The B List: Five Stellar Musical Movie Scenes

2. Twist and Shout – The Beatles: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

[youtube]Giih376UxBY[/youtube]

I remember seeing this movie in the theaters back in 1986 and by the end of this scene, most of the audience was up and dancing around. Now THAT is proof of an effective music scene. In the film, the Beatles cover of this Phil Medley/Burt Russell tune gets the entire parade route rocking as Ferris continues his attempt to show buddy Cameron a good time.

From the dance troupe shuffling and bopping on the Chicago streets to Ferris’s own Dad shaking it in his office, this scene is what music in movies is all about. I love the wide shot showing the thousands of people all rocking. The scene was filmed during Chicago’s annual Von Steuben Day Parade making the hordes of extras needed easier to come by for the crew.

3. Johnny B. Goode – Chuck Berry: Back to the Future

[youtube]VCmeX_4FFME[/youtube]

Marty McFly introduces the “Enchantment Under the Sea” crowd to a new type of music – rock & roll – complete with Townsend-esque windmills, an Angus Young floor spin and a Hendrix-like display with the guitar. A great song that has stood the test of time and a great movie that has done the same. According to IMDB, the original script called for Marty’s playing rock and roll at the dance to cause a riot which had to be broken up by police. I like the stunned silence and “I guess you guys aren’t ready for that yet. But your kids are gonna love it” line that Director Robert Zemeckis went with much better.

4. In Your Eyes – Peter Gabriel: Say Anything

[youtube]M_J-lxK8uCY[/youtube]

“I gave her my heart and she gave me a pen.” John Cusack’s Lloyd Dobler made women swoon with his “everyman” approach and lack of desire to “sell anything, buy anything or process anything as a career.” In a desperate effort to win back Ione Skye’s Diane, Cusack’s character stands outside her window blasting this Peter Gabriel tune. The scene is about as well-known as any ’80s movie clip not directed by John Hughes and the tune is Gabriel at his best.

To this day it’s hard to hear the song and not picture Cusack standing there stoically raising that box above his head. The scene was such a part of the movie that it was featured on the posters and DVD packaging.

5. Layla – Eric Clapton: GoodFellas

[youtube]PAvgCloTNI0[/youtube]

The gimme. This song has probably been included by every single person who has crafted a list like this and deservedly so. The second half of Layla – basically the soaring guitar and incredible piano – helps set the stage as dead mobsters turn up around New York City. From the dumpster to the pink Cadillac to the meat truck, as the bodies mount, Layla serves as the backing track. Rumor has it that Martin Scorsese actually blasted this tune on set while filming the scene where the dead bodies are found in the meat truck.