“Trolls World Tour” is making history today, as it’s the first major studio movie to be released via on-demand streaming platforms before it ever hits theaters. We’re betting it’s the only historic thing about “Trolls World Tour” — a fun but otherwise trivial kids movie that won’t be winning an Oscar any time soon.
Indeed, the best thing about the “Trolls” franchise is the original songs commissioned for the movies. Remember Justin Timberlake’s “CAN’T STOP THE FEELING!”? (Yes, it’s written in all caps, with an exclamation point at the end.) The song came out only four years ago, and has already outlived the original “Trolls” movie for which it was made. “Trolls World Tour” continues that trend, with new music from Timberlake, Anderson .Paak, HAIM and others. The “Trolls” franchise is following a long, rich tradition of so-so movies with incredible original music — music that endures long after the movie is otherwise forgotten.
Here’s a rundown of the best soundtrack songs from the worst (or most forgettable) movies. These are songs either commissioned for the films, or songs that showed up in the films before they were ever on a musician’s album/EP/etc.
Happy listening.
Queen: ‘Flash’s Theme’ — from ‘Flash Gordon’ (1980)
This isn’t one of Queen’s best songs. But it’s certainly way better than “Flash Gordon” — a campy, weird and wonderfully bad space opera based on the comic of the same name. Queen wrote and recorded the entire soundtrack, too. It was a good pairing: No one does camp and operatic melodrama quite like Queen.
Boyz II Men: ‘End Of The Road’ — from ‘Boomerang’ (1992)
“Boomerang” starred Eddie Murphy, and was in most respects the end of his comedic prime. But for Boyz II Men, it was only the beginning. “End Of The Road” is a slow jam power ballad to end all slow jam power ballads. It’s over the top in the best way. We salute you, Boyz.
The Belle Brigade: ‘I Didn’t Mean It’ — from ‘The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1’ (2011)
Call me crazy, but I just don’t think the “Twilight” movies were good. That being said, they probably had the best soundtracks of any movie franchise of the past 20 years. Artists like Bon Iver, Bruno Mars and Paramore all contributed original music for the “Twilight” movies — giving those musicians direct access to the teen girl demographic that is so coveted. My favorite song of the bunch is indie-rock duo the Belle Brigade’s “I Didn’t Mean It.” This one is a banger. The group also delivered a low-key “Vibey Version” for the soundtrack. It’s hard to pick which one is better.
Whitney Houston: ‘I Will Always Love You’ — from ‘The Bodyguard’ (1992)
With all respect to the other songs here, “I Will Always Love You” might be the greatest movie soundtrack song of all time. The film attached to it, “The Bodyguard,” is pretty meh. But this cover of Dolly Parton’s classic? There are no words. A perfect vocal performance from one of the best to ever do it.
AC/DC: ‘Big Gun’ — from ‘Last Action Hero’ (1993)
Arnold Schwarzenegger parodied his own beefcake action star persona in “Last Action Hero.” The results were, uh, fine I guess? It wasn’t Ahnuld’s best work. However, it did spawn “Big Gun,” an AC/DC heavy-hitter that also feels like a parody of itself (but in a good way). I like to imagine AC/DC has, like, 20 unreleased songs about guns at any one time.
John Williams: ‘Duel of the Fates’ — from ‘Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace’ (1999)
Actually, Jar Jar Binks was not the most memorable part of “The Phantom Menace.” That distinction belongs to “Duel of the Fates,” from longtime “Star Wars” composer John Williams. Soundtracking the movie’s climactic battle between Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Maul, “Duel of the Fates” gives me chills every time I hear it. Man, this song is gooooood.
Paul Westerberg: ‘Love You In The Fall’ — from ‘Open Season’ (2006)
I’m still confused how the creators of an animated kids movie chose Paul Westerberg, frontman for the ’80s alt-rock heroes the Replacements, to soundtrack their movie. Equally confusing is why Westerberg agreed. The results are pretty good, though! Westerberg’s recordings for “Open Season” are crisp, punchy and decidedly better-produced than the lo-fi stuff that’s typified his more recent work. He earned his paycheck here (and we assume it was hefty).
Bee Gees: ‘Stayin’ Alive’ — from ‘Saturday Night Fever’ (1977)
An all-time classic from a decidedly not-classic movie, “Stayin’ Alive” became a major turning point for the Bee Gees. The song grabbed the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100, and stayed there for four consecutive weeks, becoming the second of the Bee Gees’ six consecutive No. 1 singles. And, as the story goes, the band wrote “Stayin’ Alive” in a single weekend. What a flex.
Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories: ‘Stay (I Missed You)’ — from ‘Reality Bites’ (1994)
This became the first song to ever top the Billboard Hot 100 from an artist that wasn’t signed to a record label. At the time, Loeb was a friend and neighbor of Ethan Hawke, who heard an early recording of “Stay” and submitted it to “Reality Bites” director Ben Stiller. It became the most successful part of the entire movie.
Prince: ‘Mountains’ — from ‘Under the Cherry Moon’ (1986)
Prince’s “Purple Rain” became a cultural touchstone, as both an album and a film, in 1984. Two years later, Prince decided to try directing, and the result was “Under the Cherry Moon.” It’s a dubious movie, sure, but Prince still helmed the soundtrack — and the soundtrack, titled “Parade,” is one of Prince’s best albums. “Kiss” was its biggest hit, but I’ve always preferred the song “Mountains” — a propulsive dance/funk/pop hybrid that forces you to get moving. Don’t fight it.
Bob Dylan: ‘Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door’ — from ‘Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid’ (1973)
Bob Dylan isn’t just a musician, you know — he can also act. (Well, kind of.) “Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid” starred Dylan and fellow crooner Kris Kristofferson. This western certainly isn’t a bad movie, but Dylan’s “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” became its most valuable contribution, and one of Dylan’s most-covered songs.
Lana Del Rey: ‘Young And Beautiful’ — from ‘The Great Gatsby’ (2013)
I really, really don’t like this movie. Writer/director Baz Luhrmann’s take on the classic F. Scott Fitzgerald novel certainly captured the 1920s decadence that the story criticizes, but its style was much better suited to some of Luhrmann’s other films (“Strictly Ballroom,” “Moulin Rouge!”). The soundtrack was packed with original songs, and my favorite is Lana Del Rey’s endlessly languid “Young And Beautiful.” This is peak Lana.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: ‘Climb That Hill’ — from ‘She’s the One’ (1996)
Petty was on a roll in the mid-’90s, coming off the mammoth success of “Wildflowers” (1994), “Into the Great Wide Open” (1991) and “Full Moon Fever” (1989). He followed up that trio by writing and recording the entire soundtrack to “She’s the One.” The soundtrack doesn’t capture the magic of his previous three albums — and the movie itself sure doesn’t — but there are still some awesome songs there.
U2: ‘Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me’ — from ‘Batman Forever’ (1995)
The music of “Batman Forever” is most associated with Seal’s “Kiss from a Rose.” But “Kiss from a Rose” came out a year before the movie, so it’s disqualified here. U2’s “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me,” meanwhile, was made specifically for “Batman Forever.” The song captures the busy, industrial-dance-meets-rock sound of early-’90s U2. It’s a great song, and even made it onto U2’s “Best of 1990-2000” compilation.
Aerosmith: ‘I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing’ — from ‘Armageddon’ (1998)
If there was a championship belt for the all-time best soundtrack song, then Aerosmith’s “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” would give Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” major competition. “Armageddon” isn’t exactly a bad movie — it’s Michael Bay at his apex, doing over-the-top movie magic in a way only he can — but we just can’t leave this song off the list. Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler takes us to the moon and back on this one. It’s a power ballad for the ages.
Honorable mention:
- Red Hot Chili Peppers: “Soul To Squeeze” — from “Coneheads” (1993)
- Jamiroquai: “Deeper Underground” — from “Godzilla” (1998)
- Paramore: “Monster” — from “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” (2011)
- Beck: “Deadweight” — from “A Life Less Ordinary” (1997)