In a recent countdown on air by Double J radio, Trainspotting was announced as the #1 Best Soundtrack of all time.
It's a great record, and on the merit of Double J we're gonna dissect it a bit further and look at some of the best songs from it.
Here's what Double J had to say about it...
Discovering a novel via the screen adaptation is common and perfectly acceptable. In a rare (and shameful) case of reverse gateway, I came to Trainspotting by way of the soundtrack.
It was hardly my idea of an uplifting, relatable cinematic experience – a bunch of 20-something Scots on the junk and on the make. But a soundtrack mixing cultural icons (Iggy Pop, New Order, Lou Reed) with Britpop faves (Blur, Pulp, Elastica) and uber-cool electro bands I pretended to know intimately (Leftfield, Underworld)? Well, that had me at the nearest pay day.
In a Y2K slump I gave in and borrowed a friend’s VHS. It was bleak and brutal, as expected. But there was also dark humour, weird jubilation… and such awkwardness. All that I could relate to.
I finally acknowledged the genius of director Danny Boyle. The songs matched and amplified key scenes, especially when they seemed incongruous (Brian Eno and the worst toilet in the world anyone?).
The music is so intrinsically linked with the action on the screen – and later in our memory – that it’s impossible to separate them.
With an unbeatable strike rate, it’s easy to identify a handful of songs at least by scene. Without a dud song on there (yes, the Sleeper cover of ‘Atomic’ is good), few soundtracks from the ‘90s have aged as well. Or been as fruitful. Remember, there was a Volume two. Choose Life. - Dorothy Markek
Who could forget that opening scene...
Iggy Pop - Lust For Life
Co-written in 1977 by Iggy Pop and David Bowie, it featured on the album of the same name. In 1985, the song was used in the film Desperately Seeking Susan starring Madonna but in 1996, the song gained new popularity when it was used in the introduction of Trainspotting.
New Order - Temptation
Released as a stand-alone single by New Order on Factory Records, it reached #29 on the UK Singles Chart on its release in 1982. It has also been covered by Moby and often pops up in live sets by The Chemical Brothers.
Lou Reed - Perfect Day
Written by Lou Reed in 1972, it was originally featured on Transformer, Reed's second post-Velvet Underground solo album, and as a double A-side with his major hit, "Walk on the Wild Side". Its fame was given a boost when it was featured in Trainspotting and after a star-studded version was released as a BBC charity single in 1997, that became the UK's number one single for three weeks. Reed re-recorded the song for his 2003 album The Raven.
Underworld - Born Slippy .NUXX
A club anthem by electronic group Underworld. It was released in July 1996 as a single and preceded in January 1995 by a release of the similarly named but completely different track "Born Slippy", which featured "Born Slippy .NUXX" as a B-side.
"Born Slippy .NUXX" was released as a single in its own right in the wake of Trainspotting, where it could be heard in the final scene. The film stoked immense public interest in the track, helping the single peak at number 2 on the UK Singles Charti n July 1996.
