17 “Dazed & Confused” Scenes With Classic Rock Songs

Dazed & Confused turned into a cult classic by drawing on nostalgia for the 1970s two decades later, and it’s now persisted as a classic for 30 more years. “A time they'd never forget... if only they could remember.” The setting on the last day of high school on May 28, 1976 in a nameless town in Texas opened the door for countless ‘70s cultural references. The high school characters, including lesser-known versions of Ben Affleck and Matthew McConaughey, created the angsty teenage mood without too much of a romantic drama. The focus on the partying and the freedom of the last day of school sets up the perfect opportunity for an excellent Rock & Roll soundtrack central to the movie’s plot. Dazed & Confused Soundtrack The movie will live forever partly because of unmistakable lines that capture the spirit of the struggling high school students. “Well, all I'm saying is that I want to look back and say that I did the best I could while I was stuck in this place, had as much fun as I could while I was stuck in this place, played as hard as I could while I was stuck in this place.” -Don Dawson  Randy “Pink” Floyd also vents his frustration with the seemingly endless rules placed on him and his rebellious teenage friends. “I think they’re just afraid some of us might be having too good a time.” -'Pink' Floyd However, there’s a reason why Dazed & Confused is named after a Led Zeppelin song. The mastery of the classic rock music is the true defining characteristic of the movie. The Rock & Roll scenes have an incredible ability to transition scenes and change the entire mood instantly with a recognizable 1970s hit. The interactions between the characters have such a wide range of emotions. Some are lively and exciting with a party atmosphere. Some are sentimental and personal between friends struggling to grow up. Some are meant to be funny. The mix of emotions created the need for mood-changing music, and it set the creators up with a long classic rock catalogue to choose from with a setting in the golden era of Rock & Roll. Whether it’s Aerosmith, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Bob Dylan, or a long list of others, Dazed & Confused nailed its 1970s setting with one of the best movie soundtracks of all time.