Hollywood often finds synergistic success between the film industry and the music industry by having their movie feature an original song written specifically for that movie. The song appears in the movie, usually the end credits, and then it appears on the soundtrack and they essentially cross-promote each other.
However, while a commercial venture, some of these songs are actually quite good and have become classics that even won Oscars. They've endured along with the film it's attached to, and in some cases, found new life and even outlived the popularity of the movie it was originally written for. These songs can live on their own, but also can evoke a sense of movie nostalgia and, because of that, have stood the test of time.
The Power Of Love - Back To The Future
Huey Lewis and The News' Power of Love has become synonymous with Back To The Future. It's played during Marty McFly's introduction as he skates to school and then returns after a tender kiss from his love Jennifer.
Marty's band even attempts to play the song in an audition. However, the judge, played by Huey Lewis himself, rejects them, remarking they're "just too darn loud." The song was nominated for the Best Song Oscar but lost. However, the film's enduring popularity guarantees it will be around for all time.
The Way We Were - The Way We Were
The Way We Were was the massively successful song that accompanied the film The Way We Were, starring Robert Redford and Barbra Streisand. The song won the Best Song Oscar and is credited with reviving Streisand's singing career.
The song interprets the romantic relationship between Streisand and Redford's characters and has become a classic relationship song many wistfully listen to in remembrance of a former relationship or the early days of a current one.
Men In Black - Men in Black
Will Smith was one of the biggest movie stars in the '90s and since he was also a popular singer, why not have him contribute to the soundtrack? The result was one of the '90s catchiest songs. Sampling the song "Forget Me Nots," Will Smith created a bouncy track that more or less explains the Men In Black's mission, which is probably not the best thing to rap about since it's a secret organization.
The song was a hit on the charts and won Smith a Grammy for Best Solo Rap Performance. Smith would eventually write songs for Men In Black II and Wild Wild West, but neither matched Men In Black's pop culture success.
Let The River Run - Working Girl
Let The River Run opens the film Working Girl, with a choral version that begins under a helicopter shot of Lady Liberty circling around to reveal the Manhattan skyline before bringing audiences aboard the crowded Staten Island Ferry packed with commuters.
Carly Simon's vocal ends the film and won the Oscar, Grammy, and Golden Globe for Best Song. Simon has said she "wanted to write a hymn to New York with a contemporary jungle beat to it, so as to juxtapose those opposites in a compelling way."
Streets Of Philadelphia - Philadelphia
A great Bruce Springsteen song wouldn't be the first thing audiences would expect when they watch a tragic drama about the AIDS epidemic, but that's exactly what happens. An electric drum kit underscores the Tri-Star Pictures logo before becoming an emotional song under Philadelphia's opening credit sequence.
Director Jonathan Demme wanted a song in the beginning to make audiences' viewing of the film more comfortable, and to raise awareness overall. And who better to help raise awareness with than "The Boss." Ultimately, the song won the Oscar for Best Song, as well as sweeping the Grammys.
Moon River - Breakfast At Tiffany's
Moon River is the classic song from Breakfast At Tiffany's composed by Henry Mancini, with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. The song, inspired by Mercer's youth, is about longing for new experiences. It evokes a sense of innocence, a desire to dream, and to broaden one's horizons.
Audrey Hepburn's Holly Golightly sings the song in the film, although producers nearly cut it out after a bad preview. Hepburn allegedly told them "Over My Dead Body!" The song stayed and won the Best Song Oscar, and has since been covered by a multitude of artists.
Lose Yourself - 8 Mile
On Oscar night 2003, Barbra Streisand announced the Best Song award winner with surprise. Controversial rapper Eminem's song Lose Yourself, from his semi-autobiographical film 8 Mile, won. The song, which is basically the movie's plot summarized, even down to its reference to star Mehki Phifer, is propulsive and aggressive, yet inspirational.
The song was a chart-topping hit and remains Eminem's most successful single. Eminem famously didn't attend the Oscars, and thus, there was no traditional live performance. However, Eminem appeared at the 2020 ceremony and finally performed it. That year, Joe Biden, with Eminem's permission, used the song for his presidential campaign.
Things Have Changed - Wonder Boys
Things Have Changed was written and performed by the legendary Bob Dylan for the 2000 film Wonder Boys. While the film has come and gone, Things Have Changed remains popular. It's the ninth most popular song Dylan sings in concert and one of his more popular recent songs he sings.
Like many of Dylan's songs, its imagery is apocalyptic and won him a Best Song Oscar. In his acceptance speech, Dylan summed it up, in his usual Dylan-fashion, "I want to thank the members of the Academy who were bold enough to give me this award for this song, which obviously is a song that doesn't pussyfoot around nor turn a blind eye to human nature."
My Heart Will Go On - Titanic
There weren't many places in the world audiences could go in 1998 to escape My Heart Will Go On. The classic ballad accompanied the 1997 blockbuster Titanic, and like the film, enjoyed immense popularity. Director James Cameron initially believed attaching a pop song was too "commercial," however the song's composer James Horner presented the song to Cameron when he was in a good mood and he loved it.
They brought it to powerhouse singer Celine Dion, who despite being initially resistant as well, recorded the song and gained the biggest hit of her career, earning an Oscar, Golden Globe, and a Grammy. The song's popularity helped the soundtrack become one of the best-selling albums of all time and, ultimately, contributed to Titanic's unsinkable legacy.
Ghostbusters - Ghostbusters
There may not be a more recognizable song on the planet than Ghostbusters. Written and performed by Ray Parker, Jr, the song is similar to Men In Black in that it details the Ghostbusters' mission with extremely catchy lyrics and melody.
While the song has become part of the collective unconscious, it lost the Best Song Oscar and even resulted in a lawsuit after Huey Lewis claimed the song ripped off one of his. The parties settled out of court and Ray Parker, Jr has mostly disappeared from the limelight, but the song's staying power proves it will likely be around forever.