Songs Inspired by Movies and TV Shows

Ever since the advent of screen media, music has formed a harmonious bond with both movies and television. This relationship is evident through the use of musical scores that elevate films, popular tunes making up remarkable movie soundtracks, and, undeniably, catchy TV theme songs that could have been radio hits. Additionally, numerous renowned artists have written songs inspired by their love for pop culture, subtly referencing iconic or enigmatic scenes from movies or television in their lyrics. These musical creations, often iconic and sometimes unexpectedly so, draw inspiration from a movie or TV show.

“Walk This Way” Aerosmith (Young Frankenstein)

The film “Young Frankenstein,” directed by Mel Brooks, is well-known for its humorous spoofs, such as when Igor (played by Marty Feldman) tells Dr. Frederick Frankenstein (Gene Wilder) to mimic a certain walk, which was not about their direction but rather a reference to Igor’s unusual limp. The Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry revealed in an interview with The Wall Street Journal in 2014 that the band enjoyed watching this 1974 horror-comedy film during a break from recording “Toys in the Attic.” Particularly, they found amusement in the “walk this way” scene, which inspired producer Jack Douglas to name a song after it.

“Married With Children” – Oasis (Married… With Children)

Beyond facing much debate throughout its decade-long broadcast, “Married… with Children” even prompted Noel Gallagher of Oasis to pen a track sharing the same title (without the ellipsis) for their 1994 album, “Definitely Maybe”. In an interview with Melody Maker (as shared by Brit Pop Reunion), Gallagher admitted he recognized aspects of himself and his former partner, Louise Jones, in the troubled main characters Al (Ed O’Neill) and Peg Bundy (Katey Segal). This inspiration fueled the creation of the song.

“Total of the Eclipse of the Heart” – Bonnie Tyler (Nosferatu)

The music video for Bonnie Tyler’s emotional ballad, “Total Eclipse of the Heart,” which is her lead single from the album Faster Than the Speed of Night, has a gothic atmosphere reminiscent of a classic horror film like Nosferatu. Interestingly enough, this connection wasn’t accidental. The Welsh singer revealed to The Guardian that the song’s original writer, Jim Steinman, began composing it while working on an incomplete musical adaptation of the 1922 silent-era vampire film.

“Laura Palmer” – Bastille (Twin Peaks)

Dan Smith, lead singer of Bastille, is a big admirer of the films by director David Lynch (as mentioned during his conversation with Audacy) and also his most popular TV project, Twin Peaks. In an interview with 3voor12, he confessed that he titled the mysterious fifth single from their 2011 debut album, Bad Blood, after the character of Laura Palmer, portrayed by Sheryl Lee. Her murder forms the basis of the intriguing crime drama’s plot.

“Heartlight” – Neil Diamond (E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial)

In a legal dispute, Neil Diamond found himself in trouble over the lyrics of “Heartlight,” as MCA argued they were too similar to the storyline of the iconic sci-fi film, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. The connections to the 1982 ballad’s origins are not exactly hidden, with mentions of a boy who befriends a radiant-chested companion, going on a “lunar journey” together, and feeling sorrowful when that friend has to leave.

“Floyd The Barber” – Nirvana (The Andy Griffith Show)

As a fan, I find it quite unexpected that a cheerful and amusing series like “The Andy Griffith Show” could serve as the muse for a Nirvana song. But upon closer examination of the lyrics in “Floyd the Barber,” from their 1989 album “Bleach,” it becomes clearer that Kurt Cobain has creatively reinterpreted the title character and key personalities from the ’60s sitcom, transforming them into chilling figures of violence.

“Me And Bobby McGee” – Janis Joplin (La Strada)

The timeless version of “Me and Bobby McGee” is found on Janis Joplin’s album, Pearl, which was released posthumously in 1971. However, it was Kris Kristofferson who penned the song. According to his account shared with Wide Open Country in 2022, he drew inspiration for the song from Federico Fellini’s Academy Award-winning film, La Strada, specifically a scene where Zampanò (Anthony Quinn) rides on his motorcycle while Gelsomina (Giulietta Masina) plays the trombone.

“Any Friend Of Diane’s” – Weezer (Cheers)

In simpler terms, “Any Friend of Diane’s” is the name of an episode from the initial season of the popular NBC sitcom, “Cheers,” named after Shelley Long’s character. As revealed in an interview with The Independent, Rivers Cuomo, the lead singer of Weezer, drew inspiration from this episode’s title to create a song that honors numerous women who have been instrumental in supporting the band throughout their career.

“Space Oddity” – David Bowie (2001: A Space Odyssey)

As a film enthusiast, I can’t help but notice the striking resemblance between the title of David Bowie’s opening track from his second album and that of Stanley Kubrick’s 1968 masterpiece, “2001: A Space Odyssey.” It’s no secret that Kubrick’s groundbreaking space film served as a significant inspiration for Bowie, a fact he openly shared with Performing Songwriter. Interestingly, the song’s release, which tells the heart-wrenching story of a mission in space gone awry, was strategically timed to coincide with the Apollo 11 landing in 1969. While this might seem like an unconventional publicity move, it certainly caught people’s attention!

“Dragula” – Rob Zombie (The Munsters)

A must-have for any Halloween music collection is Rob Zombie’s 1998 hit song, “Dragula.” Fans of the TV show, The Munsters, will recognize that this title refers to a car owned by Grandpa, who is actually Count Dracula in disguise, played by Al Lewis. In fact, this musician-turned-filmmaker has been an admirer of the 1960s sitcom about a peculiar family of creatures for a long time. He even penned and directed a film adaptation of the series, which hit theaters in 2022.

“Yoda” – “Weird Al” Yankovic (The Empire Strikes Back)

In a creative twist, the artist known as “Weird Al” Yankovic has produced numerous songs that draw heavily from popular culture, with several pieces inspired by the Star Wars films. For example, his song “Yoda,” featured on the 1985 album “Dare to be Stupid,” reimagines the key events of the 1980 film “The Empire Strikes Back” – specifically Luke Skywalker’s (Mark Hamill) tutelage under the diminutive, green character Yoda, played by Frank Oz – using the tune of The Kinks’ “Lola.

“The Actor” – Jason Kimmel (How I Met Your Mother)

The first solo track from musician Jason Kimmel, titled “The Actor,” narrates the tale of a young man who visits a bar and encounters a woman named Sara. Sara compares him to Ted Mosby from the show “How I Met Your Mother,” but not in a favorable manner. However, he is pleased by this comparison as he’s an admirer of Josh Radnor, who plays Ted on the show, unbeknownst to Sara. Interestingly, she recognizes Neil Patrick Harris, the actor who portrays Barney, but not Radnor.

“Bad Moon Rising” – Creedence Clearwater Revival (The Devil And Daniel Webster)

Similar to numerous tunes featuring “moon” in their titles, Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Bad Moon Rising” left an indelible mark on a chilling musical scene in the movie “An American Werewolf in London.” However, this song was primarily influenced by the 1941 adaptation of another ominous fantasy tale, “The Devil and Daniel Webster.” As John Fogerty shared with Rolling Stone in 1993, the film’s portrayal of dreadful weather as a consequence of a pact with the devil served as the inspiration for the lead single from their album “Green River” in 1969.

“Bloom” – Radiohead (The Blue Planet)

Thom Yorke was tuned into BBC’s 2001 nature documentary, “The Blue Planet,” with David Attenborough as the narrator, when inspiration struck for the song “Bloom.” This track became the opening number on Radiohead’s 2011 album, “The King of Limbs.” Later, Radiohead collaborated with Hans Zimmer to create an orchestral rendition of “Bloom” for the follow-up documentary, “Blue Planet II,” thus completing this tale.

“Wind It Up” – Gwen Stefani (The Sound Of Music)

In 2006, Gwen Stefani shared with MTV that her song “Wind it Up,” from her second solo album “The Sweet Escape, realized her ambition of incorporating elements from her favorite film, The Sound of Music.” Although the song’s narrative is not closely tied to the plot of the 1965 movie classic, it skillfully samples “The Lonely Goatherd” and pays homage to it in the music video.

“Mach 5” – The Presidents Of The United States of America (Speed Racer)

In a surprising turn of events, it wasn’t until 1996 that the iconic Mach 5 from the beloved animated series, “Speed Racer,” received a musical tribute. This honor came from The Presidents of the United States of America on their second album, “II.” Despite the title of the song suggesting a focus on Speed’s cherished car, lead singer Chris Ballew shared with Songfacts that the lyrics actually depict his childhood tendency to wreck his toy cars.

“Night Moves” – Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band (American Graffiti)

In 1973, Bob Seger watched a highly-acclaimed movie from the 1970s titled “American Graffiti”. This film was directed by George Lucas and depicted the story of a group of teenagers cruising around Los Angeles during late nights in the early 60s. The leader of Silver Bullet Band shared with Mix that this movie motivated him to share his own youthful experiences, ultimately resulting in the creation of the title track for his ninth studio album, released in 1976 called “Night Moves”.

“Fingers Crossed” – Billie Eilish (The Walking Dead)

In 2017, while Billie Eilish was still on her way up in the music industry, she shared with Junkee that her first-ever recorded song was titled “Fingers Crossed.” This song emerged from a class assignment where students had to write lyrics based on a movie or TV show. At just 12 years old, Billie selected The Walking Dead and wrote a song that, in her words, has a longing, heartbroken feel but actually revolves around a zombie apocalypse.

“Godzilla” – Blue Öyster Cult (Godzilla)

Blue Öyster Cult, famous for their serious rock ‘n roll songs about love and death such as “Don’t Fear the Reaper,” showcased their humor by creating a tribute to the King of Monsters. The first track on their 1977 album, Spectres, cleverly references the storyline of the original Japanese horror movie classic, Godzilla. While it accurately portrays the plot, it also includes playful jabs at Godzilla’s rampage in Tokyo and the destruction he caused.

“Bedrock Anthem” – “Weird Al” Yankovic (The Flintstones)

It takes a true comedy mastermind and musical genius like “Weird Al” Yankovic to blend Red Hot Chili Peppers song parodies with Flintstones-themed lyrics in such a harmonious way.

“Chain Saw” – Ramones (The Texas Chain Saw Massacre)

1989 saw the Ramones unveiling a track titled “Pet Sematary,” penned exclusively for Mary Lambert’s adaptation of Stephen King’s novel. Decades prior, the influential punk band found inspiration in another horror film classic, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, leading them to create their 1976 song “Chain Saw.” This tune explicitly acknowledges Tobe Hooper’s terrifying 1974 production.

“The Twilight Zone” – Rush (The Twilight Zone)

Neil Peart, a renowned drummer, was an ardent admirer of Rod Serling’s groundbreaking horror anthology TV series, The Twilight Zone, and in fact penned numerous Rush tunes that were influenced by different episodes. One such song, titled after the show itself, found on Side B of the 1976 album 2112, alludes to two iconic episodes, “Will the Real Martian Please Stand Up?” and “Stopover In a Quiet Town.

“The Union Forever” – The White Stripes (Citizen Kane)

Jack White attempted to master a tune titled “It Can’t Be Love,” featured in the 1941 film “Citizen Kane.” However, what transpired was the creation of an entirely unique song dedicated to him and Meg White of The White Stripes. This new composition, entitled “The Union Forever,” pays tribute to Orson Welles and his extraordinary debut film, with lyrics interwoven with references to the movie itself.

“Continental Farewell” – Hal Ketchum (Saturday Night Live)

As a fervent admirer, I can’t help but marvel at Christopher Walken – an actor who has left such a lasting impact on Saturday Night Live that he’s practically synonymous with the show. His characters, like the iconic “The Continental,” have become recurring favorites among viewers. Even Hal Ketchum, the late musician, was moved to compose a song titled “Continental Farewell” in homage to this unforgettable character. What an extraordinary testament to Walken’s talent!

“The Prisoner” – Iron Maiden (The Prisoner)

As a die-hard cinema enthusiast, I’ve always been captivated by Iron Maiden’s music, particularly their stories that are as gripping as a blockbuster film. Take “The Prisoner” for instance, which is one of the standout tracks on their iconic 1982 album, The Number of the Beast. This tune was actually inspired by a seminal 1960s British sci-fi miniseries that shared the same name. The third track even begins with snippets from this very series, immersing listeners in the tale before the music starts.

“Motorpsycho Nitemare” – Bob Dylan (Psycho)

Interestingly, Bob Dylan, often recognized for his ballads that speak against social and political injustice, is also a movie enthusiast. The song “Motorpsycho Nitemare” from the album Another Side of Bob Dylan (1964) was actually inspired by the chilling 1960 Alfred Hitchcock film, Psycho. This is suggested by lyrics such as, “She said, ‘Would you like to take a shower? / I’ll show you up to the door’ / I said, ‘Oh, no! no! / I’ve been through this before.’

“House Of Glass” – Cage the Elephant (I Am A Killer)

On Cage the Elephant’s 2019 album “Social Cues,” there’s a song named “House of Glass” that presents a chilling perspective – it’s sung by a quiet murderer, as revealed by Consequence of Sound. This unique angle for the track was inspired when the band members, specifically guitarist Brad Shultz and his brother Matt, were engrossed in the Netflix series called “I Am a Killer,” which offers interviews with individuals on death row due to homicide charges.

“Eyes Without A Face” – Billy Idol (Eyes Without A Face)

The 1983 hit song “Eyes Without a Face” by Billy Idol was influenced by the 1960 horror movie of the identical name. The film tells the story of a surgeon who becomes fixated on giving his daughter a new face after a tragic accident. Notably, he references the original French title, “Les yeux sans visage,” in the song’s lyrics.

“Missing You” – Ingrid Michaelson (Stranger Things)

2019 saw Ingrid Michaelson unveiling her eighth studio album titled Stranger Songs, an entire collection of tunes influenced by the highly popular Netflix original series, Stranger Things. The opening single, “Missing You,” delves into the complex romantic entanglement between characters Nancy Wheeler (Natalia Dyer), Jonathan Byers (Charlie Heaton), and Steve Harrington (Joe Keery).

“Why Didn’t Rosemary?” – Deep Purple (Rosemary’s Baby)

As stated by Derek Lawrence, who was responsible for producing Deep Purple’s third self-titled album in 1969, it is said that the band watched the movie “Rosemary’s Baby” and subsequently penned a song inspired by it. The song “Why Didn’t Rosemary?” poses questions related to the Oscar-winning 1968 horror film about a woman unknowingly giving birth to the offspring of Satan, like, “Why didn’t Rosemary ever take the pill?

“Man on the Edge” – Iron Maiden (Falling Down)

In an interview with Songfacts, Iron Maiden frontman Blaze Bayley disclosed that the song “Man on the Edge” from their 1995 album, The X Factor, was significantly inspired by Joel Schumacher’s 1993 movie, Falling Down, which centers around Michael Douglas portraying a character who finds himself at his breaking point.

“Gumby” – Aimee Mann (Hoarders)

The title “Gumby” from Aimee Mann’s 2012 album, Charmer, doesn’t have any connection to the famous claymation character. Instead, as explained by Joco Cruise, Mann chose the name because she imagined it fitting for someone who might appear on the reality show Hoarders. The song is actually about a person who stubbornly resists help that they obviously need.

2025-03-12 17:41