LISTEN: Add these heroic tunes to your nostalgic MCU playlist

It’s hard to deny the impact the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has on our generation. It’s been 13 years since Iron Man introduced us to the vast universe of Marvel Comics through Hollywood’s lenses.

With four phases, multiple films and TV series in their roster, the MCU is not only celebrated in TV and film, but also in the music industry.

If you’re like me who basically grew up with the MCU, it’s hard to not associate songs with our beloved Marvel characters.

We have to admit, the original composed scores in the Marvel universe are amazing (Thank you, Alan Silvestri, for the iconic Avengers theme song!), but nothing beats the nostalgia of having famous musicians give life to the MCU.

Here, we’ve compiled iconic songs from the MCU’s Phase One, Two and Three. And as Phase Four prepares us for the upcoming multiverse craziness, let’s reminisce our favorite MCU characters (and scenes!) with these nostalgic songs. 

‘Back In Black’ by AC/DC – Iron Man (2008) 

Once you hear the intro guitar riff in this song, I guarantee that you will automatically think of Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.)  a.k.a. Iron Man.

AC/DC’s discography is literally Tony’s life soundtrack. The band’s Back In Black is the song that gave an epic entrance for 2008’s Iron Man opening scene. The song was also played in Spider-Man: Far From Home with Tom Holland’s Peter Parker saying, “I love Led Zeppelin!”

‘Star Spangled Man’ by The Star Spangled Singers – Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

After military training and receiving the super soldier serum, Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) didn’t immediately serve in the military frontlines, taking down Hydra bases.

Instead, Captain America started his career as a national celebrity touring major US cities to sell war bonds. And in true 1940s fashion, Cap had his own movies, comic book, and even tour performances with his Star Spangled theme song.

‘Mr. Blue Sky’ by Electric Light Orchestra – Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)

The two Guardians movies were heavily based on Peter “Star-Lord” Quill’s (Chris Pratt) love for ’70s music. But it wasn’t until Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 that the rest of the Guardians appreciated Star-Lord’s groovy tunes.

The movie’s opening scene features Baby Groot dancing his heart out to Mr. Blue Sky as the team fights off a multi-dimensional tentacled beast.

‘Blitzkrieg Bop’ by The Ramones – Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)

Peter Parker isn’t the only person repping Queens, New York. Famous American punk rock band Ramones also hailed from the same New York borough.

To even make things perfect, Peter Parker (according to the comics) and the Ramones came from the same Queens neighborhood, Forest Hills. It’s no wonder that the band’s Blitzkrieg Bop is featured in Spider-Man: Homecoming twice—Peter’s Spidey montage and the end credits!

‘Immigrant Song’ by Led Zeppelin – Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

The first two Thor movies are known for their Shakespearean and Viking aesthetic in portraying the Norse mythology-inspired Marvel comic. But when the third film, Thor: Ragnarok, premiered on the big screen, it’s apparent that director Taika Waititi’s rendition of Chris Hemsworth’s Thor is filled with fun and excitement as he features Immigrant Song by Led Zeppelin.

Fun fact: the song helped Waititi land the director job as he used the song for his Thor 3 creative pitch!

‘Just A Girl’ by No Doubt – Captain Marvel (2019)

With messages of women empowerment and realizing one’s self-worth, Captain Marvel, starring Brie Larson, is the first Marvel film with a female-lead superhero.

It’s a match made in heaven to have No Doubt’s feminist song Just A Girl accompany Carol Danvers as she realizes her full potential as the powerful Captain Marvel.

‘All The Stars’ by Kendrick Lamar feat. Sza – Black Panther (2018)

Although the song wasn’t played in the actual movie, All The Stars is the lead single to the Grammy-nominated Black Panther: The Album and was played at the film’s end credits.

Stars often symbolize ancestors and loved ones who passed away looking after us. With the passing of Black Panther-star Chadwick Boseman in 2020, it’s important to remind ourselves of his most memorable line as King T’Challa: “In my culture, death is not the end.”

‘It’s Been a Long, Long Time’ by Harry James & His Orchestra – Avengers: Endgame (2019)

Endgame was an end of an era, but it was also setting up the beginning of MCU’s new age.

For the last scene of the final Avengers film, first Avenger Steve Rogers is seen slow dancing with his first love, Agent Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell), to the popular late-World War II song, It’s Been a Long, Long Time.

It took a long, long time for the MCU’s favorite couple to be together again—and just like Steve who went back in time to live his life with Peggy, we hope these songs reminded you of the MCU’s good old days.