People may speak different languages but music is a language we all understand. A piece of music speaks to you and changes you. Music can hurt you and make you feel happy at the same time. The importance of music can’t be overstated especially in films. Perfectly timed music can greatly enhance your emotions when watching films. Doesn’t it feel ecstatic when a scene with perfectly blended music comes up and your body hair starts to stand up? Yeah, we all love that feeling.
Music has a crucial role to play in the film industry. It is the role of a director to decide the right music for the film. A good director will use music to guide the audience and invoke emotion in viewers behind the film’s story, the action, and the words.
Various songs like “The Sound of Silence” in The Graduate and the Mission: Impossible theme will forever be associated with these movies. Other songs from Smash Mouth, Jimi Hendrix are still used in films.
But have you ever wondered what the most used song in film and TV history is? That one song \which has been used in so many movies to evoke a certain reaction in the viewers. If you immediately thought about men cruising on the highway on their motorcycles, then BINGO!!
Yes, it is none other than “Born to be wild” by Steppenwolf. This song represents people who are original and rebellious in their own rights. The song captures the essence of carefree nature, and the joy felt when living to your fullest potential.
It is most notably featured in the 1969 film Easy Rider and is sometimes described as the first heavy metal song. The song is still widely used in modern pop culture.
Facts about “Born To Be Wild”
- Mars Bonfire (a member of The Sparrows, which later renamed to Steppenwolf) wrote this song as a ballad. He initially offered the song to psychedelic rock band The Human Expression but they chose Bonfire’s “Sweet Child of Nothingness“ over this song.
- “Born to be Wild” is the band’s third and most successful single.
- Steppenwolf sped up the song, converting it into the ultimate rock anthem. “Born To Be Wild” reached #2 in America on Billboard Hot 100 chart making it the most successful single from them.
- The song’s popularity rose after the release of movie ‘Easy Rider’ in 1969. The movie also uses another song called “The Pusher“ by Steppenwolf.
- When Mars Bonfire was asked about the song’s origin and motivation, he said “”I was walking down Hollywood Boulevard one day and saw a poster in a window saying ‘Born to Ride’ with a picture of a motorcycle erupting out of the earth like a volcano with all this fire around it. Around this time I had just purchased my first car, a little secondhand Ford Falcon. So all this came together lyrically: the idea of the motorcycle coming out along with the freedom and joy I felt in having my first car and being able to drive myself around whenever I wanted. ‘Born To Be Wild’ didn’t stand out initially. Even the publishers at Leeds Music didn’t take it as the first or second song I gave them. They got it only because I signed as a staff writer. Luckily, it stood out for Steppenwolf. It’s like a fluke rather than an achievement, though.”
- In 2018, the song was inducted into the ‘Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.’
- Artists such as Hinder, Etta James, Ozzy Osbourne, Bruce Springsteen, Slayer, U2, Blue Oyster Cult, MC Shan, and The Cult and many more have covered this song.
What films and TV shows have used this song?
Easy Rider is the first film which used this song. Besides that, a lot movies and TV shows have used this song. Some of them are:
- Dr. Dolittle 2
- Married with Children
- Problem Child
- Coming Home
- One Crazy Summer
- Opportunity Knocks
- Herbie Fully Loaded
- Speechless
- The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part
- Supernatural
- Monk
- M.D.
- The Simpsons
- Six feet under
Conclusion
This song is a portrayal of the free-spirited nature of human beings and will always remain so. This song will forever be engraved in our hearts and every generation will relate to this song. We hope this song will continue to be used in the future and be an anthem to those who dare to dream and live.
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