When it comes to being unconventional in the pursuit of one’s dream Chuck Berry should probably come to mind. The passion he had for music came at a young age but it didn’t fully develop into something he could use until the 1950s when finally started up his career and got to rolling. By then he’d already lived quite an interesting life since he’d been convicted of armed robbery despite using a non-functioning weapon to steal a car and rob a couple of stores. He’d held down a job, bought a house, and was raising a family by the time his musical career really kicked into high gear. It’s amusing to realize that he wasn’t widely accepted at first since his style of music was more hillbilly than anything and the crowds he played to expected something entirely different. But once he got through the initial ‘breaking the ice’ moment, people started realizing how much fun his music was and kept requesting him.
Here are a few of his songs as used in TV and movies.
5. Strictly Come Dancing – Johnny B. Goode
It’s easy to admit that this song is one of those that lets you just get up and dance without much effort since the tune and the words are set to a pace that moves the body and the spirit alike. DWTS has managed to use a lot of great songs by a lot of great artists and it’s only natural that it would use something from Chuck Berry that is able to get people up and on their feet. The ability that Berry had to get people moving was second to none in his time when his career really took off and those that were around had the privilege of being there when he really started to come on the scene with some of his best stuff.
4. Pulp Fiction – You Never Can Tell
Pulp Fiction was kind of a slap in the face to get people’s attention without offending them, but it took a risk doing that anyway since Tarantino really does like to shake things up and make people think while trying not to get overheated at the use of certain themes. In this clip however, which is probably one of the tamest clips in the whole movie, you can see a real use of culture that Tarantino, for however many faults people think he has, displays a sense of culture that is kind of stunning. Given how much he uses some of the most raw elements in his movies it’s impressive to see how he brings pop culture to the forefront now and again.
3. Cars – Route 66
It’d be interesting to know just how musicians like Berry would perceive their music as being used in films like Cars. Berry was still around when this movie was made but whatever he might have said about, if he said anything, is kind of unknown. But given that his and several other songs were given a place on the soundtrack it seems as though he might have been flattered or even appreciative. Granted, Cars wasn’t the same kind of hit as other animated movies, but it was still something that got the attention of the people and managed to stick around for a good long while since it’s a fun and engaging movie.
2. Married…With Children – No Particular Place to Go
The way this song is used in this show is kind of indicative of how the Bundy’s lived and how people justified wanting to cancel the show. After all the Bundy’s are just horrible. They cheat, they lie, they steal, and they have a lot of fun doing it since that’s just the kind of people they are. This show would likely never survive that long in this day and age since too many over-sensitive individuals would be lobbying to get it cancelled so that reality shows that are even worse could come along. But back in the day the Bundy family was one of the absolute funniest groups to ever come along. Ironic isn’t it?
1. Back to the Future – Johnny B. Goode
This is probably one of the best films to ever showcase one of Berry’s most favored songs since it took the track to a new level that people weren’t fully expecting and yeah, it kind of went overboard thanks to Marty McFly’s need to impose his will on the music. But it was something great for the time and it was a lot of fun to see a Chuck Berry tune being played on a major motion picture since it seemed to affirm that he was a legend and that his songs were going to be remembered for a very long time to come.
Chuck Berry was a big reason why rock and roll is so popular today and why it’s still the dynamic and fluid thing it’s supposed to be.Back to the Future
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