Have a listen: here’s the best music coming to the big screen

You’ll usually find music journalist Kate Solomon in The Guardian or Time Out, talking about the hottest new tracks – so we got her to listen to music coming to the big screen and pick her favourites, just for you. Here are Kate’s top must-hear moments.

There’s something cinematic about even the lowliest pop song - walking home in the rain with your headphones on, who hasn’t pretended to be starring in a film of their life? - but there’s something extra special about experiencing music that fits perfectly with the emotions and images of a story you’re invested in, hearing it as loud as is good for you, surrounded by people feeling the same feelings. That’s why the cinema is such a great place for music fans.

Now shh, it’s starting...

 

Dumbo (March), Aladdin (May) and The Lion King (July)

Disney definitely knows its way around a song and its live-action remakes of these three classics are going to be full of hits you know plus some new ones you don’t. The Dumbo trailer even comes soundtracked by a ghostly rendition of Baby Mine (sung by Aurora) that will send a shiver down your spine.

You don’t cast Beyoncé in your musical unless you’re going to give her something pretty spectacular to sing, so lyricist Tim Rice’s hint that he’s writing something new with both her and Elton John for The Lion King’s end credits is pretty exciting - as is the fact that they’re including Hakuna Matata, Can You Feel The Love Tonight?, I Just Can’t Wait To Be King and Circle of Life from the original film.

Dumbo is out 29 March - find out more here. Aladdin is out 24 May - find out more here. The Lion King is out 19 July - find out more here. 

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood - July 2019

There have been very few hints about what to expect from Tarantino’s next soundtrack but he certainly has form in making achingly cool song choices. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is set in the late 60s so expect lots of obscure vintage gems that are about to become your new favourites.

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is out 26 July - find out more here. 

Rocketman - May 2019

Rocketman weaves Elton John’s music into the story of his life, from his childhood into superstardom and struggles with mental health and drug abuse. What’s more, Bennie and the Jets is one of the greatest songs ever recorded and deserves to be heard on a tip top sound system.

Rocketman is out 24 May - find out more here. 

The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part - February 2019

Written by The Lonely Island and performed by pop sisters Tegan and Sara, Everything Is Awesome is still in my head five years on. I’m banking on this sequel to have an equally joyous and catchy song to replace it.

Here it is - rather aptly named:

Get The Lego Movie: The Second Part tickets and times

Cats - December 2019

 

Any film starring vocal powerhouse Jennifer Hudson and pop queen Taylor Swift as singing cats is definitely going to be worth a watch. The classic musical is chock-full of killer songs - get ready to shed a tear during Memory.

 

Take a trip down Memory lane:

 

Cats is out 20 December - find out more here

Blinded by the Light - Release date TBC

The Boss himself has given the thumbs up to Blinded by the Light, a film based on the real life experiences of Sarfraz Manzoor growing up in 1980s Luton as a British Muslim boy obsessed with the music of Bruce Springsteen. A sure to be moving and funny film peppered with some of Springsteen’s most chest-thumpingly brilliant songs.

Frozen 2 - November 2019

Let It Go, round two. Need I say more?

No new songs yet but go on, give it another go:

Frozen 2 is out 22 November - find out more here.

Untitled Danny Boyle and Richard Curtis musical - June 2019

We might not know the name of this new film from Danny Boyle yet but here’s what we do know: it’s a musical, it’s written by Richard Curtis, and Ed Sheeran is in it. A lot of extras were cast in crowd scenes around Ed’s recent Cardiff concerts and there’s talk of him having written some new songs for the film - but it’s also thought to feature more than a couple of Beatles songs so Ed-haters may still find something to love about it.

Vox Lux - May 2019

Natalie Portman as an outrageous Gaga-esque pop megastar? Er, yeah sign me up. Half the songs in Vox Lux were written by SIA (singer of Cheap Thrills and writer of one million other heady pop bangers for everyone from Kylie to Rihanna) while the other half of the soundtrack is from baroque 60s pop star turned avant garde producer Scott Walker. Chuck in Portman’s surprisingly amazing singing voice and you’ve got quite the audio combo.

Teen Spirit - April 2019

If you like pop music then you won’t want to miss Teen Spirit, which features Elle Fanning as a suburban teen thrust into the world of X Factor style singing competitions. The trailer alone features one of the best pop songs ever written (Robyn’s Dancing On My Own) and the rest of the soundtrack contains a who’s-who of pop royalty, with songs written by Ariana Grande, Grimes, Tegan & Sara, Katy Perry and, er, Whigfield. What’s more, there’s a brand new Carly Rae Jepsen song to listen out for - relentless pop perfection.