# Pleasant/innocuous songs in creepy/absurd/menacing contexts **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 11, 2017, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pleasant-innocuous-songs-in-creepy-absurd-menacing-contexts/776882 "2017-01-11T18:18:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2017, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pleasant-innocuous-songs-in-creepy-absurd-menacing-contexts/776882/21 "2017-01-11T21:12:50Z")
damn edit windows. [just trust me - go straight to about…oh, about 0:53 or so?.._Hip To Be Square_ AWESOMENESS!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iAaMcNOfJ4) ---
**Author:** ![Wolf333](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf333/32/3460_2.png) [@Wolf333](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolf333)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2017, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pleasant-innocuous-songs-in-creepy-absurd-menacing-contexts/776882/22 "2017-01-11T21:22:11Z")
“Sea of Love” in murder mystery _Sea of Love_. “Danny Boy” playing during a shootout in _Miller’s Crossing_. “Jeepers Creepers” in _Jeepers Creepers_. “Hit the Road to Dreamland” during the opening voice-over of _LA Confidential_. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2017, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pleasant-innocuous-songs-in-creepy-absurd-menacing-contexts/776882/23 "2017-01-11T21:41:27Z")
In Kick Ass they play the Banana Splits theme while Hit Girl dismembers a bunch of guys. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2017, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pleasant-innocuous-songs-in-creepy-absurd-menacing-contexts/776882/24 "2017-01-11T21:47:08Z")
“Silent Night” in the first _Black Christmas_. kid’s song(?) in the classroom as birds congregate just behind Tippi Hendren in _The Birds_. “Satisfaction” (ok maybe not the most strictly “pleasant” or “innocuous” number) in _Apocalypse Now_ is played during what outwardly looks like a surfing scene but definitely also carries with it a forbidding sense of fleeting freedom and well-being…definitely has that “lull before the storm” feel to it. ---
**Author:** ![Sefton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Sefton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sefton)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2017, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pleasant-innocuous-songs-in-creepy-absurd-menacing-contexts/776882/25 "2017-01-11T21:55:57Z")
In the movie _Eraserhead_, the woman in the radiator sings a lovely song as the title character goes about his dreary, surreal existence. Here’s the [scene](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmyzYBeGrE8). ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2017, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pleasant-innocuous-songs-in-creepy-absurd-menacing-contexts/776882/26 "2017-01-11T21:56:34Z")
The drug-deal-gone-bad scene in _Boogie Nights,_ with the drug dealer’s mix tape playing “Sister Christian”, “Jessie’s Girl” and “99 Luftballoons” in the background. The montage of Jimmy’s murder spree in _Goodfellas_ accompanied by Eric Clapton’s “Layla”. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2017, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pleasant-innocuous-songs-in-creepy-absurd-menacing-contexts/776882/27 "2017-01-11T22:39:23Z")
And, of course, Samuel Barber’s “Adagio for Strings” in _Platoon_. ---
**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:** [January 11, 2017, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pleasant-innocuous-songs-in-creepy-absurd-menacing-contexts/776882/28 "2017-01-11T23:22:35Z")
“All You Need is Love” in the final episode of _The Prisoner._ ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2017, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pleasant-innocuous-songs-in-creepy-absurd-menacing-contexts/776882/29 "2017-01-11T23:31:24Z")
Stanley Kubrick loved doing this. Paths of Glory Doctor Strangelove A Clockwork Orange Full Metal Jacket Probably others that I haven’t seen, or didn’t pay attention to the music. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2017, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pleasant-innocuous-songs-in-creepy-absurd-menacing-contexts/776882/30 "2017-01-11T23:42:27Z")
The opening call and responses in _Duelling Banjoes_. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2017, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pleasant-innocuous-songs-in-creepy-absurd-menacing-contexts/776882/31 "2017-01-12T00:13:11Z")
> [@Eddie The Horrible](#): > > It _is_ Rosini, you mean? (as in - acknowledging that you _did_ see my Rossini acknowledgement in post #14?) > > (figured I’d ask, since in the next post (15) it looks like you were ninja’ed.) Both correct. I was confirming your conjecture (it was Rossini as they were approaching the house) and got ninjaed about Singin’ In The Rain during the break-in/rape. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Mapp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miss_mapp/32/369_2.png) [@Miss\_Mapp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Mapp)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2017, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pleasant-innocuous-songs-in-creepy-absurd-menacing-contexts/776882/32 "2017-01-12T00:45:44Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > “All You Need is Love” in the final episode of _The Prisoner._ And also Carmen Miranda’s “I- I- I- I- I- Like You Very Much” accompanying the demise of Rover. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2017, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pleasant-innocuous-songs-in-creepy-absurd-menacing-contexts/776882/33 "2017-01-12T00:45:59Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Stuck in the Middle was Steelers Wheel iirc Ste **a** lers Wheel ---
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2017, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pleasant-innocuous-songs-in-creepy-absurd-menacing-contexts/776882/34 "2017-01-12T00:54:47Z")
In _Buffy the Vampire Slayer_, Spike and his mother sing [Early One Morning](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Se1tYknc4tc). ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2017, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pleasant-innocuous-songs-in-creepy-absurd-menacing-contexts/776882/35 "2017-01-12T01:05:06Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Both correct. I was confirming your conjecture (it was Rossini as they were approaching the house) and got ninjaed about Singin’ In The Rain during the break-in/rape. Nah, the Rossini came earlier in the movie, when Alex and his pals came upon another gang raping a woman and started a battle. _La Gazza Ladra._ ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2017, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pleasant-innocuous-songs-in-creepy-absurd-menacing-contexts/776882/36 "2017-01-12T01:28:39Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > Nah, the Rossini came earlier in the movie, when Alex and his pals came upon another gang raping a woman and started a battle. _La Gazza Ladra._ Thanks - I was just about to come on here and mention that. The dulcet strains of “in The Mood” are heard _In Wild At Heart_ when Nicholas Cage confronts buddy on stairs. ---
**Author:** ![from\_a\_to\_z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5fc32e/32.png) [@from\_a\_to\_z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/from_a_to_z)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2017, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pleasant-innocuous-songs-in-creepy-absurd-menacing-contexts/776882/37 "2017-01-12T02:22:39Z")
> [@Richard\_John\_Marcej](#): > > Much like “We’ll Meet Again” sung by Vera Lynn at the end of _Dr. Strangelove_ with the atomic bombs and the beginning of WW3 occuring in the background. And whether or not WW3 will occur in her lifetime, her 100th birthday will be [March 20](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vera_Lynn). > [@buddha\_david](#): > > The…montage of Jimmy’s murder spree in _Goodfellas_ accompanied by Eric Clapton’s “Layla”. Yes. Good movies can be, unfortunately, unforgettable. Earlier, when Henry was starting out, the soundtrack included, in a more anodyne montage, “Il cielo in una stanza”. Mina also sang it in several sixties films, memorably in 1960’s [Appuntamento a Ischia](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0156297/). Getting back to creepy/absurd/menacing, there is [one pinguino](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uk3lb8wC11A) in particular. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2017, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pleasant-innocuous-songs-in-creepy-absurd-menacing-contexts/776882/38 "2017-01-12T03:51:21Z")
> [@Eddie The Horrible](#): > > _In Wild At Heart_. damn neighbourhood kids throwing in those goddamn unwanted "In"s. [The sweet, soothing sounds of institutionalized oppression](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhzR68bDq58) ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2017, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pleasant-innocuous-songs-in-creepy-absurd-menacing-contexts/776882/39 "2017-01-12T08:39:01Z")
I suppose it depends on your proclivities, but “Jesus Loves Me” isn’t intended to be anything but positive. But [after Bioshock](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwq02CUBffk), I can’t hear it without getting the chills and imagining a deranged mutant stalking me. ---
**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:** [January 12, 2017, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pleasant-innocuous-songs-in-creepy-absurd-menacing-contexts/776882/40 "2017-01-12T09:29:07Z")
[The Rock Cried Out No Hiding Place](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zly_tL5mMc8), from\* Babylon 5\*. Pretty hardcore for 1990s syndicated television. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pleasant-innocuous-songs-in-creepy-absurd-menacing-contexts/776882.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pleasant-innocuous-songs-in-creepy-absurd-menacing-contexts/776882.md?page=3)