One thing Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” films are known for is director James Gunn’s soundtracks.
From the first strains of “Come and Get Your Love” by Redbone for the first film’s opening credits, the films have made key use of titles like “The Chain” by Fleetwood Mac, “Hooked on a Feeling” by Blue Swede, “Fox on the Run” by Sweet, “Creep” by Radiohead and “The Dog Days Are Over” by Florence and the Machine.
Previously Gunn has said in interviews that he picks songs that fit the movie’s key scenes as opposed to picking his personal favorites. To get there, he initially assembles hundreds of potential songs before narrowing them down.
Nick Lowe’s “Cruel to be Kind” was a title said to be on the shortlist for all three movies, but he never found a way to incorporate it. However, he says that this weekend’s “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” was the only real instance he had of not being allowed to use a song. He says on Twitter (via Slashfilm):
“Over three movies, I’ve gotten every song I’ve written into a script, sometimes after much blood & toil to acquire the rights.
However, for the first time in Vol. 3 we didn’t get the rights to a song I wanted because it was tied up in legal battles. The song is “Russian Roulette” by Lords of the New Church.”
The Lords of the New Church were a punk rock group from the 1980s that recorded one album before disbanding until they reunited in the 2000s.
Previously Gunn has indicated one title they did get, but only after a lot of “calling and begging” was ELO’s “Mr. Blue Sky” for the second film.
“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” is now playing in theaters.
