Songs that were bigger than the movies they came from...

[Mrs Mangel]

Posted: 7/5/08 at 7:03pm

I know this is extremely trivial, however-
I was thinking of "More"- the theme from "Mondo Cane", and when I'm feeling particularly trashy- "Looking through the eyes of Love" the theme from "Ice Castles". "All the way" came from a Sinatra/Mitzi Gaynor film "The Joker is Wild", and even Madonna's "Live to Tell" has lasted longer than "Shanghai Surprise", the movie it came from. I know there are dozens, can anyone think of any more?

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/5/08 at 7:12pm

NO, Live to Tell was from At Close Range. Forgotten also, but not nearly as dismal as Shanghai Surprise.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/5/08 at 7:17pm

On topic, Last Dance by Donna Summer from Thank God it's Friday. New York New York. Kiss from Under the Cherry Moon.

[broadwaytourist]

Posted: 7/5/08 at 7:18pm

Car Wash from Car Wash

[Gothampc]

Posted: 7/5/08 at 8:10pm

The owner of this thread is "You Light Up My Life"

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/5/08 at 8:16pm

You beat me to it, Gotham!

[Mrs Mangel]

Posted: 7/5/08 at 8:30pm

Really? What movie? Debbie Boone,right?

[Marianne2]

Posted: 7/5/08 at 8:32pm

I might have a couple. Let me know if I am wrong.

What A Feeling-Flashdance
Fame-Fame

Personally, I love the theme song from Flashdance, but the movie was awful. And with Fame, I really like it, but I don't know too many other people who do, but of course the theme song is well known, and won an Academy Award.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 7/5/08 at 8:54pm

"Really? What movie? Debbie Boone,right?"

Picture it: 1977, feathered hair and designer jeans. Producers are all vying for publicity for their summer blockbusters. The producers of a low budget film called "You Light Up My Life" starring quirky, loveable Didi Conn, are looking for a way to push their movie. Kasey Cisyk, who has recorded the theme song for the movie, doesn't want her version released as a single. So the producers hire Debbie Boone to record a version to be released for radio play. They then get the song played every half hour round the clock until every man, woman and child knows the song by heart. Mothers all over America are filmed singing it to their new born babies. The movie opens, people realize that while the film has some good points, they would rather spend their $3.50 seeing Star Wars for the 20th time. The movie ends up on the trash heap of Hollywood while anyone who was alive in 1977 still has that song stuck in their head.

Updated On: 7/5/08 at 08:54 PM

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 7/5/08 at 9:14pm

My Heart Will Go On - Titanic

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/5/08 at 9:29pm

Well, Titanic was (is) the biggest grossing film of all time and a multi-oscar winner so it's probably not dwarfed by it's theme song which was indeed, quite popular also.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 7/5/08 at 9:41pm

Even though written before being put in any movies, Whitney Houston's version of Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You" has been bigger than "The Bodyguard". The song (whether sung by Parton or Houston) has been in at least five movies.

Several of Bette Midler's songs have been bigger than the movies. "The Rose" from the same titled movie and "Wind Beneath My Wings" from "Beaches".

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/5/08 at 10:04pm

Hmmmm. The Bodyguard soundtrack sold 17 million copies and spawned 5 other #1 hits. The biggest of which was indeed "I will...." but I'd hesitate to say it was only that song that did it. It's like Purple Rain- which spawned a handful of hit singles, too. We can agree- the Soundtrack was better than the film.

[shira's chef]

Posted: 7/5/08 at 10:19pm

The one that always pops into my head is the "Wild Wild West" song Will Smith did for the movie of the same name.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/5/08 at 11:15pm

I was thinking you could add "White Christmas" to the list seeing as how it's the biggest song of all time- both of it's films together can't top that.

[KrissySim]

Posted: 7/5/08 at 11:16pm

It was bigger than the film Orfeu Negro (Black Orpheus) because it was heard around the world by people who had never seen the film, but the film itself was a masterpiece and I hope it comes out soon on Blu-ray!

Manha, tao bonita manha
De um dia feliz que chegou
O sol neceu surgiu
E em cada cor brilhou
Voltou o sonho entao
Ao coracao

Depois deste dia feliz
Nao sei se outro dia havera
E' nossa amanha
Tao bela afinal manha
De carnaval

Manha, tao bonita manha
Na vida uma nova cancao
Cantando sou teus olhos
Teu riso suas maos
Pois ha de haver um dia
Em que viras

As condas do meu violao
Que so teu amor procurou
Nem uma voz fala
Dos beijos perdidos
Nos bracos teus

Canta-o-meu-coracao
Alegria-voltou-tao-feliz
Amanha-deste-amor...

MANHA DO CARNAVAL - Luiz Bonfa & Antonio Maria
Manha de Carnaval ~ Orfeu Negro

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/5/08 at 11:18pm

Well then, how about "Unchained Melody" - the theme to the long forgotten movie "Unchained."

[StageManager2]

Posted: 7/5/08 at 11:20pm

"The Happening" from THE HAPPENING (1967).

Updated On: 7/5/08 at 11:20 PM