Got a Vietnam-era scene? Legally, you must use "Fortunate Son." Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at specific songs that have appeared in dozens of shows and movies throughout the years. Our countdown includes songs by Marvin Gaye, The Bee Gees, Katrina & The Waves and more! What are some other songs that get too much screen time? Cue up in the comments.
Check out these other song related videos:
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#songs #overplayed #moviesongs #overtherainbow #queen #acdc #hendrix
What are some other songs that get too much screen time? Cue up in the comments. For more content like this, click here: kzhead.info/sun/ltebp92pbGWweX0/bejne.html Don't forget to play our Live Trivia (www.watchmojo.com/play) games at 3pm EST for a chance to win cash! The faster you answer, the more points you get!
Paranoid by Sabbath Never gonna give you up Free bird Chariots of fire theme Tiny dancer
I really can't stand the song stay alive. Is every single time I hear that song it brings back a bad memory from middle school that I want to forget
Rescue Me Signed Sealed Delivered
Love It WatchMojo.
Really? Shame on you! Gaynor! Oh “As long as I know how to love I know I will stay alive!” The most played for as long as the BeeGees! 😮 Not even a mention??
What they don’t prepare you for… is the incessant use of “Fortunate Son.”
I just realized your clothes kind of look like the jungle.
I remember Old Navy used it for a TV ad for their patriotic tee shirts. People were waving flags to “Some people are born to wave the flag.” They didn’t play much of the rest of the song.
You know i could swear i heard those trees speek vietnamese
well it is #10 on the list 🤷♀️
Family guy made fun of fortunate son. Quagmire got ptsd from listening to it his whole deployment
*Long Tall Sally - Little Richards* *Careless Whisper - George Michael* *Sympathy for the Devil - The Rolling Stones* *Welcome to the Jungle - Guns N' Roses* *I'm Too Sexy - Right Said Fred* *Dust in the Wind - Kansas* *AND MANY, MANY MORE!!!...*
Hands down, Careless Whisper. My vote also.
Money that's what I want by Barrett strong.
Vietnam=Fortunate Son, by Creedence. My friend literally calls it "the Vietnam song"😅
Helicopter scene in the beginning of a Vietnam war movie😂
I first knew it as the song from Live Free Die Hard
Battlefield Vietnam game has it.
There is a switch on all Hueys that plays Fortunate Son when you flip it, or at least that's what I've been told. 😂
It's in Vietnam movie but it's a anti war song about rich kids getting out of service in the military
"At Last" by Etta James is also VERY overused in shows, movies and even commercials. It's a nice song but if I hear it one more time used in pretty much the same way, I'm gonna scream.
At laaaaassstttt
Agreed
It's pretty
Rain Man was the first I remember.
...I don't care if they are overused, I love all these golden oldies. "Walking on sunshine" never fails to lift my spirits whenever I hear it playing❤
"I can see clearly now the rain has gone", has the same feel good feeling too. Cant remember who sings it though. Just remember it was in the movie ANTZ when they found insectopia :D
@@starscreamthecruel8026 it was written and performed by Johnny Nash. There've been other renditions by other artists over the years of course. You're right though, it's a beautiful song, very uplifting ❤️❤️❤️
@@kaseywashington1477 Jimmy Cliff did a great version too.
@@BassPlayerSusan I hadn't listen to his version. Thanks for the recc❤️
Same! I can’t get enough of Jefferson Airplane’s “White Rabbit”. 🐇 My favorite movie soundtrack covers are from: Sucker Punch (2011) Matrix Resurrections (2021) Resident Evil Extinction (2007) Alice In Wonderland (2010)
Honorable mention: Dream Weaver (Gary Wright): the chorus is used constantly in romantic scenes.
They played Don’t Stop Believing at my graduation ceremony when I graduated from high school. They didn’t even play Pomp And Circumstance
Sounds like a w
I love journey but i rather have pop and circumstance while I'm graduating good thing it appeared on mine @DominicDiMaria-fq1oh
During the warmup, they played "Another One Bites The Dust" at mine.
No Frank Sinatra? I feel like New York and My Way have been overused too many times in media.
Nine minuets and thirty in I'll list songs I hear too often in films 1. Prety Woman 2. Bad to the bone 3. Dude looks like a lady 4. Im a believer re-recording 5. Born to be wild 6. Here's to you Mrs. Robenson 7. Who let the Dog's Out? 8. we will rock you 9 Its the end of the world and we know it. 10. Just the two of us 11. What if God was one of us? 12 I feel good 13. Saturday Night Feaver 14 New york new york 15 Sugar Rush 16 Macarena 17. Some thing or an other by Barry White 18. Ive had the time of my life 19. Opps I did it again 20 Kung Fu Fighting 21 welcome to the jungle 22. Ave Maria Basically any song connected to the moment in the movie by ONE lyric being SORT OF related
Didn't I blow your mind this time by The Stylistics My Girl by The Temptations Shout by The Isley Brothers California Love by 2Pac featuring Dr. Dre No woman don't cry - Bob Marley In Da Club - 50 Cent We are family - The Stable Sisters Give it to me - Rick James
I think All-Star from Smashmouth should be on the list. Hear it a lot in movies and TV since the song came out.
Hey now
SOME-
Baby Got Back. There was a time you couldn't see a comedy or a family film without this song showing up.
Yup
Yep.. Till this day too..
@@kenrickeason agreed
What gets me is it's used in numerous family films despite being about a sexual fetish. People just hear "I like big butts" and think "ha ha, big butts are funny!"
“Life is a Highway,” by Tom Cochrane and later by Rascal Flatts for anytime the characters take a road trip. Ravel’s Bolero used whenever there’s a seduction scene. “Luck Be a Lady,” composed by Frank Loesser. Any time gambling or luck is involved. “I Feel Pretty,” written by Stephen Sondheim and Leonard Bernstein from the 1957 musical West Side Story. Used in so many movies, T.V. Shows in parodies, for the most part. There are so many classic songs used in film. Thing you have enough to make a part two.
I laughed at "Life is a Highway." On Spotify now there is "Joe Swanson's Ultimate Playlist" with nothing but covers of "Life is a Highway." Joe even tried to argue it was a Christmas song because "It's about Santa going down the highway and delivering presents."
These songs have been and will continue to be played. They are timeless and are better than most of the music today. Just because you guys are swifties doesn't mean good music should be put to rest.
Should have been a top 100 list but to name a few Highway to Hell Dream Weaver Sympathy for the Devil Start me up Iron man Thunderstruck Higher And so many more
Oh gosh, make it stop! This list is way too accurate! Whenever I work on projects, I enjoy finding music that breaks the overplayed trend.
I'm an author and used lyrics to two songs I never heard in movies. I paid Hal Leonard Publishing for the rights to use lyrics from "Love Cats" by The Cure; and "Mass Production" by Iggy Pop.
@@BeYounique...Maryanne - "Mass Production" sounds kind of ironic when you think about it!
@@chrisrj9871 Yes! But I used it because it's the ultimate break up song and I'm so surprised it was never used in a film before. (It's like pre-Joy Division). Check out the lyrics: Before you go Do me a favor Give me a number Of a girl almost like you With legs almost like you I'm buried deep in mass production You're not nothing new I like to drive along the freeways See the smokestacks belching Breasts turn bronw So warm and so brown Though I try to die You put me back on the line Oh damn it to hell Back on the line, hell Back on the line Again and again I'm back on the line Again and again And I see my face here And it's there in the mirror And it's up in the air And I'm down on the ground By the way I'm going for cigarettes And since you've gotta go Won't you do me that favor Won't you give me that number Won't you get me that girl Yeah, she's almost like you Yes, she's almost like you And I'm almost like him Yes, I'm almost like him Yes, I'm almost like him Yeah, I'm almost like him
How about "Anarchy X" by Queensryche for a college football/NHL Hockey teams's entrance music?
Best use of Staying Alive has to be the CPR scene from The Office
Ironically, a lot of First Aid/CPR instructors reference that song, if you ever find yourself actually performing chest compressions in an emergency situation.
@@nativecree1 I came in this thread to make that very comment!
The alvin and the chipmunks “stayin alive” reference was RIGHT THERE!! 😂
Most of these songs are my absolute favorites! GOATs!
Paint it Black by the Rolling Stones. Still a great song though.
Definitely heard it in a few. Most recently, John Wick 4.
In my opinion "I need a Hero" is also such overused that it bothers me.
It's not even the best version of the song, the Jennifer Saunders version in Shrek 2.
eh tbf, to me, it is a very enjoyable song even when overused
It peaked in Shrek 2 and hasn’t since
It felt out of place in the Mario movie
Well, they could always replaced it with 'Holding Out For A Hero'.
Another lazy shorthand for "it's the late 1960s" is Time of the season by the Zombies. Also overused: The Power - Snap The Devil Went Down to Georgia (we in the South/hick county signal) There Must be an Angel (Playing with my Heart) - the Eurythmics.
Fortunate Son was also in Operation Dumbo Drop, it was the beginning song I believe. Jack Black and Ce-Lo Green did a cover of Kung Fu Fighting as well for Kung Fu Panda. And Walking on Sunshine I heard in Look Who's Talking and Supernatural. lol Speaking of Supernatural...ya'll forgot when Jensen did that iconic Eye of the Tiger gag!!!
I am amazed at how many of those songs were in Forrest Gump, yet every time I hear one of those, I instantly think of that classic and great movie
Born to Be Wild by Steppenwolf for sure
While I know the song. I don't remember hearing it in any movies. Mr. Blue Sky would have been #1 for me.
Terminator 2 was the first movie that introduced me to Bad to the Bone, and every time I hear it, I always think of that scene. Iron Man 1 and 2 introduced me to AC/DC, and later it would be Supernatural that made fall in love with classic rock and also introduced me to what has now become my favorite song of all time thanks to Supernatural, Carry On Wayward Son. You can't say no to the classics, both movies, TV shows, and songs. Speaking of which, that was so cool hearing Watchmojo lady singing at the end there. Watchmojo and their other channels should do a video of them singing. I would totally watch that.
It was The Parent Trap that introduced me to Bad to the Bone.
You Make My Dreams by Hall and Oates- basically whenever a movie wants a “feel good” moment.
"I Got You" by James Brown. I swear every movie from 1997 to 2000 had that in the ad or movie.
Excellent review and commentary of the emotions that each song portrays. Very well done and they are all great songs.
It's as if the Filmmakers can't think of any better songs to play over a scene set in wartime Vietnam, so "For What It's Worth" is basically a shorthand.
It's good song tho
Filmmakers are somewhat lazy so using a song that immediately indicates to the audience when and where a film is set saves time looking for more original stuff and the rights to some of those songs might be cheap.
(For what it's worth) FWIW is not really an anti war protest song. It was originally written by Stephen Stills in 1966 at the height of the 'Hippie Riot' on Sunset Strip evolving from a 10pm curfew being enforced to keep the growing young music goers from congregating around the other local businesses and crowding the streets. The Whiskey A Go Go and other clubs were being hassled for being too rowdy. Pandora's Box was forced to close by 1967 because of pressure by city officials.. Just thought it was worth mentioning cuz the song is (in a sense?) misused in movies as an anti Vietnam war song. Apparently more than legend has it the main night of protesters included a rebellious Jack Nicholson and Peter Fonda (Fonda actually handcuffed). Kind of interesting, no?!
Next do Top 20 Most Overplayed Songs of All Time
[pre-watch] Thor: Ragnarok used "Immigrant Song" twice
It was also used in "School Of Rock" and used in the opening credits for the English Language version of "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo"
It was also used in Shrek the Third when Snow White uses it to summon her animal friends.
So who has dibs on this song anyway, Thor or Wonder Woman?
My favorite use of "Staying Alive" is in "Airplane!" (yeah I'm that old)
Don't Stop Believin' is one of the most overused songs period, not just in movies and TV.
agreed. I could go the rest of my life without hearing that song again and be ok with it
Can't stand it 😂
Another song that should've been mentioned is in the air tonight by Phil Collins, the song has been used in Miami vice, risky business, the hangover series, the new guy, shameless, suits, paid in full and not to mention several times in family guy
I love "Heroes" by David Bowie, but I find it to be a tad overused at times.
I don't remember them overusing Heroes, but the one David Bowie song they play to death is Changes, especially in movies.
@kamsismith it was used in 2 separate movies that starred 2 former cast members of the Harry Potter series: "Horns," which starred Daniel Radcliffe and "The Perks Of Being A Wallflower", which co-starred Emma Watson
I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor
We are champions was also played in Mighty Ducks 2
...Umm, I Need A Hero and Take On Me? Where are they?
yup and Sympathy for the Devil
I was really expecting Two Princes to be at the top of the list… anytime a movie/tv show needs to establish it’s the 90’s, it immediately starts
Lapdance by N.E.R.D. was making its rounds in the early 2000s
I’m having a brain fart. Aside from Daredevil and The Girl Next Door, what else was it in?
That got got so overused I still HATE that song till this day 😫🥲
Time for a Sandals Resort ad. Cue "The Time of My Life". Also, there's a recent Visit California commercial with a beach ball. "Mr. Blue Sky" is playing as the ball is moving.
It's louie not Lewis Armstrong xx
It is actually Louis Armstrong, he did not like being called Louie and only allowed it at white clubs where he had no control over his billing.
@@juliusfrauenglass2411 he called himself louie, my grandad used to jam with him in the late 50s early 60s, I've even got a note from him to my grandad , Louis probably was his birth name but he went by louie to friends and fans alike x
"Stop! In the Name of Love" by The Supremes has been used in at least 2 movies I've seen (one I love - One Magic Christmas; one I wasn't crazy about - a Robin Williams movie where he portrayed a priest) - and in both films, it was being performed as karaoke (playing on the radio) while someone was in the shower.
~Signed, Sealed, Delivered ~Rescue Me ~Mama Said There’d Be Days Like This
Live it Up by Mental as Anything
This vid cut to an ad that played “Mr Blue Sky” No joke!!
We Are the Champions is also in Revenge of the Nerds!
It’s a travesty to leave out The Super Mario Bros movie for the song “Mr Blue Sky”…
Loved the use of EWF's September in Babel
Credence Clearwater “fortunate son” is the most over used! To me And Leonard cohens “hallelujah” the one that was in watchmen is one of my favorite.. bad to the bone make me think of problem child.
I came here to see if Mr Blue Sky would be here, and I was not disappointed. Should in the top ten though.
The Funeral by Band of Horses just popped in my head. Heard in the trailer for the movie 127 Hours, and probably many other TV shows. Great song
Without watching, I'm guessing "Bad to the Bone".
That has to be in the Top 5.
You forgot these: - "All Star" by Smash Mouth - "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen - "Jump" by Van Halen - "The Final Countdown" by Europe - "Danger Zone" by Kenny Loggins - "Orinoco Flow" and "Only Time" by Enya
"Danger Zone" is iconic and will never be considered to be overplayed
I first heard White Rabbit at the end of season 1 episode 7 down neck of the Sopranos. Still can't get it out of my head.
“Staying Alive” by the Beegees should be in more movies/ tv shows, I’ve seen it been played in fighting/gun scenes and “moment” dancing scenes. Really makes it notable.
Where's Lenny Kravitz It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over it was in almost every 90's movie
I need to make a Spotify play list of these songs. Thanks!
Personally, I like Don't Stop Believing. 🎉
They completely missed that it was used in the award winning "Monster", 2003.
I like most of these songs but that doesn't mean they aren't overused!
Same. I love me some Journey😊😊
I dont like the song either
Whenever I hear Katrina and the Wave, I think of New Orleans and Hurricane Katrina
Walking on Sunshine was my childhood song 😁
Spot on
O Fortuna, I’m Never Gonna Dance Again, Take on Me, Ride of the Valkyrie, and probably Time of Your Life by Green Day. That one definitely gets overplayed at graduation season. I’d give an honorable mention to every Christmas song ever written.
I can't believe you left out AllStar by Smashmouth Seems like I have heard that in so many different shows in its relatively short time since release.
The refrain from Layla. Since Goodfellas it's like in every mob movie or anything satirizing mob movies.
We are The Champions was also used in The Mighty Ducks movies
Kickstart my heart by Motley Crue this probably doesn't count but I hear this song quite often in commercials and couple of movies
Rebecca singing at the end was awesome haha
In defense of Shrek using 'Hallelujah', it was pretty much the one that opened the floodgates.
We are the champions is used in D2 mighty ducks btw …..
you forgot the Wild thing by tone loc!
"Groove Is In The Heart" and or "Ice Ice Baby" when there's a 90's flashback eference in a movie
Make your own kind of music by the late Momma and Papa member Cass Elliot. I heard that song in Lost, Dexter, Resurrection, Free Town, and so much more movies and t.v shows.
What a wonderful World was used in an episode of the '90s sitcom Home Improvement when Randy got sick
🎥🎵 So true, I always notice these songs in movies! 🍿🎬
No "Tequila"?
I'm surprised more people just haven't said Frank Sinatra songs: (Specifically) My Way; New York; and Summer Wind (I do like Summer Wind as a Sinatra best) tidbit: Summer Wind was originally a German song performed in 1965. Wayne Newton first recorded English version written by Johnny Mercer. (wikipedia comes in handy sometimes.) hit for Frankie in '66.
It's unwritten law to have a button on Huey that play directly to "Unfortunate Son". No matter what war era you were in.
There's gotta be other hits to play during fight sequences besides Kung Fu Fighting, whether it be a street fight, a bar room brawl (or the setting's equivalent of such), a martial arts tournament, or whatever calls for physical combat.
Ballroom Blitz springs readily to mind.
@@RobScenity I wish that one was used more. Only time I heard it being used for a movie was during a Suicide Squad trailer back in 2016.
Sarah McLachlan's "Angel" was overplayed for a while, until it got supplanted by "Hallelujah" as the go-to mawkish moment song.
Where's "I Like Big Butts And I Cannot Lie"? That was in "Kung Pow: Enter The First", "A Shark Tale", "Yogi Bear" and "Alvin And The Chipmunks: The Road Chip"!
And the trailer for "Sheek".
The song is called Baby Got Back by Sir Mixalot. It’s overused but fun anyway.
Zombie by the Cranberies. Someone watching me, Ray Parker Jr. and I need a hero, Bonnie Tyler.
Yellows oh yeah is the first one that I think about, just started watching this list and I'm shocked to think that you could possibly find 28 that are used more often than this one.
Surprised "Welcome to the Jungle" by GnR isn't on this list. My eyes roll back into my head every time I hear it on screen.
When I started playing this, I thought the two top ones would be "Sweet Home Alabama" and "Magic Carpet Ride" .
Mike and Molly get a pass for their rendition of September. Revenge Of The Nerds used We Are The Champions to perfecttion.
Yall just made every oldies station program director extremely nervous 🤣🤣🤣 but how y'all forget Purple Haze?!? That's the automatic "our hero is about to make a huge mistake involving drugs and/or alcohol"
(Don't Fear) the Reaper....
Agreed. There should have been an honorable mentions list in this vid.
Ironically Hulk Hogan used Eye of the Tiger in his early Hulkamania run since he was in Rocky 3 as wrestler Thunderlips It was eventually replaced by Real America probably due to copyright law
30:32 there's also Alexandra Burke's version that was released when she won XFactor UK.
Surrealistic Pillow is one of the greatest rock albums of all time and White Rabbit is a gem.
Amazing Grace is sung a lot of times when someone dies, especially in the middle of nowhere or where they can't get help to them but believe something should be done to recognize the death. Not sure if this counts, since it is almost always being sung by people, not actually played as created by a specific group/person. Also, It's the End of the World As We Know It - REM is used in a good number of apocalyptic movies or shows or as satire within movies or shows.
I agree with you on a couple like Move It On, but others from Queen, Journey, Survivor and more just keep it coming. Can't get enough.
8:42 just had an add with mr blue sky lol
I’m tired of every Vietnam protest song in movies, shows, commercials! Fortunate Son, For What’s It’s Worth, Gimme Shelter! Ken Burns is guilty of using those same songs in his Vietnam miniseries! Also GnR’s Welcome to the Jungle, Turtles Happy Together, and John Lennon’s Imagine are songs that are so overplayed that they ruined the songs!
"Revenge of the Nerds" gets NO mention during "We Are The Champions"?? Unbelievable. That's THE SCENE.
I can imagine going through record collections of Hollywood filmmakers. They would be made up of just Greatest Hits albums. 🤣
5:07 You missed "Mr. Blue Sky" being used in 'The Invention of Lying' with Ricky Gervais
Thank you for the update, WatchMojo..!! There was also Bimbo Jet's "El Bimbo". That song was a huge hit in Europe in the mid-70s, and first gained the world wide fame after the song was featured in a short anti-war movie made by the Soviet Union called "Polygon (1977)". The United States followed up shortly, and turned that song into the most famous gay tune in the world via Police Academy series of movies.
Wait! What?? No "We Will Rock You"... "We Are the Champions" should have been way higher and you didn't even show it in "Revenge of the Nerds" ??!! ICONIC