Top 20 Original Songs From Movies
#20: "The Power of Love"
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"Back to the Future" (1985) With the News making headlines after their breakthrough album "Sports," Huey Lewis was tapped to write a song for the time travel comedy "Back to the Future." He wrote two. "Back in Time" may be a catchy complement to the movie's sci-fi theme, but "The Power of Love" kicks things off at full speed. Marty McFly also covers the unmistakably '80s tune at a Battle of the Bands audition, but doesn't impress a judge played by Lewis himself. His version, however, was an instant hit alongside "Back to the Future." Sure, the lyric's lack of reference to the movie helps "The Power of Love" independently stand out for Lewis's fans. But it still has the power to drive us back to the '80s.
#19: "Glory"
"Selma" (2014) Ava DuVernay's dramatization of Martin Luther King's march for voting rights is an inspiring piece of history. Still, the relevance of this fight today is truly felt in the film's theme song "Glory." While soul superstar John Legend leads a chorus' call of triumph, Common's emotive rap verses make a call to action. He even parallels Rosa Parks with the antiracism protests in Ferguson, Missouri, that were held just a few months before "Selma"'s release. "Glory" was considered an easy winner for the Academy Award for Best Original Song, and is still a live staple for Legend and Common. More importantly, the anthem reminds us that Dr. King's vision for justice in Black America still marches on.
#18: "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head"
"Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" (1969) Paul Newman and Robert Redford certainly excited viewers as two of the Old West's most daring outlaws. The movie still humanizes them by regularly breaking this tension to celebrate true freedom. Country pop singer B. J. Thomas puts that into perspective with "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head." The smooth ballad's optimism about happy days ahead perfectly suits a montage of the fugitives having fun with a bicycle. Although some felt that the song otherwise didn't suit the harrowing western's tone or timeline, its unique and uplifting pop style is still considered a highlight of both the movie and Thomas's career. While "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" sensationalizes said outlaws' legacy, "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" has found its own as a feel-good classic.
#17: "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)"
"Arthur" (1981) Hot off his acclaimed debut album at the turn of the 1980s, Christopher Cross was approached to score a romantic comedy about a drunken playboy caught between an heiress and his modest soulmate. Though that gig ultimately went to Burt Bacharach, he and Cross did collaborate on the theme song for "Arthur." It was a passionate display of both the singer's serene soft rock mastery and Arthur's romantic dilemma. The movie and its theme both became unlikely commercial and critical successes. The latter was also the last time Cross topped the Billboard Hot 100. He still commands a loyal fanbase, who rank "Arthur's Theme," also known as "Best That You Can Do," among the best that he has done.
#16: "Theme from 'Shaft'"
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"Shaft" (1971) The '70s blaxploitation movement delivered many iconically cool movies and soundtracks. Gordon Parks' detective actioner "Shaft" stands out for Richard Roundtree's charisma and Isaac Hayes' classic theme song. You don't need to be Shaft's woman to understand him with this descriptive soul ballad. It sums up the complicated man's tough but smooth attitude with its funky groove alone. Between its title and self-aware lyrics, "Theme from ‘Shaft’" is invariably tied to the movie. Nonetheless, it was a hit on its own, topping the charts and winning Hayes the Oscar for Best Original Song. The theme went on to become a catalyst for disco and a highlight of '70s soul, ensuring that audiences would be talking about "Shaft" for generations to come.
#15: "Ghostbusters"
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"Ghostbusters" (1984) We all know the struggle in thinking of any other response to the question, "Who you gonna call?" The hilarious heroism of the paranormal investigation service Ghostbusters speaks for itself. Still, you'll walk away from the paranormal comedy classic haunted by Ray Parker Jr.'s jingle. Despite Huey Lewis receiving a settlement when it was revealed that "Ghostbusters"'s theme song may have been under the influence of "I Want a New Drug," Parker had his own chart-buster. The song became as much of a phenomenon as the movie itself, with a catchy lyric and riff that highlighted '80s pop culture. "Ghostbusters" is certainly an immortal highlight in Parker's career.
#14: "Eye of the Tiger"
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"Rocky III" (1982) The "Rocky" franchise may be the heavyweight champion of sports movie montages. One song in particular knocks out all competition. Although "Rocky III" received mixed reviews, Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger" riled up audiences with its empowering lyrics and unmistakable guitar riff. The namesake of the band's album released a week after the movie. The song became Survivor's biggest single and one of the hottest hard rock recordings of the '80s. The ferocious power ballad has since been co-opted and parodied by countless other properties to get audiences hyped. Gary Busey even starred in a revenge thriller named after the song. But in the tournament of sports movie anthems, "Eye of the Tiger" remains undisputed.
#13: "Mrs. Robinson"
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"The Graduate" (1967) The actual extent of romance in the romantic drama "The Graduate" is perhaps reflected in its use of Simon & Garfunkel. Though the film promoted the folk duo's most melancholy classics, their original contribution is an upbeat highlight. "Mrs. Robinson" pays sympathetic tribute to Anne Bancroft's character, a lonely housewife who has an affair with a much younger man. The catchy acoustic melody and poignant vocals stood out from the acclaimed soundtrack as a pop breakout. Of course, the album "Bookends" features the more well-known revised version of "Mrs. Robinson,” which became the first rock song ever to win the Grammy for Record of the Year in 1969. "The Graduate" nonetheless originated this Simon & Garfunkel essential, the recognition that Mrs. Robinson herself deserves.
#12: "9 to 5"
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"9 to 5" (1980) Dolly Parton made her acting debut starring alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin in 1980's "9 to 5." The feminist workplace comedy has become a classic partly for the country superstar's performance, and not just on the screen. Her uptempo theme song about the daily office grind is as relatable as it is catchy. It was actually released a month before the movie on Parton's album "9 to 5 and Odd Jobs." But as the movie topped the box office, its theme topped the music charts and won widespread acclaim. Widely considered one of Parton's best songs, "9 to 5" remains popular as society catches up to workplace woes, especially for women. At least Parton herself has found a great way to make a living.
#11: "Streets of Philadelphia"
"Philadelphia" (1993) Bruce Springsteen has written many musical masterpieces for disenfranchised souls, usually from his native New Jersey. But one of his most powerful ballads was written and named for the seminal legal drama "Philadelphia." Though the film is best known for Tom Hanks's dramatic breakout as a lawyer dying of AIDS, "Streets of Philadelphia" delivers the first heartbreak during the opening credits. This ethereal plea for true brotherly love won Springsteen an Oscar and was named the best song of the year by the Grammys. Now also considered a favorite among fans of the Boss, "Streets of Philadelphia" is certainly hailed as one of the most moving movie themes of the '90s.
#10: "Flashdance... What a Feeling"
"Flashdance" (1983) The dance drama "Flashdance" pulled audiences out of their seats with a soundtrack by euro disco pioneer Giorgio Moroder. The movie's title track particularly showcased his infectious pop hooks and the soulful vocals of Irene Cara. A stirring call to move for your dreams, "Flashdance... What a Feeling" is also used to parallel main character Alex working at a steel mill in the opening scene with her climactic dance audition. The song became a hit along with the film while winning greater critical acclaim. Cara nonetheless took legal actions against the record company for withholding royalties on the Oscar-winning song. Though she claimed that this incident compromised her career, "What a Feeling" commemorates it as her biggest hit and a dance movie anthem.
#9: "Fight the Power"
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"Do the Right Thing" (1989) Public Enemy shook America as one of the defining political hip-hop acts of the 1980s. Spike Lee considered their sound ideal for his groundbreaking hood drama "Do the Right Thing." The movie kicks off with Rosie Perez dancing to "Fight the Power," a furious rant against the forces that seek to divide and conquer. The song later scores the legendary riot scene at the movie's climax. Public Enemy's gripping flow and even more impactful message perfectly complement Lee's confrontation with the strife of America's Black community. The song's legacy was cemented when it closed "Fear of a Black Planet," widely considered one of the most important rap albums ever. More than just an independently successful movie theme, "Fight the Power" is itself a political powerhouse.
#8: "Goldfinger"
"Goldfinger" (1964) The "James Bond" film franchise has always been distinguished by its jazzy and extravagant music. However, the third installment, "Goldfinger", was the first to explore the idea of a lyrical theme song to accompany stylish opening credits. Composer John Barry invited pop star Shirley Bassey to sing his eerie ballad about the Bond villain Goldfinger, a wealthy madman who turns people to gold. Producer Harry Saltzman felt this premise worked better for an action movie than a song. But both wound up being massive critical and commercial hits. This launched a lucrative tradition of epic opening songs like “Live and Let Die,” “A View to a Kill,” and “Skyfall.” But with Barry's hair-raising composition and Bassey's dramatic vocals, many still consider "Goldfinger" the gold standard.
#7: "Danger Zone"
"Top Gun" (1986) Throughout the 1980s, Kenny Loggins had a string of upbeat pop themes that were as massively successful as the films themselves. For the macho melodrama "Top Gun," the King of Movie Soundtracks needed to turn up the heat. "Danger Zone" showcases Loggins's edgier vocal range, with Giorgio Moroder's swaggering new wave composition on the tail. This hip style encapsulates both the movie's high-flying thrills and the spirit of ‘80s hard rock. It may have been Berlin's much softer "Take My Breath Away" that made the "Top Gun" soundtrack an Oscar winner. But "Danger Zone" is considered one of Loggins's most successful movie themes and a quintessential standard of its era. Almost 40 years later, the exciting jam still gives listeners the need for speed.
#6: "Don't You (Forget About Me)"
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"The Breakfast Club" (1985) John Hughes' portrait of different walks of high school crossing paths in detention is an '80s highlight on its own. But the Scottish new wave band Simple Minds gave it that extra hook with "Don't You (Forget About Me)." Keith Forsey and Steve Schiff's lyric sums up "The Breakfast Clubs"'s themes, while the band's soulful interpretation gives weight to the connections we make in our youth. A solemn departure from fluffy '80s pop, "Don't You (Forget About Me)" has not just become a Platinum single and Simple Minds' biggest international single. It's a definitive teen anthem that can still be heard in high schools to this day. Although Hughes' equally significant movie celebrates differences, its unforgettable theme song is the perfect match.
#5: "Lose Yourself"
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"8 Mile" (2002) In 2002, Eminem returned to his humbler days in Detroit's rap battle underground in "8 Mile." The acclaimed drama not only displayed the hip-hop titan's diverse skills, but debuted what may be his signature track. "Lose Yourself" captures the movie's theme as an intense underdog anthem, with a flow and groove that you're bound to get lost in. Eminem became the first rapper to win the Academy Award for Best Original Song, and topped the Billboard Hot 100 for 12 consecutive weeks. "Lose Yourself" may not be the revelation of Eminem's talent that his acting was in "8 Mile." He still made the most of this opportunity with what many say is one of the greatest hip-hop and movie theme songs of all time.
#4: "(I've Had) The Time of My Life"
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"Dirty Dancing" (1987) The classic soundtrack of "Dirty Dancing" goes out on a true show-stopper to suit Baby and Johnny's unforgettable last dance. The Righteous Brothers' Bill Medley was initially reluctant to record the sweeping love ballad "(I've Had) The Time of My," concerned that the movie would flop for its suggestive title alone. But after Jennifer Warnes persuaded him to perform it as a duet, both "Dirty Dancing" and its climactic theme became commercial and critical sensations. The song alone swept music and film awards, becoming each singers' biggest hit. Sure, its unmistakably '80s sound is a bizarre way to punctuate a movie set in the '60s. But as a prime work of romantic dance-pop, "The Time of My Life" is timeless.
#3: "Moon River"
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"Breakfast at Tiffany's" (1961) Enchanting as Holly Golightly is as the toast of New York café society, her most spellbinding moment was her most somber. Quickly written for Audrey Hepburn’s limited vocal range, "Moon River" came out a serene ballad of longing that hypnotized Holly's neighbor and Hepburn's audience. It became a phenomenon, sweeping the Grammys and winning an Oscar in 1962. That same year, Andy Williams covered the song, turning it into his own signature. "Moon River" has also been recorded by countless other musicians as one of the defining jazz standards of the '60s. It seemed inevitable that the very spot in Savannah, Georgia that inspired Johnny Mercer's lyrics would be named Moon River. But Mercer's masterpiece was first served by Hepburn in "Breakfast at Tiffany's."
#2: "Stayin' Alive"
"Saturday Night Fever" (1977) No movie captured 1970s disco culture like "Saturday Night Fever." And few albums captured the sound like the soundtrack. The standout in the Bee Gees' set of original songs was the impossibly funky "Stayin' Alive." Sure, every one of the pop group's contributions was an instant success, including “Night Fever.” But John Travolta strutting to that driving beat and the striking falsetto harmonies is one of the most iconic opening scenes in movie history. The song was the biggest single on one of the top-selling albums of all time. It's such an infectious rhythm that it's even used for CPR training. Besides its place in film history, "Stayin' Alive" is still walking tall as the definitive disco hit and the high-pitched voice of a generation.
#1: "My Heart Will Go On"
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"Titanic" (1997) James Cameron was reluctant to use a pop song as the theme for a movie as epic and romantic as "Titanic." But the rich score by James Horner and soaring vocals of superstar Celine Dion convinced him. "My Heart Will Go On" is a grand and heartbreaking love ballad to perfectly punctuate the tragic passion of Jack and Rose. The song won one of "Titanic"'s record-tying 11 Oscars, as well as four Grammys. It has gone on to become one of the top-selling singles ever, a staple of Dion's illustrious music catalog. As for Horner, the legendary score composer is no longer with us. But his legacy lives on with one of the most iconic love songs and movie themes of all time.
