Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater outstanding uses of music in film/tv

As I was listening to my new 20th aniv. sacd of Dire straits' Brothers in arms, I got to thinking about the use of the title track in an episode of The west wing, the season 2 finale "Two cathedrals" I'm a WW fan and the final scene featuring that song was particularly moving and the song was a big part part as it was particularly fitting. So, what other instances in film or tv of inspired uses of music can you reccomend?

The first the springs to mind is most of the Miami Vice episodes back in the day. Back then, it was such a cutting edge show and music was always a big part of many episodes.

I don't watch enough of the big t.v. shows these days, so I don't have any recent ones that stick out.

Duck, as you may know, the use of classical music in film scores is very common. Possibly Strauss's Blue Danube Waltz would head any movie list; examples are "2001" and "Titanic". Richard Strauss's Also Sprach Zarathustra has been used a lot, again notably in "2001". Beethoven's 9th Symphony was featured in "A Clockwork Orange". Ravel's Bolero has made many appearances, including an attempt to inspire Bo Derek and Dudley Moore in "10".

I love the musical choices in the TV show Freaks and Geeks. They really added to every scene.

C.V.

For me, hands down, it's Mike Oldfield's "Tubular Bells" used in 'The Exorcist'. On it's own, it's really a beautiful and brilliant piece of music. But for me, I'll never get over it's association to the movie, and since the movie freaked me out so bad, so does the song. I can't think of any other music in a film that's had this lasting affect on me.

Well the song that has the most lasting impression, for me, is "Moving in Stereo" by the cars from Fast Times. Phoebe had a truly moving performance.

I'm gonna go with the obvious choice for the "Jaws" theme.

Clockwork Orange.

Radiohead had a big part to play in the making of Vanilla Sky. Not that I cared much for the movie mind you.

I can't belive that nobody mentioned Star Wars either.

J

Oh c'mon people. "Ride of the Valkyries" from Apocalypse Now!! Along with the above mentioned scenes from "A Clockwork Orange" is there a more memorable marriage of music and film?

P.S. As far as TV the use of "Who Are You?" in the original CSI, although actually out of context if you understand what the song is about, certainly does give the show a rollicking start. And I'll second the music from Miami Vice. Good stuff.