History Main / BadToTheBone

** It was used for the climax fight of [[Megamind]].

* "Fortunate Son" by CreedenceClearwaterRevival in any [[TheVietnamWar Vietnam]] movie.

[[Bong milk is good for the brain.:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/werewolf_9693_8856.jpg]]

You're watching a movie and abruptly you hear a familiar song. From the cue you know that shit is going to go down and it is going to go down hard. This trope is humbly dedicated to any song that has been used in so many movies that playing it in a new movie tells the audience exactly what's going to happen in the scene. Similar in spirit to OminousLatinChanting, but uses modern songs.

See also StandardSnippet.
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!!Examples:

* "Back in Black" by [[{{ACDC}} AC/DC]], as seen in most action movies.
** Bonus points if it is at the beginning of the movie.
* TropeNamer is GeorgeThorogood's "Bad to the Bone", a traditional {{badass}} song, used in the second ''{{Terminator}}'' film.
** "Bad to the Bone" is used amusingly in ''MarriedWithChildren'', whenever Al's about to do something badass. For example, eating a bunch of burritos in order to do horrible things to Peg's decorated bathroom.
*** [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome You mean Al heroically reclaiming his beloved bathroom after Peggy took it away from him.]]
** It's also more or less Junior's leitmotif in ''ProblemChild''.
** Used at the beginning of ''MajorPayne''. Take a guess at what the titular Major's personality is like.
** Wasn't it also used at [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9VpVQ1sMfk the very top]] of the film version of ''{{Christine}}''? I think it was...
*** It was. It's the only non-[[TheFifties 50s]] song on the soundtrack record.
** Also played in {{Megamind}}.
* "Bodies" by DrowningPool, if a scene is about to get violent.
** "Down with the Sickness" by {{Disturbed}} as well. Popular as fight music (SouthPark [[TheSimpsonsDidIt Did It]]).
* "Born To Be Wild" and "Magic Carpet Ride" by {{Steppenwolf}}.
* "Cobrastyle" is used in a lot of movies with a suave protagonist, and [[SubvertedTrope also]] in ''{{Chuck}}''.
* "Eye of the Tiger" is used is many, ''many'' fight sequences in movies. Considering it comes from a ''{{Rocky}}'' movie, not surprising.
* JoeCocker and TheWho will surely live out their days comfortably on the royalties from "Feelin' Alright" and "Won't Get Fooled Again" on Every. Single. Movie. Trailer.
* "Fortunate Son" by CreedenceClearwaterRevival in any [[TheVietnamWar Vietnam]] movie.
** Pretty much all their well-known songs are associated with that the era or the war specifically. If you hear CCR in a movie, it's probably 'Nam.
** Similarly, "All Along the Watchtower" and "Gloria" will probably both be in any given 'Nam movie.
*** Don't forget "For What It's Worth"!
** Or [[TheRollingStones Gimmie Shelter]]
* JacquesOffenbach's "Gallope" from ''Orpheus in the Underworld'' (more commonly known as the can can music) being used for comedy movies when the wacky hijinks start getting out of control. Think overflowing washing machine, tangled electrical wires and stray parrots.
* Music by the TheRollingStones, especially "Gimme Shelter" in MartinScorsese films.
* {{Filter}}'s "Hey Man Nice Shot" in movie trailers. See, for instance, the first ''Film/IronMan'' trailer...
** Likewise, "Hell Above Water" by {{Curve}}, which was used in ''Film/IronMan'', ''Film/SpiderMan'' and about a bizillon other trailers.
* "I Got You (I Feel Good)" by JamesBrown is used in many scenes with really happy people.
** It also appeared in a lot of comedy trailers, which was parodied in an SNL skit where people suffer through an onslaught of previews, and all of the ones for comedies use this song.
* 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.
* "Iron Man" by BlackSabbath is also used by badasses (including [[IronMan the Marvel Comics hero]], of course).
** [[IsntItIronic Irony moment]]: the original song's lyrics were written by Geezer Butler specifically to avoid being sued by Marvel; as a result the song is about a time-traveller who attempts to save mankind but ends up destroying it. Which are not [[EpilepticTrees necessarily]] motives and superpowers associated with Tony Stark.
* "I Won't Back Down", by Tom Petty, means that our hero, believe it or not, isn't going to back down.
* "Let's Get it On" by MarvinGaye. The title [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin explains it all]].
* "Magic Moments" by PerryComo, specifically the whistling at the beginning.
* Dick Dale's version of "Misirlou", specially after ''PulpFiction''.
* "O Fortuna", in the spirit of OminousLatinChanting.
** Similarly, {{Verdi}}'s "Dies Irae."
* "Psycho Killer" 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"
* The "RideOfTheValkyries" by RichardWagner is used to herald in a villain's CrowningMomentOfAwesome or a military assault, in homage to ''ApocalypseNow''. Bonus points if said military assault includes an attack helicopter.
** ''ApocalypseNow,'' in turn, may have been referencing its use in ''BirthOfANation'' for the charge of the heroic (!) Ku Klux Klan.
*** If I remember correctly, they were in fact [[CrowningMomentofFunny actually playing it out of speakers on the helicopters]].
*** Alternately, it may just be the fact that ''BirthOfANation'', as offensive as the content is nowdays (and at the time, though to a lesser degree), was the [[TropeCodifier codifier]] for a surprising number of film tropes.
*** The "RideOfTheValkyries" was also used as background music to air attacks by the own side in German and, if this troper recalls correctly, Japanese newsreels during WorldWar2.
* "Right Here, Right Now" By FatboySlim has also been used in actions movies for CrowningMomentOfAwesome.
* Gary Glitter's "Rock And Roll Part One" is ridiculously common in sports movies. It's somewhat justified by the fact that both marching bands and loudspeakers often ''do'' play that song at games, but in the movies the song will just as likely be heard during moments when the crowd is supposed to be remaining silent.
* Seth [=MacFarlane=] deliberately chose DelAmitri's "Roll to Me" for a spoof RomanticComedy trailer in an episode of ''FamilyGuy'', because he believes that song is ''always'' used in rom com trailers. He's at least 85% right.
* "Sabotage" by The BeastieBoys.
* "Spirit in the Sky" by Norman Greenbaum for movies about astronauts and space travel.
* "Sweet Home Alabama" by LynyrdSkynyrd.
* ThinLizzy's "The Boys Are Back In Town" for, well, [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin scenes in which there are some boys, and they are back. In a town.]]
* Expect cool stuff to happen when "The Name of the Game" by CrystalMethod starts playing.
* {{Snap}}'s "The Power" used for characters [[MundaneUtility using a superpower in a generally non-serious way]].
* NatashaBedingfield's "Unwritten" is another, being played for pretty much any product marketed to women for pretty much all of 2007.
* "Walking On Sunshine" by KatrinaAndTheWaves was used in pretty much every trailer for family comedies in the 1990s and 00s.
* "We Are the Champions" by {{Queen}}, used to herald in really dramatic moments.
** Also, sports victories.
** "We Will Rock You", also by Queen, for sports-related badassery.
** "Another One Bites the Dust". Suits TheDeterminator, a suiting-up scene, or displays of badassery. Used in ''SmallSoldiers''.
** The entire soundtrack of The Highlander.
* "White Rabbit" by Jefferson Airplane whenever someone is under the influence of a mind-altering substance and/or hallucinating.
* "Who Let The Dogs Out" ''will'' be used in any children's movie featuring talking dogs, and it ''will'' be used in a scene where the aforementioned canine's escape from a pet pound/locked room/generally do something cool that involves knocking down something or someone.
* Rossini's "Wilhelm Tell Overture" is always the sign of someone being extremely busy. Used for irony effect for a sex scene in Kubrick's ''AClockworkOrange''.
* "Wipe Out" by TheSurfaris is pretty popular for [[ChaseScene chase scenes]].
** BennyHill's "Yakety Sax" as well, with an added comedic effect.
* DerSchuhDesManitu gives us "Straight to Hell" as the BigBad's theme. You ''know'' what's going to happen.
* If shit goes down in SlowMotion, there's always "Chariots of Fire" by Vangelis.
* If shit goes down and there's a large army or BigDamnHeroes moment involved, you might hear Europe's "The Final Countdown."
* "Get Ready for This" by 2 Unlimited is used for just about every competition.
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* "Get Ready for This" by 2 Unlimited is used for just about every action scene.

* If shit goes down ad there's a large army or BigDamnHeroes moment involved, you might hear Europe's "The Final Countdown."

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<<|FilmTropes|>>
<<|ScoreAndMusicTropes|>>

* "Back in Black" by [[{{ACDC}} AC/DC]], as seen in most action movies.
** Bonus points if it is at the beginning of the movie.
* "We Are the Champions" by {{Queen}}, used to herald in really dramatic moments.
** Also, sports victories.
** "We Will Rock You", also by Queen, for sports-related badassery.
** "Another One Bites the Dust". Suits TheDeterminator, a suiting-up scene, or displays of badassery. Used in ''SmallSoldiers''.

* "O Fortuna", in the spirit of OminousLatinChanting.
** Similarly, {{Verdi}}'s "Dies Irae."
* Dick Dale's version of "Misirlou", specially after ''PulpFiction''.
* "Iron Man" by BlackSabbath is also used by badasses (including [[IronMan the Marvel Comics hero]], of course).
** [[IsntItIronic Irony moment]]: the original song's lyrics were written by Geezer Butler specifically to avoid being sued by Marvel; as a result the song is about a time-traveller who attempts to save mankind but ends up destroying it. Which are not [[EpilepticTrees necessarily]] motives and superpowers associated with Tony Stark.

* {{Snap}}'s "The Power" used for characters [[MundaneUtility using a superpower in a generally non-serious way]].
* JacquesOffenbach's "Gallope" from ''Orpheus in the Underworld'' (more commonly known as the can can music) being used for comedy movies when the wacky hijinks start getting out of control. Think overflowing washing machine, tangled electrical wires and stray parrots.
* "Wipe Out" by TheSurfaris is pretty popular for [[ChaseScene chase scenes]].
** BennyHill's "Yakety Sax" as well, with an added comedic effect.

* Music by the TheRollingStones, especially "Gimme Shelter" in MartinScorsese films.

* JoeCocker and TheWho will surely live out their days comfortably on the royalties from "Feelin' Alright" and "Won't Get Fooled Again" on Every. Single. Movie. Trailer.
* "Eye of the Tiger" is used is many, ''many'' fight sequences in movies. Considering it comes from a ''{{Rocky}}'' movie, not surprising.

* "Bodies" by DrowningPool, if a scene is about to get violent.
** "Down with the Sickness" by {{Disturbed}} as well. Popular as fight music (SouthPark [[TheSimpsonsDidIt Did It]]).
* "Let's Get it On" by MarvinGaye. The title [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin explains it all]].

* NatashaBedingfield's "Unwritten" is another, being played for pretty much any product marketed to women for pretty much all of 2007.
* "Born To Be Wild" and "Magic Carpet Ride" by {{Steppenwolf}}.
* "Magic Moments" by PerryComo, specifically the whistling at the beginning.
* "Sweet Home Alabama" by LynyrdSkynyrd.
* "Sabotage" by The BeastieBoys.
* "Fortunate Son" by CreedenceClearwaterRevival in any [[TheVietnamWar Vietnam]] movie.
** Pretty much all their well-known songs are associated with that the era or the war specifically. If you hear CCR in a movie,, it's probably 'Nam.
** Similarly, "All Along the Watchtower" and "Gloria" will probably both be in any given 'Nam movie.
*** Don't forget "For What It's Worth"!
** Or [[TheRollingStones Gimmie Shelter]]
* "Psycho Killer" 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"
* "White Rabbit" by Jefferson Airplane whenever someone is under the influence of a mind-altering substance and/or hallucinating.
* Rossini's ''Wilhelm Tell'' overture is always the sign of someone being extremely busy. Used for irony effect for a sex scene in Kubrick's ''AClockworkOrange''.
* "Cobrastyle" is used in a lot of movies with a suave protagonist, and [[SubvertedTrope also]] in ''{{Chuck}}''.
* "Spirit in the Sky" by Norman Greenbaum for movies about astronauts and space travel.

** "Bad to the Bone" is used amusingly in MarriedWithChildren, whenever Al's about to do something badass. For example, eating a bunch of burritos in order to do horrible things to Peg's decorated bathroom.

*** Alternately, it may just be the fact that BirthOfANation, as offensive as the content is nowdays (and at the time, though to a lesser degree), was the [[TropeCodifier codifier]] for a surprising number of film tropes.

* Seth Macfarlane deliberately chose DelAmitri's "Roll to Me" for a spoof RomanticComedy trailer in an episode of ''FamilyGuy'', because he believes that song is ''always'' used in rom com trailers. He's at least 85% right.
* Music by the TheRollingStones.
** Especially "Gimme Shelter" in MartinScorsese films.

* "Eye of the Tiger" is used is many, ''many'' fight sequences in movies. Considering it comes from a {{Rocky}} movie, not surprising.
* "Walking On Sunshine" by KatrinaAndTheWaves was used in pretty much every trailer for family comedies in the 1990s.
** Not just in the '90s. In the new millennium, too.

* "Let's Get it On" by MarvinGaye. I think the title [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin explains it all]].
* "Who Let The Dogs Out" ''will'' be used in any childrens movie featuring talking dogs, and it ''will'' be used in a scene where the aforementioned canine's escape from a pet pound/locked room/generally do something cool that involves knocking down something or someone.

* Rossini's ''Wilhelm Tell'' ouveture is always the sign of someone being extremely busy. Used for irony effect for a sex scene in Kubrick's ''AClockworkOrange''.

* "You've Got The Love" by FlorenceAndTheMachine has been used in just about every TV show advertisement on every British TV channel this past year or so.

* "You've Got The Love" by FlorenceAndTheMachine has been used in just about every TV show advertisement on every British TV channel this past year.