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ICONIC MOVIE TRACKS

Songs immortalized by film to give you main character syndrome


By Andrea Morales

An image forever ingrained in my head: Laney Boggs, gliding down the stairs, looking ever so shy after her makeup, hair, and outfit were ready for the big party in She's All That. Another amazing scene in the movie is Zack Stiler looking at her as if he's seen her for the first time and couldn't imagine the rest of his high school career without her by his side.


However, the most memorable part of this entire sequence was the alluring voice of Sixpence None the Richer's frontman softly serenading to the couple, "Kiss me…out of the bearded barley…."


Without this staple song of the movie, you see, it would just be a girl walking to the first floor of her house. However, in Hollywood, that doesn't capture the audience's attention. Therefore, another aspect must be added to the film that can't be caught on camera—music.


Instead of a mundane task being the center of the scene, the song emphasizes the couple's blooming romance that should catch their eyes. At times, you need that one distinct song that is synonymous with a scene or, hell, the entire movie. It helps give the film its own identity.


What's most interesting about this concept is how these songs have penetrated mainstream media. They become songs people use at their weddings, such as Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" from The Bodyguard, hype songs to work out to like "Lose Yourself" by Eminem, made famous by 8 Mile, or maybe they just become dance song, like Saturday Night Fever's "Stayin' Alive" by the Bee Gees.


I imagine a part of this stems from people loving to feel like main characters in their own lives. Even though it might be a song from a fictional universe, the emotions and lyrics a piece conveys are still relatable. In a way, these songs can allow you to become closer to the movie's characters or even the story itself. For instance, in Rocky, Rocky isn't the only one training for his big fight, but we, the audience, are too with the song "Gonna Fly Now" cheering us on.


Music is an essential part of movies, as it adds to the story's emotional core. We gravitate towards film because it helps us escape from reality, and without these iconic tracks, we would be left with a series of scenes that would look very similar to our everyday lives (depending on the movie). We wouldn't feel like the "All Star" Shrek taught us to emulate or be as "Happy" as Gru was in Despicable Me.


Allow yourself to take a walk down memory lane with some classic movie tracks and find a song that makes you feel like the main character.


Ten Iconic Songs to Ten Iconic Movies:

  • "Don't You Forget About Me" by Simple Minds - The Breakfast Club

  • "I've Had the Time of My Life" by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes - Dirty Dancing

  • "My Heart Will Go On" by Celine Dion - Titanic

  • "Kiss From a Rose" by Seal - Batman Forever

  • "Over the Rainbow" by Judy Garland - Wizard of Oz

  • "When Doves Cry" by Prince - Purple Rain

  • "Pretty Woman" by Roy Orbison - Pretty Woman

  • “Hakuna Matata” - The Lion King

  • "We Don't Talk About Bruno" - Encanto

"Rolling on the River" by Tina Turner - Miss Congeniality 2

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