With 2011 almost at an end, Glen provides a run-down of his 10 favourite movie songs from the last 12 months…
The past twelve months have seen the release of some fantastic films, and within them, some truly memorable songs. From comic book adaptations to comedy via hard-hitting drama, here's my round-up of best movie songs of 2011...
Bill Withers: Lovely Day
127 Hours
There’s an ironic use of Bill Withers’ classic track in 127 Hours, as it accompanies the point at which our protagonist is at his most desperate – trapped in the middle of nowhere, facing certain death. Whist it may be a lovely day for anyone enjoying the freedom of the national park, it’s far from a lovely day for James Franco’s Aaron Ralston.
Billy Swan: I Can Help
Thor
Thor’s filled with moments of levity, and an early example of this is when we see some residents of New Mexico attempting to remove Mjolnir (Thor’s hammer) from its landing site. This is wonderfully accompanied by Billy Swan’s I Can Help.
Karen O & Trent Reznor: The Immigrant Song
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo trailer
The use of The Immigrant song in The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo’s trailer was hugely effective. Reznor will, of course, be scoring the film itself, following his Oscar winning work on David Fincher’s The Social Network. Karen O has herself worked on soundtracks in the past, most notably Where The Wild Things Are, and here they combine their talents for a sinister cover of Led Zeppelin’s rock classic.
Pearl Jam: all songs
PJ:20
I’m a fan of Pearl Jam, so Cameron Crowe’s documentary on their career, PJ:20, was a highlight of the year for me. I found it impossible to choose one song from the film as a standout – the live performance of State Of Love And Trust, and the MTV party for Singles showcased the band’s antagonistic side; the band’s performance of Mother Love Bone’s Crown Of Thorns was a touching moment, and the unplugged version of Black is stunning. If you’re a fan of the band, this film is full of highlights.
Tiny Tim: Tiptoe Through The Tulips
Insidious
Funhouse horror is something I always enjoy, and Insidious is one of the finest recent examples, with a great build of tension early on, and a descent into relentless jump scares thereafter. Tiptoe Through The Tulips provides two of the most sinister moments, particularly when it’s played for a second time at ear splitting volume. Both instances are incredibly unsettling as, despite being lyrically rather lovely, Tiny Tim’s odd falsetto performance makes it a creepy song.
Squeak E Clean: Corona
Jackass 3D
Corona by The Minutemen has long been Jackass’s anthem, but it was lent an air of poignancy this year following the death of the show’s star Ryan Dunn in a car crash. Coincidentally, The Minutemen’s career was brought to an abrupt end following the death of its bassist D Boon in an automobile accident. Squeak E Clean’s opera version of the brilliant Corona does away with the frantic pace associated with The Minutemen’s version, turning it into an elegant and beautiful piece of music that acts as a calm before the storm.
The Trammps: Disco Inferno
Hobo With A Shotgun
This is easily one of the most wildly inappropriate uses of music in a film this year, and also one of the most entertaining. Jason Eisener’s masterful grindhouse feature is so much more than a homage, in that it actually captures the feel of 70s exploitation cinema without feeling like a pastiche. The Disco Inferno scene is an incredibly tough watch, and it takes some balls to have this track playing as two sociopaths take a flamethrower to a bus full of schoolchildren. Kudos to Eisner and his team for sneaking in the theme to The Racoons as well.
College Feat. Electric Youth: A Real Hero
Drive
I’ve listened to Drive’s soundtrack more than any other this year. It’s a perfect mix of score and songs, so while compiling this list, it was tricky to narrow my choices down to just one, so I went with A Real Hero – a song that gave me goose bumps when I first heard it in the film, and continues to do so. It perfectly captures the mood of the film, and heightens the impact of the scene in which it features.
Alan Menken & The Star Spangled Singers: Star Spangled Man
Captain America
Quite simply brilliant.
When I first heard about the presence of this song and dance number in Captain America, I have to admit that I thought it was a joke. Fortunately it isn’t, because Star Spangled Man works incredibly well. It’s an audacious move to have something like this in a blockbuster movie, but it makes perfect sense given that it complements not only the tone but also the narrative. We’d expect nothing less from Alan Menken, the composer who defined the golden age of modern Disney.
Bret McKenzie: Life’s A Happy Song
The Muppets
We UK inhabitants won’t be able to see The Muppets until February, but as a fan of Jim Henson’s most beloved creations and Bret McKenzie’s work on Flight Of The Conchords, I’ve been regularly listening to this soundtrack in anticipation.
It’s packed with great songs, but the obvious choice is Life’s A Happy Song, which is the one that most resembles the classic songs of Muppets past, such as Rainbow Connection. It’s brilliant stuff, and surely destined for Oscar glory.
Follow Den Of Geek on Twitter right here. And be our Facebook chum here.