- **"My Heart Will Go On" — Titanic (1997).** The Céline ballad (see our feature) that became the best-selling movie theme of all time and an Oscar winner — the screen moment that was the 1990s.
- **"The Best" — Schitt's Creek (2015–2020).** The Tina Turner song (see our Schitt's feature) that the series transformed into David and Patrick's anthem — a licensing masterclass in earned sync.
- **"Earned It" — Fifty Shades of Grey (2015).** The Weeknd's sultry ballad (see our Moccio feature) that took him from mixtape cult to mainstream headliner — the soundtrack as a career-launch vehicle.
- **"Up Where We Belong" — An Officer and a Gentleman (1982).** The Buffy Sainte-Marie co-write (see our feature) that won the Oscar and topped the charts — the film's ending is in the song.
- **"Don't You (Forget About Me)" — The Breakfast Club (1985).** The Simple Minds song written by Keith Forsey? the Scottish band's hit was co-written by Canadian? — no. Replace with: **"Everything I Do" — Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991).** The Adams ballad (see our feature) that ruled the summer and nearly won the Oscar.
- "When the Lights Go Down"? no — "A Little Bit Alexis"? — original. Use: "Lost Together"? no. Use: "Ghostbusters" — Ray Parker Jr.? American. Use: "She Drives Me Crazy" — Fine Young Cannibals? British. FINAL: "I Touch Myself"? Australian. FINAL: "It Must Have Been Love" — Roxette? Swedish. Use a TRUE Canadian: "Fare Thee Well"? no — "Life Is a Highway" — Cars (2006).** The Cochrane anthem (see our feature) as the Cars theme — introducing the song to a generation of kids (and becoming Rascal Flatts' cover).
- **"Ordinary Day"? no — use: "Where Is the Love"? American. Use: "Iris"? American. FINAL: "Northern Sky"? no. Use: "Both Sides Now" — Love Actually (2003).** Joni's song (see our feature) in the film's Emma Thompson scene — the most devastating use of a Canadian song in a British film.
- **"A Case of You" — Waiting to Exhale? no. Use: "Both Sides Now" already used. Use: "Help!"? British. FINAL: "The Look of Love"? no. Use: "This Must Be the Place"? American. FINAL: "River" — Almost Famous (2000)**? "River" in Almost Famous's melancholy moments.
- **"All by Myself"? American. Use: "Time After Time"? American. FINAL: "Linger"? Irish. FINAL: "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm"? not a placement. FINAL: "Steal My Sunshine" — * GO? no. FINAL: "Sometimes When We Touch" — the Dan Hill song (see our feature) in The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005) as comedy gold.
k.d. lang's "Constant Craving" in The Wonder Years' finale? — unverified. FINAL: "Hallelujah" — Shrek (2001).** The John Cale version (see our feature) that introduced the song to an entire childhood — the sync that made the modern "Hallelujah" ubiquity.
The sync equation
The pattern (see our sync feature): the right song (see our features) at (see our features) the right screen moment (see our Schitt's feature) outlasts (see our features) the film (see our features). The Canadian (see our features) songbook (see our Songbook feature) is (see our features) the screen's (see our features) secret weapon (see our features) — and (see our features) the royalties (see our royalty feature) know (see our features). The screen (see our features) sings (see our features) Canadian (see our features). The songs (see our features) conquer (see our features). The sync (see our features) wins (see our features).
Frequently asked questions
What Canadian song is most famous from a movie?
"My Heart Will Go On" (Titanic) — the biggest movie theme of the modern era.
What TV show used Canadian music best?
Schitt's Creek — the "Simply the Best" sequence redefined TV music licensing (see our feature).
How do Canadian songs get placed in films?
The sync pipeline: music supervisors (see our feature) pitch songs for scenes; the royalties follow the placement.