Tom Cruise Movie Music

Today is Tom Cruise’s 50th birthday, and while his latest role, as Stacee Jaxx in the film version of the musical Rock of Ages, has most involved him performing as a musician of any of his parts, it’s far from the first time that a Tom Cruise movie and music have gone together.  Cruise’s films have spawned numerous hit songs, and the biggest of them all may have been from the film featuring his first  role, as the duet “Endless Love” by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie from the film of the same name spent nine weeks at number one.  While Cruise didn’t star in that film, he soon would be starring in major films, and the list of hit songs to come from his films includes Eric Clapton’s “It’s In The Way That You Use It” from The Color of Money; the Beach Boys’ “Kokomo” and Bobby McFerrin’s “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” from Cocktail; the Belle Stars’ “Iko Iko” from Rain Man; the “Theme From Mission: Impossible” remake by Larry Mullen Jr. and Adam Clayton from the film of the same title;  Bruce Springsteen’s “Secret Garden,” which was featured in Jerry Maguire; and, of course, multiple hits from one of the 1980s most prominent soundtracks–the sountrack to Top Gun.

Along the way, Cruise sang in a few scenes himself.  The last two films mentioned provide memorable examples.  First, there’s the scene of Cruise as Jerry searching for a song on his car radio and settling on singing along to Tom Petty’s “Free Fallin'” in Jerry Maguire.   Then, there’s Cruise teaming up with Anthony Edwards as Maverick and Goose serenading Kelly McGillis in Top Gun.  Perhaps most memorable, though, of all Tom Cruise movie music scenes involves him dancing, not singing, and that is, as featured above, Cruise dancing to Bob Seger’s “Old Time Rock And Roll” in Risky Business.