Many tunes you might not realize were composed specifically for, or even made famous through, films exist. At times, these songs surpass the movie’s popularity, but just as frequently, these tracks become so renowned that their film origins are forgotten. Artists such as Radiohead, Simon & Garfunkel, Eric Clapton, Public Enemy, and numerous others have penned some of their biggest hits for movies.
This compilation is a homage to certain songs, some of which you might have long since forgotten or were previously unaware of, that originally appeared in movie soundtracks.
This list honors a selection of tunes, many of which may have slipped your memory or gone unnoticed, as they began their lives on movie soundtrack tracks.
“The Sound Of Silence”
It’s likely that you recall Simon & Garfunkel providing the music for The Graduate, yet it’s the song “Mrs. Robinson” that is most linked to the film in your mind. Another well-known tune of theirs, “The Sound of Silence,” is also part of the movie’s soundtrack.
“Exit Music (For A Film)”
It’s often overlooked that “Exit Music (For A Film)” by Radiohead originated from a movie. Most people recognize it as part of the album “Ok Computer,” which is highly acclaimed, not just from the ’90s, but also among all-time greats. Interestingly enough, though, “Exit Music (For A Film)” was initially used in Baz Luhrmann’s movie “Romeo + Juliet.
“New York, New York”
One of Frank Sinatra’s most recognized songs, “New York, New York,” wasn’t actually an original Sinatra composition. Instead, it debuted in Martin Scorsese’s film “New York, New York” and was sung by Liza Minnelli. While Sinatra’s rendition is undoubtedly the one that stands out most, it wasn’t the first to be performed.
“Tears In Heaven”
In the 1990s, Eric Clapton experienced a significant resurgence in his career, largely due to the massive success of “Tears In Heaven.” This song was deeply personal for Clapton, as it was inspired by the tragic death of his son Connor, who fell from a window in a skyscraper in New York City. Initially, the song wasn’t included in one of Clapton’s albums; instead, it made its debut on the soundtrack for the movie “Rush” in 1991. However, the most popular version of the song was performed during his appearance on “MTV Unplugged.
“Call Me”
The 1980 film American Gigolo, featuring Richard Gere, was a massive success. Notably, Blondie’s popular song “Call Me,” or at least one of their most famous tracks, originated from this movie. This hit tune is synonymous with Blondie, the renowned punk/wave band, and it was jointly written by Giorgio Moroder, who created the music score for the film.
“Fight The Power”
Public Enemy had already established themselves as one of hip-hop’s greatest groups when they composed and recorded “Fight The Power” for Spike Lee’s groundbreaking film, Do The Right Thing. Similar to other songs on this list, it became a defining anthem for the group. However, it wasn’t until after its movie debut that it was included in an album.
“Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head”
It might surprise you to learn that the catchy tune “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head,” sung by B.J. Thomas, originated from the iconic Western film “Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid,” penned by the talented duo Burt Bacharach and Hal David.
“Let’s Go Crazy”
Gathered here today, let us rejoice and honor the iconic creation we know as “Purple Rain“, encompassing both the film and its groundbreaking soundtrack, masterfully crafted by the enigmatic artist known simply as Prince. While the album holds a special place, the movie is equally captivating. Of course, the title track “Purple Rain” is synonymous with the movie, but let’s not forget about “Let’s Go Crazy”? This powerful anthem resonates strongly within the movie and on the album as well.
“Moon River”
Fans of “The Simpsons” are aware that “Moon River” is Andy Williams’ iconic song, yet they didn’t expect him to play it again, but lo and behold, he did during his second encore! However, he wasn’t the first to record this beautiful piece. Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer composed it for Audrey Hepburn to sing in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” Over time, it has evolved into a well-loved jazz classic.
“Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door”
Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door,” a well-known tune by Bob Dylan, has been notably covered by artists such as Jimi Hendrix and Guns N’ Roses. Initially written for the movie Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid, in which Dylan also starred, the song is now one of his most recognized compositions.
“Take My Breath Away”
As a film aficionado, I can’t help but marvel at the timeless tunes that graced the soundtrack of the legendary movie, Top Gun. Tracks like “Take My Breath Away” by Berlin are often overshadowed by the film’s overall iconic status. While those who lived through the ’80s and caught it in cinemas or on VHS might recall it vividly, for the younger generation, this gem might be overlooked.
“Independent Women, Pt 1”
In 2000, the revamped version of “Charlie’s Angels” became a massive cultural phenomenon, and one reason for its success was the popular Destiny’s Child song “Independent Women, Pt 1.” It’s quite possible that many Beyoncé fans are unaware that this hit tune was initially featured on a soundtrack.
“It Must Have Been Love”
In the ’90s, Roxette enjoyed a series of popular songs, and among them was “It Must Have Been Love,” which was featured in one of the most successful films of that time, Pretty Woman. The tune seamlessly complemented the film’s atmosphere.
“Gangsta’s Paradise”
Coolio’s “Gangsta’s Paradise” stands as one of the most enduring hip-hop tracks ever created. In contrast, the film it originated from, Dangerous Minds, starring Michelle Pfeiffer, hasn’t garnered nearly the same level of lasting popularity. It’s not because the movie is poor quality, but rather that it hasn’t maintained the enduring success that the song has experienced over time.
“Cradle of Love”
Back in MTV’s video era, Billy Idol’s “Cradle of Love” music video was incredibly popular, but the film it originated from, The Adventures of Ford Fairlane, featuring Andrew Dice Clay, didn’t garner as much attention. For some, Clay’s standalone movie is a classic due to his vulgar comedy style; however, many find it to be merely foolish and nonsensical.
“Happy”
This one might spark some discussion about whether it belongs on the list. The song “Happy” by Pharrell Williams was exceptionally popular, and interestingly enough, it was initially featured in the soundtrack of another massive hit, “Despicable Me 2”. While fans of the franchise would likely recognize this, the song’s widespread popularity means that many fans of the song might not realize its movie origins.
“Say You, Say Me”
The 1985 film “White Nights” often goes unremembered, but not the Lionel Richie song “Say You, Say Me,” which debuted in it. Interestingly, while the song was initially featured in the movie, it didn’t make it onto the soundtrack, allowing it to be included on Richie’s album “Dancing on the Ceiling” some months later.
“Lose Yourself”
Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” is one of his most famous rap tracks, and it was initially featured in the film “8 Mile“. Although Eminem isn’t as widely recognized for this movie today, the song actually originated from its soundtrack.
“Nobody Does It Better”
In my opinion, “Nobody Does It Better” by Carly Simon stands out as not just a fantastic tune, but as the superior theme song during Roger Moore’s tenure as James Bond. Unlike most Bond themes, this one doesn’t share its name with the movie it accompanies. For the film “The Spy Who Loved Me“, there is an exception to this rule. The lyrics do reference the movie title, but the song itself has a different name, which can make it easy to overlook that it’s actually a Bond theme song.
“Crazy for You”
At the onset of her groundbreaking career, Madonna found success with the track “Crazy For You.” Initially featured in the movie soundtrack “Vision Quest” about wrestling, the song’s popularity was such that the film was rechristened after it in several countries.
“Against All Odds”
During the 1980s, Phil Collins undertook numerous soundtrack projects, and among his most popular songs, “Against All Odds,” originated from a film bearing the same title starring Jeff Bridges. While the movie, which revolves around a former athlete, isn’t typically recognized as one of Bridges’ finest performances, the song continues to be iconic.
“End of the Road”
In the 90s, Boyz II Men were among the most prominent bands, which is why it wasn’t surprising they contributed a track to the soundtrack of a film featuring one of the decade’s biggest movie stars. Although Boomerang, an Eddie Murphy movie, isn’t as well-remembered as some of his other work from that era, it remains one of his best films from the ’80s and ’90s. However, it hasn’t achieved the longevity of “End of the Road.
“Don’t You (Forget About Me)”
If you share my taste in music, you might often tune into the First Wave station on SiriusXM. One of the classics from the ’80s wave is “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” by Simple Minds, and while Generation X may recall it as being featured in The Breakfast Club, the song has gained such iconic status that its origins can easily be overlooked by many.
“Eye Of The Tiger”
The iconic “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor is played frequently at sports events and gyms worldwide, making it more widely recognized than the film it originated from, Rocky III. Although Rocky III remains memorable, the song has broken free from its cinematic ties, isn’t it?
“I Just Called to Say I Love You”
I Just Called to Say I Love You” is well-known as one of Stevie Wonder’s iconic songs, even though he has an impressive number of hits. It might seem surprising that a song from a movie could come from such a prolific artist, but this one did. The movie it came from, which isn’t widely remembered today, is titled “The Woman In Red” and stars Gene Wilder and Kelly LeBrock.
“Because You Loved Me”
As a film enthusiast, I can’t help but associate Celine Dion’s iconic tune “My Heart Will Go On” with the cinematic masterpiece, Titanic. Yet, another of her hits, “Because You Loved Me,” is linked to a movie that many seem to have forgotten – Up Close and Personal, starring the legendary Robert Redford and the captivating Michelle Pfeiffer.
“Kiss From a Rose”
In the 90s, one of Seal’s most popular songs, “Kiss From a Rose,” was originally featured in the movie “Batman Forever.” While “Batman Forever” isn’t typically considered among the best Batman films, it is still generally regarded as superior to “Batman & Robin.
“Stay (I Missed You)”
The film “Reality Bites” played a significant role in shaping the Generation X identity, and the popular tune “Stay (I Missed You)” by Lisa Loeb is undeniably emblematic of that period. However, it’s not uncommon for people to overlook the fact that this song originated from the movie itself. Once you do connect the dots, it all falls into place, but for many, the two remain distinct entities in their minds.
“Endless Love”
The film titled “Endless Love” is well-known as Tom Cruise’s initial significant role (though his part was minor). To be honest, apart from that, it doesn’t offer much more. Nevertheless, the theme song, “Endless Love,” performed by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie, continues to be a timeless classic love song that people worldwide still slow dance to.
“(Everything I Do) I Do It for You”
1991 saw one particular tune dominating everywhere – Bryan Adams’ “(Everything I Do) I Do It for You”. Despite its origin from “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves”, this fact has become obscured in the song’s chronicles. Given its contemporary sound, it’s not surprising that listeners no longer associate it with the movie.
“Kiss”
Despite the success of “Purple Rain,” Prince’s second film, “Under the Cherry Moon,” did not fare as well. The iconic song “Kiss” is likely more connected to the memorable bathtub scene in “Pretty Woman” than it is with “Cherry Moon.
“Wind Beneath My Wings”
It’s worth noting that “Wind Beneath My Wings,” a well-known tune by Bette Midler, and the movie “Beaches” share an identical origin tale, despite the fact that this connection is often overlooked.
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2025-05-31 19:40