Tom Petty is one of the most laid back sounds in the music industry and yet carries some of the heaviest lyrics that are able to capture the attention of the masses. His twanging voice and awesome sound are easily recognizable and are classics in the sense that they have yet to go out of style. From films to TV he’s one of the best musicians around, and he’s even done cameos on several shows and in a couple of films that are easily remembered.
Here are just a few of the best scenes in which his songs helped to create a more vivid and dynamic atmosphere.
5. American Girl – Fast Times at Ridgemont High
This is one of the ultimate high school films and among the most memorable that people will always wax nostalgic about. The song is one that’s been featured in many films and has always added a lighthearted note to anything it’s been attached to. In this film the high school genre is a perfect fit for Tom Petty’s unique sound.
4. Free Fallin’ – Jerry Maguire
This seems very appropriate in a couple of different ways. First, Maguire feels like he’s floating on air after securing the number one pick in the NFL draft, and second, well, he doesn’t know that he’s about to lose the number one pick in the NFL draft. It shows just how quickly the world of sports can change and how hard an agent can fall once he develops a conscience and stops treating his players like pieces of meat that are only valuable if someone wants them. It’s not all bad really, an agent having a sense of purpose and a code of ethics definitely commands a lot more loyalty from his clients.
3. You Don’t Know How It Feels – Mr. Deeds
Despite being a bit awkward of a song for this film, it is kind of, it serves as a kind of fitting backdrop for the ending. Deeds is a man that wants a simple life and nothing more, but obviously isn’t allowed to have this when it’s discovered that he’s one of the last living relatives of a billionaire. The small town guy can’t really hack it in the big city no matter how he tries however and thankfully he’s let off the hook when an illegitimate claim to the billionaire’s fortune becomes a genetic match that gratefully takes over the business. As a token of his gratitude he gives Deeds a billion dollars. And what does Deeds do? He gives it back to his hometown of course.
2. Won’t Back Down – Barnyard
This song carries a lot of power and a defiant feeling that makes an undeniable classic. It might not get as much play as other songs but it’s by far and large one of the best. It can create a positive lean on any film it’s introduced into and often is used to show that the lead character(s) won’t just go quietly without a fight. In short, it’s a song that is best used as an explanation of why the underdog never seems to go away.
1. Learning to Fly – Elizabethtown
This track is best described as the hopeful, gotta keep moving on track. In the film it fits because it’s about learning how to be something you’re not, and how to adapt to something you just can’t understand. The song itself is inspirational, but what it does to the film when played as a part of the soundtrack is simply magical.
Like him or not, Tom Petty is one of the greats. His songs might seem a little twangy at some points, but it’s this quality that helps to give them such a memorable edge.
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