Mwahaha! I’ve tricked the system! In order to talk more about my favorite subject (movies) I have utilized this “music” article to talk about a very important aspect within movies! That being music! My nefarious plan worked!
A needle drop in a movie, by my definition, is a moment where a song is cued in conjunction with a major action setpiece, dramatic plot development, or climactic character moment. This song cannot be a part of the film’s soundtrack, it must be a premade song written by an artist and licensed for the film. The best needle drops of all time, in my opinion, can classify as some of the best movie moments of all time due to their sheer emotional impact or memorability within the film. If done right, the pairing of song and scene can elevate both pieces of art to new heights.
“Where is My Mind” by The Pixies (Fight Club)
Fight Club is notoriously a mindbending thriller that leaves the audience floored with the amount of exertion they just put their brain through. Not necessarily from how complex it is, but from how poignant its message is and how visceral it becomes in some of its major story beats. “Where is My Mind” slowly fades in at the film’s conclusion as one final shock unfolds. I won’t spoil what happens here for those who haven’t seen it, but the eerie essence The Pixies high-pitched “oooh” brings into the picture really solidifies this moment as one of the biggest final flourishes of any thriller I’ve ever seen. It helps that the song is fantastic too!
“Mad World” by Tears for Fears (Donnie Darko)
I don’t know if a needle drop has ever helped me to better understand what a movie’s trying to say before this one. The “Mad World” montage towards the end of Donnie Darko’s insane convoluted adventure offers a sense of reprieve and solemn quiet after a series of increasingly disturbing and surreal events. The slow camera pans during the montage emphasizes the somberness of the lyrics, and the lyrics in turn emphasize the tragedy of the characters (and, at a greater scale, the world). This scene has slowly become one of my favorite moments in any movie ever, but once again I’ll bite my tongue for fear of spoiling the content of the film.
“Hurdy Gurdy Man” by Donovan (Zodiac)
Yes, another David Fincher movie—I don’t even care. Within Zodiac, this track is basically attributed to the serial killer as his very own theme song. The first kill of the film is accompanied by this groovy, unnerving song, and it returns again to haunt us at the very end of the movie. The “hurdy gurdy man” within the song is somebody who the narrator envisions visiting him in his dreams, similar to how the Zodiac killer torments those seeking to find him throughout the movie. Just thinking about the song’s melody and lyrics gives me shivers despite its inherent upbeat tone. This is a fantastic example of pairing funky, joyful songs with deeply horrific scenes to create a sense that the audience is being toyed with, and made to witness a tragedy they can’t help but watch.