History Main / BadToTheBone

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEjgPh4SEmU "Eye of the Tiger"]] by Music/{{Survivor|Band}} is used is many, ''many'' fight sequences and {{Training Montage}}s. Considering it comes from ''Film/RockyIII'', not surprising.

* "Sabotage" by The Music/BeastieBoys.

** Ironically, ''[[AvertedTrope not]]'' [[AvertedTrope used]] in the MadeForTVMovie ''Bad to the Bone'', which is actually a straight crime drama and whose VillainProtagonist is ''not'' likable in any way (OK, [[EvilIsSexy maybe]] ''[[EvilIsSexy one]]'' [[EvilIsSexy way...]]).

** Also shows up in some trailers of movies that star animal characters, for example ''WesternAnimation/AlphaAndOmega'' and ''WesternAnimation/BrotherBear''

** Similarly, Beethoven's "Ode to Joy", which is used multiple times in ''A Clockwork Orange'', has become fashionable as SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic for epic action scenes.

** Music/TheMonkees' "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUYKlQ7UvDQ Pleasant Valley Sunday]]" gets used in this way a lot, too, as lampshaded by WebVideo/TheCinemaSnob.

** Also, "Sharp Dressed Man," whenever a [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin male character gets dressed up sharply]] (or, if its a comedy, [[SubvertedTrope not so sharply]]).
*** ''Series/MarriedWithChildren'', when Al has to get glasses.

** Bonus points if it's [[Music/TheRamones Joey Ramone]]'s cover.

* Music/{{Steppenwolf}}'s [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMbATaj7Il8 "Born To Be Wild"]] is often used to show the seemingly-sweet character (usually female) has a rougher, edgier side that only comes out during a moment of crisis, or any time characters drive off in a vehicle to go save the day. ''Herbie, Fully Loaded'' comes to mind.

** Strauss' "Blue Danube Waltz", also used in ''2001: A Space Odyssey'' during the intricate docking scene, is used to signify a smooth, graceful clockwork motion or choreography.

** Notably used in ''WesternAnimation/Barnyard'' when Ben plays it on the guitar and sings it while fighting off coyotes (just before his death)

* [[WebVideo/WatchMojo Watchmojo.com]] put out a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_XaSe-lh08 list of the 20 most overused songs in movies and TV]], many of which are in this article.

* ''Film/KillBill'' introduced Western audiences to Japanese musician Tomoyasu Hotei's "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjUi-P4gm6k&ab_channel=ThatOneGuy Battle Without Honor or Humanity]]" as [[LadyOfWar O-Ren Ishii]] and [[{{Mooks}} the Crazy 88]] [[PowerWalk do a slow-motion strut]] into the House of the Blue Leaves before the climactic showdown at the end of Volume I. Ever since, the song has been used to indicate that the [[EvilIsCool Badass Bad Guys]] have arrived, or to underscore how utterly un-badass a character appears.

* From Carl Douglas to CeeLo Green, plenty of artists know that there's one tune ''guaranteed'' to pop up in a movie in which everybody is [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VNnO7yLACg Kung Fu Fighting]].

** Spoofed in ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' episode "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS5E6MargeOnTheLam Marge on the Lam]]" in which Marge and her feminist neighbor go on a rebellious spree down the highway in a stolen Ford Thunderbird (obvious ''Film/ThelmaAndLouise'' parody) and the neighbor goes to put in a tape of this song but mistakenly puts on Music/LesleyGore's "Sunshine, Lollipops & Rainbows" instead. (Made doubly funny later on when Chief Wiggum and Homer make the same mistake, but end up enjoying the Lesley Gore song.)

* Music/VillagePeople songs and "I Will Survive" will show up in every comedy involving homosexuals. Also "Relax" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood. And "Gonna Make You Sweat" by C+C Music Factory.

* "Psycho Killer" from ''Music/TalkingHeads77'' by Music/TalkingHeads, for any tongue-in-cheek movie about a serial killer. Also, "Take Me To The River", "Once In A Lifetime", and "Burning Down The House".

* Music/TobyFox's "Megalovania" is one of his most renowned piece. If you hear it play during a boss battle, know that you are going [[ThatOneBoss to have a very bad time.]]