12 Classic Songs That Got a Second Life in Modern Movies

The Gen X rom-com classic Reality Bites turns 25 today (February 18.)

Part of the enduring legacy of Reality Bites, aside from its cast, is its soundtrack, which featured many contemporary songs but also The Knack’s “My Sharona.” The song is included in one of the film’s most memorable scenes and brought the song back into the lexicon.

This wasn’t the first (or last) time a classic song was featured in a modern movie. In honor of Reality Bites’ anniversary, check out these 12 classic songs that got a second life in modern movies.

Oh, you’ve never whimsically danced in the food mart of a gas station? Then you never really have lived!

Can you imagine the opening credits of Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction without this Dick Dale classic? Neither can I.

Tarantino’s inclusion of this Stealers Wheel hit in Reservoir Dogs helped introduce the one-hit wonder to a whole new audience during one incredibly grizzly scene.

Nearly any song from the Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack could’ve made this list, but it’s difficult not to highlight this Redbone tune that plays during the opening credits. The soundtrack would go on to top the Billboard 200 chart and sell over one million copies.

To this day, it’s hard setting an alarm clock at 6:00 AM without thinking about Sonny & Cher.

Cheesy? Yes. A memorable way to pick up a woman at a bar? Yes, even though Maverick initially “crashed and burned” while singing this Righteous Brothers classic with the help of his fellow naval aviators.

Four years later, The Righteous Brothers were providing the soundtrack to another memorable movie moment. This time it was the infamous pottery wheel scene from Ghost. The song and scene were so popular, "Unchained Melody" reentered the Billboard Hot 100 and would peak at number 13.

In perhaps the greatest lip sync performance outside of RuPaul's Drag Race, Matthew Broderick’s Ferris Bueller transforms Chicago’s Von Steuben Day Parade into the party of the year with some help from Wayne Newton and The Beatles.

Not only did this instrumental from The Champs soundtrack this hilarious moment, it gave the world that dance we’ve all done...perhaps while drinking tequila. 

“Who needs reasons when you’ve got heroin?” Trainspotting doesn’t waste any time cutting to the chase all set to this Iggy Pop classic.

Surely, this list wouldn’t be complete without “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Thanks to its use in Wayne’s World, “Bohemian Rhapsody” re-entered the Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at number two, seven spots higher than when it was originally released.

Erica Banas is rock/classic rock news blogger that loves the smell of old vinyl in the morning.