Those ’90s movies featured quite a collection of memorable music

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1. At times, soundtracks can make or break a film. 

That’s why well-conceived and well-placed musical interludes in movies can be so important, and that, friends, is more or less today’s subject matter: What are the best songs to emerge from major motion pictures over the past four decades? (We’ve added the 1990s to our usual cast of the 1980s, 1970s and 1960s.)

We’re starting this four-day sojourn with what I feel might just be the strongest of the decades for this subject: The ’90s. We’ll follow with our reflections on the ’80s, ’70s, ’60s and then our overall top 10. Five days, lots of music. What more could you ask for?!

Let’s go!

Best songs from movies of the 1990s

• 1. “Love Is All Around” by Wet Wet Wet, from “Four Weddings And A Funeral” in 1994: I’m not sure what I have enjoyed more over the years, the movie or this song.
• 2. “Again” by Janet Jackson, from “Poetic Justice” in 1993: In the early ’90s, I was sure Janet Jackson would become a huge movie star. Obviously, I missed that one.
• 3. “(I Can’t Help) Falling In Love With You” by UB40, from “Silver” in 1993: Thee song was far, far better than the film.
• 4. “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston, from “The Bodyguard” in 1992: To this day, this remains the late, great Whitney’s signature moment in music.
• 5. “(Everything I Do) I Do It For You,” by Bryan Adams, from “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves” in 1991: Remember Alan Rickman as the Sheriff of Nottingham in that film? He completely reinvented that character.
• 6. “It Must Have Been Love” by Roxette, from “Pretty Woman” in 1990: When most hear the words “Pretty Woman,” they think of Julia Roberts. Personally, I think of this song.
• 7. “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing” by Aerosmith, from “Armageddon” in 1998: One of Steven Tyler’s finest efforts.
• 8. “Unchained Melody” by the Righteous Brothers, from “Ghost” in 1990: Thirty-six years later, the video for this masterpiece remains a classic.
• 9. “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen, from “Wayne’s World, 1993: After all of these years, I officially want to declare I am sick of this song.

10-tie. “All For Love” by Rod Stewart, Sting and Bryan Adams, from “The Three Musketeers” in 1993: In case you had forgotten — like yours truly — this film starred Kiefer Sutherland, Charlie Sheen and Chris O’Donnell.

10-tie. “The Shoop Shoop Song” by Cher, from “Mermaids” in 1991: The ’90s represented another strong decade for our favorite diva. 

Honorable mention

• “King Of The Wishful Thinking” by Go West, from “Pretty Woman” in 1990:
• “I’ll Remember” by Madonna, from “With Honors” in 1994:
• “Kiss Me” by Sixpence None The Richer, from “She’s All That” in 1999.
• “Baby I Love Your Way” by Mountain, from “Reality Bites” in 1993:
• “Because You Loved Me” by Celine Dion, from “Up Close and Personal” in 1996.
• “Can You Feel The Love Tonight” by Elton John, from “The Lion King” in 1994.
• “Circle Of Life” by Elton John, from “The Lion King” in 1994.
• “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina” by Madonna, from “Evita” in 1996.
• “My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion, from “Titanic” in 1997.
• “Gangsta’s Paradise” by Coolio, from “Dangerous Minds” in 1995.
• “Til I Hear It From You” by The Gin Blossoms, from “Empire Records” in 1995.
• “Girl, You’ll Be A Woman Soon” by Urge Overkill, from “Pulp Fiction” in 1994.
• “Lovefool” by The Cardigans, from “William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet” in 1996.
• “How Do I Love” by Trisha Yearwood, from “Con Air” in 1997.
• “I Can See Clearly Now” by Jimmy Cliff, from “Cool Runnings” in 1993.
• “This Kiss” by Faith Hill, from “Practical Magic” in 1998.
• “You’ll be In My heart” by Phil Collins, from “Tarzan” in 1999.

2. Did you know (Part 751) …

• — That the lead roles in the movies “Patton” (George C. Scott) and “Dirty Harry” (Clint Eastwood) were both turned down by Robert Mitchum.
• — That the Leslie Nielsen role in “Airplane” was originally offered to Christopher Lee, Robert Hayes’ role was originally written for David Letterman (who changed his mind at the last minute and opted out of the film) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s role of Roger Murdoch was originally meant for Pete Rose.  (Did you just say “Pete Rose??”)
• — That “cathexis” means an emotional investment in something. I have a cathexis with potato chips.
• — That Breyer’s changed its name on its packages away from “ice cream” to “frozen dairy dessert”. The product no longer meets the FDA’s strict legal requirement of containing at least 10 percent milkfat and specific weight standards. Instead, Breyer’s is now reformulated with additional gums, oils and fillers to cut costs.
• — That Little Debbie cakes have shrunk significantly in size over the past decade, and also use less cream filling.

3. Keeping with today’s musical theme from above, here are the top 10 Beatles songs as voted upon by SiriusXM listeners of The Beatles Channel:

• 1. “In My Life”
• 2. “Abby Road Medley”
• 3. “Here Comes The Sun”
• 4. “Hey Jude”
• 5. “A Day In The Life”
• 6. “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”
• 7. “Yesterday”
• 8. “Let It Be”
• 9. “Strawberry Fields Forever”
• 10. “Something”

Steve Thought O’The Day — Forming that 1990s list of top 10 songs was by far the toughest task among the four decades in question. So many excellent songs, so few spaces.