The dog days are over, and it seems the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise is too. In the years following the film series’ finale, how do Harrison students rank each movie’s soundtrack?
When the first of the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy debuted in theaters on August 1, 2014, it received a multitude of positive reviews for its creativity, humor, and heart. Considered one of the best trilogies of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Guardians of the Galaxy (also referred to as Vol. 1) was found to be the personal favorite of several Harrison students. With iconic scenes like Peter Quill’s hilarious opening dance heist, the team’s perilous journey to Knowhere, and Groot’s heartbreaking sacrifice at the end of the film, it seems this movie and its sequels have a special place in all of our hearts. They are a staple of comic book movie culture and fans of the MCU, but how well does each movie’s soundtrack hold up over ten years later? A few Harrison students have some nostalgic opinions, and so do I. Let’s dive into my personal ranking of our school’s favorite songs from each of these timeless films!
10: Creep (Acoustic Version) – Radiohead
Every high school student alive likely knows this song. Written for the weirdos and the ones who don’t fit in, “Creep” by Radiohead symbolizes the people who haven’t found their place in the world and don’t know where they belong. This is where Rocket Raccoon is emotionally at the start of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, who plays the song during the opening of the film. “Creep” is kind of a depressing song, and I’m not really the target audience, but the movie uses a special acoustic version of the track that didn’t resonate well with viewers.
Superhero fan, Gwynevere Hill, exclaimed her distaste for this variant of the tune, stating “I think it hurt my opinion of the movie overall.” She shared her thoughts on the film, claiming, “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 was a heart wrenching and incredible movie, but it was the worst of the trilogy due to its soundtrack.” Guardians Vol. 3 is an incredible movie that shares a vulnerable hero’s backstory, showcases several standout actors, introduces the best superhero villain since Thanos, successfully develops multiple side stories, and produces some of the most wonderful visual effects of Marvel Studios’ Phase Four lineup! Unfortunately, the soundtrack has only two true bangers, one of which is a repeat from the first film’s soundtrack, but we’ll get to both of those later.
9: Escape (The Pina Colada Song) – Rupert Holmes
This song appears in the first Guardians of the Galaxy film from 2014. It blasts off with Peter Quill, also known as Star-Lord (Chris Pratt), as he escapes a space prison with the rest of the newly formed Guardians team. If you’ve ever seen “The Pina Colada Episode” from the modern sitcom, The Goldbergs, you may understand why this one gets on my nerves. “Escape” isn’t necessarily a bad song, it’s just not the greatest in the list, though it makes for a funny image with Chris Pratt rocketing through space listening to this earworm!
8: This is the Day – The The
“This is the Day” isn’t played during a particular scene, but it is featured in the credits of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. It’s surprisingly catchy and has some fun chime notes that kick off the track. The song was submitted by Parker Evans who claimed, “Every soundtrack rocks for different reasons. It always matched the tone of the story, and it’s really easy to appreciate.” “This is the Day” really does match the tone of the film, adding to the emotional roller coaster the plot provides. It falls right into the conclusion, marking the team’s journey and Rocket’s new beginning.
7: Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl) – Looking Glass
A song from the second installment, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 rocks this excellent tune! “Brandy”, by Looking Glass, plays during the first moments of the movie, illustrating the complex relationship between Meridith Quill and Ego, Star-Lord’s parents. One student at Harrison called this movie’s soundtrack their favorite, explaining that it contained, “consistent bangers that all fit its scenes.” “Brandy” is no exception to this comment, as it returns various times throughout the film. First, it portrays Kurt Russel’s character, Ego, as friendly and father-like, but later at the film’s climax, it reveals Ego’s true villainous nature. It’s an excellent fit for the movie and a great song to add in your playlist!
6: Cherry Bomb – The Runaways
This is a very punk sounding track that pumps the audience up for the final battle of the first film. It plays as each Guardian suits up and steps into the main hallway of Yondu’s ship, each of their slow-motion steps emphasized by the impact of the drum beat. Gwynevere Hill described this hit as a “10/10 song,” explaining how it’s, “such an underrated pick from the soundtrack but it’s absolutely incredible.” The Harrison Junior added, “It’s a classic in the Riot Girls genre and has amazing vibes that are kind of like the band No Doubt.” No Doubt is another fun punk band known for songs like “Don’t Speak” and “Just a Girl”, the latter of which was used in the closely related MCU film, Captain Marvel. “Cherry Bomb” was written and performed by the group known as The Runaways, though it carries Gwen Stefani’s similar energy and hypes up audiences perfectly for this film’s concluding scene.
5: Dog Days Are Over – Florence and the Machine
This is one of my favorite songs of all time, and its use in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 made one of the best endings in the MCU feel even more genuine. Though this film didn’t have the greatest soundtrack of the three installments, “Dog Days Are Over” beautifully sums up Rocket’s story and gives the new guardians a chance to shine. Florence Welch’s incredibly flexible voice matches the delicate and the powerful moments of this movie, reminding us of Rocket’s various flashbacks and his operation in the second act of the film. With every vocal, Welch stitches the emotions and the plot of this film together. It’s an excellent addition to the third installment’s soundtrack and lets us relax after a very emotionally stressful viewing experience!
4: Come a Little Bit Closer – Jay and the Americans
A track from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, “Come a Little Bit Closer” by Jay and the Americans makes perfect light of an otherwise tense and slightly violent situation. Played during Rocket, Groot, Kraglin, and Yondu’s escape from the Ravager mutiny, the song provides hilarious relief as the four journey across the stars to save Peter and the other Guardians from Ego. As Yondu destroys the main hull of the Ravager ship, this bouncy and uplifting tune jolts the heroes away from the wrath of the not-so-terrifying Taserface and his goons.
3: Hooked on a Feeling – Blue Swede
“Hooked on a Feeling” appears in the first film during the arrival to the prison where a guard steals Peter’s iconic Sony Walkman. The classic “Ooga-Chacka” chant intensifies the awkwardness of the ordeal as the rogues are conditioned for their new prison life. The use of the song also sets up Star-Lord’s hilarious revenge on the guard as he takes back his favorite music player in a segway to “Escape” later on. Parker Evans explained the reason songs like “Hooked on a Feeling” are so great is because of the classic sounds from this era of music. He described his love for, “70’s rock and alternative rock,” claiming, “There’s a sort of whimsy to it.” Clearly, Harrison is hooked on the feeling we get from listening to this film’s soundtrack!
2: Mr. Blue Sky – ELO (Electric Light Orchestra)
ELO’s “Mr. Blue Sky” is my personal favorite song of all time, and it fits beautifully into the opening battle of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2! The second installment’s greatest source of humor was from the new “baby” Groot, who had resprouted after his noble sacrifice at the end of the previous film. As the guardians fight a space monster called an Abilisk, Groot plugs in Rocket’s playlist, kicking the fight off with a hilarious opening credits sequence. Groot dances around the narrow landing pad, acting like none of the chaos behind him matters at all. His silly interactions with Peter, Drax, Rocket, and Gamora make the whole scene funny and light hearted. It’s a great song for a great movie!
Honorable Mention: I Don’t Know What Christmas Is (But Christmas Time Is Here)
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special from 2022 is ranked as the highest scoring Guardians project according to Rotten Tomatoes, and for good reason! Coming in with a 94% score, this might be one of the friggin’ funniest productions Marvel Studios has ever created. Starring Mantis (Pom Klementieff) and Drax (Dave Bautista), the two funniest members of the guardians team, the Marvel Studios “special presentation” features these two as they journey on a quest to find the best gift for Star-Lord. The gift they decide on is none other than the legendary Kevin Bacon, Peter’s favorite actor from Earth and the Guardians’ greatest inspiration. This leads to several hilarious adventures and a special performance from Bacon at the heartwarming conclusion of this short film.
The presentation features several cool Christmas songs like “Fairytale of New York” by The Pogues, “Christmas Wrapping” by The Waitresses, and “Christmastime” by The Smashing Pumpkins. However, the more hilarious original song is called “I Don’t Know What Christmas Is” by Old 97s, and while we couldn’t fit this in our top ten, the track’s humor and lightheartedness at least deserved an honorable mention. What the heck’s a turtle dove, and who lit up that dear? Maybe we’ll never know, but earthlings are definitely weird. If you’re looking for a fun, festive time, give this song a listen, or better yet, go watch the special!
1. Come and Get Your Love – Redbone
If you’ve seen any of the Guardians films, you’d know exactly why this song is number one on the list. “Come and Get Your Love” is an incredibly fun 70s alternative rock song and it’s the track played to introduce us to Peter Quill. After a heartbreaking flashback opening scene depicting Peter as he watches his mother pass away from an aggressive form of cancer, this song lifts our spirits on the dark and gloomy planet of Morag, where Peter is sent to collect the power infinity stone.
Star-Lord flips on his Sony Walkman player and dances across the barren floor of the alien planet, picking up small space lizards to use as pretend microphones. Jackson Brockmeyer praised this song and the first film’s overall soundtrack, explaining that it was so good, “because it’s just classic and really starts the series.” “Come and Get Your Love” is certainly the most fun track on the album, and its return during the mid-credits scene of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is a testament to its popularity with superhero fans everywhere!
