Movies, Music

Spider Jam: Which Spider-Man Movie Has the Best Radio Song?

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So, our Spider-Man podcast covered a lot of ground. We talked about how there were a lot of plot threads it didn’t tie up (like this io9 post points out), or how it wasted time tying up plot threads from the previous movie that didn’t need to be resolved (like this Vulture article notes).

We didn’t have time to discuss everything, though, and one major issue fell through the cracks: The soundtracks to all the Spider-Man movies. This was a major topic of conversation at the Mountain Dew-fueled SportsAlcohol.com editorial summit that preceded the podcast, but we just didn’t get to it on air.

Basically, a lot of ink has been spilled about how all-over-place the Batman movie songs have been, but similar consideration hasn’t been afforded to the music “inspired by” Spider-Man.

That is, until we drank all of that Mountain Dew.

First up, from Spider-Man, we have “Hero” by Chad Kroeger feat Josey Scott of Saliva

I completely forgot this song existed. When I was reminded of it, I still completely forgot it was from Spider-Man. Doesn’t this sound like this should be from the soundtrack to some kind of movie about the marines instead? We really don’t need to live in a world where we have both this song and the Three Doors Down song that plays during those army recruitment ads.

Next, from Spider-Man 2, there’s “Vindicated” by Dashboard Confessional

Say what you will about Dashboard Confessional, at least this fits the movie: an emo song for an emo Spider-Man. This song also gets stuck in my head every time I hear it, and I kind of hate myself afterward.

Then, from Spider-Man 3, we have “Signal Fire” by Snow Patrol

I’m not convinced I’ve ever heard this song before. Or maybe I just never stayed awake until the end of it? Spider-Man seems to have made a quick jump from his emo teens to the Adult Album Alternative station.

Dot dot dot

Then we jump to the Marc Webb series, and, for some reason, they didn’t want to pick up where Snow Patrol left off. (Way to burn the bridge on your way out, Snow Patrol.) For the soundtrack to The Amazing Spider-Man, you can pick up the James Horner score pretty easily, but there was no radio-ready theme song. Instead, let’s take this opportunity for a Ramones interlude.

Don’t worry too much, though; they pulled out the big guns for The Amazing Spider-Man 2.

The official song is “It’s On Again” by a laundry list of people: Alicia Keys (my girl), Kendrick Lamar (who gets the “featuring” credit), Pharrell Williams (who I’m convinced is behind every song that’s out right now), and famed film composer Hans Zimmer. Actually, most of the soundtrack is credited to “Hans Zimmer and the Magnificent Six,” which Wikipedia tells me is comprised of a motley crew of composers, producers, and rock musicians: Pharrell, Michael Einziger (of Incubus), Junkie XL, Andrew Kawczynzki, Steve Mazzaro, and Johnny Marr.

A fine song, truly, but my favorite thing about it is the part at the end of the video where Alicia Keys, Kendrick Lamar, Pharrell, and Zimmer are all singing together like they’re the best of friends.

So, who wins the Spider-Man soundtrack crown?

Trick question! The founders of SportsAlcohol.com all agree the winner is “Can’t You Trip Like I Do” by Filter and the Crystal Method, off the soundtrack to 1997’s Spawn (a soundtrack I’m still not convinced didn’t invent rap-rock, even though Rob assures me “it’s a different thing”).

Marisa
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