Every so often a scene gets paired with a song that, for better or worse, ends up making it that much more memorable. It’s a two-fer this Tunes-day, with a look at two very different song choices in the same film, Judd Apatow’s opposites-attract-and-make-a-baby comedy Knocked Up.
The first has the distinction of being one of the most interesting(?) comedic needle drops of the 21st century and maybe even longer - the use of the classic B-52s banger “Rock Lobster” during the fateful sex scene between Seth Rogen’s stoner Ben and Katherine Heigl’s entertainment reporter Alison.
With an entire segment dedicated just to fish names and fish sounds, it’s not a song known for putting anyone in the mood for makin’ whoopee, but by scoring such a skintimate scene with the fast-paced, kooky single, Apatow definitely plays up the comedic nature of the moment - the frantic drunkeness, the misunderstanding that’s ultimately a plot device, and the admittable ridiculousness that these two characters would even hook up in the first place.
Perhaps it's also why also instead of gifting the audience with more traditionally sexy nudity from hottie Katherine, in keeping with the comedy, the best skin we get instead is a shot of funnyman Seth Rogen’s bare ass the next morning.
In contrast, when we do get a healthy helping of lady boob and butt cheek from real former exotic dancers Stormy Daniels and Nautica Thorn at a strip club in Vegas, the music choice is much more typical. Seth and Paul Rudd get lap dances from the two buxom beauties to a tune that coincidentally also starts with the world “rock”, Scorpions’ “Rock You Like A Hurricane”.
When it comes to strip club music, this 80s jam is right upon there with Def Leopard’s “Pour Some Sugar On Me” and Warrant’s “Cherry Pie” on the list of classic dance tracks. It’s the perfect background sound to make you feel like you’re right there with them, gawking at two pairs of gorgeous gazongas as the ladies bump and grind, and trying to not get an obvious hard-on. Until of course you realize that (hopefully) you’re actually in the privacy of your own home and can fap away!
Two vastly different moments enhanced by the soundtrack in vastly different ways but both hinging on sex and somehow still adding to the filmgoing experience rather than distracting from it.
Catch Up With Previous Editions of Songs in the Key of Nudity
—Antichrist's Operatic Real Sex Opener
—Heather Graham's Rollergirl Theme Song
