4 of the Best Songs Written for Television and Film

On occasion, the biggest names in music will be commissioned for a song to be used in television or film. Many of those songs have gone on to be much bigger than a simple selection on a soundtrack, too. Here are four of the best songs written for television and film! Just keep in mind that this list isn’t exhaustive.

1. “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” by Bob Dylan

This hit track was written and recorded by Bob Dylan, and it is one of the best songs written for film of all time. It’s a beautifully rendered piece of work that has stood the test of time. The track was used for the film Pat Garrett And Billy The Kid in 1973, but it’s since gone on to be one the most iconic songs of all time. Guns N’ Roses famously covered a version of the song that has since gone on to be one of the band’s greatest hits.

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2. “Mrs. Robinson” by Simon & Garfunkel

Paul Simon was (allegedly) not interested in writing music for films for fear of being seen as a sell-out. However, director Mike Nichols seemed to have changed his mind. Simon penned the song “Mrs. Robinson” for the film The Graduate and Simon & Garfunkel recorded it for the movie’s soundtrack. The song has gone on to become massively famous, earning the duo two different Grammy awards. It’s been used in a number of films since.

3. “Stayin’ Alive” by Bee Gees

Whether you were alive to experience the era of disco or not, you probably know this hit song by The Bee Gees. “Stayin’ Alive” was initially used for the 1977 hit film Saturday Night Fever and it also revitalized the band’s career at the time.

4. “Exit Music (For A Film)” by Radiohead

“Exit Music (For A Film)” by Radiohead was first commissioned by Baz Luhrmann for the 1996 film Romeo + Juliet. The haunting, beautiful song with a climax that sticks with you has gone on to be one of Radiohead’s best songs to date. It was featured on the legendary album OK Computer and is still used in television and film today, particularly for that one gutwrenching scene in that one gutwrenching episode of Black Mirror.

Photo by ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock

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