The old Duran Duran song “Notorious” was playing at the Red Arrow Starbucks (and outside at the ice rink, as well) when I made a coffee run earlier this afternoon.

You know how music—like smells—can instantly transport you to another place or time? Do you ever also have movie associations with a song?

(Aside: Last week I posted some Quincy Jones music videos, and the last one in the post, “Soul Bossa Nova,” was one my younger daughter identified immediately as “perfect for a Quentin Tarrantino movie,” although I don’t think it ever has been used in one. Speaking of Quentin Tarrantino’s stamp on music, if you’ve seen Reservoir Dogs, can you ever again hear “Stuck in the Middle with You” without chills running up your spine?)

There are a couple of songs that I can never hear again without thinking of Donnie Darko, a really weird 2001 movie with an incredibly talented (and famous) cast. One is “Mad World,” and the other is “Notorious.” I can’t say a whole lot more about that last song’s appearance in the film that you can’t divine yourself by watching the video below. So inappropriate, and so strange to see how proud the parents are of their daughters’ performances. Not surprisingly this is a dance routine destined for “Star Search,”  that downmarket 1980s version of “American Idol” hosted by Ed McMahon.

One more thing to add as long as we’re talking about Donnie Darko: I think this was Patrick Swayze’s finest performance ever. In my opinion, he deserved an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor—or at the very least a nomination—for his portrayal of creepy motivational speaker Jim Cunningham. Just sayin’ 🙂