A bunch of songs about movies

For the upcoming issue of BULL, I made up an iPod playlist of songs about movies. Here it is.

Guided by Voices, “Pivotal Film”: Never heard of Guided by Voices? Too bad. It’s only the best rock ’n’ roll band of the past 20 years. This song sounds like T. Rex playing air guitar to The Who. Yeah, I thought that would get you excited.

Elton John, “I’ve Seen That Movie Too”: Axl Rose supposedly once said he would love to own the publishing rights to Elton John’s catalog as a work of art. And he will smash a whiskey bottle over your head if you make fun of him for that. Me, I’ll just take this song from 1973’s “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.”

David Bowie, “Cracked Actor”: David Bowie was the hardest-rocking-gay-guy-who-really-isn’t-gay-from-another-planet ever. This song cinches it.

Steely Dan, “Everyone’s Gone to the Movies”: If you think Steely Dan is a band for dads and guys with bad mustaches, check out this song. It’s about an aging pervert who shows porno movies to teenagers. I’m telling you, The Dan makes Eminem sound like the Fresh Prince.

Elvis Costello and the Attractions, “B Movie”: The next time you break up a girl play this song. “B movie, that’s all you’re to me.” Snap!

Film School, “Deep Lake”: Film School is a really good band from San Francisco that kind of sounds like the Cure. “Deep Lake” is the best song from its 2006 debut.

Sloan, “In the Movies”: Every music fan likes a band nobody else has ever heard of. My band is Sloan, a Canadian power-pop powerhouse. Actually, I have about 300 other bands I could mention. But Sloan will do for now.

Paul Westerberg, “Silent Film Star”: The next time you break up a girl play this song if you already played “B Movie.” “You oughta be silent film star, keep that pretty little trap shut.” Snap, snap!

Belle & Sebastian, “Like Dylan in the Movies”: I can’t figure out what Belle & Sebastian singer Stuart Murdoch is saying in this song except in the chorus: “Don’t look back like Dylan in the movies.” I suppose that’s all I need to know.

Radiohead, “Exit Music (For a Film)”: If this song ever actually plays over the credits of a movie, I will stay until the end.