Let's be real. Keanu Reeves is great as Shane Falco, and Gene Hackman could read a grocery list and make it sound like a Shakespearean monologue, but the real soul of the 2000 football comedy The Replacements isn't on the field. It’s in the speakers. The songs from The Replacements soundtrack do something that most sports movies fail at—they actually capture the grit, the weirdness, and the "last chance" desperation of a bunch of ragtag misfits.
Music supervisor Alex Steyermark had a weird job here. He had to balance the testosterone of a gridiron flick with the goofy, underdog energy of a comedy, all while making sure the classic rock anthems didn't feel like total clichés. Surprisingly, he pulled it off.
The Sound of 1987 (and 2000)
When you think about the movie, your brain probably goes straight to that locker room scene. You know the one. The strike is on, the "real" players are picketing outside, and the replacements are stuck in a holding cell. Then, "I Will Survive" starts playing.
It’s Gloria Gaynor’s disco anthem, sure, but it’s the way it’s used that matters. It isn't just a joke; it’s the moment the team actually bonds. Music in film often acts as a bridge, but here, it’s the actual architecture of the story. Without that specific needle drop, the chemistry between the players feels unearned. Instead, we get Orlando Jones dancing, and suddenly, the audience is all in.
Songs From The Replacements Soundtrack: A Breakdown of the Heavy Hitters
The soundtrack album itself, released under the Hollywood Records label, is actually a bit of a tease. It doesn't include every single track you hear in the film, which is a common frustration for fans trying to recreate the movie's vibe on Spotify. But what it does have is a solid mix of high-energy stadium rock and soulful bops.
"The Boys Are Back in Town" by Thin Lizzy is the obvious standout. It’s the quintessential "we’re back" song. If you’re making a sports movie and you don't at least consider Phil Lynott’s dual-guitar harmonies, are you even trying? It plays during the introductory montage of the replacement players arriving at the facility. It sets a tone of rugged, blue-collar reliability. These aren't polished superstars; they’re the "boys" who have been around the block.
Then there is "Takalin' Care of Business" by Bachman-Turner Overdrive. Another staple. Is it predictable? Maybe. Does it work when you’re watching a 300-pound offensive lineman try to get into game shape? Absolutely.
But then the movie throws some curveballs.
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"Rock and Roll, Part 2" by Gary Glitter shows up because, well, it’s a football movie. In the year 2000, this was still the go-to stadium anthem before... let's just say, before legal issues made the song a bit of a "persona non grata" in public spaces. In the context of the film, it serves as the ultimate Pavlovian trigger for sports fans. You hear that "HEY!" and you’re ready to see a linebacker get leveled.
The Missing Tracks and the Score
It’s worth mentioning that Trevor Rabin, the former guitarist for Yes, did the original score. Rabin is a master of that "heroic" sound. He did Armageddon and Remember the Titans, so he knows how to make a tackle feel like a life-altering event.
However, some of the best songs from The Replacements soundtrack aren't on the official CD.
- "Every Breath You Take" by The Police (used during the hilarious, if dated, scene where they try to intimidate the strikers).
- "Keep on Smilin'" by Wet Willie.
- "Bust a Move" by Young MC.
"Bust a Move" is a classic example of how the film uses hip-hop to lighten the mood. It’s used to highlight the cultural clash within the locker room, but by the end of the film, the music has unified the team. It’s a bit of a "Remember the Titans" light approach, but it works for a comedy.
Why "Heroes" by David Bowie Changes Everything
The emotional climax of the film doesn't happen with a heavy metal riff. It happens with David Bowie.
Specifically, "Heroes."
This is the Wallflower version, but the spirit of Bowie looms large. Using this song during the final sequence is a stroke of genius. The lyrics—"We can be heroes, just for one day"—is the entire thesis of the movie. These guys aren't going to the Hall of Fame. They aren't going to get rich. They are scabs. They are temporary. But for sixty minutes on a Sunday, they are the only things that matter.
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The song elevates the film from a goofy Keanu Reeves comedy to something that feels slightly more profound. It taps into that universal human desire to be seen, just once, as someone who matters.
The Nuance of the "Underdog" Playlist
Most people get the soundtrack wrong by assuming it’s just a "Greatest Hits of the 70s" compilation. It’s more than that. It’s a deliberate selection of songs that feel "used."
Think about it.
You don't hear the shiny, new pop hits of 2000 like Britney Spears or NSYNC. You hear Thin Lizzy, BTO, and Creedence Clearwater Revival ("Fortunate Son" makes an appearance, obviously). These are songs that have been played in bars, in garages, and on construction sites. They are "replacement" songs—reliable, worn-in, and slightly out of fashion, just like the players themselves.
Even the inclusion of "Wild Thing" (the Tone Loc version) fits this. It’s a remix of a classic. It’s something old made new again, which is exactly what Gene Hackman’s character, Jimmy McGinty, is trying to do with Shane Falco’s career.
Let's Talk About "Moon River"
Yes, "Moon River" is in a football movie.
It’s used during a moment of levity involving the kickers, and it’s the kind of absurdist humor that makes The Replacements stand out from more serious fare like Any Given Sunday. By mixing high-brow standards with low-brow slapstick, the soundtrack keeps the audience off-balance. You never quite know if the next scene is going to be a heart-pumping montage or a choreographed dance routine.
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The Cultural Legacy of the Music
Honestly, if you look at the Billboard charts from the year 2000, this movie was competing with the peak of the TRL era. Most teen movies at the time were filled with pop-punk or bubblegum pop. The Replacements went the other way. It leaned into classic rock and soul.
Because of that, the movie hasn't aged as poorly as some of its contemporaries. Classic rock is timeless. A song like "Starting Over" or "Don't Do It" by The Band (which plays over the credits) feels just as good now as it did twenty-five years ago. It gives the film a "warmth" that digital, over-produced soundtracks lack.
How to Experience the Music Today
If you’re looking to dive back into these tracks, don't just buy the official soundtrack. It’s incomplete. You’ll miss the "I Will Survive" moment and several of the stadium anthems that make the game scenes pop.
Instead, look for a "Complete Motion Picture Soundtrack" playlist on a streaming service. You want the tracks that capture the dirt on the jerseys.
Actionable Insights for the Music Fan:
- Seek out the Trevor Rabin Score: If you want the "epic" feel, his orchestral work is available separately and is perfect for a gym playlist.
- Compare the Covers: The movie uses several covers (like the Wallflowers' version of "Heroes"). Listen to the originals and the movie versions side-by-side to see how the tempo changes the "heroic" vibe of the scene.
- The "Locker Room" Test: If you’re ever trying to build team morale in a high-stress environment, "I Will Survive" is scientifically proven (okay, maybe just movie-proven) to work better than a pep talk.
- Watch for the Edit: Notice how the music cuts out during the actual hits on the field. The silence makes the sound of the pads crashing more visceral, allowing the songs to provide the emotional "up" after the physical "down."
The songs from The Replacements soundtrack aren't just background noise. They are the 12th man on the field. They turn a movie about a football strike into a story about finding your voice when everyone else has told you to be quiet. Whether it’s the soulful grit of The Band or the disco defiance of Gloria Gaynor, the music tells us one thing: it doesn't matter how you got on the field, it only matters what you do while you’re there.