I have never liked musicals.
But musicals have no place on this list anyway (I did make one exception).
Because you expect great singing in a musical.
But it is something special when you see an incredible vocal performance in a regular movie, by an actor who is not a professional singer.
All of the iconing singing moments from movies listed below are ones that grab your attention and make it so you can’t look away.
And when the movie is over, they are the scenes you remember.
And the scenes everyone talks about. So let’s take a look at the 6 most iconic of those scenes.
Incredible Movie Singing Moments
Yes, the first entry does come from a musical, but it is one that needs to be on this list, even if it is not a movie I enjoyed all that much. The other entries are not musicals. At least not what we generally consider musicals.
And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going from Dreamgirls
I’m not a huge fan of Broadway-style musical films, but there are a few none can ignore, especially Dreamgirls. This movie helped the R&B scene explode.
You can pick virtually any scene from this film, and it would easily fit today’s topic. Jennifer Hudson plays Effie, one of the Dreamettes trio, and I had a hard time pinpointing the scene I’d label as the most iconic moment.
Ultimately, I believe the five minutes when she’s singing I’m Not Going represent what you can expect from Dreamgirls and is the most legendary piece in the entire movie.
With a soaring, high-end gospel style infused with a healthy dose of rhythm & blues, Effie claims the stage as her own. The lyrics are strong, meaningful, and perfectly tailored to what Dreamgirls is about, while her unique tone and singing style make the puzzle complete, sending shivers down my spine even today.
Battle of the Bands from School of Rock
I can name and chronologically organize every musical film Jack Black starred in, and none stands out more than the roots of it all – School of Rock. This, along with the Pick of Destiny, are the things that my generation grew up on and that heavily inspired us to pursue music careers and/or hobbies. Or at least me.
While School of Rock is more of a compilation of family-friendly comedic sketches, the idea of a grown man (JB) teaching kids how to rock is quite legendary in itself. Although the majority of the movie consists of practice sessions, it all leads up to the famed Battle of the Bands, where they raise hell, and then some.
Jack Black chose the song his student Zack (acted by Joey Gaydos Jr.) wrote called Teacher’s Pet. They climb the stage geared up in custom outfits and everything from their appearance to their music screams AC/DC, although the tune is an original.
The reason I believe this is among the most iconic singing moments is because it inspired some of the cast to give music a go. Joey (Zack) released a few albums, Robert (Lawrence) picked up dancing, and Maryam (Tomika) got big in R&B under her stage name “Mayhrenate”.
Can’t Take My Eyes Off You from 10 Things I Hate About You
There is a finite amount of cliches one can endure in romantic comedy dramas with a twist. 10 Things I Hate About You has most of the cliches, but it did them the best. Exemplary storytelling, a perfect cast, and a few surprising twists that make you forever remember the movie – it’s all in there.
Most people know the plot of this movie by heart, but in case you haven’t seen it yet, you’ll instantly recognize its most iconic singing scene when Patrick (played by the late, great Heath Ledger) courts Kat (played by Julia Stiles) in a deeply emotional, yet innovative way.
Patrick chooses Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, an all-time classic from the legendary Frankie Valli, sliding down a pole as he makes a gentle entrance.
Seconds before the chorus hits, the playing field where Kat practices with her cheerleaders turns into a music stage; the school’s marching band starts playing the piece, and Patrick sings his heart out before campus security hauls him off the “stage”.
Please Mr. Kennedy from Inside Llewyn Davis
Justin Timberlake, a global pop icon, starred in more than 15 movies, but I specifically liked his authentic performance in Inside Llewyn Davis. This movie hits home because it vividly portrays the life of a struggling artist (Oscar Isaac, in this case), and it’s brimming with heartfelt music scenes.
The one I particularly enjoyed and believe most of Justin’s fans clearly remember is the moment when Justin and Oscar rehearse Please Mr. Kennedy, a song they originally wrote for this movie.
The rehearsal process gets interrupted on a number of occasions, as tends to happen when you’re bouncing ideas and fine-tuning, but when the band warms up, it’s rock and roll to the boot.
You Always Hurt the One You Love from Blue Valentine
Blue Valentine is one of my favorite “slice of life” dramas, which I’ve come to appreciate even more after becoming a parent. One scene that stood out to me after first watching this movie is when Dean, played by Ryan Gosling, courts his soon-to-be-wife Cindy, played by Michelle Williams.
We don’t see too many people flirting the old-fashioned way in modern times, so I found this scene both nostalgic and impactful on a personal level, as I’m sure many viewers did as well.
Dean chooses You Always Hurt the One You Love, a classic from The Mills Brothers. It is a difficult tune, even for professional singers. Ryan Gosling is obviously not a professional singer, but he masterfully executes the song on a small ukulele, while Michelle tap-dances to the melody.
This scene may not be remembered as the most “iconic” singing moment based on how well someone sang, but you can see overflowing emotions and authenticity in this particular frame.
Peaches from The Super Mario Bros
I’m just a tad biased when it comes to JB’s work, but I felt this list would be incomplete without one of his most recent masterpieces. Jack Black voiced the infamous Bowser in The Super Mario Bros, and even if you’ve never seen the movie or played the games from this franchise, you have to give him credit for his brilliant singing in this film.
Jack Black sings Peaches to the princess Mario has been trying to save 1983. This abrasive, gritty monster-like character shows a side most of the fans never expected to see – a full-blown profession of love that could never be.
Even though subtle vocal effects make JB’s voice deeper at the start of the tune, I cannot think of a better-suited voice for a song that is both comical and moving at the same time.
Scene-Stealing Singing Moments From Movies: Final Thoughts
Have you seen any of these movies yourself? If so, do you agree that these moments were iconic, or did you not find them special?
Please feel free to let me know in a comment below. Also let me know if there are any other iconic singing scenes from movies that you feel should have been included on this list. I love watching movies, so I am always happy to check out any suggestions and add good ones to this list.
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