Needle Drops
Songs that weren't composed for a movie, but were used in a movie, and unexpectedly and turned out to be iconic
First of all, what is a needledrop?
A “needledrop” (one word) means a “vinyl rip” or a “record rip,” a version of the audio that has been transferred from a vinyl record to a digital medium.
In films, while I couldn’t find a suitable definition in Wikipedia, it refers to the use of a specific piece of pre-recorded music or sound effect in a film. A short excerpt from a song is inserted into a scene to establish the mood, tone, highlight a theme, or punctuate an emotional moment.
They may or may not be part of the soundtrack or background music score for the film, or may have been deliberately added to the OST or the original soundtrack. This is not to say that there is no background music score, but these are added on top of the original score.
Why do film directors use it?
Establish the tone and mood of the scene.
Help the audience identify the time and place of the movie.
Add depth to the character.
Enhance the narrative theme of the scene.
Make a memorable connection; when you like the song, you’ll appreciate the scene and the movie.
Few film directors do this better than most: the right song, the right part of the song used at the perfect moment. Scorsese, Guy Ritchie, Tarantino, the Coen Brothers come to mind.
A recent perfect example is Led Zeppelin’s Immigrant Song in Thor: Ragnarok.
Here, I have tried to list some of the needledrops that have impacted me the most. What I mean by impact is that what I remember from the movie, is the clip or section of the movie that has an unexpected or perfect song used in the background. These are songs that showed up out of nowhere in films and instantly became unforgettable. Not written for the movie, but now impossible to separate from the movie. This is my list, add yours in the comments.
Format is Song - Movie - Single Link to YouTube (SLYT)
Voodoo Child (Slight Return) - Jimi Hendrix - In the Name of the Father - SLYT
Comes in like thunder, electrifies what essentially is a courtroom and prison drama, but turns the moment it appears in the movie into a rebellion anthem.
I’m Shipping up to Boston - Dropkick Murphys - The Departed - SLYT
There are many iconic songs in this movie including Pink Floyd’s Comfortably Numb, Rolling Stones’ Gimme Shelter (often used by Scorsese), but nothing defines the movie as this scene and this song by the Boston locals - Dropkick Murphys (you will remember them from their political activism and advocacy)
Free Bird - Lynyrd Skynrd - Forrest Gump - SLYT
The scene were Jenny in a drug-fueled stupor teeters on the edge, her past closes in; the solo from the song screams as her pain nearly wins.
Golden Brown - The Stranglers - Snatch - SLYT
Brad Pitt spewing gibberish, in the iconic Mickey’s One Punch Knockout scene, floats like a golden brown, never a frown. And Jason Statham’s character now immortal words - “Tommy, the tit, he’s praying, and if he isn’t he f#$#$ should be”.
Hundred Mile High City - Ocean Colour Scene - Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels - SLYT
There are again many songs in this movie, but the first scene with this song captures the frenzy that is about to ensue. Guy Ritchie in his absolute best.
Tiny Dancer - Elton John - Almost Famous - SLYT
The scene on the bus, post the fight, the silence gives way to harmony, the song seems to mend the cracks. Cameron Crowe’s character says “I wanna go home”, and Penny says “you are…”
Unchained Melody - The Rigtheous Brothers - Ghost - SLYT (nsfw)
I am sure you remember only this scene in Ghost, while the song comes up unexpectedly, there is on other scene at the start of the film which I like, where Patrick Swayze’s character is on time for a meeting with the Japanese, who are apparently early to the meeting.
Hurdy Gurdy Man - Donavan - Zodiac - SLYT (nsfw)
This song plays during the opening scene assassination. Sweet psychedelia turns sinister.
Layla (Piano Exit) - Derek and the Dominos - Goodfellas - SLYT
Over a montage of murdered associates being discovered, beauty meets cold-blooded betrayal. And Scrosese does it again. The sweet surrender in the piano, and every cut, shot, edit, is measured to the rhythm of the drums in the song. It is almost as if Scorsese had the song first, and then shot the scenes to suit the song.
Something in the Way - Nirvana - The Batman - SLYT
This is probably my favourite Batman movie (yeah, that may sound blasphemous to many). After The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises. OK. There I remedied it. But this song of Kurt Cobain’s Nirvana plays and creates Matt Reeve’s Batman as a reclusive, brooding, and underscores Bruce Wayne’s alienation and pain
Eclipse - Pink Floyd - Dune (teaser/trailer) - SLYT
Well, technically this is not in the movie, but was in the teaser/trailer. Hans Zimmer’s rendition of Eclipse. Probably “Eeerything under the sun is in tune…” becomes the Prophecy.
The End - The Doors - Apocalypse Now - SLYT
This song, though named “The End” opens the film, green tropical jungle, helicopters, napalm, jungle flames. Sets the tone and the song is an omen. You are not going into battle, but are descending into madness, into the Heart of Darkness
These are some that come to mind, and I have managed to put them together. If you have other examples, do comment. And if you like this article, give a like/thumbs-up.
Here is the Spotify playlist, with the songs from above.
Thank you!
-Rajhesh