History BreakawayPopHit / LiveActionFilm

* In a similar spirit, "That's What Friends Are For" was originally recorded by Music/RodStewart for the Creator/RonHoward-directed 1982 hit ''Film/NightShift'', starring Creator/HenryWinkler and Creator/MichaelKeaton, where it played over the closing credits. A couple of years later Music/DionneWarwick was watching it on TV and decided to cover the song herself as a charity single for AIDS research, enlisting Music/EltonJohn, Music/GladysKnight, and Music/StevieWonder to help out. Although ''Night Shift'' is still considered an early 80s comedy classic, very few people know its connection to the song; in fact, more than a few people have probably just thought that it was Rod Stewart covering a Dionne Warwick song.

* "Am I Blue?" was introduced by Ethel Waters in the 1929 movie musical ''Film/OnWithTheShow!'' Younger audiences will probably know it from either ''WesternAnimation/SitaSingsTheBlues'' or the Batman version on ''Westernanimation/JusticeLeague''.

* "Theme From Film/NewYorkNewYork" by Creator/LizaMinnelli (CoveredUp by Music/FrankSinatra), to the point most even omit the first two words. The movie was a famous flop that represented a career low point for Creator/MartinScorsese, but Sinatra's version of the song from 1979 became such a standard that some people believe it's both original to him and that he [[NewerThanTheyThink recorded it much earlier than he actually did]] (reaching #32 on the US pop charts in early 1980, it was Sinatra's final pop hit of his career). The song is not to be confused with a similarly named song ("New York, New York, it's a helluva town...") that Sinatra sang in the 1949 film ''Film/OnTheTown'' and parodied by ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''.

* ''Film/WonderBoys'' was a box office disappointment despite critical acclaim and awards buzz, and is only now remembered for Music/BobDylan's "Things Have Changed", which won him the Academy Award for Best Song and has been a staple of his concert setlists for over a decade.

* For the next Creator/SonjaHenie movie, ''Film/{{Iceland}}'', the same songwriters wrote "There Will Never Be Another You".

** Their cover of Ohio Players' "Love Rollercoaster" was recorded hastily for the ''WesternAnimation/BeavisAndButtheadDoAmerica'' soundtrack and became a hit single. The band did not capitalize on this and have never done it live.

* A rare example of an ''entire album'' falling victim to this trope; Music/StevieWonder's ''Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants'' is well remembered for being one of the first NewAge albums and for the polarized reaction it got from fans. However, how many people have actually seen ''The Secret Life of Plants''? It's an odd little documentary (the book, a history of the scientific -- or not -- study of if and how plants are aware of their environment, is much better known) that it was made as to the soundtrack for.

* "Tip-Toe Thru' The Tulips With Me" comes from ''Film/GoldDiggersOfBroadway'', an early movie musical which is mostly lost. StandardSnippet "The Gold Diggers’ Song (We’re in the Money)" comes from the 1933 loose remake ''Film/GoldDiggersOf1933'', a "culturally significant" work that sits at the lower extremes of MainstreamObscurity.

** The first song of theirs that got any sort of airplay on US pop radio was the jangly "Free Four". With the exception of die-hard Floyd fans and fans of French filmmaker Barbet Schroeder, no one has seen ''Film/LaVallee'', the obscure French hippie film that the song is from the soundtrack of. The soundtrack itself (''Music/ObscuredByClouds'', which doubled as the band's seventh studio album) is similarly more well known than ''La Vallée''.

* "Young, Wild and Free" was a hit in 2012 for Music/SnoopDogg, Wiz Khalifa, and Music/BrunoMars. The film it was recorded for, ''Film/MacAndDevinGoToHighSchool'', limped to a direct-to-DVD release and was immediately forgotten. This is despite the fact that Snoop and Wiz rap the song ''in character'' as their characters from ''Mac and Devin''.

* "Thunderbirds Are Go" by Music/{{Busted}} qualifies, having become a pop hit in the UK after the 2004 film ''Film/{{Thunderbirds}}'' movie faded out of public consciousness and even winning a Brit award.

* Love Spit Love's cover of Music/TheSmiths' "How Soon Is Now?" is most recognizable as the theme song for the TV show ''{{Series/Charmed|1998}}''. However, it was actually recorded for a 1996 film called ''Film/TheCraft'' - which provided inspiration for ''Charmed''. Hardly anyone knows the song was recorded specifically for the movie.

* The 1980 drama ''Film/HoneysuckleRose'' was an [[NonActorVehicle star vehicle]] for country star Music/WillieNelson, who [[CastTheExpert played the lead role of a country singer]] and wrote several songs for the soundtrack. One of those songs was "On the Road Again", one of Nelson's biggest and most popular hit singles. He was nominated for an Oscar for the song, but the film it's from has been mostly forgotten (at one point it got re-released as ''On the Road Again'' to capitalize on the song's popularity)

* The Music/LionelRichie song "Endless Love" (recorded as a duet with Music/DianaRoss) came out from the 1981 [[TheFilmOfTheBook movie version]] ''Literature/EndlessLove''. While the movie has faded into obscurity, the song became that year's second-biggest single in the US. Nowadays, the movie is not widely remembered, except for the fact that it starred Creator/BrookeShields and marked Creator/TomCruise's debut.

* The Music/LionelRichie song "Endless Love" (recorded as a duet with Music/DianaRoss) came out from the 1981 feature ''Literature/EndlessLove''. While the movie has faded into obscurity, the song became that year's second-biggest single in the US. Nowadays, the movie is not widely remembered, except for the fact that it starred Creator/BrookeShields and marked Creator/TomCruise's debut.

* The Music/LionelRichie song "Endless Love" (recorded as a duet with Music/DianaRoss) came out from the 1981 feature ''Literature/EndlessLove''. While the movie has faded into obscurity, the song became that year's second-biggest single in the US. Nowadays, the movie where the song came from, is not so well remembered, aside from starring Creator/BrookeShields and being Creator/TomCruise's debut.

* The Music/LionelRichie song "Endless Love" (recorded as a duet with Music/DianaRoss) came out from the 1981 feature ''Literature/EndlessLove''. While the movie has faded into obscurity, the song became that year's second-biggest single in the US. Nowadays, the movie where the song came from, is generally remembered only for Creator/TomCruise's debut.

* "Theme From Film/NewYorkNewYork" by Creator/LizaMinnelli (CoveredUp by Music/FrankSinatra), to the point most even omit the first two words. The movie was a famous flop that represented a career low-point for Creator/MartinScorsese, but Sinatra's version of the song from 1979 became such a standard that some people believe it's both original to him and that he [[NewerThanTheyThink recorded it much earlier than he actually did]] (reaching #32 on the US pop charts in early 1980, it was Sinatra's final pop hit of his career). The song is not to be confused with a similarly named song ("New York, New York, it's a helluva town...") that Sinatra sang in the 1949 film ''Film/OnTheTown'' and parodied by ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''.

** ''Film/TheMission'' is a beautiful, relevant and well-intentioned film that, due to sloppy directing and a weak script, failed to connect with audiences and is now largely forgotten. It had the good fortune, however, to possess one of the greatest scores ever composed, and tracks from the film have entered into the modern classical canon, and even had lyrics set to them (e.g., "Nella Fantasia").

* In a similar spirit, "That's What Friends Are For" was originally recorded by Music/RodStewart for the Creator/RonHoward-directed 1982 hit ''Film/NightShift'', starring Creator/HenryWinkler and Creator/MichaelKeaton, where it played over the closing credits. A couple years later Music/DionneWarwick was watching it on TV and decided to cover the song herself as a charity single for AIDS research, enlisting Music/EltonJohn, Music/GladysKnight, and Music/StevieWonder to help out. Although ''Night Shift'' is still considered an early 80s comedy classic, very few people know its connection to the song; in fact, more than a few people have probably just thought that it was Rod Stewart covering a Dionne Warwick song.

* "Time for Miracles", a song by Music/AdamLambert which was used in the movie ''Film/TwoThousandTwelve'' and whose music video heavily references the film.

* The song "White Christmas" is far more well-known than the movie it first appeared in, which was ''Film/HolidayInn''. It also named the hotel chain, which is also better-known than the movie. (Breakaway {{Defictionalization}}?) Then again, ''Film/HolidayInn'' is not so much "obscure" as just ''old''. It stars Music/BingCrosby and Creator/FredAstaire doing what they respectively do best (singing and dancing), and your grandparents (or great-grandparents) no doubt remember it fondly. It's also shown in most markets ''at least'' once a year (around Christmastime, naturally).

** His TitleThemeTune for ''Film/AbsoluteBeginners'' went to #2 on the UK charts, making it one of his bigger hits in TheEighties. But the movie -- which he had a OneSceneWonder role in -- was barely released beyond its home country and was briefly notorious as a flop big enough to be a CreatorKiller for its studio.

* "I Finally Found Someone" by Music/BryanAdams and Music/BarbraStreisand is an AwardBaitSong from ''Film/TheMirrorHasTwoFaces'', which she also produced, directed and starred in.

* "Charmaine" was originally theme music for the 1926 silent movie ''Film/WhatPriceGlory''

* Music/MichaelJackson's "Ben" is a heartfelt ballad written about... the killer rat of 1973's ''Film/{{Ben}}''. The remake ''Film/{{Willard}}'' reminds viewers of the song's origins by using it twice -- using the original version within the film, and then having lead Creator/CrispinGlover sing it over the end credits!

* Girl group Music/AtomicKitten recorded a cover of Music/TheBangles' "Eternal Flame" for a forgettable British comedy film called ''Film/TheParoleOfficer'' - which is only remembered these days for being Creator/SteveCoogan's film debut (and it's an OldShame for him). The song was a Number 1 in the UK and achieved high chart positions around Europe. It became one of their most recognizable songs and would frequently be requested at all of their concerts.
* Love Spit Love's cover of Music/TheSmiths' "How Soon Is Now?" is most recognizable as the theme song for the TV show ''{{Series/Charmed|1998}}''. However it was actually recorded for a 1996 film called ''Film/TheCraft'' - which provided inspiration for ''Charmed''. Hardly anyone knows the song was recorded specifically for the movie.

* ''Film/RomeoMustDie'' was a SleeperHit when it came out, grossing $91 million worldwide. But the film has mostly been forgotten since. However {{Music/Aaliyah}}'s single "Try Again" was one of several songs she contributed to the soundtrack, and it became an even bigger hit than the movie - topping the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 through airplay alone. These days its remembered as her SignatureSong, and fans might be surprised to discover it was recorded specifically to tie in with the movie.

* "Through the Eyes of Love", performed by Melissa Manchester, was the theme for an ice-skating movie called ''Film/IceCastles''. The song went on to become nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe, and is often cited as one of Manchester's most well-known tunes, but outside of a direct-to-DVD remake in 2010 by the original director, ''Ice Castles'' has fallen into obscurity.

* Music/SmashMouth's "All Star" is often associated with its appearance in the 2001 animated blockbuster ''WesternAnimation/Shrek1'', but originally appeared in the 1999 flop ''Film/MysteryMen'' (the music video even mostly ties to it) and also appeared in ''Film/InspectorGadget1999''.

* Music/BonJovi wrote and recorded "Always" for the movie ''Film/RomeoIsBleeding'', but disliked the film and changed their minds about letting its producers use the song. They then included "Always" on their 1994 greatest-hits compilation ''Cross Road'', and it became a top 5 hit. The lyrics even include a TitleDrop of the movie ("this Romeo is bleeding, but you can't see his blood").

* ''Film/DarlingLili'' was a BoxOfficeBomb that derailed Creator/JulieAndrews's film career for a few years. Its soundtrack was a different story; the song "Whistling Away The Dark" was especially popular, and she would sing it frequently at concerts. As a result, when it got a ColbertBump from being used in ''Series/MrRobot'', people were surprised to discover it's from a film.
* In the rare case of an entire ''album'' fitting this trope, Prince's eighth studio release ''Parade'' was intended as the soundtrack to his 1986 film ''Film/UnderTheCherryMoon''. The movie was a BoxOfficeBomb, but the ''Parade'' album was a huge critical and commercial success and spun off the hit singles "Kiss" and "Mountains". Today, ''Cherry Moon'' is an obscure footnote in Prince's biography, and is usually only brought up in relation to the much better known ''Parade''.

* ''Film/JohnTuckerMustDie'' was received negatively by critics and mostly forgotten about. Quietdrive's cover of Music/CyndiLauper's "Time After Time" (which was recorded for the soundtrack), however, became the band's only charting hit, and still enjoys radio airplay today.

* Music/{{Bjork}}'s "Play Dead" is a fan-favorite song that charted well across Europe, which was initially released to promote the barely-remembered crime flick ''The Young Americans''.

* Music/CityHigh's 2001 hit "What Would You Do?" debuted on the soundtrack to the now forgotten BoxOfficeBomb ''Film/Life1999'' two years earlier.

* ''Film/ASummerPlace'' from 1959 was a Creator/DelmerDaves-directed {{Melodrama}} that did fairly well at the box office, thanks to the popularity of stars Creator/SandraDee and Troy Donahue and its exploration of teen sexuality that tested the limits of UsefulNotes/TheHaysCode. However, a recurring {{Leitmotif}} from Music/MaxSteiner's score to underscore the teen leads' romantic scenes became a massive hit when orchestra leader Percy Faith recorded and released it as "Theme from ''A Summer Place''" (a NonIndicativeName since it wasn't the film's main theme). It spent 9 weeks at #1 on the ''Billboard'' chart and is still a StandardSnippet to represent both the innocence of TheFifties and GenreMotif/EasyListening in general, and far more well-known than the film. You might be more familiar with it as the music from an episode of ''WesternAnimation/{{Freakazoid}}'', used in the TropeNamer episode for RelaxOVision.

* "Mon Pays" ("my country"), a celebration of UsefulNotes/{{Quebec}} by SingerSongwriter Gilles Vigneault that's regarded as an anthem in the province, was written for the 1965 Creator/NationalFilmBoardOfCanada featurette ''La neige a fondu sur la Manicouagan'' (''The Snow Has Melted on the Manicouagan''), and is played over the film's final scene.
* Music/{{Nas}}' debut single "Halftime" is considered to be one of the best tracks from ''Music/{{Illmatic}}'', but few know it was actually recorded for the Film/{{Zebrahead}} soundtrack first in 1992. Despite the music video featuring clips of the movie, its mostly been forgotten, while Nas used it as a launchpad into what would become a legendary music career.