# Forgettable "Hit Songs" Shoehorned into Movies **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 21, 2019, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgettable-hit-songs-shoehorned-into-movies/843797 "2019-11-21T21:40:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![rsat3acr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@rsat3acr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsat3acr)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2019, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgettable-hit-songs-shoehorned-into-movies/843797/21 "2019-11-22T14:25:40Z")
> [@installLSC](#): > > [“All For The Love of Sunshine” by Hank Williams Jr.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHzIVQxhV7c) from “Kelly’s Heroes”. Matches the action so well doesn’t it? I’m reading a book about the history of MGM, and MGM Records’ chief Mike Curb stuck this song into the movie without notifying the director. I’m not sure “Burning Bridges” fit well into the movie either but it was by The Mike Curb Congregation and I do like the song. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2019, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgettable-hit-songs-shoehorned-into-movies/843797/22 "2019-11-22T14:50:52Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > How about [a forgettable movie which happened to spawn a hit song](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_(film))? _[Dangerous Moonlight](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dangerous_Moonlight)_. The Warsaw Concerto from it was not a popular hit, but is still a mainstay of classical music. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2019, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgettable-hit-songs-shoehorned-into-movies/843797/23 "2019-11-22T15:53:49Z")
[This song](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You%27re_the_Best) was so forgettable it got passed up for 2 other movies before becoming Danny LaRusso’s theme. > [@](#): > > was originally intended for the Rocky III soundtrack, but was replaced by “Eye of the Tiger”. It was subsequently also turned down for the Flashdance soundtrack in favour of “Maniac” by Michael Sembello. The Karate Kid’s director, John G. Avildsen, liked the song so much that he used it in the movie ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2019, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgettable-hit-songs-shoehorned-into-movies/843797/24 "2019-11-22T16:10:09Z")
> [@Hatchie](#): > > Weel, it’s not as if Butch or Sundance actually sang it in the movie; it was just a background to a montage of random time-killing capers. > > I’m trying to think of anachronistic music in a historical setting (where a character plays it) (no, _Back to the Future_ doesn’t count). So not _A Knight’s Tale_? The characters _dance_ to a modern song. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2019, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgettable-hit-songs-shoehorned-into-movies/843797/25 "2019-11-22T16:34:16Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats](#): > > Well, _Mandy_ was about a dog. > [@digs](#): > > Are you thinking about “Shannon”, or are there two canine love songs? If we’re talking about the appalling Barry Manilow version of the Scott English song **Brandy** - apparently not. [This](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandy_(Scott_English_song)#Scott_English's_original) pegs it as an urban myth. j ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2019, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgettable-hit-songs-shoehorned-into-movies/843797/26 "2019-11-22T16:46:23Z")
The idea of a hit song to go with the movie is older than you might think. In the intro to the song Oedipus Rex, the great Tom Lehrer [discusses the phenomenon](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mScdJURKGWM). (From _An Evening Wasted with Tom Lehrer_, recorded 1959). j ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2019, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgettable-hit-songs-shoehorned-into-movies/843797/27 "2019-11-22T17:46:46Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > [_Moulin Rouge!_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moulin_Rouge!) was notable for using musical numbers entirely out of its time period. I would argue that isn’t the best example though - as they quite intentionally did this. Raindrops, now… ugh. And Ben: I’m sad to say I saw the movie. The song, for anyone who has not had that “treat”… is about a rat. Not “bad person” rat, but quite literally a rodent. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2019, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgettable-hit-songs-shoehorned-into-movies/843797/28 "2019-11-22T22:12:18Z")
I can’t believe I’m the first to bring up _Wham Bam Shang-a-lang_ by Silver being all useless and stupid on the **Guardians of the Galaxy 2** soundtrack. ---
**Author:** ![ASL\_v2.0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asl_v2.0/32/3525_2.png) [@ASL\_v2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASL_v2.0)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2019, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgettable-hit-songs-shoehorned-into-movies/843797/29 "2019-11-22T22:20:31Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > How about [a forgettable movie which happened to spawn a hit song](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_(film))? If that’s fair game, then I’d go with this [highly forgettable entry into the late-80’s/early-90’s buddy copy genre](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rush_(1991_film)), which featured [a song](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tears_in_Heaven) which I suspect far more of you will be familiar with today. A catchy tune when it appeared in the soundtrack, but it didn’t really fit with the scene in my mind. > [@rsat3acr](#): > > I’m not sure “Burning Bridges” fit well into the movie either but it was by The Mike Curb Congregation and I do like the song. I love that song. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2019, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgettable-hit-songs-shoehorned-into-movies/843797/30 "2019-11-22T22:40:24Z")
I would have never referred to Rush as a “buddy cop” movie. Possibly forgettable since it wasn’t a box office smash (though it received good reviews and was highly recommended by video clerks), but certainly not forgettable to me due to a couple intense scenes. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2019, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgettable-hit-songs-shoehorned-into-movies/843797/31 "2019-11-23T03:07:33Z")
> [@ASL\_v2.0](#): > > If that’s fair game, then I’d go with this [highly forgettable entry into the late-80’s/early-90’s buddy copy genre](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rush_(1991_film)), which featured [a song](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tears_in_Heaven) which I suspect far more of you will be familiar with today. A catchy tune when it appeared in the soundtrack, but it didn’t really fit with the scene in my mind. > I love that song. I think i first heard it covered by The Osmonds so…yeah it fits the OP for me. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2019, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgettable-hit-songs-shoehorned-into-movies/843797/32 "2019-11-23T03:10:47Z")
> [@Personal](#): > > I always yell at the radio, “He’s singing about a friggin’ rat!” Isn’t Ben sorta the villain in “Willard”?? Talk about a redempton arc ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2019, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgettable-hit-songs-shoehorned-into-movies/843797/33 "2019-11-23T05:32:26Z")
> [@Hatchie](#): > > Weel, it’s not as if Butch or Sundance actually sang it in the movie; it was just a background to a montage of random time-killing capers. > > I’m trying to think of anachronistic music in a historical setting (where a character plays it) (no, _Back to the Future_ doesn’t count). The Byrds sang “Turn, Turn, Turn” on an episode of “F Troop.” ---
**Author:** ![RioRico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2019, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgettable-hit-songs-shoehorned-into-movies/843797/34 "2019-11-23T18:52:21Z")
I was going to mention UNCHAINED but was beaten to the punch. For awful films with hit songs, see Elvis movies. And as for RAINDROPS… We stayed in a mountain city in Chiapas (southernmost Mexico) with unsanitary plumbing. For fresh drinking water, residents flagged down a delivery truck. At dawn, just after skyrockets were launched from local churches, water trucks started prowling the cobbled streets with RAINDROPS blasting non-stop from tinny speakers. Nobody slept in late. ---
**Author:** ![margin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/65b543/32.png) [@margin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/margin)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2019, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgettable-hit-songs-shoehorned-into-movies/843797/35 "2019-11-23T22:13:48Z")
There’s a rather good thriller with Kevin Costner called, I believe, “No Way Out” which features a histrionic, cringeworthy Paul Anka song over a love scene. Why does Anka always sound like he’s being treated badly while he’s singing? Also, nobody mentioned, “Ladyhawke”? Great movie, but jeez, that score was _jarring._ ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2019, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgettable-hit-songs-shoehorned-into-movies/843797/36 "2019-11-23T22:31:37Z")
> [@margin](#): > > There’s a rather good thriller with Kevin Costner called, I believe, “No Way Out” which features a histrionic, cringeworthy Paul Anka song over a love scene. Why does Anka always sound like he’s being treated badly while he’s singing? I really enjoyed _No Way Out_…one of the better ones of that genre. And one whose lead role that was within the limits of Costner’s acting skills. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2019, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgettable-hit-songs-shoehorned-into-movies/843797/37 "2019-11-23T23:20:29Z")
Here’s an example that actually meets the requirements of the OP: Prince’s entire contribution to the 1989 **Batman** , which was imposed on the film against Tim Burton’s objections, and had nothing to do, tonally speaking, with the rest of the film. It also wasn’t very good, for Prince. ---
**Author:** ![chancetx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cdc98d/32.png) [@chancetx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chancetx)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2019, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgettable-hit-songs-shoehorned-into-movies/843797/38 "2019-11-28T07:28:30Z")
This may not fit since the song was a hit but the 1971 thriller Play Misty For Me features an excruciatingly long love sequence featuring Roberta Flack’s “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.” Lovely song but it brings the movie to a screeching halt for nearly 6 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2019, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgettable-hit-songs-shoehorned-into-movies/843797/39 "2019-11-28T08:37:59Z")
> [@Little\_Brother\_1](#): > > This thread is inspired by the “Movies That Would Have Been Better With No Love Interests” thread. I think a better title for this thread, then, might have been “Movies That Would Have Been Better Without ‘Hit Songs’ Shoehorned In”. Calling “Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head” “forgettable” isn’t particularly apt—the song itself is quite catchy, and I’ll bet more people today are familiar with it than with _Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid_. And the fact that the song’s use in the movie grates on you so much, after all these years, also speaks to its memorability. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2019, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgettable-hit-songs-shoehorned-into-movies/843797/40 "2019-11-28T09:06:14Z")
We dodged a bullet, as at one point the rights holders to the 1983 Scarface movie we’re planning on “remastering” the film in it’s intial DVD release by removing the 80s pop songs and adding 90s and 2000s era rap music presumably to make the movie less “dated”. Luckily cooler heads prevailed and instead the DVD remastering messed with the sound effects instead which is still annoying but tolerable. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgettable-hit-songs-shoehorned-into-movies/843797.md?page=1)