Top 15 Music Moments in Cameron Crowe Films

Few contemporary filmmakers appreciate rock music as much as Cameron Crowe. When you watch Crowe’s films, you are really watching a passionate appreciation for both film and music. Crowe is responsible for some of the most iconic musical moments in film history, along with several other memorable scenes that help make his films so great.

(Note: many of these scenes were not embeddable via YouTube. I’ve linked to them where I could.)

15. “Magic Bus” by The Who

14. “Requiem Again” by The Durutti Column

13. “Sitting Still Moving Still Staring Outlooking” by His Name Is Alive

all from Jerry Maguire

I’m combining these three because they all help make the opening scene of Jerry Maguire a mesmerizing introduction into the world of a sports agent. As a live version of The Who’s “Magic Bus” clicks away, Tom Cruise narrates his life with precise, frenetic energy. “Requiem Again” and “Sitting Still…” slow things down once our title character is hit with a bout of depression, and subsequent inspiration. It all just works so well together. Easily my favorite opening to a Cameron Crowe film.

12. The Seattle Grunge/Punk Performances

from Singles

The grunge/punk songs in Singles (by Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, Tad Doyle, and many more) capture a time and place perfectly. This is early ‘90s Seattle.

11. “My Cherie Amour” by Stevie Wonder

from Almost Famous

The use of “My Cherie Amour” in Almost Famous is a remarkable juxtaposition of a young boy falling in love with a woman who is at the lowest point in her life. Watching Penny Lane have her stomach pumped as Stevie Wonder croons on should in no way work. But boy does it ever.

10. “Misty Mountain Hop” by Led Zeppelin

from Almost Famous

What better way to introduce ‘70s era New York City than with the first few chords of Zeppelin’s “Misty Mountain Hop”?

9. “Good Vibrations” by The Beach Boys

from Vanilla Sky

Much like Penny Lane puking her guts out to Stevie, I’m not sure watching Tom Cruise flipping shit (while the audience is still trying to dissect a huge plot twist) to The Beach Boys, should work. Leave it to Crowe to make confusion and sonic bliss seamlessly fit together. Watch the scene here.

8. “Free Fallin’” by Tom Petty

from Jerry Maguire

This one speaks for itself. It’s so literal, it should be laughable. Instead, it’s the perfect song to use at the perfect moment. Cruise’s jubilation only adds to the effectiveness of the scene.

7. “Can We Still Be Friends” by Todd Rundgren

from Vanilla Sky

As the tiniest detail reveals that the worst of Tom Cruise’s nightmare has come true, Rundgren and his “la, la, la la’s” pleasantly blare away. I don’t know how Crowe makes these seemingly random juxtapositions fly so well.

6. “Secret Garden” by Bruce Springsteen

from Jerry Maguire

A young boy gives a grown man a kiss. A mother cries, impassioned with love. A man waits for a woman at the end of the block as she runs to him. Bonnie Hunt says, “Oh dear,” with as much conviction as she’s ever said anything. And I’m smiling.

5. “Everything in Its Right Place” by Radiohead

from Vanilla Sky

Directors love to use Radiohead tracks. And who can blame them? The band’s distinctly cinematic sound has made for many memorable film scenes. One of the best examples of this is the opening to Vanilla Sky, in which we watch as a very rich, very attractive, very together man begins his day. Everything in its right place… for now. Watch the scene here.

4. “The Nothing Song (Njosnavelin)” by Sigur Rós

from Vanilla Sky

How do you match the beauty of Penélope Cruz set against a vanilla sky, with the recently fallen Twin Towers standing tall in the background? With Sigur Rós, that’s how.

3. “In Your Eyes” by Peter Gabriel

from Say Anything…

Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes” will be forever married to the moment a heartbroken Lloyd Dobler raised a boombox high above his head, all to win back the love of Diane Court. As iconic as music in movies gets.

2. “Tiny Dancer” by Elton John

from Almost Famous

A bunch of pissed off musicians slowly becoming a family again by belting out “Tiny Dancer” at the top of their lungs. This is the kind of scene that inspires beyond words. The kind of moment that sends chills down your spine and makes you wish it was twice as long. It could very well be remembered as Cameron Crowe’s crowning musical moment.

1. “Shelter from the Storm” by Bob Dylan

from Jerry Maguire

On paper, the idea of Tom Cruise and Renée Zellweger literally walking off into the sunset sounds far too sentimental to work. But as Bob Dylan slowly begins to pluck away at “Shelter from the Storm,” I’m reminded how perfect this moment is. Then, to top it off, Dicky Fox tells us what really matters in life. It’s a handful of superb sentiments that are wonderfully restrained. It’s one of the main reasons Jerry Maguire will always be my favorite Cameron Crowe film. Song and film, blended together in exceptional harmony.

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