I love movie soundtracks. Sometimes they bring specific scenes to my mind, and other times they exist all by themselves as distinct entities of pure music. I’d like to share 10 examples of music that are so detached from the films they sprang from that they’re really hard to place.

Main Title – The American President

The main title theme of The American President sounds like many other pieces of music from famous conductors. It has touches of Randy Edelman, James Horner, Alan Silvestri, and Randy Newman in it. But it’s beautiful on its own, too. I heard it recently, and I had to really wrack my brain to figure out where I knew it from. The music is so powerful, yet quiet and humble at the same time. I love it.

Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do) – Arthur (1981)

Arthur is the movie that put actor Dudley Moore on the map. A classic story of being forced to choose between love and money, it’s not exactly lost to time since some people still enjoy watching it, and the song describes the film’s plot. However, I’m including “Arthur’s Theme” here because it’s such a catchy tune by Christopher Cross, and I want the movie to be remembered more than it is.

Bruce and Linda – Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story

The same year that Randy Edelman created the unforgettable soundtrack for Gettysburg, he gave us the equally timeless soundtrack to Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story. Once you listen to the song “Bruce and Linda” about the starstruck romance at the heart of the film, you’ll be entranced. This is some of my favorite music.

To the Stars – Dragonheart

Randy Edelman sure knows how to make an impression. He appears again on this list with a piece of music that is so fantastic, you’ve probably heard it many times without ever seeing the movie it was originally written for. It’s equal parts climactic and heartfelt.

Arthur’s Farewell – First Knight

Another Sean Connery film. This music has echoes of Basil Poledouris’s work on The Hunt for Red October. But it’s the product of none other than Jerry Goldsmith. It’s music that really gets your heart pumping. Listen to this song to get yourself psyched up for something big. And I also highly recommend Arthur’s Fanfare, which is short but equally great. It’s interesting that we had an Arthur at the start of this list, and King Arthur will appear again near the end. Coincidence? Yes, pretty much.

Fortuosity – The Happiest Millionaire

If you’ve ever been to Disneyland, you’ve probably heard this song playing on Main Street. “Fortuosity” is by the Sherman Brothers, the same folks responsible for the music of Mary Poppins and other classics of that era. So it likely sounds familiar, even if you could never quite place it. It’s a happy little tune, and I recommend watching the movie it’s from. The Happiest Millionaire is a forgotten film gem.

America – The Jazz Singer (1980)

I listened to this song over and over as a kid. I didn’t understand the movie very well, but I recognized that this is a truly wonderful musical piece. Neil Diamond could sure sing.

Que Sera Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be) – The Man Who Knew Too Much

An Alfred Hitchcock movie is not obscure, by any means. I just found it surprising when I learned that the song “Que Sera Sera” came from this movie. And it serves a key purpose in the plot. That’s really cool.

The Prayer – Quest for Camelot

Talk about a song outshining the film from whence it sprang. Despite the all-star cast, Disney-esque animation, and attempt at crafting fun characters, Quest for Camelot is a very forgettable film. By contrast, “The Prayer” is an absolute classic of a song. If anyone remembers anything from Quest for Camelot, it’s this.

Main Theme – Requiem for a Dream

Now that is an epic theme. This kind of music would elevate anything it was attached to, and it obviously does an amazing job conveying the gravity of what this film is about.

Feel Free to Share Your Favorites

I hope you’ve enjoyed this obscure musical journey. Feel free to share your favorite pieces of music with mostly forgotten origins in a comment below.

This is the Deja Reviewer bidding you farewell until we meet again.

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