Remember these?
If you’ve seen ‘The Big Short’ then you’ll know that it’s a strange feeling when those final credits role. Adam McKay’s Oscar nominated film is fantastic and it fully deserves all the accolades that it’s receiving but the finale will leave you feeling angry and totally apathetic towards the financial world.
This being said, the closing credits also featured one of Led Zeppelin’s most famous songs, the rousing When the Levee Breaks , so that helped soften my rage. With this in mind, here are 15 other memorable songs that sountracked some famous closing credits.
The Matrix
Artist and song: Rage Against the Machine – Wake Up
Fits the film: By the end of the film, Neo literally wakes up from the technology induced slavery and believes that he’s the one man that can lead mankind’s rebellion against the machines. The decision to use Calm Like A Bomb by RATM in The Matrix Reloaded was inspired also. COME ON!
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Artist and song: The Rolling Stones – Jumping Jack Flash
Fits the film: Much like Keith Richards, I’m sure that there are large periods of time that Dr Gonzo and Raoul don’t remember. Effortlessly cool and almost as good as Full Metal Jacket using Paint It Black.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhVsmq9mNtA
The Bourne Ultimatum
Artist and song: Moby – Extreme Ways
Fits the film: Matt Damon’s action saga came from nowhere to grab audiences in a way that they weren’t expecting. After living through every bone shuddering punch, thundering car crash and sweaty chase sequence, we were fully invested in Jason Bourne’s journey. Was he dead, did he survive…was it ever in doubt?
Every single person in the cinema made a mini fist-pump when this song kicked in.
Reservoir Dogs
Artist and song: Harry Nilsson – Coconut
Fits the film: After the intense and bloody Mexican standoff that’s just happened, your adrenaline is pumping so fast that you’ll barely have time to breath and take everything in. Tarantino is the master of using music to fit the scene.
The irony of the lyric ‘aint there nothing I can take to relieve this belly ache’ probably isn’t lost on Mr Orange.
Straight Outta Compton
Artist and song: N.W.A – Straight Outta Compton
Fits the film: It’s impossible to leave the cinema after seeing 2015’s most surprising film and not feel like you’re 20-foot-tall.
Iron Man
Artist and song: Black Sabbath – Iron Man
Fits the film: No brainer.
Trainspotting
Artist and song: Underworld – Born Slippy
Fits the film: Danny Boyle has always had a brilliant ear for matching music to the narrative of his films and it’s evident here. Like Renton, the audience is in a euphoric haze by the finale of Trainspotting – unsure about the world and utterly perplexed about what’s just happened but at the same time there’s something coursing through your veins.
Don’t worry, it’s adrenaline and not heroin.
The Breakfast Club
Artist and song: Simple Minds – Don’t You Forget About Me
Fits the film: Four strangers that meet at the most perfect moment in each others lives. At the start, they’ve nothing in common by by the end, they’re completely co-dependent. Hard to forget.
Goodfellas
Artist and song: Sid Vicious- My Way
Fits the film: Right from the off, Henry Hill tells us that he’s not like other people. How right he was. The song is layered with famous imagery of the mob, burning ambition and the desire to build a dynasty but with an anarchic feel, exactly like Henry’s last few months as a made man.
Donnie Darko
Artist and song: Gary Jules – Mad World
Fits the film: Just like Donnie Darko, you’re trying to wrap your head around the mad things that have just unfolded.
The Graduate
Artist and song: Simon and Garnfunkel – The Sound of Silence
Fits the film: Benjamin and Elaine’s future is uncertain and a complete mystery. This unspoken fear is perfectly reflected in the lyrics “people talking without speaking, people hearing without listening”. Still one of the best soundtracks of all-time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4YUbYU6LmQ
The Social Network
Artist and song: The Beatles – Baby, You’re a Rich Man.
Fits the film: Mark Zuckerberg isn’t short of a few bob.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UhONY3-1os
Good Will Hunting
Artist and song: Elliot Smith – Miss Misery
Fits the film: Ultimately, we all have to see about a girl at some point.
Fight Club
Artist and song: The Pixies – Where Is My Mind?
Fits the film: No song has better captured the tone, mood and message of a film quite like this classic from the Boston indie darlings.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PamLPnXk2ic
Ok, we can’t end this list on a downer so do you remember this from Remember the Titans?
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
