The Gunslinger45's Top 10 Favorite Movie Opening Songs

[The Gunslinger45]

Hello MoFo’s! It is time for another list from your pal The Gunslinger45. Now I love movies, and I love music. Pair the two together in the right way and you have the recipe for a fantastic part of a film. And one of the best ways to establish a film is by the opening song over the title. With this in mind I wish to post my top 10 Favorite Movie Opening Songs. Now the rules for this list are simple, they must be actual songs with lyrics. No scores will be on this list. So no Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Sergio Leone spaghetti westerns, John Carpenter, and sadly no Taxi Driver either. (Might do a separate score list later on). Now it does not have to be a song that was specifically written for the movie, it has to be used in the opening credit and title sequences. And I am not counting the Mortal Kombat theme. It does have lyrics in it, but since it is made up of only a few words and sampled sounds from the video game, that makes it closer to a score then an actual song.

So sit back, relax and enjoy, as we look at my Top 10 Movie Opening Songs.

[Swan]

Oh God. This list is going to be all Tarantino and nothing else.

[The Gunslinger45]

10. Come and Get Your Love by RedBone – Guardians of the Galaxy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_jRQBGKPaA

Our first installment is also the most recent. Blessed with one of the best soundtracks to a movie in decades, it also really sets the tone for the film. Here you have a guy decked out in all kinds of high tech space gear with a space ship, and what is he doing? Lip synching to a song from the 70’s, dancing and using strange little rat creature as an impromptu microphone. It sets the movies offbeat and up-beat tone that made Guardians of the Galaxy awesome.

[The Gunslinger45]

Oh God. This list is going to be all Tarantino and nothing else.

Yeah you wish. ;)

[Swan]

Great start. :up:

[The Gunslinger45]

9. The Anthem of the Soviet Union performed by the Red Army Choir - The Hunt for Red October
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEt41bYQBgE

As most of you know I am a proud patriotic kind of guy. I love my country and I love our national anthem. It makes me tear up, and I will stand to put my hand over my heart whenever it is played before a ball game. It does not matter if I am at the stadium, a bar, or at home, I am standing. Many of you know I also do not care for the commies. Hence why Red Dawn is one of my favorite films of all time. But let’s give the Russkies credit, they know how to write music and sing. And the National Anthem of old Soviet Union being played throughout The Hunt for Red October including the intro is really really effective. I can’t understand a damn word the Red Army Choir is singing, I’m sure it has something disparaging about the US in it, but it is a hell of a song to appreciate. It is not going to make me cry like The Star Spangled Banner, but it is pretty epic. Point to the now defunct USSR.

[The Rodent]

As soon as I saw this I thought about Guardians. Best. Intro. Ever.

[The Gunslinger45]

8. For Whom the Bell Tolls by Metallica – Zombieland
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4C7j5oEgPg

Combine one of my favorite Metallica songs with a movie about zombies, add some fantastic imagery of Z Day carnage, and you have an easy favorite opening of mine. The opening is appropriate for the setting showing that the Earth is going to hell, and the song itself is metal as f**k. Perfect start to one of my favorite movies.

[Swan]

Yeah, Zombieland has a great opening for sure. Stylish goodness.

[The Gunslinger45]

7. Shakedown by Bob Segar – Beverly Hills Cop II
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IeRGBt2GUQ

The 80’s was a decade of awesome opening songs. Several of which almost made the list. From Back to the Future’s Huey Lewis and the News, to Queen’s vocal praise of Flash Gordon, the 80’s really knew how to pair a great song with a great movie. And one of my favorite instances of this is the opening to Beverly Hills Cop II. Bob’s Shakedown though it has nothing to do with the film, really just fits perfectly with the flick. Right down to the montage of Eddie Murphy getting ready for work. It is just awesome sequence and song.

[The Gunslinger45]

6. Body Talk by Sandi Farina – The Toxic Avenger
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxY6KVCf0vQ

For a film that opens in a health spa there is no better or catchier song then Body Talk. It is just a really infectious song with a very simple beat that works to the opening of the film. Again, not written for the film, but it really works.

[The Gunslinger45]

5. Ghostbusters by Ray Parker Jr - Ghostbusters
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9J9haehfQeg

This on the other hand was written for the film. And it is probably one of the greatest opening theme songs of the movies. Sets the premise, establishes what is going on, catchy as hell, and one of the quintessential movie theme songs. The theme was so good they used it in the cartoon too. Who ya gonna call?

[The Gunslinger45]

4. This is the End by The Doors – Apocalypse Now
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1b26BD5KjH0

Not written for the film, instead selected by Coppola himself to set the tone of the film. He talked with vets of the war and they told him what music they really liked and The Doors was one of the bands discussed. So Coppola used this song to open the movie. Not catchy like the others, but very haunting and somber. As the Vietnam jungle explodes with napalm and fire and choppers hover over the chaos you get the perfect feel for the tone of the film. By no means cheery, and by no means upbeat; but for a film about the horrors of madness set in war this is the perfect song to open with.

[Swan]

Wow, great stuff man. Apocalypse Now has without a doubt one of the better opening musical sequences, but I think my favorite on this list so far has to be Toxic Avenger.

[The Gunslinger45]

3. Anything Goes performed by Kate Capshaw– Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DeURx3mYck

This song ultimately has nothing to do with the film, has no bearing on the plot, and really comes out of nowhere. But I do not care, I love it! Kate Capshaw’s rendition of Anything Goes is the only way I wish to hear the song. If I hear the English version I groan and pine for the good version in Cantonese. Got to love how films influence you at the age of 5.

[The Gunslinger45]

Wow, great stuff man. Apocalypse Now has without a doubt one of the better opening musical sequences, but I think my favorite on this list so far has to be Toxic Avenger.

Still more to come.

[The Rodent]

Temple Of Doom is a great pick. Classic.

[The Gunslinger45]

2. Neon Slime performed by Wings Hauser – Vice Squad
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMFqPFrfZ4o

Not the most known opening song, but the perfect song to open a sleaze-fest like Vice Squad. A movie about hookers, psycho pimps, johns, sleaze, and crime needs a song that reflects this world. And Wings Hauser really hits it out of the park with this song. Expect me to refer to the sleazier parts of my town as the Neon Slime.

[Swan]

Still need to see that.

[The Gunslinger45]

Still need to see that.

Should be free to see on YouTube.

[The Gunslinger45]

And my favorite opening song to a movie goes to...

[The Gunslinger45]

1. Cancion del Mariachi (Morena di Mi Corezon) by Antonio Banderes and Los Lobos - Desperado
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCmMDd8T5fg

I love the movie Desperado, and this is the best way to open it. For a film based around a mariachi who kills drug dealers you need a few things. You need to have a catchy song, hire a great band, get a lead actor who can sing, have a little action with the song and you have my personal favorite opening song to a movie. It establishes the mood of the film by having lots of energy, further enhances El Mariachi’s rep as an asskicker, and it serves as a lead into his origin story. I mean you have Banderes in his scorpion jacket knocking the crap out of a guy with his guitar, and he just keeps playing. Just a lot of fun for one of the best action movies ever.

[The Rodent]

Desperado is one that always misses my top 100 for some reason, not sure why though. Great movie, great scene too...

[The Rodent]

Nice list bud, and nice idea for a list too.


Getting my imagination going for making an individual list of my own :up:

[The Gunslinger45]

Desperado is one that always misses my top 100 for some reason, not sure why though. Great movie, great scene too...

Yeah it is a great scene. One of the more memorable opening scenes. So badass too.

Thanks for stopping by everyone and checking out my list. Hope ya liked it!

[Swan]

Yeah great list dude. And quickly told. :D

[The Gunslinger45]

Nice list bud, and nice idea for a list too.


Getting my imagination going for making an individual list of my own :up:

Do it! Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

[The Sci-Fi Slob]

This thread is exceptionally erotic, and I will +rep every post in it..after I open this can of beer.

[cricket]

As soon as I saw this thread, I thought of The End. That's probably my favorite so I'm glad you included it.

For Whom the Bell Tolls may be my favorite Metallica song so nice to see that too.

My other favorites are Body Talk, Shakedown, and Ghostbusters.

Cool stuff bud!

[The Gunslinger45]

As soon as I saw this thread, I thought of The End. That's probably my favorite so I'm glad you included it.

For Whom the Bell Tolls may be my favorite Metallica song so nice to see that too.

My other favorites are Body Talk, Shakedown, and Ghostbusters.

Cool stuff bud!

Great minds think alike! Glad ya liked it! :D