The Marvel Cinematic Universe is known for many things: creating a vast and interconnected universe, turning bottom-of-the-barrel heroes into genuine A-listers to moviegoing fans, and smashing the box office four times a year. Likewise, the mega-franchise also happens to be quite adept at putting together a gripping soundtrack.
The MCU is often at its best when it includes classic rock songs as a backdrop to some of its most iconic scenes. While a good ’70s or ’80s song is always welcome in a fun movie, sometimes a song’s inclusion simply fits its scene so well that it elevates the entire film as a result.
“Smells Like Teen Spirit,” Black Widow
Many fans remember Black Widow‘s opening credits for the dark and brooding cover of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” performed by singer Malia J, which plays over a series of shots depicting the presence of Black Widow agents throughout various integral moments in world history.
This song, coupled with the visuals of just how involved the Black Widow program was in world politics during and after the Cold War, helped bring into perspective the looming threat that was General Dreykov and his army, also reminding audiences of Natasha Romanov’s tragic backstory leading up to her own solo film.
“It Takes Two,” Ant-Man And The Wasp
“It Takes Two” by Rob Base and DJ EZ Rock was an integral part of the marketing campaign for Ant-Man and the Wasp in 2018, playing over several of the trailers. The title and lyrics of the song in this instance were used in allusion to the newfound partnership between the titular Ant-Man and the Wasp.
Needless to say, “It Takes Two” was a perfect choice on the part of the Marvel marketing department, which had an insurmountable task ahead of them in marketing the first MCU movie after Infinity War. This song not only cheekily referred to the film’s two superhero protagonists but also let prospective audiences know that this would be a more lighthearted installment of the MCU than the previous film.
“Mr. Blue Sky,” Guardians Of The Galaxy, Volume 2
ELO’s “Mr. Blue Sky” has a featured part in James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy, volume 2, playing over the opening credits as Baby Groot joyfully dances around, dodging the mayhem caused by his crewmates battling a giant space monster nearby.
Given the prominence of classic rock in this franchise, the perfect song was absolutely necessary to open this second installment. Coupled with Baby Groot’s adorable dance moves, this track set the tone for the film moving forward, and made light of a violent action scene in true Guardians style.
“Back In Black,” Iron Man
Few opening bars are more iconic than AC/DC’s “Back in Black,” which is memorable for a host of reasons, including acting as the opening track in 2008’s Iron Man. AC/DC in truth kicks off the entirety of the MCU, as Tony Stark’s origin movie would go on to spark the mega-franchise that dominates the box office today.
The use of this song to open Tony Stark’s live-action debut was a perfect way to showcase the character’s style: brash, attention-grabbing, and stylish. It also serves as a meta-reference to Robert Downey Jr.’s career, as his turn in Iron Man would truly serve as an announcement to the world that the formerly disgraced star was truly “back in black.”
“Dear Mr. Fantasy,” Avengers: Endgame
Many MCU fans would find it hard to forget the franchise’s use of “Dear Mr. Fantasy,” the 1967 song by Chris Wood and Steve Winwood, with lyrics by Jim Capaldi. The track plays over the Marvel Studios banner in Avengers: Endgame just after Clint Barton’s sudden loss of his family in Thanos’s snap.
“Dear Mr. Fantasy” is a bleak and rather hopeless replacement to the normally triumphant fanfare which typically accompanies the Marvel Studios banner before each MCU film. The dreary tune and lyrics only serve to highlight the Avengers’ many mistakes in battling Thanos, which led to the disastrous state of the world at the outset of the film.
“The Magic Number,” Spider-Man: No Way Home
After a whirlwind of wish fulfillment, Spider-Man: No Way Home ended with an anthem that sang the praises of the number three. As both the third of Tom Holland’s Spider-Man trilogy and the film to unite all three live-action Spider-Men onscreen for the first time, De La Soul’s “The Magic Number” was the perfect way to close the movie event of the year.
While this trilogy’s end credit songs have always been toe-tappers, there is a special quality to “The Magic Number” in this particular film, as it revels in its own accomplishment in fulfilling one of the most unlikely wishes of Spider-Man fans, thus making No Way Home one of the greatest superhero films of all time.
“The Immigrant Song,” Thor: Ragnarok
Keeping in touch with the Nordic traditions, Thor: Ragnarok features a classic song filled with allusions to the same mythology from which Thor hails in its opening sequence with Led Zepplin’s “The Immigrant Song.” The track comes back at the film’s climax, just as Thor reaches his full potential in the midst of battling his evil sister Hela.
Aside from the very appropriate allusions to Norse mythology in the song, the way it is used in Ragnarok highlights Thor’s growth over the course of the film, as he “fights the hordes,” only to later relent and take his people “to new land” after Asgard’s fall.
“Come And Get Your Love,” Guardians Of The Galaxy
Few songs have become more synonymous with the films in which they are featured than Redbone’s “Come and Get Your Love” with Guardians of the Galaxy. The song plays as the audience is introduced to Chris Pratt’s Peter Quill on Morag, where he steals the film’s MacGuffin, the Power Stone.
Opening with this track was a perfect choice on the part of James Gunn, who, with a single scene, solidified the exact tone that the franchise would have. It told viewers, who were somewhat skeptical of the film at the time, that they were in for a different kind of movie than they were used to in all the best ways.
“Back In Black,” Spider-Man: Far From Home
After making MCU history in the first Iron Man film, AC/DC’s “Back in Black” appeared once more in Spider-Man: Far From Home. This time, the track plays as Peter Parker builds a new suit for himself before entering the final battle with Mysterio. The fledgling superhero also hilariously misattributes the song to Led Zepplin, which he claims to “love.”
Eleven years after the release of Iron Man, “Back in Black” serves a more meaningful purpose in the second of Tom Holland’s Spider-Man films. Far From Home dealt largely with the fallout of Tony Stark’s death and Peter’s reluctance to fill his late mentor’s shoes. However, after a pep talk from Happy Hogan, Peter learns that he can honor Tony’s memory while also being his own hero. Just as he reaches this realization is when Tony’s signature tune is played, as a new kind of Iron Man was born and Spider-Man is at last set up as a future leader in the MCU.
“Brandy (You’re A Fine Girl),” Guardians Of The Galaxy, Volume 2
Looking Glass’s biggest hit “Brandy (You’re A Fine Girl)” is an integral piece of the plot in Guardians of the Galaxy, volume 2. First played in the film’s opening flashback scene, Ego later explains to his son, Peter Quill, that this song represents the love story between himself and Meredith, Peter’s mother.
The lyrics to “Brandy” perfectly mirror the events of Ego and Meredith Quill’s whirlwind romance. Both Ego and the sailor from the song were deeply enamored with their respective lovers, but felt called to a higher purpose, and were therefore unable to be with them: “my life, my lover, my lady is the sea.” Ego identified with the sailor, but ultimately misses the point of the song. Like the sailor that left Brandy behind, he gave up his one avenue to true happiness, a woman who would have always loved him, in favor of pursuing a calling he would never fulfill.
