James Gunn reveals the song he couldn’t get on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 soundtrack
When you watch a James Gunn movie (or TV show), you know music is a major character as well.
For the latest — and final chapter, at least under his watch — Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Gunn has put together an eclectic soundtrack, as he did before for the first two movies, consisting of a mix of popular and obscure songs across multiple genres.
The first soundtrack hit No.1. on the US Billboard 200 chart while the second soundtrack peaked at No.4.
The Vol 3. compilation — or mixtape as Gunn likes to call it — contains 17 tunes by the likes of Radiohead, Rainbow, Bruce Springsteen and Beastie Boys.
Sadly, one song Gunn wanted didn’t make the final cut.
When asked by a fan on Twitter which track slipped through his fingers, Gunn replied: “Over 3 movies I’ve gotten every song I’ve written into a script, sometimes after much blood & toil to acquire the rights.
“However for the 1st time on Vol 3 we didn’t get the rights to a song I wanted because it was tied up in legal battles. The song is ‘Russian Roulette’ by Lords of the Church.”
What song did Gunn replace it with, then? another curious fan asked. “I wouldn’t share that," Gunn replied.
At the movie’s virtual press conference two weeks ago, Gunn said he was always on the lookout for Guardians of the Galaxy “type” songs.
“I want to give good music to people by good bands,” said Gunn, who’s also the co-CEO and co-chairman of DC Studios.
It was tough narrowing down his picks.
“When I’m writing, I would put the music in along with the script," Gunn said. "But sometimes I change it. It was very difficult choosing the music for [Vol. 3] because in the first two movies, they were basically AM-radio ‘70s pop hits.
"In this one, Yondu [Michael Rooker’s character] gives Peter Quill [played by Chris Pratt] a Zune at the end of the second movie, it’s music from the ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s and 2000s. I could choose from anything [in those periods].
“It’s like at the end of Hurt Locker where [Jeremy Renner is] looking at all the stuff on the shelves [in the supermarket] and not knowing how to make his choice.”
By his own estimate, Gunn’s master list had “like 300 songs”. (Fun fact: Gunn’s master list for the first Guardians had 500 songs.)
Here’s the complete Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 mixtape, available to stream on various platforms.
1. ‘Creep’ (Acoustic Version) – Radiohead
2. ‘Crazy on You’ – Heart
3. ‘Since You Been Gone’ – Rainbow
4. ‘In the Meantime’ – Spacehog
5. ‘Reasons’ – Earth, Wind and Fire
6. ‘Do You Realize??’ – The Flaming Lips
7. ‘We Care a Lot’ – Faith No More
8. ‘Koinu no Carnival’ (From “Minute Waltz”) – EHAMIC
9. ‘I’m Always Chasing Rainbows’ – Alice Cooper
10. ‘San Francisco’ – The Mowgli’s
11. ‘Poor Girl’ – X
12. ‘This Is the Day’ – The The
13. ‘No Sleep Till Brooklyn’ – Beastie Boys
14. ‘Dog Days Are Over’ – Florence + The Machine
15. ‘Badlands’ – Bruce Springsteen
16. ‘I Will Dare’ – The Replacements
17. ‘Come and Get Your Love’ – Redbone
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (PG13) is now in cinemas. The soundtrack is now available to stream from various platforms.
Photos: TPG News/Click Photos
