Top 20 Most Overused Songs in Movies and TV
#20: “Low Rider” (1975)
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War Released in 1975 on War’s studio album “Why Can’t We Be Friends?,” “Low Rider” has been covered by dozens of artists and has appeared in countless TV shows and movies throughout the years. As for movies, it’s popped up in the likes of “Gone in 60 Seconds,” “Up in Smoke,” “Friday,” and “A Knight’s Tale,” to name but a few. In “That ‘70s Show,” Eric inscribes the lyrics of the song onto Donna’s wedding ring. It is also known for being George Lopez’s theme song, appearing in his stand up and on his shows “George Lopez” and “Lopez Tonight.” War isn’t the most popular band in the world, but we imagine the royalty checks for this one song have set them up for life.
#19: “True” (1983)
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Spandau Ballet Easily Spandau Ballet’s biggest song, “True” topped the UK charts for four weeks and proved the band’s only top ten hit in the United States, peaking at #4. The song itself has appeared in numerous movies, including “Sixteen Candles” and “Charlie’s Angels.” It’s also closely related to Adam Sandler, having appeared in both “Pixels” and “The Wedding Singer.” In the latter, it’s sung by Steve Buscemi at Robbie and Julia’s wedding. It was also sung by Edward Norton in “Modern Family,” who was appearing as the band’s fictional bass player, Izzy LaFontaine. He personally sings “True” to Phil and Claire, as Claire mistakenly believes that it’s the couple’s song.
#18: “Mr. Blue Sky” (1978)
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Electric Light Orchestra ELO’s “Mr. Blue Sky” recently enjoyed a bit of a cultural resurgence thanks to “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” but it’s been around in the pop culture consciousness for decades. In fact, it appeared in both the opening and closing ceremonies of the London Summer Olympics in 2012, a celebration of the band’s English heritage. As for movies and TV, “Mr. Blue Sky” has appeared in “Megamind,” “Role Models,” “Paul Blart,” and the trailer for “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.” It has also popped up in various television programs, including the children’s show “The Magic Roundabout” and “Doctor Who.”
#17: “Respect” (1967)
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Aretha Franklin Often considered one of the greatest songs ever recorded, Aretha Franklin’s “Respect” was released in 1967, serving as a cover of Otis Redding’s 1965 original. Despite being a cover, Franklin undoubtedly made it her own, changing the lyrics to reflect the feminist movement and adding the song’s signature “R-E-S-P-E-C-T” refrain. “Respect” has appeared in the likes of “Desperately Seeking Susan,” “St. Elmo’s Fire,” and “Bridget Jones’s Diary,” just to name a few. It is also sung by Jennifer Hudson in the Aretha Franklin biopic, appropriately titled “Respect.” The biopic is a long time coming, serving as a wonderful celebration of Franklin’s trailblazing career and music.
#16: “All Along the Watchtower” (1968)
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The Jimi Hendrix Experience Originally written by Bob Dylan, the Jimi Hendrix cover of this tune usually comes in when something on-screen gets kicked up a notch, often cued up when a character is tripping on drugs for the first time. However, it doesn’t always have to be associated with a drug trip. Case in point, “Battlestar Galactica” uses the song as a trigger, suggesting the melody transcends space and time. However, when placed in chronological time, this psychedelic rocker has become a period marker for the 1960’s, common in movies and shows depicting era-defining events like the Vietnam war, although we’ll get to more songs associated with that time period later.
#15: “Gimme Shelter” (1969)
The Rolling Stones Martin Scorsese’s movies probably count for half of the plays this song gets on-screen but “Gimme Shelter” also has a reputation for meaning that something intense is about to happen. Whether in emotionally and romantically intense scenes, or when everything is about to hit the fan, it’s certainly pulled its weight over the years as a cue to let people know something interesting is well, just a shot away. Just like another Stones classic, “Sympathy for the Devil” it’s a great tune that unfortunately feels a little formulaic at this point. Maybe we can let the next generation of rockers lay these ones to rest soon.
#14: “Walking on Sunshine” (1985)
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Katrina and the Waves This song may have been the group’s biggest hit, but it’s also guaranteed their spot in pop culture. The pop rock number sounds like sunshine, rainbows, and everything nice, so it’s always played to make sure we know that an on-screen character is feeling good. The most creative use of the Katrina and the Waves single must be in “American Psycho” though, during the scene in which Patrick Bateman listens to it stone-faced after a successful night of killing. “Walking on Sunshine” has appeared in dozens of projects, including films, TV shows, video games and more… but maybe it’s about time that it walks away.
#13: “Bad to the Bone” (1982)
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George Thorogood & the Destroyers Is an unlikely person about to rebel? If so, cue this song! This song seems to appear every time old people go on a trip, middle-aged men want to be badasses or kids feel the urge to rebel. Before it had such an ironic use, “Bad to the Bone” was used with sincerity. For example, it plays in “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” after the T-800 suits up in his leather motorcycle outfit. The track’s opening guitar riff makes it instantly recognizable and alerts the audience to watch out for whoever’s on screen.
#12: “Sweet Home Alabama” (1974)
Lynyrd Skynyrd This Lynyrd Skynyrd track seems to be the only tune about the South that Hollywood knows about. And if the on-screen setting isn’t actually in the South, filmmakers seem to use it when they want the audience to know a character is a stereotypical hillbilly. However, as much as “Sweet Home Alabama” has been used as a cliché, filmmakers have been using it to create meaning in new and unexpected ways. It’s certainly most engaging when it's remixed into creative reinterpretations, rather than just using it in rote repetition whenever a backwoods redneck appears on screen.
#11: “Kung Fu Fighting” (1974)
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Carl Douglas The inclusion of this funky disco tune means “we’re about to engage in some wacky fighting!” When this Carl Douglas number comes on, it pretty much guarantees that no one in the scene actually knows kung fu or is even a good fighter. Or if they can fight, it’s almost by miracle. Interestingly enough, this song was originally recorded as a B-side so the producer decided to go over-the-top with the elements stereotypically associated with martial arts. While “Kung Fu Fighting” was fun at the time of its release, now it seems way past its due date.
#10: “Spirit in the Sky” (1969)
Norman Greenbaum Very few people will know the name Norman Greenbaum, but he is one of the biggest one-hit wonders in music history, known for his 1969 single “Spirit in the Sky.” A unique blending of rock, country, and gospel, the song was a huge hit for Greenbaum and is often seen on “Greatest Songs of All Time” lists. It has appeared in over 20 movies and TV shows throughout the decades. Some older movies, like “Wayne’s World 2” and “Apollo 13,” many recent like “Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows,” and “This Is the End.” As for TV, the song has popped up on “The Masked Singer” and “Sons of Anarchy.”
#9: “Fortunate Son” (1969)
Creedence Clearwater Revival If a movie takes place during the Vietnam War, you better believe CCR’s “Fortunate Son” is gonna play. (xref) Either that or Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth.” Both are emblematic of the era. “Fortunate Son” is played in “Forrest Gump” when Forrest arrives in the jungle, and it has appeared in many action and crime films, including “Live Free or Die Hard,” “Battleship,” “Suicide Squad,” and “War Dogs.” It is also no stranger to TV, popping up in the likes of “Parenthood,” the new “MacGyver,” “American Horror Story,” and “The Strain.” It’s one of the most popular rock songs ever recorded, and its legacy has undoubtedly been aided by its numerous pop culture appearances.
#8: “Stayin’ Alive” (1977)
Bee Gees Originally created for the “Saturday Night Fever” movie soundtrack, this disco track seems to have really outgrown its source. Sure, when older viewers hear the Bee Gees crooning, they immediately think of John Travolta strutting along the sidewalk. But there have just been so many other on-screen uses of the chart-topper to denote when someone thinks he’s a pretty cool customer, especially when other people do not. It certainly has a great vibe, but it’s also one of the biggest earworms ever, so, more often than not, it can be quite distracting.
#7: “Back in Black” (1980)
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AC/DC These iconic hard rockers released some real bangers in their time, but nothing compares to “Back in Black.” That iconic guitar riff has appeared in dozens of shows and movies, and it rivals “Fortunate Son” for the most prominent riff in entertainment history. It’s played in “School of Rock” when Dewey is assigning the children their various roles in and for the band. It has also appeared in the opening scene of “Iron Man” and in movies ranging from “The Karate Kid” to “Spider-Man: Far From Home” and even to “The Muppets.” As for TV, you can hear it in shows like “Cobra Kai,” “Ash vs Evil Dead,” and “Supernatural.”
#6: “We Are the Champions” (1977)
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Queen This band is vastly overplayed in the movie and TV industry. It makes sense, considering their stature and legendary songs. The song obviously appeared in “Bohemian Rhapsody,” but that doesn’t count. It’s typically played when a character wins something, as seen in the likes of “Gilmore Girls,” “Kicking & Screaming,” and “South Park” (albeit used humorously). It has also appeared in “Friends,” “Angel,” “Arrow,” “High Fidelity,” “Turbo,” and “Game Night.” It’s just a cliché at this point - especially if it involves championships or winning of some kind.
#5: “Over the Rainbow” (1939)
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Judy Garland The filmmakers behind “The Wizard of Oz” probably never thought this song would become such a standout track and a cultural phenomenon. There’s no denying the ballad was a beautiful addition to the musical fantasy, but it’s now too often been overtly used to make the audience feel a sense of nostalgia. “Over the Rainbow” has appeared in 100 on-screen projects and shows no signs of slowing down. It may go down as one of the most emotional songs ever, but it’s also often cringe worthy too.
#4: “Let’s Get It On” (1973)
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Marvin Gaye Quick, think of a scene where one character looks at another in a seductive manner! Chances are that scene contains Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On.” Much like “We Are the Champions,” “Let’s Get It On” has become a movie trope in and of itself, as it’s always played during some seductive or sex-based sequence. Regarding movies, you can hear it in “Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me,” “High Fidelity,” “Something’s Gotta Give,” “The Change-Up,” and “Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason,” among others. And for TV, it’s appeared in many classic shows like “The Simpsons,” “The Sopranos,” “Charmed,” and “Scrubs.” That sexy and funky opening has got to be one of the most overused sounds in movies and TV.
#3: “What a Wonderful World” (1967)
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Louis Armstrong If you want viewers to cry, then this is the song to put in your soundtrack. Every time “What a Wonderful World” plays, it pretty much means that something awful happened, but that we should still have faith in humanity. Or, that something truly beautiful has just happened. Either way, Louis Armstrong’s traditional pop tune has become too emotionally manipulative and its on-screen inclusion seems unoriginal at best. Movies like “Journey 2: The Mysterious Island” attempt to make it new by offering alternative versions of the original, but we see what they’re doing. Stop.
#2: “Hallelujah” (1984)
Leonard Cohen When even the artist thinks their song has been used one too many times, maybe it’s time to pack it in. In 1984, Leonard Cohen released “Hallelujah” to a generally unresponsive public. However, it eventually generated esteem through various cover versions, most prominently those of John Cale and Jeff Buckley. Cohen’s arrangement of “Hallelujah” has appeared in countless movies and TV shows, including “Shrek,” “The West Wing,” “Scrubs,” and “Watchmen.” It was the latter that made Cohen speak up about his song. He had reportedly read a review in which the writer openly asked filmmakers to stop using the song. Cohen told The Guardian that he agreed, saying, “I kind of feel the same way.” Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. “London Calling” (1979), The Clash Cue Shots of the London Skyline “Oh Yeah” (1985), Yello Another Seductive Song “How to Save a Life” (2006), The Fray And Cue the Waterworks “The Final Countdown” (1986), Europe Few Keyboard Riffs Are as Iconic as This
#1: “Born to be Wild” (1968)
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Steppenwolf You can almost hear a motorcycle revvin’ up each time this song comes on. Originally and masterfully used in “Easy Rider,” the hard rocker truly captured the spirit of ‘60s counterculture, a sense of Americana, and the quest for freedom. However, the entertainment industry has pretty much ruined those positive connotations with the Steppenwolf song by including it close to a hundred other productions. Though it’s also appeared in movies featuring or about animals, “Born to be Wild” is now too often used in a very clichéd way to represent someone who feels liberated.
