We’re all aware of Kenny Loggin’s trancendent work on Caddyshack, or Survivor’s contributions to The Karate Kid, Rocky III…Rocky IV…some movie called Vital Signs (All but one song on their greatest hits record can be found on a sports movie soundtrack, I think). I’m even fairly certain that nobody I know has seen the movie Chariots of Fire - but they all know the title track!

The songs on this list come from classic sports films that you’ve definitely seen (maybe not Hot Rod). Hopefully, from artists that you know (Gang of Four, Explosions in the Sky), but probably didn’t know the specific song (or any of the songs in the artist’s catalog, ex. Twista).

“Your Hand in the Mind” - Explosions in the Sky (Friday Night Lights)

Several people have told me that EIS are one of the bands that when you see them live the whole crowd just stands at attention, and no one makes a sound. Well, they certainly cast quite a grip with their soundtrack contributions to Friday Night Lights. “Your Hand In Mind” is the theme song, and man does it make Billy Bob Thornton look tense.

Here’s a taste of it live too…

Other tracks of merit:

“Six Days at the Bottom of the Ocean” Explosions in the Sky
“First Breath after Coma” Explosions in the Sky
“Bring the Noise” Public Enemy

“Never” Moving Pictures (Hot Rod)

We watched the credits the other night, and there are eight songs in this movie by Europe that aren’t “The Final Countdown.” However, “Never” by Moving Pictures is the most memorable track in Hot Rod, thanks to one epic fall by Andy Samberg. (Well aware that this whole thing was a spoof on Footloose. Unfortunately, that movie does NOT qualify.)

Other tracks of merit:

“Danger on the Track”  Europe
“On the Loose” Europe
“Rock The Night” Europe
“Ninja” Europe
“Love Chaser” Europe
“Cherokee” Europe
“Heart of Stone” Europe
“Time Has Come” Europe

Desire -  Gang of Four (The Karate Kid)

In Cal-if-for-knee-ya.

I haven’t seen this movie in years, and have no idea when it shows up in the movie - I guess we can rule out the sequence when Mr Miyagi is trimming his bonsai tree.

Gang of Four is best known for their post-punk offerings of the late 70s, and have been cited as major influence by the likes of Rage Against the Machine, Fugazi and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. I’m thinking those musicians relate more to GO4 tunes like To Hell With Poverty and Damaged Goods, still this song also has some nice a-slappin da bass.

Other tracks of merit:

“NO SHELTER” Broken Edge
“YOU’RE THE BEST” Bill Conti

Twista Feat. Faith Evans (Coach Carter)

Gospel rap crossover, not by R.Kelly or P.Diddy, for once.

I took Spanish seriously this entire movie (which was not easy, considering how many time Samuel L called him and everybody else sir).

“Locked Up” Akon
“Let the Drummer Kick It” Citizen Cope
“Get Low” Lil Jon

Hoop Dreams - Tone AKA The Deacon (Hoop Dreams)

This one harks back to the days when 97% of rap song began with Yo, wat up, wat up, wat up. And sorry, but ‘embedding disabled by request’ still occasionally remains the bane of our existence.

Hoop Dreams - Tone AKA The Deacon (Hoop Dreams)

About 30 secs in Tone AKA The Deacon delivers the line the streets continue to test me, like a full court press, gee. After that, it get’s painstakingly redundant, but that one bit, I thought, was pretty solid.

Other tracks of merit:

“Fast Break” Tone AKA The Deacon
“The Original Lesson” Shock-G

Burn On - Randy Newman (Major League)

I abhor a lot of Randy Newman’s stuff - especially, his soundtrack work as matter of fact. He’s much more well known for his ghastly contributions to, for example, the Toy Story franchise. But hey, “Burn On’ is not half bad. Here’s a clip someone created, not from the Major League, but of the history of Indians franchise. Another shining example of how much Indians fans have embraced Major League…

Other tracks of merit:

“Wild Thing” - X

“Must Have Got Lost” J.Geils Band (3:32) (Miracle)

Respectfully, nobody ever did Geils better than when Sandler does Love Stinks in Wedding Singer. However, most people don’t realize that J. Geils practically built his career around a fan base of  hockey players in the late 1970s. Hence, that’s how Musta Got Lost  made it’s way into the movie about the greatest achievement by that group of dudes, who in their downtime sipped budweiser, wore polyester track jackets, grew sweet mustaches, and listened to J.Geils.

Other tracks of merit:

“Don’t Fear the Reaper” Blue Oyster Cult
“Dream On” Aerosmith
“Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” Brenda Lee

Add yours in the comments…