Back to Amazon.com

Music Monday: Movie Themes That Rawk

by Scott Lydon

Happy Music Monday! Everybody has one or two favorite movie themes, don't they? Maybe they're the ones you hum in your head to get you pumped up for the day, or maybe they're the ones that make you stop when you're flipping channels. Scott's done some thinking, and he's come up with his five. And if you're like him, you'll agree with pick number one:

Conan The Barbarian

 

Maybe- maybe -John Williams at the height of his powers could have come up with a better theme. But you know what? Basil Poledouris did it just fine. "Anvil Of Crom" is so hard-core that it has inspired D&D sessions for almost three decades and it still shows no sign of stopping. California, I hope this played every time your governor walked into the room to discuss policy with his rivals.

Even though no other movie theme can compare with Conan, we've still got four more coming after the jump. See you there?

Please remember our new Spotify playlist will be featuring a great selection from last week's Music Monday comments. The theme of the mix this time is Songs About Home. But before you start reminiscing, check out our current Music Monday. See you after the jump?

The Theme From "Shaft"

 

Naturally this much-beloved funk masterpiece has been adored and parodied and even covered but never once does it lose its trademark swagger. Not many themes become a sign of cultural cool, but when they do, they're always held up against this baaaad mother- what? I was just talking about Shaft!

The Raiders March

 

I admit it, I almost left this one off JUST to provoke a million comments about how stupid I was. But when the horns started, I just couldn't leave it out. I just COULDN'T. No other piece of music says "Let's get out there and see where we end up" like the theme to Indiana Jones. Even if every other part of the movie had failed, the soundtrack would still be well remembered.

Survivor - Eye Of The Tiger

 

Ironic listening began on one day in 1982 when Queen rejected Sylvester Stallone's request to use Another One Bites The Dust in Rocky III. Survivor's theme is forever linked with the 80s, with beating an adversary, and with the Cold War … and maybe that's the problem. The song was SO good at what it did that now, years later, it's often remembered as a joke! Maybe the next generation can look back at this movie theme without any baggage and treat it for what it is: a little slice of history.

The Theme From Team America: World Police very NSFW

 

Yes, it's better known by a different name. Yes, it's 100% offensive South Park style humor straight through. But it is a very succinct summary of what's at the heart of nearly every action movie ever made. Maybe that's why this puppet movie destroyed the live action version at the box office. Maybe it was just laughing with instead of laughing at.

Now it's your turn, dear movie lovers. Throw in all those fantastic themes Scott somehow overlooked. Could be just music, could have words, as long as it's from a movie, go nuts! Then maybe stop by our Turntable.fm room for the regular Music Monday enjoyment. Also, let us just remind you: some images come from the corresponding Wikipedia page and are here under fair use.