Ten Favorite Needle Drops in Cinema (with links!)
(I ruled out songs that played exclusively over a movie’s closing credits, as well as songs the characters sang in scene—unless, that is, they also played diegetically, a la my #6 and #10. I’ve arranged my choices in order of preference. I reserve an honorable mention for Asia’s “Heat of the Moment” as it appeared in Richard Shepard’s The Matador, which I didn’t include because I couldn’t find a link to the scene anywhere online.)
“Under Pressure” by Queen and David Bowie, from Aftersun (directed by Charlotte Wells, 2022) [link!]
“Only You” by Yaz, from The Chocolate War (directed by Keith Gordon, 1988) [link!]
“The Sound of Silence” by Simon & Garfunkel, from The Graduate (directed by Mike Nichols, 1967) [link!]
“Damn It Feels Good to Be a Gangsta” by the Geto Boys, from Office Space (directed by Mike Judge, 1999) [link!]
“Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees, from Saturday Night Fever (directed by John Badham, 1977) [link!]
“Tiny Dancer” by Elton John, from Almost Famous (directed by Cameron Crowe, 2000) [link!]
“Modern Love” by David Bowie, from Mauvais Sang (directed by Leos Carax, 1986) [link!] *
“Head Over Heels” by Tears for Fears, from Donnie Darko (directed by Richard Kelly, 2001) [link!]
“This Woman’s Work” by Kate Bush, from She’s Having a Baby (directed by John Hughes, 1988) [link!]
“Fire and Rain” by James Taylor, from Running on Empty (directed by Sidney Lumet, 1988) [link!]
* and also, in homage to Mauvais Sang, from Frances Ha (directed by Noah Baumbach, 2012) [link!]
— May 18, 2026