# Songs that are forever linked to a specific movie/TV scene in your mind **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 25, 2020, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-are-forever-linked-to-a-specific-movie-tv-scene-in-your-mind/916341 "2020-07-25T21:18:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Jane\_Elliot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jane_elliot/32/6166_2.png) [@Jane\_Elliot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jane_Elliot)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2020, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-are-forever-linked-to-a-specific-movie-tv-scene-in-your-mind/916341/61 "2020-07-29T19:46:52Z")
Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You - The Deer Hunter ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2020, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-are-forever-linked-to-a-specific-movie-tv-scene-in-your-mind/916341/62 "2020-07-29T20:37:29Z")
Also Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You in Ten Things I Hate About You. Heath Ledger does bang up job with the matching band. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2020, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-are-forever-linked-to-a-specific-movie-tv-scene-in-your-mind/916341/63 "2020-07-31T14:32:42Z")
I’ve always enjoyed the climactic scene\* in “Miami Blues” when the opening chords of Norman Greenbaum’s “Spirit In The Sky” kick in. \*Hoke Moseley grins and says “I got my teeth back!” ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2020, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-are-forever-linked-to-a-specific-movie-tv-scene-in-your-mind/916341/64 "2020-07-31T15:28:14Z")
Two episodes of _ **St Elsewhere** _: ZZ Top’s “Legs” playing while Luther the Janitor (Eric Laneuville) dreams he’s a bigshot cavorting with _ **Playboy** _ playmates. The Alan Parson Project’s “Eye in the Sky” playing as Dr Bobby Caldwell (Mark Harmon) has his face slashed by a woman high on coke. (In the DVD version, “Eye in the Sky” was replaced with some nondescript tune I’ve never heard anywhere else.) ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2020, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-are-forever-linked-to-a-specific-movie-tv-scene-in-your-mind/916341/65 "2020-07-31T16:08:55Z")
I used to associate “Don’t Fear the Reaper” with Stephen King’s The Stand miniseries, although the SNL “More Cowbell” sketch kind of ruined that. Crowded House’s “Don’t Dream It’s Over” I also associate with The Stand (It was used in the opening for the second episode, IIRC), although I also kind of associate it with the montage in the season 6 premier of The Americans now. ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2020, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-are-forever-linked-to-a-specific-movie-tv-scene-in-your-mind/916341/66 "2020-07-31T20:39:55Z")
ABBA’s “SOS” will always be linked to the trailer for the third season of The Leftovers for me. [Leftovers Trailer - Season 3](https://youtu.be/vAB4Ux62Dww) ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2020, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-are-forever-linked-to-a-specific-movie-tv-scene-in-your-mind/916341/67 "2020-07-31T22:26:40Z")
_Paul_, Simon Pegg’s alien road movie, [closes with ELO’s “All Over The World”](https://youtu.be/sXe3jokuP24). A great feel-good song to end the film on a high note. Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings version of _This Land Is Your Land_ is a good match for the [opening credits of Up In The Air](https://youtu.be/LfFEDVE4bR4) ---
**Author:** ![ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chockfullofheadygoodness/32/511_2.png) [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2020, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-are-forever-linked-to-a-specific-movie-tv-scene-in-your-mind/916341/68 "2020-07-31T22:52:43Z")
My Kubrick entry is Nancy Sinatra’s “These Boots Are Made For Walking” in _Full Metal Jacket_. Another vote for “Hot Stuff” in _The Full Monty_. “How Much Is That Doggie In The Window” and _Pink Flamingos_ Van Halen’s “Everybody Wants Some!!” and _Better Off Dead_ ---
**Author:** ![Galactus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galactus/32/3581_2.png) [@Galactus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Galactus)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2020, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-are-forever-linked-to-a-specific-movie-tv-scene-in-your-mind/916341/69 "2020-07-31T22:59:06Z")
Running on Empty, Forrest Gump. ---
**Author:** ![Didi44](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47c2d/32.png) [@Didi44](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Didi44)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2020, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-are-forever-linked-to-a-specific-movie-tv-scene-in-your-mind/916341/70 "2020-07-31T23:17:55Z")
I don’t think these are theme music: _Heavy Metal (Takin’ a Ride)_ - The bomber scene (B-17) from _Heavy Metal_. Though I’ve always associated it with the Valkyrie in _Den_. _FM_ - _FM_ I’ve never seen the movie and if I did it’s completely forgettable, but the song always makes me think about the movie. Edit: _Born to Be Wild_ - _Easy Rider_. Captain America and Billy going down the road. _Everybody’s Talking_ - _Midnight Cowboy_. Not sure if it’s the closing song, but I always think of the ending scene in the bus. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Q](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@Johnny\_Q](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Q)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2020, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-are-forever-linked-to-a-specific-movie-tv-scene-in-your-mind/916341/71 "2020-08-01T01:38:59Z")
The Flower Duet: Catherine Deneuve and Susan Sarandon getting it on in _The Hunger._ ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2020, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-are-forever-linked-to-a-specific-movie-tv-scene-in-your-mind/916341/72 "2020-08-01T02:26:53Z")
> [@Galactus](#): > > Running on Empty, Forrest Gump. Which, oddly enough, doesn’t appear on the Forrest Gump soundtrack. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2020, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-are-forever-linked-to-a-specific-movie-tv-scene-in-your-mind/916341/73 "2020-08-01T02:43:54Z")
> [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](#): > > Van Halen’s “Everybody Wants Some!!” and _Better Off Dead_ Van Halen’s “Beautiful Girls” is indelibly linked to “Schmitt’s Gay Beer” for me: [SNL - Schmitts Gay Beer on Vimeo](https://vimeo.com/169759649) ---
**Author:** ![zbuzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zbuzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zbuzz)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2020, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-are-forever-linked-to-a-specific-movie-tv-scene-in-your-mind/916341/74 "2020-08-01T08:31:30Z")
Not one of you could be bothered to put up The Pixies’ Where Is My Mind? from Fight Club? I am Jack’s feeling of deep disappointment in all of you. ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2020, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-are-forever-linked-to-a-specific-movie-tv-scene-in-your-mind/916341/75 "2020-08-01T09:18:33Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > “Don’t You Forget about Me” from _ **The Breakfast Club** _ . …I agree this is the “correct” answer. But for me personally the song will forever be linked to a couple of other TV shows. Firstly in the TV version of 12 Monkeys the song was used brilliantly throughout the series as Deacon’s favourite song. [SPOILERS](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xVKV-VR44k) But that was surpassed for me by Deke’s version from a recent [Agents of Shield](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eWSPHzPLsc). Sheer brilliance. But lets not forget James Roday Rodriguez’s for [Psych](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQ_f2tw0N_o), with bonus live [version](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIqf96Q52o4). > [@Biffster](#): > > ABBA’s “SOS” will always be linked to the trailer for the third season of The Leftovers for me. > > [Leftovers Trailer - Season 3](https://youtu.be/vAB4Ux62Dww) Brilliant series, amazing and compelling trailer. Time for a rewatch I think. ---
**Author:** ![ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chockfullofheadygoodness/32/511_2.png) [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2020, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-are-forever-linked-to-a-specific-movie-tv-scene-in-your-mind/916341/76 "2020-08-02T22:28:27Z")
I remember seeing that in the original airing back in the 90s. About 10 to 15 years ago, I was watching a “best-of-SNL” show on either Comedy Central or E! and they played that ad. But… instead of Van Halen, they had WKRPed in some sound-alike generic guitar instrumental. I was stunned that even as late as the early 90s (given the presence of Farley, Sandler and Hartman in the bit, it had to be early to mid 90s) that SNL had not negotiated the music rights for reruns. Home video and cable reruns were definitely a thing by then, so it’s not like it didn’t occur to anybody, like in the case of WKRP or Heavy Metal or other late 70s/early 80s fare. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2020, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-are-forever-linked-to-a-specific-movie-tv-scene-in-your-mind/916341/77 "2020-08-02T23:23:21Z")
> [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](#): > > I remember seeing that in the original airing back in the 90s. About 10 to 15 years ago, I was watching a “best-of-SNL” show on either Comedy Central or E! and they played that ad. But… instead of Van Halen, they had WKRPed in some sound-alike generic guitar instrumental. I was stunned that even as late as the early 90s (given the presence of Farley, Sandler and Hartman in the bit, it had to be early to mid 90s) that SNL had not negotiated the music rights for reruns. Home video and cable reruns were definitely a thing by then, so it’s not like it didn’t occur to anybody, like in the case of WKRP or Heavy Metal or other late 70s/early 80s fare. That reminds me - a song that always brings a particular scene to mind is “Eve of Destruction,” which features heavily in an episode of “The Greatest American Hero” (Operation Spoilsport) - but not if you watch the DVD or some reruns, which substitute a generic song, even though the episode dialogue specifically calls out Eve of Destruction [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOU6ax1C99s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOU6ax1C99s) ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2020, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-are-forever-linked-to-a-specific-movie-tv-scene-in-your-mind/916341/78 "2020-08-03T06:16:18Z")
> [@Brayne\_Ded](#): > > I haven’t seen “Three billboards…” but i would instantly associate the song with Joan Baez and the summer of '68. And nothing else? Maybe it’s an age thing? What song? That movie doesn’t bring any particular song to mind. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2020, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-are-forever-linked-to-a-specific-movie-tv-scene-in-your-mind/916341/79 "2020-08-03T06:27:54Z")
> [@Banquet\_Bear](#): > > But lets not forget James Roday Rodriguez’s for [Psych](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQ_f2tw0N_o), with bonus live [version](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIqf96Q52o4). Certainly a great one, but an even better one was the “Private Eyes” promo… [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/h1-SngQAUcU/hqdefault.jpg "Private Eyes Psych Commercial") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1-SngQAUcU) ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2020, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-are-forever-linked-to-a-specific-movie-tv-scene-in-your-mind/916341/80 "2020-08-03T06:28:25Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > What song? That movie doesn’t bring any particular song to mind. The Night They Drive Old Dixie Down [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-are-forever-linked-to-a-specific-movie-tv-scene-in-your-mind/916341.md?page=3)