Best of 2008: Part 3

Read Best of 2008: Part 1
Read Best of 2008: Part 2

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The Best Music (That Wasn't In Movies) in 2008:
...the soundtrack that should have been...

By the number of times I've mentioned it, it's obvious I had a great deal of fun picking songs for the "missing soundtrack" of last year, which was simply the best music of 2007 matched up with the appropriate movies of 2007. I didn't mean for it to be a predictor of what songs would show up on soundtracks and/or in movies in 2008, but that's kind of what happened, so I milked it.

Well I'm not trying to do it again here anyway; I'm just having fun with the music that I listened to and the movies I watched in 2008. It was a middle-of-the-road year for music in my opinion. A couple of classic albums and some major singles, but not too much that can be considered legendary.

I celebrated the return of 90's alt-rock (Counting Crows, Lenny Kravitz, Weezer, Ben Folds) and enjoyed the rise of a new mainstream hip-hop superstar (Li'l Wayne), the continuation of the neo-soul/R & B sound (John Legend, Duffy, Ne-Yo, Musiq Soulchild, Usher), a retro throwback or two (The Cool Kids, Al Green, Seal), radio-friendly pop (Robyn, Craig David, T.I., Kanye West), some solid hipster favorites (Kenna, Santogold, Devotchka, TV On the Radio, Beck, Common, The Roots), and more...

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(In no particular order, but notable albums are highlighted. These embedded clips are an animal and they just refuse to center in Firefox, but I hope they work. If not, just click on the song title and it will take you a new page to hear it.)

"The Angel and the One" by Weezer from The Red Album

Scene: Solemn scene with steadily building emotion - veterans reflecting on their combat experience.

2008 Movie: Stop-Loss

If I was tech savvy I'd make some mash-up video instead, but I'm not, so just do this: Start the song and then, at the 0:30 second mark of the song, start the trailer - but MUTE it and replay it.

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"Fade Into the Background" by Ne-Yo from Year of the Gentleman
Scene: Guy painfully reflects on what could have been when he sees ex with new man.
2008 Movie: American Teen, Made of Honor

"Público" by Orishas from Cosita Buena
Scene: Dancing scene in Latin American city, or montage music for documentary about Cuba.
2008 Movie: N/A

"Tie My Hands" by Lil Wayne feat. Robin Thicke from Tha Carter III

or
"Soldier" by Erykah Badu from New Amerykah Part One (4th World War)

Scene: Melancholic reflection on coming up through difficult circumstances in New Orleans.

2008 Movie: Trouble the Water

If I was tech savvy I'd make some mash-up video instead, but I'm not, so just do this: Start the song and then immediately start the trailer - but MUTE it.

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"The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived" by Weezer from The Red Album
Scene: Montage of arrogant guy acting arrogant (or, guy puffs himself up to regain confidence after a break-up).
2008 Movies: Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Role Models, Step Brothers, Pineapple Express, RocknRolla

"I'm A Lady" by Santogold (feat. Trouble Andrew) from Santogold
Scene: Independent young woman confidently marches through city streets - lots of frame freezes.
2008 Movie: Priceless

"Delayed Devotion" by Duffy from Rockferry

Scene: Scorned woman rebuffs advances from pathetic ex trying to win her back .

2008 Movie: My Blueberry Nights, Vicky Cristina Barcelona

If I was tech savvy I'd make some mash-up video instead, but I'm not, so just do this: Start the song and then immediately start the trailer - but MUTE it.

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"(The Forgotten People)" by Thievery Corporation from Radio Retaliation
or
"African Problems" by Seun Kuti + Fela's Egypt 80 from Seun Kuti + Fela's Egypt 80
Scene: Opening Credits - aerial and drive-by shots of bustling, exotic urban setting.
2008 Movie: The Pool, Body of Lies


"Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)" by Beyoncé from I Am...Sasha Fierce
Scene: Woman lashes out at long-time boyfriend with commitment issues.
2008 Movie: Sex and the City

"Me" or "Guarantees" by Atmosphere from When Life Gives You Lemons You Paint That Sh*t Gold

Scene: Lonely, depressed young man aimlessly walks streets looking for someone who understands him.

2008 Movie: Boy A

If I was tech savvy I'd make some mash-up video instead, but I'm not, so just do this: Start the song and then immediately start the trailer - but MUTE it.

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"New World" by Devotchka from A Mad and Faithful Telling
Scene: Closing Credits - Fade music in at end of quiet, subdued ending scene, possibly at a cloudy beach or in a city at dawn or dusk; begin fading to black at 1:40 mark and roll credits. (oh, and never mind this song was already awkwardly used in an NBA finals ad last June)
2008 Movie: The Edge of Heaven, The Grocer's Son, 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days, Reprise

"What You Thought You Need" by Jack Johnson from Sleep Through the Static
or
"Love Like This" by Natasha Bedingfield (feat. Sean Kingston) from Pocketful of Sunshine
Scene: Not-too-sappy montage of young couple experiencing new love or sheepishly making up.
2008 Movie: Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Yes Man

"On Almost Any Sunday Morning" by Counting Crows from Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings

Scene: Sullen character walks or drives alone on a cloudy morning.

2008 Movie: The Wrestler, Frozen River, Elegy

If I was tech savvy I'd make some mash-up video instead, but I'm not, so just do this: Start the song and then immediately start the trailer - but MUTE it.

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"I'll Be Lovin' U Long Time" by Mariah Carey from E=MC2
Scene: Silly romantic ending when the guy and girl finally get together on their way to happily ever after.
2008 Movie: You Don't Mess With the Zohan (you should get this joke if you've seen the movie...)


"Dancin' Til Dawn" by Lenny Kravitz from It Is Time for a Love Revolution
Scene: Sleazy guy eyes beautiful woman in nightclub before moving in to show off disgusting dance moves.
2008 Movie: Semi-Pro

"Bring It On" by Lenny Kravitz from It Is Time for a Love Revolution

Scene: In slow motion, unlikely heroes get charged up before facing foes in major battle.

2008 Movie: Tropic Thunder, Role Models

If I was tech savvy I'd make some mash-up video instead, but I'm not, so just do this: Start the song and then immediately start the trailer - but MUTE it.

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"Freeway" by Aimee Mann from @#%&*! Smilers
Scene: Driving scene, character running away from something with chaotic emotion.
2008 Movie: Rachel Getting Married

"You Don't Know Me" by Ben Folds feat. Regina Spektor from Way To Normal
Scene: Guy and girl meet for the first time, strike up awkward, guarded romance.
2008 Movie: In Search of a Midnight Kiss, Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist

"Northern Skies" by Dido from Safe Trip Home

or
"Lost!" by Coldplay from Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends

or
"Be Still" by Kenna from Make Sure They See My Face

Scene: Montage interlude at 2/3 mark, character lets go of angst and finds new hope.
2008 Movie: Reprise, Paranoid Park

If I was tech savvy I'd make some mash-up video instead, but I'm not, so just do this: Start the song and then immediately start the trailer - but MUTE it.

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A few weeks ago I received an interesting email related to these matches (but maybe more so to my Perfect Song, Perfect Scene posts) from the brains behind Soundtrack Guru, a new website dedicated to answering that age-old question: "What was that song that was playing during that scene in that movie?"

As you'll find out, it works like magic for movies that feature a bunch of random songs that sound great in the movie but probably wouldn't comprise a good enough soundtrack to buy. Movies like Anchorman or The Departed. Know that it's a fairly new venture and it's all user-generated (so far as I can tell), so your favorite movie probably won't be listed until you do it yourself. Also, it seems to be fairly TV-heavy at the moment, but I suppose TV viewers have the same questions as we do.

Anyway, it's off to a pretty good start and I'd be surprised if you didn't discover the name of at least one song that you've been thinking about for years.

...to be continued...