4. Louie Armstrong - What A Wonderful World
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5TwT69i1lU Here's a song that everyone loves, surely? It's been used to potent effect in countless films, including How to Lose Friends and Alienate People, Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay, Madagascar, Going the Distance, Freaky Friday, Finding Forrester, Meet Joe Black, Twelve Monkeys, Michael, Good Morning Vietnam and Bowling for Columbine, almost always to set an emotional mood, either earnestly (isn't it a great world we live in?) or ironically (the world sucks, right?). Some filmmakers have opted to use the various cover versions of the song (most famously that brilliant one by The Ramones), but that's not enough to let it past us; there needs to be a moratorium on filmmakers using the classic tune for easy manipulation, because we're far too aware of the conceit.
Shaun Munro
Contributor
Frequently sleep-deprived film addict and video game obsessive who spends more time than is healthy in darkened London screening rooms. Follow his twitter on @ShaunMunroFilm or e-mail him at shaneo632 [at] gmail.com.
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