NR92 DJ Aysha Savoury’s Top 5 Songs from the hit film series Shrek 

There are plenty of movies out there with killer soundtracks like How to Train Your Dragon, Deadpool, Footloose, etc., but one iconic movie series that takes the cake for me is Shrek. Shrek has one of those soundtracks where you hear the song you immediately think of the movie. Today I’m going to share the top 5 songs from that soundtrack starting from number 5 to my number 1.  

5. Accidentally In Love By Counting Crows 

Dreamworks Animation chose Counting Crows lead singer Adam Duritz to write a song that would be featured in the opening scene of their 2004 film Shrek 2, in which Shrek and his wife, Princess Fiona, celebrate their honeymoon following the events of the first movie. To get an idea on how to write the song, Duritz went to the DreamWorks animation camp and watched approximately half of the film. Duritz reported to Billboard magazine that he almost did not write the song, as he was not used to writing songs on demand and was experiencing a block. However, DreamWorks allowed him creative freedom on the song and did not force him to work tirelessly. 

According to Duritz, the song had to be uplifting, and the studio told him to write a song about himself, not Shrek. Duritz said that the song was indeed about the events that were happening in his life during the writing process, including falling in love with an “inconvenient” lover. 

“image credits Counting Crows album cover”

4. I’m A Believer by Smash Mouth 

This song may be most iconically known from Shrek with people believing it was made by Smash Mouth. However, the song was actually written by Niel Diamond and originally recorded by Diamond. Diamond also performed this song as a duet with Linda Ronstadt. He suggested it to The Fifth Estate, who recorded it, and ultimately to The Monkees. Smash Mouth just covered the song specifically to be used for Shrek and it also made it to their self-titled album.  

The Smash Mouth version reached number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also reached the top 20 in New Zealand and Spain, and number nine on the ARIA Singles Chart in Australia. 

“Image Credits Discogs”

3. Funky Town by Lipps Inc. 

This song was written and produced by Steven Greenberg and released by Casablanca Records in March 1980 as the second single from the group’s 1979 debut studio album Mouth to Mouth. 

The track was met with immediate commercial success, reaching number one on various record charts in different countries including Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Israel, New Zealand, Spain, the United States and West Germany. It quickly became the group’s signature song, selling over eight million copies worldwide and becoming their most successful song.  

No wonder it’s their most successful song it’s such a banger so thank you to Shrek for introducing it to me.  

“Image Credits FunkyTown Song cover Lipps. Inc.”

2. Holding Out for a Hero by Jennifer Saunders 

Now another song that stands out from Shrek, specifically Shrek 2, is “Holding out for a Hero” by Bonnie Tyler.  

This song was made to play for the soundtrack of the 1984 film Footloose, but it is also most memorably known as the song the Fairy godmother sings in Shrek 2 with a lot of people saying the Fairy Godmothers version is even better than the original. 

I love Bonnie Tyler and her version of the song but also being a Shrek lover I have to agree. Jennifer Saunders who famously voices the Fairy Godmother did her rendition of the song and killed it. Unfortunately, the song is unavailable to play on Apple Music and Spotify but at least I can still jam out to it on YouTube. 

“Image Credits LCJReviews on X”

1. All Star by Smash Mouth 

Lastly for my number 1 pick from the movies soundtrack I obviously had to go with All Star. All-star has been featured in many films over the years but of course it is most memorably known in Shrek where it regained popularity when it was played over the opening credits. 

The filmmakers for Shrek had originally used the song as a placeholder for the opening credits and intended to replace it with an original composition by Matt Maheffey that would mimic the feel of “All Star”.  

However, DreamWorks executive Jeffery Katzenberg suggested for them to use “All Star” over the sequence instead. Although Smash Mouth was initially apprehensive about being involved with what was considered a family film, DreamWorks was insistent on including the band’s music in the film.  

After being granted an early screening of Shrek, the band members were impressed and ultimately agreed to license “All Star” to appear in the film. Thank goodness they agreed or else this peak moment in cinema history never would have happened. 

When I hear these songs, I immediately think of Shrek and honestly after making this list I need to go sit down and have a Shrek movie night, a Shrekathon if you will, and you should too. 

“Image Credits Smash Mouth Astro Lounge Album Cover”

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