#9

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Best Use of a Song in a Movie

 

#9 – Johnny B. Goode by Chuck Berry – Back to the Future

The Song

Chuck Berry firmly holds his place in music history, mainly for being considered one of the first pioneers of Rock and Roll music. He took Rhythm & Blues music, infusing it into what would become the rock and roll of the 50’s and 60’s. He released “Johnny B. Goode” in 1958, taking the world by storm. The song went on to become a classic, covered multiple times by other artists, and ranked as number 7 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of all Time.
 

The Movie

Back to the Future is the film everyone knew and grew up with, but if you’ve been living under a rock, I’ll explain it. Teenager Marty McFly is accidentally sent back in time from 1985 to 1955, and inadvertently runs into his parents as teenagers. He interrupts the event where his parents meet, and has to reorganise that fateful encounter, otherwise they won’t get together, marry and have kids, hence – he won’t exist.

 
When the song and movie meet…

After all his efforts, Marty gets his parents to share a dance at their high school party. Given his future dad George is a bit of a wuss, he won’t make a move unless there’s music playing.  When the band playing on the night is one man down, Marty steps in as guitar player. The band plays a love song, and Marty’s parents kiss, saving his future. He has the chance to strut his stuff on stage one last time before going back to the future, so whips out Johnny B. Goode to an audience of stunned onlookers. Given he’s playing it three years before it was even made, the good folks of 1955 haven’t heard anything like it. Eventually, they get into it, and Marty rocks it out in spectacular fashion.

 
What the movie did for the song

Back to the Future would go on to become a classic of the 80’s and all ages favourite. It also played host to another indistinguishable song of the era; “The Power of Love” by Huey Lewis and The News, which also makes you instantly think of this film when you hear it. And for all the kids of the 80’s and after who were not familiar with the music of Chuck Berry and his most famous song, they would also think of BTF, and remember Marty thrashing the guitar on stage like he was Eddie Van Halen, but only thirty years too early.

 

Number 8