A Match Made in Celluloid Heaven

This is pretty cool: The Top 40 music moments in film history.

The moment I saw the topic, my mind shot directly to Scorsese’s masterful mash-up of the piano outro from Derek & the Dominos’ “Layla” and the visual montage of “Bodies All Over” in Goodfellas. It did make this list, but in the 18th spot - definitely would have been on the top of my list.

Almost Famous’ use of “Tiny Dancer” is another great one, dutifully credited here.

Noticeably missing are some of the great uses of Aimee Mann’s music in Magnolia, however. Then again, I know many people have issues with that film. Not I, though: it’s one of my favs.

The list:

40. “Cuban Pete,” Desi Arnaz – The Mask
39. “The Promise,” When In Rome – Napoleon Dynamite
38. “I Think I See the Light,” Cat Stevens – Harold and Maude
37. “Cruel to Be Kind,” Letters To Cleo – 10 Things I Hate About You
36. “Closer,” Nine Inch Nails – Se7en
35. “Across 110th Street,” Bobby Womack – Jackie Brown
34. “Beth,” Kiss – Beautiful Girls
33. “I Say a Little Prayer,” Dionne Warwick – My Best Friend’s Wedding
32. “Sweet Emotion,” Aerosmith – Dazed and Confused
31. “Oh Yeah,” Yello – Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
30. “Louie, Louie,” The Kingsmen – Animal House
29. “Under Pressure,” Queen and David Bowie – Grosse Pointe Blank
28. “Jump in the Line,” Harry Belafonte – Beetlejuice
27. “Everybody Knows,” Leonard Cohen – Pump Up the Volume
26. "Lust for Life,” Iggy Pop – Trainspotting
25. "You Can Leave Your Hat On,” Tom Jones – The Full Monty
24. “I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow,” The Soggy Bottom Boys – O Brother Where Art Thou?
23. “Where Is My Mind,” The Pixies – Fight Club
22. “If You Were Here,” Thompson Twins – Sixteen Candles
21. “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You,” The Four Seasons – 10 Things I Hate About You
20. “In a Gadda-Da-Vida,” Iron Butterfly – Manhunter
19. “Tequila,” The Champs – Pee Wee’s Big Adventure
18. “Layla,” Derek and the Dominoes – GoodFellas
17. “Afternoon Delight,” Starland Vocal Band – Anchorman
16. "Spybreak,” The Propellerheads – The Matrix
15. “Don’t Stop Me Now,” Queen – Shaun of the Dead
14. “Misirlou,” Dick Dale – Pulp Fiction
13. “Old Time Rock and Roll,” Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band – Risky Business
12. “Sweet Caroline,” Neil Diamond – Beautiful Girls
11. “Perfect Day,” Lou Reed – Trainspotting
10. “Try a Little Tenderness,” Otis Redding – Pretty in Pink
9. “The End,” The Doors – Apocalypse Now
8. “Moving in Stereo,” The Cars – Fast Times at Ridgemont High
7. “Shout,” Otis Day & the Knights, Animal House
6. “Stuck in the Middle with You,” Stealer’s Wheel – Reservoir Dogs
5. “Tiny Dancer,” Elton John – Almost Famous
4. “Damn It Feels Good 2 Be A Gangsta,” The Geto Boys – Office Space
3. “Twist and Shout,” The Beatles – Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
2. “In Your Eyes,” Peter Gabriel – Say Anything
1. “Bohemian Rhapsody,” Queen – Wayne’s World

Click on the link above for a detailed write-up of each selection, and the actual video clips.