While 2020 may have felt a quieter year than most on the movies front, with its global pandemic and the subsequent ripple effect on the film industry, there were still plenty of outstanding musical moments across newly-released movies to make a song and dance about. This year saw a crop of outstanding original songs, stunning covers, and perfectly-placed needle drops that give a film, and the relating song, a brand new meaning. From Taylor Swift at her most political, to Bill & Ted's excellent return, and a 1979 reggae classic you'll be humming until 2021, listen to the best movie soundtrack songs of 2020, as chosen by Empire.
READ MORE: The best movies of 2020
Helden – David Bowie (Jojo Rabbit)
Taika Waititi sprinkles a few German-language editions of iconic pop songs across Jojo Rabbit – but it’s Bowie’s alternative version of ‘Heroes’ that makes the biggest impact. In the final scene of the movie – SPOILER WARNING – both young Jojo and Elsa have survived the dying days of World War II. Finally free, they begin their new life dancing in the street as the wailing guitars of ‘Helden’ echo in. Cue the goosebumps.
Only the Young – Taylor Swift (Miss Americana)
Taylor Swift notoriously kept her politics private for years, as the people in her team thought it would be best if she stuck to music. Luckily the star stood her ground, and her access-all-areas Netflix documentary premieres her protest song tackling school shootings, Donald Trump and rigged elections. Luckily, it also happens to be a banger.
The Plan – Travis Scott (Tenet)
It’s the most unlikely collab of the year – mega-star rapper Travis Scott, teaming up with none other than, er, Christopher Nolan. Tenet wasn’t the sort of film you’d expect to have a tie-in song, and while ‘The Plan’ doesn’t really have much to say about the time-inverting espionage epic, there’s a weird thrill to Scott’s auto-tuned “skrrrt-skrrrts” topping off an original Nolan blockbuster. The real treat here is Scott spitting bars over Ludwig Göransson’s shuddering electronic score. Weird, but it works.
It's A Man's Man's Man's World – Jurnee Smollett-Bell (Birds Of Prey)
Black Canary's superpower is her canary cry – a high-frequency scream emitting violent ultrasonic vibrations – but in the case of Jurnee Smollett-Bell, who plays the iconic DC superhero in Cathy Yan's Birds of Prey, she also has a singing voice that melts like butter. Her cover of James Brown's classic is an instant all-timer.
Silly Games – Janet Kay (Lovers Rock)
Anyone who has seen Lovers Rock will know what you're talking about when you talk about the film's best scene. Steve McQueen takes us back to 1980s West London, specifically to a house party – and it all culminates as everyone sings along and dances to 'Silly Games'. But it doesn't end when the track does: you'll be thinking about the a capella rendition for years.
What's Going On – Marvin Gaye (Da 5 Bloods)
Spike Lee has always been a revolutionary, and with his masterful Vietnam War film Da 5 Bloods he went and did it again. The filmmaker uses a number of tracks from Marvin Gaye's 1971 album 'What's Going On', with the most stunning moment of the film using an a cappella version of the title track. Lee had called the track "a plea for humanity, love and kindness" – and it makes for a movie moment that packs a real emotional punch.
Song-A-Long / Believe / Ray Of Light / Waterloo / Ne Partez pas Sans Moi / I Gotta Feeling – Cast of Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga)
Love it or loathe it, both the Eurovision song contest and Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga have embraced and reshaped the landscape of pop music like no one else. Will Ferrell's outlandish Netflix movie boasts a number of original songs, but its crowning moment is undoubtedly the mashup song (dubbed the "song-a-long") featuring plenty of Eurovision alumni and all your favourite anthems from the contest.
Read Empire's Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga review
Honey – Robyn (And Then We Danced)
With And Then We Danced, Levan Akin gave the world both a tender love story and a crucial education about strict Georgian traditions. But in one gorgeous scene between dancer Merab and the object of his affections, Irakli, a seductive sunkissed dance set to Robyn's anthemic pop song makes the encounter feel totally universal.
Face the Music – Wyld Stallyns (Bill & Ted Face the Music)
One song to unite the universe: how hard could it be to write? Bill & Ted returned this summer with the task of a lifetime, to make the greatest song ever before time runs out. Luckily, for their third film they now have two rocking teenage daughters to help them – and what Billie and Thea ended up creating was truly most excellent.
In This World – Moby (Bad Education)
For his second feature after Thoroughbreds, director Cory Finley set his sights on the largest public school embezzlement scandal that shook American history, no less. It's often tense, Hugh Jackman playing the highly-strung superintendent Dr. Frank Tassone brilliantly. But towards the end of the film, as Frank's jig is soon up, Moby's ethereal classic offers a moment of respite, of actual fleeting happiness before the cookie starts to crumble. It's gorgeous, and quite heartbreaking.
Pursuit Of Happiness – Kid Cudi (The King of Staten Island)
It's a song that's been doing the rounds for over a decade now, that whenever you listen can automatically take you back to 2009. It feels fitting for Judd Apatow's loosely fictionalised biopic of Pete Davidson, suffering from a severe case of arrested development. The trailer nods to his search for meaning as a bumbling 24-year-old, and when the song is used in the final moments of the film, everything clicks into place.
Always On My Mind – Pet Shop Boys (Matthias Et Maxime)
Nobody loves a pop song like Xavier Dolan does. The Québecois wunderkind regularly flirts with Oasis and Céline Dion and more in his films, and his latest is no exception. Honourable mentions must go to Britney Spears' 'Work Bitch' and Arcade Fire's 'Signs of Life', but Harris Dickinson's blissed-out introduction set to the Pet Shop Boys' classic steals the show.
'Everybody Wants to Rule the World' – Tears For Fears (Tesla)
Tesla is far from your standard biopic: Ethan Hawke plays Serbian-American inventor Nikola Tesla with gruff standoffishness, and the film often plays with fact and fiction to tease out the best story. Which is why, although Tesla probably didn't mumble along to Tears for Fears about his hungry ambition to be the best inventor in the world, this karaoke scene might just be the best in the whole film.
Warrior – RAY BLK (Rocks)
The story of Rocks, the year's best coming-of-age film directed by Sarah Gavron, speaks to the lived reality of British-Nigerian teenager Olushola Omotoso – but you can call her Rocks. RAY BLK, a British singer-songwriter also from Nigeria, wrote 'Warrior' specifically for the film, and the battlecry fits perfectly as it plays over the credits. It celebrates resilience, sisterhood and hope: everything the film is about.
Be Above It – Tame Impala (Waves)
Through the first half of Trey Edward Shults’ vibrant and vital drama, there’s a constant thrum of anxiety – the mounting pressure on the shoulders of Kelvin Harrison Jr.’s high-schooler Tyler constantly threatening to bubble over with disastrous consequences. It’s a grinding, dread-fuelled feeling encapsulated by the breathless, galloping refrain of Tame Impala’s Lonerism opener. The entire Waves soundtrack is pitch-perfect, but the use of ‘Be Above It’ – with its clattering percussion and desperate central mantra – makes the greatest impression.
Mr Lonely – Angel Olsen (Kajillionaire)
The melody of Bobby Vinton's 1962 love song is iconic, and unmistakable: and Miranda July uses it as the lifeblood of her latest film Kajillionaire. But for the soundtrack, she also enlisted Angel Olsen to cover it in collaboration with Emile Mosseri. The result? A glittering, poetic update .
Wait For It – Leslie Odom Jr (Hamilton)
The biggest bonus of Disney+’s filmed Hamilton performance is getting to see its performers right up-close – and one of the highlights has to be Leslie Odom Jr.’s explosive ballad. His Aaron Burr – overly cautious, unwilling to commit to any ideals – sees himself outstripped by Alexander Hamilton at every turn. But for one song, we see straight into his soul – the heartbreak and loss and fear that drives his indecision. Just look at the controlled detonation in Odom Jr’s eyes as he sings that incredible mantra: “I am the one thing in life I can control / I am inimitable, I am an original.”
Toxic – Britney Spears (Promising Young Woman)
There's always been something slightly ominous about Britney Spears' 'Toxic': a perfect pop song, for sure, that still hides a hint of menace. It's perfect, then, for Promising Young Woman: the track is given a bit of a facelift and rearranged with dramatic strings in the trailer, suggesting the high-stakes drama set to unfold in Emerald Fennell's incendiary tale of revenge. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, after all. While the film won't hit UK screens until next year, this is the perfect tee-up.
Got To Give It Up – Marvin Gaye (Da 5 Bloods)
Another one from Da 5 Bloods, and another Marvin Gaye song. The double-dolly shot is the ultimate Spike Lee signature – and its deployment in Da 5 Bloods comes in a joyous nightclub scene, as the reunited veterans strut their stuff to a Marvin Gaye classic in an Apocalypse Now-themed bar in Vietnam. Even more joyous: the video that was released of Lee and his cast and crew partying to the song, one day before the film hit Netflix.
The Ballad Of Howie Bling – Daniel Lopatin (Uncut Gems)
The artist sometimes known as Oneohtrix Point Never reteamed with the Safdies to create the woozy ethereal soundscape for Uncut Gems, which at once sounds like it came straight from a long-lost ‘80s sci-fi movie, and also conjures a head-tripping journey through the heart of the black opal. As hypnotic and mercurial as the film itself.
Rocket To The Moon – Cathy Ang (Over The Moon)
There was no new original Disney musical this year – but Netflix’s Over The Moon almost made up for it, boasting an emotional intergalactic adventure with some earworm tunes in there for good measure. Most heart-piecing is this central ballad, a belting ‘I want’ song with a crescendo guaranteed to bring goosebumps.
Reflection – Christina Aguilera (Mulan)
What year is this? Surely, with Christina Aguilera covering ‘Reflection’ from Disney’s Mulan, it has to be 1998? But no – in the most surprising remake of the year, Xtina came back to do another cover of the same song she originally belted out 22 years ago, with a brand new video and everything. Pure millennial nostalgia catnip, but a suitably widescreen rendition of the song to match the epic scope of Niki Caro’s live-action (and song-free) remake.