Soundtracks are a magical thing. They can make or break a moment in a movie or TV scene and add a new level of emotion.
Sometimes, movies and TV shows will look to modern songs to soundtrack a scene. However, there are plenty of examples of a film or a show going back in time to find a song that perfectly complements a moment. Oftentimes, using a more seasoned song, as opposed to a newer track, can help make a moment even more memorable.
A great example of this is the use of The Knack’s “My Sharona” in 1994’s Reality Bites. Oh, you’ve never whimsically danced in the food mart of a gas station? Then you never really have lived! Sometimes, you just have to dance in public with your friends.
Who can forget the use of “Miserlou” in Pulp Fiction? Can you imagine the opening credits of Quentin Tarantino’s hit without this Dick Dale classic? Exactly.
Tarantino really enjoys showcasing classic tunes in his movies. His inclusion of the Stealers Wheel’s song “Stuck in the Middle With You” in Reservoir Dogs helped introduce the one-hit wonder to a whole new audience. Sure, it was used during an incredibly grizzly scene, but it’s proof of how effective music moments like these are.
John Hughes often liked to highlight artists of the day in his many classic movies, but in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, he went back to the ’60s for this magic moment. In perhaps the greatest lip sync performance outside of RuPaul’s Drag Race, Matthew Broderick’s Ferris Bueller transforms Chicago’s Von Steuben Day Parade into the party of the year with some help from Wayne Newton and The Beatles.
From iconic films to contemporary series, here are nine songs that got a second life in modern movies and TV shows.
