It’s no secret that some of the most memorable and catchy songs ever created were composed for movies. Soundtracks are a vital part of movie-making and even have the ability to make or break a film. When asked about The Wizard of Oz, the first thing that arguably pops into people's minds is "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," and the same reaction occurs with Titanic's "My Heart Will Go On." One of the beautiful things about music is that it allows us to convey something that can only be felt through song. In film, we turn to music to enhance a scene and better the overall rhythm of a story.
The collaboration between music and movies is one that will never go out of style. There are so many incredible singers from Elvis Presley to Lady Gaga who have been able to create timeless musical pieces through the collaboration of both media, and these artists are examples of how beautiful the pairing of music and movies truly are. Here are ten original movie songs that we will never get enough of.
10 "Live and Let Die" by Paul McCartney and Wings (Live and Let Die)
This song is perhaps one of the most iconic songs ever written for a James Bond movie. In 1973, Roger Moore made his debut as 007 in the film Live and Let Die and has gone on to star in six other Bond movies since. Paul McCartney released the song "Live and Let Die" specifically for this film and its upbeat yet mysterious nature represents the theme of the work perfectly.
9 "Can't Help Falling in Love" by Elvis Presley (Blue Hawaii)
Although most of Elvis Presley's movies may not stand the test of time, his music definitely does. One of the singer's most loved songs of all time is "Can't Help Falling in Love," which comes from the 1961 musical-romance Blue Hawaii. For decades after the film was released, Elvis was performing this song live and even now in 2022, the song is finding new audiences due to the amount of artists who cover the work. This song is iconic and will most likely be listened to forever.
8 "Mrs. Robinson" by Simon & Garfunkel (The Graduate)
The Graduate is a romance/comedy-drama from director Mike Nichols, starring Dustin Hoffman, Anne Bancroft, and Katharine Ross. While the film was nominated for seven Oscars and took home the Academy Award for Best Director, perhaps the most memorable aspect of the movie is the song "Mrs. Robinson" by Simon & Garfunkel. This song was originally written for The Graduate and has become a favorite on its own, in addition to making its way back on the big screen in 2013. A cover to Mrs. Robinson by The Lemonheads can be heard in Martin Scorsese and Leonardo Dicaprio's The Wolf of Wall Street.
7 "Miss Misery" by Elliott Smith (Good Will Hunting)
As Will Hunting finally realizes that he has to at least attempt to utilize his gift and strive for something better, if not for himself than his friends around him, we see him drive out of Boston without telling anyone where he is going. During this highly emotional scene, Elliott Smith's "Miss Misery" plays in the background. The lyrics say, "I know you'd rather see me gone than the way I am," which is exactly how the audience and all the characters in Good Will Hunting feel about Will.
6 "Mystery of Love" by Sufjan Stevens (Call Me By Your Name)
Call Me By Your Name is the complex and raw love story between Elio Perlman (Timothée Chalamet) and Oliver (Armie Hammer). The two fall in love when Oliver comes to stay with Elio and his family for a summer in 1980s Italy, and the audience watches them grow as people—and as a couple—while navigating how to make a relationship work in a world where they feel they must keep it a secret. Towards the end of the film, when all that the audience wants is for Elio and Oliver to end up together, Sufjan Stevens' "Mystery of Love" begins to play. The song is beautiful on its own, but becomes much more electric when paired with this story. "Mystery of Love" even landed a nomination for Best Original Song at the Oscars in 2018.
5 "Don't You (Forget About Me)" by Simple Minds (The Breakfast Club)
This song and this movie are both nothing short of iconic. The Breakfast Club is a coming-of-age teen/drama released in 1985 starring Molly Ringwald, Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy, Anthony Michael Hall, and Emilio Estevez. It is so impressive how, even over thirty-five years later, The Breakfast Club and "Don't You (Forget About Me)" are more relatable than ever. This movie is still being played in high schools all over the country and the image of John Bender fist-pumping with "Don't You" playing will forever be engraved in our minds.
4 "Moon River" by Audrey Hepburn (Breakfast at Tiffany's)
Audrey Hepburn is a symbol of beauty, elegance, and grace. Her performance in Breakfast at Tiffany's is electric and innocent all at the same time. The song "Moon River" was originally going to be cut from the film, but Hepburn told producers that they had to leave it in because it was a vital moment in the movie. She was absolutely right, and today "Moon River" is one of the most loved original movie songs ever.
3 "Shallow" by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper (A Star is Born)
A Star Is Born is filled with great songs from "Never Love Again," "Always Remember Us This Way," and "Is That Alright?," but Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper's duet "Shallow" is by far the most renowned. "Shallow" holds such significance to the film as it is one of the reasons why our two main characters Ally and Jackson fall in love with each other. Once they perform "Shallow" onstage together, their hearts are forever intertwined. The song became an instant hit as it surged to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts and won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2019.
2 "My Heart Will Go On" by Celine Dion (Titanic)
When you think of James Cameron's 1997 romance/drama Titanic, you think of Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On." It's hard to think of a song that fits a movie more perfectly than this pairing. The song composed by James Horner with lyrics by Will Jennings has the ability to fit everything we felt during the three-hour movie into a three-minute song. "My Heart Will Go On" won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1998 and, just like Titanic, is nothing short of beautiful, dramatic, and epic.
1 "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" by Judy Garland (The Wizard of Oz)
The Wizard of Oz is one of the most classic and loved movies of all time. The story of the young girl trying to find her way back home to Kansas and meeting a scarecrow, tinman, and lion along the way is one that will be told forever. Judy Garland is a true star and has a quality that makes audiences of all generations resonate with her. Countless people have attempted to sing "Somewhere Over The Rainbow," but no one does it quite like Garland. Despite the hardships she faced in her personal life, Judy Garland will always be remembered as a brilliant performer who was able to light up every screen she appeared on and gave millions of people around the world hope through her songs.