10 Greatest Musical Moments In Martin Scorsese Movies
1. Goodfellas : Derek And The Dominos - Layla (Piano Exit)
It’s not Clapton's instantly recognisable opening riff from Derek and the Dominos’ “Layla” that Scorsese utilised here, but the equally powerful piano outro. It all starts with the discovery of a blood soaked pink Cadillac and the realisation that DeNiro’s Jimmy has decided to ruthlessly sever ties with as many men as he can who worked on the Lufthansa heist.
The resultant montage of images provides a haunting reminder of the brutal life of the goodfella. The aching and wistful piano swirls in the background as the camera appears to intricately match the tune’s flow. This coalescence is utilised to memorable effect as the meat truck doors swing open and the camera plunges inside, just as the melody kicks up a gear once more.
It’s a mournful instrumental stemming from a song Clapton wrote over an unrequited love. As a result it is brimming with an unshakeable sadness and sorrow and it’s that tone which Scorsese taps into in order to emphasise the unavoidable importance of what we see before us. This is a landmark moment, from here, nothing will be the same again.