Eddie writes6 Memorable Motion Picture Soundtracks From 1994

by Eddie Sayago

Despite what some might say, physical media is cool and essential. A CD or vinyl is a permanent timestamp on a piece of music that can have a lot of significance to the listener.

We are in an era where in theory we have access to everything, yet it also seems like nothing is here to stay. One day your favorite song or album could be pulled from the streaming services or even your own digital library if purchased from Apple or another vendor. And who knows when or if that remix of your favorite song to dance to from college will return.

For someone who has the space, energy, and money to have and build a physical music collection, it’s a privilege I don’t take for granted. One of my favorite activities to do on the weekend is to visit a record store and browse through the bins and boxes for something from a bygone era.

There are fewer joys than finding a beloved album in good to excellent condition, folk over the cash or card, bring it home and let yourself get lost in the music on your massive speakers or headphones.

Hopefully you can find that next great album at the upcoming CHIRP Record Fair & Other Delights, taking place for the final time on Saturday, November 9. Tickets can be purchased here.

Pulp Fiction

Director: Quentin Tarantino (US)

One of three soundtracks that I found and purchased from a CHIRP Record Fair, Pulp Fiction The Soundtrack is much more than “Girl, You’ll Be A Woman Soon”, performed by local band Urge Overkill.

There’s Chuck Berry, Ricky Nelson, Dusty Springfield, Kool & The Gang and a few surf instrumentals like Dick Dale’s “Misirlou” that give off the Southern California vibes. The original soundtrack includes audio clips of the most famous lines and scenes from Tarantino’s Oscar-winning script, including the Royale with Cheese dialogue.

“Girl, You’ll Be A Woman Soon” was originally performed by Neil Diamond in 1966, becoming one of his first big hits. Urge Overkill’s cover adds a bit more gravitas but it does sound like a carbon copy of the original.

The 1994 version went to #1 in Iceland and was a Top 20 hit on the Modern Rock charts in the U.S. The band was briefly popular, which led to friction and their breakup in 1997. (They have since reunited and released a new album, Oui, in 2022.)

One of the best motion picture soundtracks of all time, Pulp Fiction is a fusion of eccentric tunes that are both timely and timeless and introduced audiences and filmmakers to a different way of interpreting and enjoying pop music for the silver screen.

Reality Bites

Director: Ben Stiller (US)

This dramedy has for better or worse defined Generation X. Released in early 1994, it immediately became a box office hit and critics’ darling. A videographer (Winona Ryder) grabs her camera to document the midlife crises of her three roommates, all floundering in various degrees of chaos.

The soundtrack has zero grunge, which is a relief. We have Dinosaur Jr., Lenny Kravitz, U2, and The Juliana Hatfield Three, but it’s the closing song that everyone will remember, long after the credits end.

Lisa Loeb’s “Stay (I Missed You)” stands the test of time and we need to thank Ethan Hawke for that. Hawke heard the song and convinced Ben Stiller, who also directed the film, to include “Stay” in the soundtrack. (Hawke also directed the music video.) “Stay” became the first song to hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 by an independent artist not signed by a record label. 

Reality Bites was a turning point for the cast and Lisa Loeb, who signed a deal with Geffen and was nominated for a Grammy Award for “Stay.”  Ben Stiller graduated from TV sketch comedy to film auteur with his directorial debut.

This is the breakthrough film for Steve Zahn and Janeane Garofalo, who later commented that Reality Bites should not considered to be a Gen X film. Regardless of its categorization, this also showcased Winona Ryder in her first grown-up role in a contemporary film, having appeared in the period dramas Bram Stoker’s Dracula, The House of the Spirits and The Age of Innocence, the latter earning her an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

She provided a well-grounded performance as a young woman trying to figure out what the rest of her life is going to be like, professionally, personally, and romantically. The rest of the decade was so bright for her, and one hopes her return in the cultural zeitgeist is permanent. 

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

Director: Stephan Elliot (AU)

This is one of TWO Australian films released in 1994 to feature ABBA in their soundtrack (the other being Muriel’s Wedding). “Mamma Mia” is one of four songs performed by the trio throughout the film.

The official soundtrack has 19 songs, nearly all Pride anthems such as “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor, “Finally” by CeCe Peniston, and the second gayest song from the Village People, “Go West” (I hope we can reclaim their signature song soon.)

Priscilla instantly became a cult classic thanks to the story, cast (Terrence Stamp, Hugo Weaving and Guy Pierce are the trio blessed with traveling in that lavender bus), costumes (it won the Oscar for Best Costume Design), and of course the music.

The film has been inspiring numerous drag performers over three decades and was adapted into a stage musical, premiering in Sydney in 2006, followed by the West End in 2009 and Broadway in 2011. There is talks about a sequel to Priscilla, which would be a delight to see what the girls have been up to since their show in Alice Springs.

Four Weddings And A Funeral

Director: Mike Newell (UK)

Wedding music is a both wide net and specific type of genre. There’s love ballads going back to the early days of rock ‘n’ roll and traditional ballads from centuries past. It’s a lot of dance songs with accompanying moves. It’s a confusing and expensive vibe. (“how much is the tux rental again?”)

Some of the worst set lists I’ve heard were at weddings. Some of the most emotional moments I’ve witnessed are when the two newlyweds dance to their song for the first time. Watching the two of them lock eyes, dance and kiss in front of their loved ones…oh this hay fever is getting to me….

“I Will Survive” makes its second appearance on a soundtrack in 1994, alongside Sting, Squeeze, and Wet Wet Wet with their song “Love Is All Around”, which is an appropriate song for a movie filled with people falling in and out of love, as well as losing love (the funeral). “Love Is All Around” makes an appearance in another Richard Curtis romantic comedy when it’s redone as a cash grab Christmas song by jaded rock star Billy Mack.

Elton John performs Gershwin’s “But Not For Me”, one of three songs recorded by him that appear on the soundtrack (the party anthem “Crocodile Rock” and an energetic '50s rock ‘n’ roll style cover of “Chapel of Love”). This is not the only soundtrack he would appear in…

The Lion King

Directrors: Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff (US)

Sir Rocket Man won his first Oscar for “Can You Feel The Love Tonight?”, which became the fourth song from a Disney movie to win Best Original Song in five years. Disney dominated the music categories at the Academy Awards throughout the 1990s, which was also their animation studio’s Renaissance, churning out hit after hit.

“Can You Feel The Love Tonight?” was originally going to be performed by Timon and Pumba in its entirety until Elton heard them and say “£#$& no!” (You’ve heard him swear, so that’s possible his reaction was that.) This is my favorite fact about this soundtrack, which is the best selling soundtrack to an animated feature film, with over 7 million copies sold in the U.S. alone. I would love to hear Timon and Pimba’s version of this ballad. Their love story is my favorite in the movie.

There isn’t much to say about this album but I figured if I typed Disney a couple of times then the blog could get some hits or appear in the search results when folks type “The Lion King”, “Elton John”, “90s love ballads”, “cool music blogs to subscribe to”, “Timon and Pumba”, “Oscar winners”, and whatever the algorithm will feed you, dear reader. 

Forrest Gump

Director: Robert Zemeckis (US)

The quintessential Baby Boomer movie has a soundtrack that equally matches the Prager U-esque textbook history of the United States during the second half of the 20th century that director/producer Robert Zemeckis presents in Forrest Gump, which was the second highest grossing movie of 1994 (after The Lion King) and won 6 Oscars, including Best Picture.

This movie was released at the right time. Bill Clinton was elected president two years before, the first of four Baby Boomers to go to the White House. America was in an economic boom. There were no major wars or conflicts directly impacting Americans. There was some worry about the upcoming millennium but we figured that once we fixed the computers and pervent widespread panic we could handle anything.

"We wanted to have very recognizable material that would pinpoint time periods, yet we didn't want to interfere with what was happening cinematically," said Joel Sill, the film’s music producer. Zemeckis insisted on having only American artists for the soundtrack, which is why there is nothing from the British Invasion or from our northern neighbors on the double album, which contained 32 songs.

You’ve got Motown, Elvis, The Beach Boys, The Doors, and the safest songs from the 1970s to appeal to all the Americans who enjoy and prefer every brand of white bread that became available to them in supermarkets after World War II. (Why is there so much white bread?!)

This album is possibly the best intro to American rock music. If any of those artists interest you, then take a deep dive into their catalogs.