10 Best Songs In Gang-Themed Movies

Films revolving around the lives and drama of gangsters have been some of the best-made films to date. While a lot of work goes into making the genre the stuff of award show glory, some of the most memorable moments of these movies to audiences all come down to the soundtrack.

Music can have a huge impact on the pace, mood, and subtext of a script, only to enhance each performance.  Many scenes and tracks have aligned so well, that neither element is thought of without the other, giving gang-themed movies the unwritten accolade of including some of the best songs.

“Stuck In The Middle With You”

Reservoir Dogs

One man’s body on the floor, another tied to a chair, and a third dancing around with a knife. It wouldn’t be an easy task to find a song that fits the moment unless, of course, you’re Quentin Tarantino. “Stuck In The Middle With You” by Stealers Wheel, became greatly associated with the film upon its use in the brutal scene of Reservoir Dogs.

The soft rock tune accompanies Mr.Blonde (Michael Madsen) as he sadistically shuffles his feet to the beat in front of his petrified victim. Whilst the song’s meaning isn’t directly about being captured, the titular lyric rang alarmingly true with the man bound to a chair, as he undoubtedly felt trapped. The song itself isn’t intense and yet it intensifies the scene, encompassing the recognizably slick stylization of Tarantino’s work.

“Little Green Bag”

Reservoir Dogs

The pre-credits sequence in a diner plays out and as the men leave, “Little Green Bag” by George Baker Selection plays, triggering one of the most recognized slow-motion walking scenes (also known to be one of the best scenes from Reservoir Dogs) to fill the screen.

The attention-grabbing bass line begins, making it known it’s not just the characters that mean business, but the behind-the-scenes creatives had a serious vision for the film. Arguably, the combination of crisp suits, dark shades, and slow-motion gave the clip a chicness. But the pop-rock track was such a sensational choice of music, the costume department could have clad the actors in Ronald McDonald attire and the scene would still have been the antithesis of clownish.

“Somethin’ Stupid”

Legend

Legend was a first for actor Tom Hardy, as he took on two roles in the biographical film about the renowned Kray twins. The brother’s ruling of the east end of London eventually came crashing down and Ronnie was partly to blame. During a party scene shortly after Reggie’s wife had died, Ronnie dances in front of his brother to the song “Somethin’ Stupid,” by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell.

His moves are almost tormenting as the lyric “and then I go and spoil it all by saying something stupid,” can be heard, which is by no means far from the truth. The lighthearted song seems to melodically convey Ronnie’s lack of understanding for Reggie’s world of pain, as he attempts to playfully nullify any problems he has caused.

“You Never Can Tell”

Pulp Fiction

Films that leave a lasting memory often cause a particular image to come to mind when thought of. Pulp Fiction does just that. Of course, there’s that of Samuel L Jackson and John Travolta brandishing guns, but it’s the still of Uma Thurman and John Travolta mid twist, that is not only identifiable for the scene itself, but also the music.

As Mia (one of Thurman’s best Tarantino roles) enters a dance contest with Vince (Travolta,) “You Never Can Tell” by Chuck Berry gives them the beat to perform to. The film is inundated with violence but the song brings in an unforgettable, sweeter, contrasting moment.

“Nowhere To Run”

The Warriors

Wrongfully accused of killing The Riff’s gang leader Cyrus, The Warriors had to make it back to their home turf of Coney Island, as the rest of New York’s gangs gave chase. Radio was the tool used to deliver messages of threat to The Warriors, but not just through spoken words. “Here’s a hit with them in mind,” prefaced “Nowhere To Run,” by Arnold McCuller.

Originally a Motown hit, the upbeat number gave the impression of threatening gang members in The Warriors smiling sadistically at their ruthless intimidation, making the music as sinister as the film’s infamous line “Warriors, come out to play.” A brilliant choice of music to convey unspoken messages.

“Beyond The Sea”

Goodfellas

Goodfellas incorporated plenty of music from the time the film is set in. From Derek And The Dominos to Aretha Franklin, the film’s soundtrack is a tribute to each period portrayed. A scene dedicated to the dinner rituals of the imprisoned gangsters is accompanied by the soft sounds of Bobby Darin’s “Beyond The Sea.” The segment itself is a far cry from Goodfellas’ violent dealings.

So much so that if the scene were standalone, you could well be watching an Italian-American family mealtime, with the song enhancing that notion. The song’s lyric “Somewhere beyond the sea, somewhere waiting for me,” allows for a ‘what if’ moment, hinting towards what life could be like had the criminals chosen a different lifestyle.

“In The Still Of The Night”

The Irishman

Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci. The usual suspects in a gangster epic, under the direction of Martin Scorsese. So with that in mind, any follower of the aforementioned artists wouldn’t necessarily expect the opening shot of The Irishman to be that of an old people’s home. As the camera leads viewers through the corridors and past its weary residents, “In The Still Of The Night” by The Five Satins guide’s the scene’s tempo.

The doo-wop track from the mid-50s is a reminiscent call to the past, as Frank Sheeran (Robert De Niro) recalls his time as a hitman for the mafia. Melodic and calming, the song dutifully accompanies the notion that we are in the presence of an ex-criminal, whose power has been reduced with age, to little more than stories from his past, contributing to The Irishman being acknowledged as one of the best gangster movies from the last decade.

“I’m Shipping Up To Boston”

The Departed

Another of Martin Scorsese’s successes, winning him an Academy Award for Best Director, The Departed is a fast-paced movie, with plenty of double-crosses and undercover intensity. It’s no secret that Scorsese is skilled in picking the right song for any scene that requires it, just as his Oscar-winning work proved. “I’m Shipping Up To Boston” has a gritty, booming sound created by the American Celtic punk band Dropkick Murphys.

The Celtic beat puts an impeccable rhythm to the out-of-breath, heart rate-increasing plot, never allowing for the film to stagnate.

“That’s Entertainment”

The Gentlemen

Guy Ritchie revisited what he’s best known for with The Gentlemen. The British Gangster movie included a star-studded cast, a well-polished plot, and a terrific soundtrack. “That’s Entertainment” by The Jam is a mod-revival tune, with a perfect London sound for the cast of The Gentlemen to bow out to.

The acoustic guitar excitedly kicks in when Fletcher tries to escape the black cab driven by Ray and as one of the film’s most badass characters, Rosalind reveals his capture to Mickey, the intro continues. The door closed on the camera accompanied by Paul Weller’s vocals gives a solid and definitive ending. But the titular lyric seems to give a subtle nod to the film’s sub-theme of comedy, whilst appearing to say to the audience “the violence, the drugs, the blackmail. That’s just the way it goes.” In other words, that’s entertainment.

“House Of The Rising Sun”

Casino

Despite being considered as a somewhat similar but lesser film when compared to Goodfellas,Casino is still heralded as an impressive work by Martin Scorsese, with the music being a helpful tool in its achievement. The folk-rock “House Of The Rising Sun” by The Animals, may not be an immediate choice for the film, yet it fitted superbly.

The number plays over a sequence of murders, which are visually jarring. However, the song almost counteracts what your eyes are seeing, with its slow, calming country sound. The lyrics subtly drown out the violence and before you know it, the tune has delicately guided you to the end of the sequence.