Quit Using "Gimme Shelter" In Every Damn Movie

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Denzel is a bad, bad man
The Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter" is the movie soundtrack song that won't die. Martin Scorcese made a cliche out of it decades ago, but since then it not only hasn't gone away, it's become more prevalent in movies and TV. Sure, it's a good song, but mango popsicles are good too and we don't want one of those every time we go to the theater!

To illustrate our point, here are but six of the movies in which the track appears. It's mostly during crime scenes and similar high-drama situations. Because the Stones are so very, very edgy.


Goodfellas
Scene in which the song appears: Henry (Ray Liotta) realizes that dealing drugs is a profitable business! Who knew?


Air America
Scene in which the song appears: Air America pilots Gene (Mel Gibson) and Billy (Robert Downey Jr.) are flying head first into the Vietnam War, all the while smuggling heroin without realizing it. Little known fact: This film inspired an amazing radio network.


Flight
Scene in which the song appears: Whip Whitaker (Denzel Washington) is an airline pilot suffering from alcohol and cocaine addiction. "Gimme Shelter" plays numerous times throughout the film as tension mounts, especially between him and the character played by John Goodman. The message is that the Stones go great with drugs, with flying, and with drunk flying.

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25 comments
Matthew England
Matthew England

Gimme Shelter is the greatest fuckin song of all time. Scorcese has infinite license to use it, as well as any other director that uses it properly for a solid film. Layer Cake, the Nip/Tuck episode, GoodFellas, Casino, the Departed (weak in the film in the second occurrence but great for the trailer and intro) and Flight trailer were all fantastic. It's impossible to overplay and I never want its use to stop, as long as the context works and the song is respected.

Andrew Kay
Andrew Kay

I nominate 'Lux Aeterna' for the musical score version of this topic. It went perfect with 'requiem for a dream' but then got tragically overused; even making its way into numerous sports human interest segments and montages.

Robert John Bell
Robert John Bell

There's a lot of overused songs. I personally have heard can't always get what you want and sympathy for the devil enough times for this lifetime

Jo Hughes
Jo Hughes

Totally agree with this, and, while we're at it, can we ban documentary makers from ever using another Adele tune? (Or is that problem limited to British production companies only?)

Tim Jurado
Tim Jurado

Its a the slo-mo shots that accompany it that should stop.

Tim Jurado
Tim Jurado

Owner of the song(s) have to like it. $$$$$$$$$$

Esteban Mainzer
Esteban Mainzer

"smooth up in ya" by the bullet boys should be in every movie.

Suzanne Campbell
Suzanne Campbell

And using Sympathy for the Devil every time John Goodman appears (Flight) was just fine. Hey when it works, it works.

Joe Bartone
Joe Bartone

"No, this one is different. In this one Denzel Washington plays an angry black man bent on revenge!"

Vickie Perez
Vickie Perez

Why are you so upset about it? It happens to be a great song!

Brett Hampton
Brett Hampton

Agreed. Love the song, but it's painfully overused.

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