List This: The Worst Movie Songs of All Time
Filed under: Music & Musicals, Fandom, Lists, Trailers and Clips
Movie music has certainly changed over the years. What was once the domain of an orchestra and studio musicians is long gone, and now the top-40 soundtrack reigns supreme. Sometimes it works, like in the case of Martin Scorsese's use of pop music, and sometimes it really doesn't -- and that's where today's list comes in. SPIN has compiled what they say are the worst movie songs of all time, so make sure your earplugs are handy because we're about to look back at the Top 10 Worst Movie Songs, Ever!
So let's get right to the list, shall we? Grabbing the top spot for the worst of all time was P. Diddy and Jimmy Page's Kashmir update for Godzilla, Come With Me. But if you thought that song was bad, wait till you get a load of the other nominees, including Vanilla Ice's Ninja Rap, Limp Bizkit's Take a Look Around from Mission Impossible II, and Nickelback's Spider-Man song, Hero. Judging by SPIN's list it seems like 'geek' movies took most of the hits -- although how Evanescence's theme for Daredevil escaped I'll never know. But rather than complain about what wasn't included in SPIN's list, I've decided to make my very own list of great and not-so-great movie songs.
After the jump: My Top 10 Favorite (and most hated) songs from the movies...
It's not just original songs that are the worst offenders, so for my list, I've included songs that may not have been written for the movie, but definitely made a lasting impression:
My Favorite Movie Songs:
1. Fight the Power - Do the Right Thing
2. 9 to 5 - 9 to 5
3. Purple Rain - Purple Rain
4. Try a Little Tenderness - Pretty in Pink
5. Where Is My Mind - Fight Club
6. Born Slippy - Trainspotting
7. Mrs. Robinson - The Graduate
8. If You Were Here - Sixteen Candles
9. Rainbow Connection - The Muppet Movie
10. Sweet Emotion – Dazed and Confused
My Not-So Favorite Movie Songs:
(Everything I Do) I Do It for You - Robin Hood
2. She's Like the Wind - Dirty Dancing
3. Unchained Melody - Ghost
4. Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To) - Mahogany
5. My Heart Will Go On - Titanic
6. Can You Feel The Love Tonight - The Lion King
7. Kiss From a Rose - Batman Forever
8. My Sharona - Reality Bites
9. Men in Black - Men in Black
10. I Believe I Can Fly - Space Jam
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
6-24-2009 @ 4:30PM
Poet said...
Good list...I was hoping to see a couple in there, though. What about "Deepest, Bluest" by LL Cool J from Deep Blue Sea? Or what about "Batdance" by Prince from Batman? Or how about the incredibly overrated "My Hero" by The Foo-Fighters from Varsity Blues?
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6-25-2009 @ 3:02PM
craig said...
DEEPEST BLUEST MY HAT IS LIKE A SHARK FIN!! I thought I was gonna be the first to post that one.
6-23-2009 @ 7:22PM
MCW said...
"I Believe I Can Fly - Space Jam"
I'll admit, I had the cassette single of that, before R. Kelly relieved himself on it. I listened to it constantly.
I also love "Holiday Road" from National Lampoon's Vacation and "Nothing´s Gonna Stop Us Now" from Mannequin. These are the few that stick out to me out of the many films I've seen.
Most of the time, these stupid songs, you don't even notice them when you watch the movie, and only hear about it later that the song was in said movie, i.e. when it has a grammy nomination. So I only mentioned songs that stick with me, and are extremely noticeable in otherwise non-musical films.
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6-23-2009 @ 7:37PM
TheCritic28 said...
Hey, I actually like Hero. Anyways, my favorite has to be Ghostbusters by Ray Parker Jr. I mean, it's just a classic. Other then that, I prefer scores.
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6-24-2009 @ 9:12AM
Kevin said...
"Busting makes me feel good!"
Ahh, so brilliant.
6-23-2009 @ 11:29PM
edward hampson said...
I believe you left the worst theme ever "endless love" sung by Lionel Richie and Diana Ross
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6-23-2009 @ 8:28PM
Jon said...
Come with me was actually awesome .. I hate P Diddy .. but it was a good song
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6-26-2009 @ 8:22AM
C.A. said...
Whole-heartedly agree.
6-23-2009 @ 8:40PM
Michael said...
Bryan Adams's "Everything I Do" indeed sucks, but Stewie Griffin's cover is AWESOME (at least the video).
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6-23-2009 @ 8:40PM
harma41 said...
Unlike the others, I am pretty sure you hit the nail on the head with this article. Those are all extremely terrible songs...especially Nickelback and Aerosmith.
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6-23-2009 @ 8:56PM
edrock118 said...
the good, the bad and the ugly is definitely up there
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6-23-2009 @ 9:20PM
Mr.R said...
No, no, no! People! You are missing the bomb of all bombs in the bad list: "All for love" with Brian Adams, Sting and Rod Steward from Three Musketeers. I cannot thing of an uglier way for those guys to commit artistic suicide. I just vomited a little and I ain't even listening to it, no one is, no one owns that record, not even Sting.
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6-23-2009 @ 9:27PM
David Musto said...
10 Worst (Or At Least Most Misplaced Movie Songs):
1. "Addams Family Groove," MC Hammer, from Addams Family
2. "Take My Breath Away," Berlin, from Top Gun
3. "Meet Me Halfway," Kenny Loggins, from Over The Top
4. "Working In The Coal Mine," Devo, from Heavy Metal
5. "People Are Strange," Echo & The Bunnymen, from The Lost Boys
6. "Childhood," Michael Jackson, from Free Willy 2
7. "Kokomo," The Beach Boys, from Cocktail
8. "Secret Garden," Bruce Springsteen, from Jerry Maguire
9. "Coconut," Harry Nilsson, from Reservoir Dogs
10."Stay," Lisa Loeb, from Reality Bites
10 Best:
1. "Theme From Shaft," Isaac Hayes, from Shaft
2. "You And Me (Less Than Zero)," Glenn Danzig, from Less Than Zero
3. "The Perfect Drug," Nine Inch Nails, from Lost Highway
4. "The Perfect Crime," Faith No More, from Bil & Ted 2
5. "Can't Even Tell," Soul Asylum, from Clerks
6. "Such Great Heights," Iron And Wine, from Garden State
7. "Chloe Dancer/Crown Of Thorns," Mother Love Bone, from Singles
8. "Poison My Eyes," Anthrax, from Last Action Hero
9. "Superstar," Sonic Youth, from Juno
10."Just Like Honey," The Jesus & Mary Chain, from Lost In Translation
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6-24-2009 @ 1:32AM
MediaOKra said...
I think Simple Minds' "Don't You (Forget About Me)" from Breakfast Club should have topped your list.
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6-24-2009 @ 2:38AM
gottacook said...
Edward Hampson @9 is absolutely, without question, correct: There is no worse movie song than "Endless Love," sung by Richie & Ross, and written by Richie. (However, a good song would have been wasted on that movie... although the novel it was based on was actually good.)
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6-24-2009 @ 6:17AM
cough said...
Last... 5? James Bond films.
Not much else to say.
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6-24-2009 @ 8:26AM
j said...
You're the Best - Karate Kid Soundrack - Best. Song. Ever.
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6-24-2009 @ 8:27AM
j said...
Point. Winner.
6-24-2009 @ 11:27AM
Adam said...
Are we debating songs for their merit or their place in the film? I'm not a fan of "Zobra the Greek", but the scene in "Lock, Stock, & Two Smoking Barrels" where it appears is the most perfect song choice in any film. Or "Gimme Shelter" as an opening for "The Departed" which was equally awesome. For songs that are awesome but have little to do with the film "Regulators" from "Above the Rim" is the greatest movie song ever, and probably the pinnacle of West Coast rap. Nothing to do with the film though.
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6-24-2009 @ 12:17PM
greatone said...
One of the best - Bobby Brown "On Our Own" for Ghostbuster 2.
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