# Best song in a movie opening **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 13, 2010, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-in-a-movie-opening/556957 "2010-10-13T03:58:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_With_a_Cat)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-in-a-movie-opening/556957/41 "2010-10-13T19:18:13Z")
The Waterboys “Fisherman’s Blues” at the beginning of Waking Ned Devine. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-in-a-movie-opening/556957/42 "2010-10-13T19:20:14Z")
Don Felder’s “Heavy Metal (Take a Ride)” in the movie _Heavy Metal_. ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-in-a-movie-opening/556957/43 "2010-10-13T19:45:50Z")
I Heard it Through the Grapevine over the opening of “The Big Chill” [the Big Chill](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=581644) ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-in-a-movie-opening/556957/44 "2010-10-13T19:48:50Z")
> [@newcomer](#): > > First that comes to mind is Talking Heads “Sax and Violins” in “Until the End of the World”. Then, Neil Young’s soundtrack in “Dead Man”. And, “Killing Moon” in “Donnie Darko”. > > //\*\* BTW… these movies are in my Top 10 List so… Yep! Just came in to post “Sax and Violins,” myself. One of my top five movies AND soundtracks! ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-in-a-movie-opening/556957/45 "2010-10-13T20:23:23Z")
> [@LH75](#): > > I Heard it Through the Grapevine over the opening of “The Big Chill” (Featuring Kevin Costner in his most convincing role to date. ;)) ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-in-a-movie-opening/556957/46 "2010-10-13T20:28:37Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > I’m not sure that the Star Wars main title counts, as that was scored specifically for the movie, and was not a popular song beforehand. **Mack Tuck** ’s call, I guess. To me, it’s about the right music to set the tone for the film irrespective of whether it was written specifically for it. The main theme of **Star Wars** definitely worked. Good call on **Joe vs. the Volcano** and **The Breakfast Club**. I thought of a few more: “Rainbow Connection” in [The Muppet Movie.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSFLZ-MzIhM) Woody Allen’s film [Sleeper](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1shIHF0KJs) had a great Dixieland Jazz soundtrack. I always thought it sounded a lot like the silly-but-smart mayhem that Sleeper held in store for the viewer. [Hunt for Red October](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWPBr4L1eyE) used the some great Soviet music. Got me in the mood for some Cold War espionage. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-in-a-movie-opening/556957/47 "2010-10-13T20:37:30Z")
Ennio Morricone’s opening themes: [For A Few Dollars More](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLXQltR7vUQ) [The Good, The Bad and the Ugly](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hYV-JSjpyU) ---
**Author:** ![maladroit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@maladroit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maladroit)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-in-a-movie-opening/556957/48 "2010-10-13T20:40:55Z")
I’ts been a long time since I watched [The Land of Plenty](http://www.wim-wenders.com/movies/movies_spec/landofplenty/land-of-plenty.htm)by Wim Wenders, so I don’t remember if the title song was in the opening, but that movie has an outstanding soundtrack overall. It’s where I discovered Leonard Cohen, who wrote the song the title of the movie came from. ---
**Author:** ![Fried\_Dough\_Ho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a88e57/32.png) [@Fried\_Dough\_Ho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fried_Dough_Ho)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-in-a-movie-opening/556957/49 "2010-10-13T20:51:34Z")
Groundbreaking for its time, but Vangelis’ _Chariots of Fire_ filled the airwaves when the movie came out. ---
**Author:** ![Mtgman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Mtgman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mtgman)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-in-a-movie-opening/556957/50 "2010-10-13T20:56:05Z")
Smash Mouth’s “All Star” at the beginning of Shrek. Definitely set a tone which said “this isn’t your typical animated feature.” Enjoy, Steven ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-in-a-movie-opening/556957/51 "2010-10-13T21:15:26Z")
> [@Minnie\_Luna](#): > > The opening sequence of _The Graduate_ with S&G’s [The Sound of Silence](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDLgmBeqtz0). This is what I came to this thread to post. Props. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-in-a-movie-opening/556957/52 "2010-10-13T21:20:24Z")
> [@drillrod](#): > > _Don’t Fear The Reaper_ in the opening sequence of [The Stand](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUAvTn3uz5w) This was the one I first thought of when reading the topic title and the one I was coming in to mention if it wasn’t mentioned already. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-in-a-movie-opening/556957/53 "2010-10-13T21:46:04Z")
> [@Mach Tuck](#): > > > [@tdn](#): > > > > I’m not sure that the Star Wars main title counts, as that was scored specifically for the movie, and was not a popular song beforehand. **Mack Tuck** ’s call, I guess. > > To me, it’s about the right music to set the tone for the film irrespective of whether it was written specifically for it. The main theme of **Star Wars** definitely worked. Ah. In that case I’ll mention David Julyan’s score for **Insomnia**. So awesome that I borrowed the DVD from my then-GF to listen to the main title over and over. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-in-a-movie-opening/556957/54 "2010-10-13T22:46:59Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > _Don’t You Forget About Me_ by Simple Minds was a great choice for **The Breakfast Club**. It really set the tone for lost youth trying to find their way on life. Another of my favorite movies, and I’d need to pull out my DVD to double-check, but didn’t that song play over the end credits rather than the beginning of the movie? ---
**Author:** ![BlakeTyner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@BlakeTyner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlakeTyner)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2010, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-in-a-movie-opening/556957/55 "2010-10-14T01:02:16Z")
I’m surprised the thread got this far and I’m the first to mention… “Sweet Emotion” at the beginning of ‘Dazed and Confused.’ ---
**Author:** ![tattman40](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/db5fbb/32.png) [@tattman40](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tattman40)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2010, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-in-a-movie-opening/556957/56 "2010-10-14T01:12:18Z")
First thing that came to mind was “Amoreena” from Dog Day Afternoon [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYk2IaHxUeA) ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2010, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-in-a-movie-opening/556957/57 "2010-10-14T01:24:31Z")
Maybe just because of familiarity, but I’d have to nominate the opening to [Dr. No](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7ixp9rvOPQ). ---
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2010, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-in-a-movie-opening/556957/58 "2010-10-14T01:56:21Z")
Damn, most of the good openings have already been taken. Pulp Fiction is clearly the best IMO. [Juno](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20PQBtyfNZY) had a great opening. While not the best movie, Buffalo Springsteen’s “For What it’s Worth” from [Lord of War](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJ4EBA80XOQ&feature=related) was a good opening. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2010, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-in-a-movie-opening/556957/59 "2010-10-14T02:07:23Z")
[“Frosty the Snowman” in _Jack Frost_.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bREnn82XWmk) ---
**Author:** ![wheresmymind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/91b2a8/32.png) [@wheresmymind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wheresmymind)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2010, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-in-a-movie-opening/556957/60 "2010-10-15T00:20:10Z")
Can’t You Hear Me Knocking from Blow is a favorite of mine. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-in-a-movie-opening/556957.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-in-a-movie-opening/556957.md?page=4)