favorite songs whose use in tv and film soundtracks embarrasses you

Noah Hawley's Alien: Earth series made the decision to play hard rock songs from the 80s, 90s, and 00s over the end credits of every episode. This was a divisive move, with some people happily embracing the dope-ass songs, and others left wondering what the hell Cherub Rock by the Smashing Pumpkins has to do with aliens in the 21st century. My reaction was both that the songs rocked and that whoever thought it was a good idea should be ashamed.

It got me thinking of other times that I have absolutely cringed at a personally beloved song showing up in media of some sort. Here's an example:

IT (2017): Anthrax's Antisocial was one of my favorite songs growing up. As a young kid, it opened the door to thrash metal for me. The lyrics are about the societal ills arising from unrestrained wealth accumulation, but in the movie, it is used to soundtrack a rock fight between two groups of kids. I think whoever chose it just thought it sounded tough and hard and exciting and era-appropriate. I shrunk into my theater seat as small as I possibly could and wanted to disappear.

It's not every use of a favorite song. Often, I get really excited to hear a cut from my favorite artists, and to know that they're getting paid. But sometimes, it hurts me deeply in my heart.

Anyone else feel that way?

all of them

Reasonable answer!

I was definitely bummed out by the use of George Michael's "Father Figure" in Babygirl

OTM on the Alien Earth needle drops, Cherub Rock in particular was a head scratcher and somehow embarrassing to hear in that context. Like they didn't understand the tone of their own show...the music should have been more futuristic and sinister, like the "Strange Brew" interpretation that opens the eps. A NIN drop, that I would have understood.

i don't follow contemporary movies at all, but i'm really tired of pulling out a cool unsung 70s rock jam and having the closest person in the vicinity say, "oh yeah, from guardians of the galaxy!"

and also from pop music. originally, to be exact. but that's not important.

what's important is that it's ruined a few of the only good classic rock songs.

I feel like Reservation Dogs took back "Come and Get Your Love" from GoG.

enh see, idk what that is. but cool, i guess!

now if you'll excuse me, i see some clouds that need a swift dressing down.

you sound like Cheese

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPBpsIU-NIc

refused “new noise”

Was that in Triangle of Sadness. I'm not going to look it up, but I remember them fucking it up with an edit that ruins the best part?

I started kind of a similar thread: Does it bother you when music gets associated with stupid tv shows/movies?

"Sabotage" getting used in not one but two of the JJ Abrams revival Star Trek films

The Bear might be 25% improved with better music choices that better reflected the characters of the show or the setting, vs whatever Christopher Storer was putting on mix CDs in 2006.

XP: Shit! I tried searching for a pre-existing thread, but obviously not hard enough. Sorry, brimstead!

Marvel's Movie Music Tells You Who Their Audience Is

Here's the fact you can't escape: with some very high-profile exceptions, Marvel makes movies that are targeted at older audiences. Hell, I'm going to say it: Marvel makes movies that are targeted at old people, and their choice of soundtracks reflects that.

And here's my thesis statement: Marvel movies have soundtracks that use established older tracks — even when they don't make sense thematically — to appeal to Boomers, Gen X, and older millennials (people with income to spend) rather than younger audiences. Again, with a few notable exceptions, Marvel movies are clearinghouses for old tracks and the occasional bone thrown to the youth by recording something new specifically for the film. It's odd. It feels like someone bursting into your rave shouting, "Don't you kids just LOVE jazz records? Wanna hear some more JAZZ?"

Also see: Kids movies using a bunch of 90s hip hop songs.

XP: Shit! I tried searching for a pre-existing thread, but obviously not hard enough. Sorry, brimstead!

all good, man, yours is better and more sensitively phrased!

xpost "Ante Up" in the Ninja Turtles movie was sick tho

xps yeah the first time they used "new noise" on the bear it was good/appropriate, every time since has been cringe

Marvel's Movie Music Tells You Who Their Audience Is

Here's the fact you can't escape: with some very high-profile exceptions, Marvel makes movies that are targeted at older audiences. Hell, I'm going to say it: Marvel makes movies that are targeted at old people, and their choice of soundtracks reflects that.
And here's my thesis statement: Marvel movies have soundtracks that use established older tracks — even when they don't make sense thematically — to appeal to Boomers, Gen X, and older millennials (people with income to spend) rather than younger audiences. Again, with a few notable exceptions, Marvel movies are clearinghouses for old tracks and the occasional bone thrown to the youth by recording something new specifically for the film. It's odd. It feels like someone bursting into your rave shouting, "Don't you kids just LOVE jazz records? Wanna hear some more JAZZ?"

― Instead of create and send out, it pull back and consume (unperson), Friday, September 26, 2025 1:52 PM (twenty-seven minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink

That reminds me that the hamhanded forcing of The Cure's Plainsong into 2015's Antman made me want to puke.

I didn't mind hearing the Iggy Pop song in Superman though.

Really getting tired of "Cavern" and "Vitamin C" being used as shorthand for "New York in the early 80's". Basically how every TV show/movie now that flashes back to the 60's uses "White Rabbit."

The winner has to be the use of "All Along the Watchtower" in the reboot of Battlestar Galactica.

I kind of think it just funny now, but at the time it was a wtf moment in a show with a few of those.

“Death with Dignity” in the pilot of This Is Us.

I generally don’t care about this at all - it gets the artists a decent paycheck and good for them - but I’ll reiterate for the third time in as many threads that the cover of Prisencolinensinainciusol over the end credits of Highest 2 Lowest made me thoroughly irate.

“Death with Dignity” in the pilot of This Is Us.

― Baronet Drowned in Night Frolic (President Keyes), Saturday, September 27, 2025 6:15 PM (yesterday) bookmarkflaglink

I googled this and now I'm on a watchlist