Top 20 Best Fake Songs from Movies
#20: “Nobody Like U” “Turning Red” (2022)
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Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell. It seems like the pair can do anything! Including writing a catchy song for a fake boy band in a Pixar movie. One of the major set pieces of “Turning Red” is a concert for the boy band 4*Town. While the credit for their big hit song, “Nobody Like U,” goes to them in the movie, it can be credited to Eilish and O’Connell IRL. Boy band music, although made specifically to have commercial appeal, also has a relatively distinct sound. This song from 4*Town has the beat, the lyrics, and the vibe that could easily pass for something we’d hear on the radio today.
#19: “Breathe” “Her Smell” (2018)
Faking punk rock seems like an impossible task, but the movie “Her Smell” does a pretty good job of it. The plot centers on a punk band called Something She, headed up by lead singer Becky who is played by Elisabeth Moss. One of the band’s hit tracks is called “Breathe,” and it was written by Alicia Bognanno, who co-wrote the movie’s music with Keegan DeWit. Bognanno brings authenticity to the song’s vibe, giving it a healthy dose of pop punk mixed with grunge. Even outside of the context of “Her Smell,” “Breathe” is a straight-up banger.
#18: “Mad About Me (The Cantina Song)” “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope” (1977)
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When you’re working with the likes of John Williams, it’s best to remember that the king doesn’t miss. The first “Star Wars” film is remembered for a lot of things, not least of all its signature Williams score. “The Cantina Song” might not be the first melody you think about, but maybe it should be! When Luke Skywalker first walks into the alien cantina, he’s greeted by a bar band playing a delightfully jaunty tune. The music feels old-timey, but slightly off-putting. Alien, even, one might say. That eccentricity aside, it’s delightful to see these extraterrestrial beings going ham on instruments like this.
#17: “A Waltz for a Night” “Before Sunset” (2004)
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Everything about the “Before” trilogy makes us want to break down in tears. But “Before Sunset” makes us want to cry in a happy way. Decidedly the most fairytale-esque of the three films, “Before Sunset” also shows off actress Julie Delpy’s guitar and singing chops. At the end of the film, just as Jesse is supposed to board a plane to go back to the United States, Céline plays him a song she wrote about their night together. It’s a simple waltz, but the lyrics and the way Céline remembers how much that night with Jesse meant to her are beautiful and vulnerable.
#16: “Supernova Girl” “Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century” (1999)
Zoom, zoom, zoom! Make my heart go boom, boom, boom! If you started singing along, then you’re definitely a ‘90s Disney Channel kid. “Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century” is a favorite of the Disney Channel Original Movie canon, and features a song that’s as catchy as it is fun. In the movie, “Supernova Girl” is performed by popstar Proto Zoa and his band Microbe. The song feels appropriately galactic, but with a pop beat that even humans can get down to. It was written by Kristian Rex, who also composed music for the beloved television show “Smart Guy.”
#15: “Húsavík” “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga” (2020)
Even for a movie as silly as this one, the moment around this song is surprisingly heartfelt. This 2020 film stars Will Ferrell as Lars, a man who desperately wishes to win the Eurovision Song Contest. His love interest Sigrit is played by Rachel McAdams, and the culminating moment comes at the end when Lars switches out the song they were supposed to perform. Sigrit sings “Húsavík,” a song she wrote for Lars about their hometown. There’s a lot that happens in this movie, including an incident with a hamster wheel, but this moment rings beautifully true emotionally. More than that, it sounds like a real Eurovision song.
#14: “PoP! Goes My Heart” “Music and Lyrics” (2007)
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A romantic comedy about two songwriters? You better hope you have some actually good songs. For the most part, “Music and Lyrics” does that pretty well, but there’s one song that stands above the rest. “PoP! Goes My Heart” is one of the songs that Hugh Grant’s character, Alex Fletcher, performed as a pop idol in the 1980s. And oh boy, does it fit the mold! “PoP! Goes My Heart” sounds like the quintessential ‘80s pop hit. Like the very best parodies, there’s an enormous amount of love for the genre folded into the joke, but that only makes it even more enjoyable.
#13: “Falling Slowly” “Once” (2007)
When you write a song that sticks with people the way that “Falling Slowly” has, that really counts for something. “Once” is a 2007 musical indie film that became a huge hit, and the music plays a large part in that. Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová star as Guy and Girl, two musicians who meet and fall in love in Dublin. Hansard and Irglová also helped write the songs for the film, including “Falling Slowly.” This beautiful piano ballad won an Oscar for Best Original Song, and continues to break hearts today.
#12: “Christmas Is All Around” “Love Actually” (2003)
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When it comes to washed up rock stars, there’s not one we love more than Billy Mack. As played by the incomparable Bill Nighy in the 2003 Christmas classic “Love Actually,” Billy Mack is one of the best parts of the film. In particular, his new festive hit “Christmas Is All Around” is absolutely perfect. The song is a holiday-themed version of a song by Troggs called “Love Is All Around.” No offense to Troggs, but we have to say we love the Billy Mack version better. The song is supposed to be kind of bad on purpose, but honestly? That’s what makes it work. Get that tune to the top of the charts!
#11: “School of Rock” “School of Rock” (2003)
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Richard Linklater has made some of our favorite movies over the past few decades. But one of his most entertaining has to be “School of Rock.” Jack Black absolutely shines as a wannabe musician who takes a job as a substitute and ends up teaching his classroom of kids how to jam out. The best part of the film comes at the very end when the class plays the song “School of Rock” at the Battle of the Bands. The film is filled with great classic rock tunes, but in all honesty, this track is one of the most fun in the entire movie. Black sings it wonderfully, and the kids are all so talented it’s almost tough to suspend our disbelief.
#10: “That Thing You Do!” “That Thing You Do!” (1996)
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When it comes to fictional one-hit-wonders, you can’t get much better than this. “That Thing You Do!” is a 1996 movie directed by and starring Tom Hanks, and follows the rise and fall of a pop band and their biggest song. The song, which shares a name with the movie, was written by Adam Schlesinger, the bassist from the band Fountains of Wayne. You can really tell the guy who had a hand in writing “Stacy’s Mom” was involved, because “That Thing You Do” is one of the best fake movie tunes of all time. Seriously, if the Wonders ever decide they want to get back together, we’ll be first in line for tickets.
#9: “Scotty Doesn’t Know” “Eurotrip” (2004)
This vulgar hit from “Eurotrip” has the distinction of being one of the few fictional songs to have surpassed the popularity of its source. While the 2004 comedy struggled to match its budget at the box office, “Scotty Doesn’t Know” earned its band, Lustra, a spot on the Billboard Hot 100. “Eurotrip” seemed to predict the song’s mass appeal IRL, as it’s shown to be popular in the world of the film as well. In it, the song becomes a global sensation, even being remixed and sold as a ringtone. Naturally, there’s one person who doesn’t appreciate the tune’s popularity, and that’s Scotty.
#8: “Stand Out” “A Goofy Movie” (1995)
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We can assume from his popularity that Powerline has many hit songs in the world of “A Goofy Movie.” But, this is the one Max, Goofy’s son, chooses to perform for his school, and we think he picked right. “Stand Out,” as its name implies, is about standing out from the crowd and making a name for yourself. Max definitely does just that when he and his friend P.J. hijack their school’s assembly for an impromptu performance. He even catches the eye of his crush, Roxanne! At the end of the movie, Max and Goofy get to jam out to “I 2 I” on stage with Powerline himself, but we’ll always have a soft spot for this energizing anthem about making it big.
#7: “Drive It Like You Stole It” “Sing Street” (2016)
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Anyone who’s ever been in a band will tell you how difficult it is to make a name for yourself - especially in high school. In that respect, the teens in “Sing Street” are living the dream! In this ‘80s-set film, the titular band writes and performs a number of catchy tunes inspired by the music of the era, slowly rising in popularity. Our favorite of these songs is “Drive It Like You Stole It,” an empowering rock pop number the boys sing at their school’s senior prom. The song’s lyrics perfectly encapsulate the protagonist’s character arc, while the performance allows him and his bandmates to show off their renewed self confidence in front of their peers. It’s truly a joy to watch!
#6: “Fever Dog” “Almost Famous” (2000)
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At the end of the day, “Almost Famous” is more about William Miller and the colorful array of groupies he meets than it is about a band. Nonetheless, the band at the center of it all is an undeniably important aspect of the film, and it’s equally important that their songs are good enough to warrant their dedicated fanbase. “Fever Dog” proves that they have what it takes to go toe-to-toe with other ‘70s rock musicians. The song takes inspiration from the real rock bands featured alongside it on the film’s Grammy award-winning soundtrack, and boasts some shockingly impressive vocals from actor Jason Lee.
#5: “We Are Sex Bob-Omb” “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” (2010)
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We know what you’re thinking… and we agree! “Black Sheep'' is great. Unfortunately, that show-stopping The Clash at Demonhead performance is technically a cover. And, honestly, it’s about time Sex Bob-Omb got some appreciation too. Although its members fear their music sucks, their introductory song “We Are Sex Bob-Omb'' proves the opposite. It’s just the right energy to introduce the film’s insane ensemble cast. They follow it up with a performance of “Garbage Truck” in the first round of Battle of the Bands, which is lyrically abrasive, but a ton of fun! Both songs strike the perfect balance between good and garage band. It’s just a shame “Garbage Truck” has to be interrupted by Ramona’s first evil ex.
#4: “Equal Rights (Not Gay)” “Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping” (2016)
When Macklemore and Ryan Lewis released “Same Love” it was met with a mixed response. While many applauded the song for its message, some poked fun at its cornier lyrics. The Lonely Island’s mockumentary film, “Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping” takes this a step further. In it, Conner4Real sings a song titled “Equal Rights” in which he advocates for gay rights while continuously insisting that he is straight. He even randomly shouts out stereotypical “straight male” interests like sports, four-wheel drive, and golf clubs to hammer home the point. It’s a hilarious play on the overzealous straight savior type that has emerged in modern pop culture, and with a chorus sung by P!nk, it’s an unironic jam.
#3: “What Dreams Are Made Of” “The Lizzie McGuire Movie” (2003)
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When Lizzie graduated from junior high, she never expected to have a run-in with a pop star whose former partner looked exactly like her. And yet, that’s exactly what happened! Throughout her school-sponsored trip to Rome, Lizzie secretly meets with Paolo, who teaches her how to be a star. He turns out to be a lip-syncing liar, but his former partner, Isabella, arrives at just the right time to save the day. She and Lizzie sing “What Dreams Are Made Of” on an international stage, impressing Lizzie’s parents and classmates, and absolutely blowing our 8-year-old selves’ minds. Ironically, as Isabella, Hilary Duff is actually lip-syncing the voice of her sister, Haylie. The different voice gives credence to the idea that these are two separate people - not just a brunette Lizzie.
#2: “Pretend to Be Nice” “Josie and the Pussycats” (2001)
Josie and the Pussycats is the best fake band ever! And we promise we weren’t brainwashed into saying that. While their meteoric rise to fame could be attributed to their shady record label, we’d like to think “Pretend to be Nice” would have risen through the pop charts regardless of any outside intervention. The tune is super fun and a total earworm, with lyrics relatable to anyone who’s ever had a careless, inattentive boyfriend. In addition to this chart-topper, Josie and the Pussycats also perform the equally enjoyable “Spin Around” at a global concert that acts as the film’s finale. But not before getting some much needed assistance from their predecessor, DuJour, whose song “Backdoor Lover” was all the rage before their mysterious plane crash.
#1: “Shallow” “A Star is Born” (2018)
“Shallow” may be a fake song, but there’s no denying Lady Gaga’s very real talent. “A Star is Born” is the third remake of a 1937 film of the same name, but more than sets itself apart with its moving performances and modern take on the music industry. On an in-world episode of “Saturday Night Live,” Gaga’s character, Ally, performs the catchy “Why Did You Do That?”. It’s not bad, but it’s a far cry from Ally’s authentic self, which is best showcased in her performance of “Shallow” with Jack. The song is a powerful reflection on the dangers of stardom, just as relevant to our real world as it is the fictional world of Ally and Jack. If we missed any of your favorite original movie tunes, let us know in the comments below!
