling the scent of a fart in the general facility and sucks it up to one central point set to be unleashed into your ear holes. Yes, that is an elaborate metaphor to use to describe one’s disliking for a song but this is “Bodies” we’re talking about. If you saw the trailer for any action, science fiction, or “bad ass” scene in the past like ten years then there is a very good chance you’ve muted this song. The song wasn’t that bad, but it just got overplayed and became a radio-friendly metal nuisance. And dammit, am I the only one to notice they say “let the bodies hit the flow?” For realizes! Listen for yourself!
2: “Good Riddance(Time of Your Life)” by Green Day
Apparently, irony is lost on the world. This song isn’t meant to be some kind of sappy retrospective love-fest. It’s a sarcastic take on an experience. It’s full of snark and if dig through the easy layers of “feel good words and happy tones” you’d clearly appreciate the “fuck off” vibe that lies. It’s a really good song. I can understand why television shows, movies, and sappy commercials would want to use it. Despite the not-so-obvious depth and the tongue-in-cheek narrative, it’s a really pleasant song. It’s just used A LOT. I’m pretty sure you find out how lame your life is when you die based on this song. If your memories are set to the tune of THIS song then you’re a horrible person. Go outside!
1: “Let My Love Open the Door” by Pete Townshend
I despise this song. I despise the fact that it’s so catchy. I despise the fact that it’s so damn endearing and sweet. I despise the fact that it’s so overused. I’m not going to lie. I had no idea who this song was by until like a week ago when I forced myself to sit through this song on the local classic rock station. It’s a happy pop song that is ALWAYS used in happy sappy scenes of comedies and especially romantic comedies. It’s been in EVERYTHING from “Jerry Maquire”, “Dan In Real Life”, to even “Mr. Deeds”. It’s just ALWAYS out there. I noticed this phenomenon few years ago when it was being bastardized in “Dan In Real Life” and then I noticed it popping up everywhere. It’s in trailers, in emotional scenes, and in our ears every time a music director decides they want to convey the feeling of “awe shucks! look-it! it’s love!” I have nothing but respect for Townshend’s contribution to rock and roll, but my dislike for this song makes my appreciation off balanced. Screw opening the door “to my heart”, how about opening the door to a new song. Any song. Please! Just stop with the god forsaken “My Love Open the Door”! PLEASE! (weeps of terror)
What songs are YOU tired of hearing in movies and television?
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