[Film Music] Theme songs from Western movies: those unforgettable classics and popular tunes
Putting aside silent films and the like, one of the elements essential to movies is, of course, music.
Many film fans would probably say that the brilliance of the scores that play during iconic scenes becomes part of their memories and stays with them.
So in this article, we’ve gathered a selection of great pieces centered on main themes from foreign films that have colored the history of cinema!
Rather than theme songs by singers or bands, we focus on main themes composed by the film’s score composers.
We’ve included many famous works across eras and genres, making this an article that both movie lovers and music fans can enjoy.
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[Film Music] Theme songs from foreign films. Unforgettable classics and popular tracks (51–60)
Start A FireJohn Legend
This uplifting, up-tempo track blends a variety of genres into a moving piece that enriches the film’s story.
Set to a melody where jazz and pop are beautifully harmonized, John Legend’s expressive vocals resonate deeply.
Released as part of the soundtrack for the December 2016 film La La Land, it is included on the album “La La Land: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack.” The song is featured in an impressive scene where John Legend’s character, Keith, performs it, further enhancing the film’s world.
It’s a perfect pick for those who want to revel in an exhilarating melody and refined vocals, or for anyone who wishes to relive their memories of La La Land through music.
Moonlight SerenadeGuren Mirā Ōkesutora
This masterpiece soothes the soul with the elegant timbre unique to big band music and its distinctive arrangement.
Released by the Glenn Miller Orchestra in May 1939, it blends a gentle clarinet melody with delicate saxophone harmonies, delivering a serene sense of comfort, as if bathed in moonlight.
It was used as the theme for CBS Radio’s program “Chesterfield Moonlight Serenade,” and later featured prominently in the 1954 film The Glenn Miller Story.
It’s recommended as easy listening that creates a pleasant mood, perfect to play during desk work or as a companion to reading.
The Untouchables ThemeEnnio Morricone
The film The Untouchables portrays the investigators who pursued American gangster Al Capone.
It’s a masterpiece featuring excellent performances by Kevin Costner and Sean Connery.
The music was composed by Ennio Morricone, the Italian composer known for scoring many films.
At the 60th Academy Awards, he was nominated for Best Original Score for this work.
The end title, The Untouchables Theme, captivates you with its grand and beautiful melodic line.
AngelSarah McLachlan
With deep emotion and a crystalline voice, Sarah McLachlan weaves melodies that resonate in the heart.
Created as a requiem and a gesture of comfort for musicians who lost their lives to drugs, this piece touched many people as a song of the soul that stays close to loneliness and suffering.
Included on the album Surfacing, released in July 1997, it reached No.
4 on the Billboard Hot 100.
It was also featured on the soundtrack of the film City of Angels, where its tranquil atmosphere and piano lines beautifully capture the film’s world.
Its gently enveloping vocals and healing, beautiful melody make it a recommended listen for those feeling worn out by daily life or seeking solace for the heart.
[Film Music] Theme songs from Western movies: those memorable classics and popular tracks (61–70)
GénériqueMiles Davis
“Générique” is the main theme of the French film masterpiece Elevator to the Gallows.
It’s a jazz piece perfectly tailored to the film’s tense atmosphere.
The track was created by Miles Davis, known as the king of jazz—a name you’ve likely heard even if you’re not a jazz fan.
It’s said that Davis actually watched the film and improvised the piece on the spot.
Even for jazz, where improvisation is a hallmark, improvising a film score is quite surprising!
AtlasColdplay
This is a heartwarming Coldplay ballad, notable for its delicate piano melody that begins in silence.
Its grand melodic lines evoke images of the cosmos and constellations, while the moving lyrics about mutual support strike a deep chord.
Released in September 2013, the song was created for the soundtrack of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and earned high acclaim on European music charts.
It also won the Hollywood Song Award at the 17th Annual Hollywood Film Awards.
This gem of a mid-tempo ballad resonates deeply when you want to feel a bond with someone special or take a moment for self-reflection.
Main TitleNino Rota
Nino Rota was an Italian classical composer, widely known for creating the main theme of the film The Godfather.
The movie, released in 1972, became a worldwide hit, and the main theme topped various music charts.
Rota also composed the film’s insert song, The Godfather Love Theme.
Many people in Japan may be familiar with cover versions by Kiyohiko Ozaki and Elaiza Ikeda.
Both pieces have a calm, mellow atmosphere, so they’re perfect for listening to leisurely at night.