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Best and Worst Song Choices for Movies


A Seriously Random List / Dustin Rowles

Comment Diversions | June 17, 2009 | Comments (171)


I’ve got a couple of related diversion requests lately, so I think I’ll run them both in this evening’s diversion. Colin asks what the best use of a song moment is in a movie: He offers “Relax” from Zoolander and ”Time Is On My Side” from Fallen.

Conversely, Sarah asks what are some notably inappropriate song choices for movie scene, and offers one of the best examples in recent memory: Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” in Watchmen.

Either/or might have the makings for a very good Seriously Random List or even a Guide, so let’s see what you got. Me: I offer only that Cat Stevens’ songs are somehow always perfect for whatever movie they are in.


Re-Do Trailer | Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood



Comments

YES. How one movie could go from the perfect choice of Bob Dylan for the opener (the opening sequence in Watchmen gave me chills), to the acheiving the inconceivable by making Leonard Cohen sound ridiculous defies explanation.

Posted by: RandyPanTheGoatboy at June 17, 2009 8:36 PM

Bit of a cliche now but the Doors' 'The End' in Apocalypse Now.

It just works.

Posted by: Debaser at June 17, 2009 8:36 PM

I loved Black Swan by Thom York as the closing credits of A Scanner Darkly... speaking of closing credits, Bruce Springsteen's The Wrestler was amazing...

Posted by: El L Cool J at June 17, 2009 8:43 PM

Every use of Hendrix's "All Along the Watchtower" as the camera swoops in over a battle scene. At least shake it up a bit and use the Pat Boone version.

Posted by: Tracer Bullet at June 17, 2009 8:46 PM

Damn, El L Cool J, you read my mind on Black Swan! It really worked with the movie, eh?

Posted by: meaux at June 17, 2009 8:48 PM

That scene in Half Nelson where Shareeka Epps finds Ryan Gosling in the motel with that sketchy dude and the two hookers. There's a Broken Social Scene song playing, I'm nearly positive it's "Shampoo Suicide."

The face he makes when he opens the door and sees her and nods his head- fucking amazing.

Posted by: c at June 17, 2009 8:48 PM

REM and Radiohead - Breathe in A Life Less Ordinary that part of the movie is fucking great

Posted by: gilP at June 17, 2009 8:50 PM

Also in The Royal Tenenbaums when The Baumer(Luke Wilson)slits his wrist to Elliot Smith. That scene is fucking powerful .

Posted by: gilp at June 17, 2009 8:54 PM

Entire soundtrack to Garden State. Not a song out of place there; the soundtrack makes the film, really.

Posted by: chayes at June 17, 2009 9:03 PM

I'm showing my sappy, loserish side here, but "I'll Be Seeing You" in The Notebook just kills me. I'm a sucker for the old-timey tunes.

Of course, one of the all time greatest is Damien Rice's "The Blower's Daughter" from Closer. Fucking gorgeous.

Posted by: Nicole at June 17, 2009 9:07 PM

"Mad World" in Donnie Darko.

Posted by: SaBrina at June 17, 2009 9:07 PM

No Easy Way Out- Rocky IV

Posted by: Adam at June 17, 2009 9:13 PM

"Needle in the Hay" from The Royal Tenenbaums as well as "Ruby Tuesday", that movie was full of magnificent music choices. The suicide scene is particularly incredible, it's sad and hard to watch, yet it's beautiful at the same time.

"Samskeyti" at the end of Mysterious Skin. When coupled with Gordon-Levitt's moving final monologue, it makes for a heartbreaking experience.

"Breathe Me" in the Six Feet Under finale. When I'm sobbing my eyes out and weeping in front of my TV set, you know that the TV show has proved it's point and left a mark on my heart.

"Just Like Honey" in Lost in Translation. Could not have picked a more perfect song or perfect ending to such a perfect movie.

The entirety of Garden State, The Graduate and Harold and Maude are full of fantastic music, not a weak choice in the bunch.

As for bad song choices...I didn't like the music they put in The Hangover, the only major flaw. Nothing too noteworthy, just because it's fresh in my mind.

Posted by: Kamikaze Feminist at June 17, 2009 9:14 PM

The use of "Red Right Hand" by Nick cave in Dumb and Dumber was incomprehensible and bugs me to this day.
I loved "Running the World" by Jarvis Cocker during the credits of Children of Men.

Posted by: saint dymphna at June 17, 2009 9:15 PM

Vera Lynn's We'll Meet Again at the end of Dr. Strangelove is my personal favorite.

Posted by: Kurdt at June 17, 2009 9:18 PM

Just remembered one more...
From John from Cincinnati, the series finale Bob Dylan's Series of a Dream... wonderful floating guitar over visuals of surfing... I had to watch the sequence a number of times...

Posted by: El L Cool J at June 17, 2009 9:19 PM

Entire soundtrack to Garden State. Not a song out of place there; the soundtrack makes the film, really.

Posted by: chayes at June 17, 2009 9:03 PM

I agree!!

I actually liked the song in Watchmen, “Hallelujah," that was the one that played during the sex scene right? I died laughing in the theatre and went, "Fuck Yeah!!" To me, that was perfect.

I would also have to say anytime "Bodies" by Drowning Pool is played during an action scene...just gets the blood pumping.

Posted by: DeistBrawler at June 17, 2009 9:24 PM

I loved "Running the World" by Jarvis Cocker during the credits of Children of Men.

You don't mean the end credits, do you? 'Cause when I rented the DVD of Children of Men the end credits were set to "Bring On De Lucie (Freda Peeple)," a lost gem of a song by John Lennon (it's from Mind Games). I hadn't heard it in years; downloaded it that very night, which is why I remember.

Posted by: Jerce at June 17, 2009 9:30 PM

Again, I agree with DeistBrawler (good taste), I liked Hallelujah. Not because it was appropriate or its campy feel fit with the rest of the movie at all (which it didn't), but because as simple entertainment value it was hilarious and awesome Sort of like how on Chuck, they sang Mr. Roboto. Stupid song, but it sure was entertaining.

Also, to quote DeistBrawler, Malin Akerman "gets the blood pumping" if you know what I mean.

Posted by: chayes at June 17, 2009 9:33 PM

Best:

That one guy's version of Hallelujah in Shrek. You know how perfect it is, I don't have to elaborate.

The Four Seasons' Walk Like a Man in Heart and Soul

Baz [unspellable]'s Romeo and Juliet was full of perfection, too. "Talk Show Host" by Radiohead. "I'm Kissing You" by Des'ree.

Worst:

Everything in Moulin Rouge. Baz Unspellable, in my books, represents the absolute best and worst of what can happen when you employ absurdity in a mainstream film. Either you can make a really balls-to-the-wall movie full of raw teen angst that somehow works despite the suicide-inspiring acting (no pun intended, haw haw haw). Or you can make an overproduced self indulgent POS with the flimsiest plot in existence, casting two A-listers with no chemistry to clumsily either pant or simper. Singing ability? Oh, not important! No no, don't worry. We'll fix it up in post. Just bellow the lyrics, it'll be fine.

Posted by: Ling at June 17, 2009 9:40 PM

I always bring up Morphine and Spanking the Monkey because the music fit the film so well.

The Psychedelic Furs Pretty in Pink seems like a no-brainer.

Oh, and Peter Gabriel's In Your Eyes in Say Anything was pretty perfect.

Posted by: Cindy at June 17, 2009 9:40 PM

In the film version of Stephen King's 1408 they used the Carpenters "We've only just begun." Creeped me the fuck out.

Posted by: Clitty Magoo at June 17, 2009 9:43 PM

I forgot "Blue Velvet" in the film Blue Velvet. The times they use this song it really strikes a chord in me.

"Across the Universe" by Fiona Apple in Pleasantville. It's a beautiful song that fits the film nicely.

Devotchka's score for Little Miss Sunshine was quite catchy and well done. I loved it.

A bad usage of a good song was in the Feast of Love trailer. They used "The Bleeding Heart Show" by The New Pornographers. What a lousy looking movie.

Posted by: Kamikaze Feminist at June 17, 2009 9:43 PM

Depending on who you are, the movie Juno either has the perfect song choices, or the shittiest fucking song choices in the history of mankind. Debate settled.

Posted by: George at June 17, 2009 9:44 PM

I would like to boast that 'Sarah' was me.
I stand by my Watchmen choice. I hear that song now and I can think about are those two thrusting.
This may say more about me though...

Posted by: Seraf at June 17, 2009 9:48 PM

Best use of a song: Any movie that had a Queen song. Wayne's World, Highlander, Flash Gordon, Mighty Ducks, you name it. Queen just works.

Also, Eye of the Tiger in Rocky. Hey it may be cliche now, but it was full of awesome then.

Worst use of a song: Don't Wanna Miss a Thing, from fucking Armageddon. It was already a bad song, but combined with the patented Bay-O-Vision sweeping shots made it even more Narmtastic than ever.

Posted by: chayes at June 17, 2009 9:33 PM

It makes even funnier if you pretend that the song was going through Nite Owl's head the entire scene.

Hallelujah, indeed.

Posted by: Vermillion at June 17, 2009 9:50 PM

'The Blower's Daughter' was amazing on Closer. Amazing.

'Wise Up' in Magnolia. Best use of a song ever.

Posted by: figgy at June 17, 2009 9:53 PM

I realize many won't even like the film - but I enjoy Bridget Jones' Diary (the first one, not the sequel). But close to every single song in that is just bad and doesn't fit and always reminds me that I'm watching a movie.


Posted by: Lollygagger at June 17, 2009 9:54 PM

Worst song choice ever: "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head" during Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. That was just...bizarre and didn't fit at all.

Posted by: alphawhiskey at June 17, 2009 9:54 PM

Augh, "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head" in fucking SPIDERMAN, alphawhiskey. Augh I wanted to never remember that again.

Posted by: figgy at June 17, 2009 9:57 PM

Best Choice is pretty hard:

"Kansas City Shuffle" in Lucky Number Slevin

Most of the score in Snatch is really good
The entire movie of The Blues Brothers kicks royal amounts of ass.
Titan AE was another one loaded with good music.
Slumdog Millionaire was bursting to the seams with good songs.

Hell, I don't know. There's too many with an awesome soundtrack.

Posted by: alphawhiskey at June 17, 2009 9:58 PM

"Jelly, Jelly Blues" by the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra in Love Jones (go watch if, fuckers). If you've seen it (go, now) you know the scene and just how perfect that song was.

Posted by: Tracer Bullet at June 17, 2009 10:00 PM

Two words: "Pennsylvania Polka."

Posted by: Daniel Hall at June 17, 2009 10:03 PM

The use of "I've Got You, Babe" on Groundhog Day is truly inspired.

Worse:

"Stayin' Alive" on Spiderman 3.

Posted by: figgy at June 17, 2009 10:05 PM

figgy beat me to "Wise Up" -- pretty polarizing, the way they broke the fourth wall with it, but it made me all weepy, so yeah.

On the classical front, I have to give it up for "Ride of the Valkyries" in Apolcalypse Now, and special mention for the best use ever of "Carmina Burana" -- the intro to Battle Royale. You just knew you were in for it....

Posted by: sansho1 at June 17, 2009 10:07 PM

Fuck Spiderman 3.

Love Sam Raimi.

Fuck Spiderman 3.

Posted by: adam at June 17, 2009 10:11 PM

Best:
The Pixies "Where Is My Mind?" - Fight Club

"As Time Goes By" - Casablanca

Queen -"Bohemian Rhapsody" - Wayne's World

Kenny Loggins entire career in the 1980's - "Footloose", "Highway to the Danger Zone", you name it.

Sia "Breathe Me" - for TV show entry for Six Feet Under. Makes me cry like a baby every time.

Worst:
Word to Moulin Rouge. I personally highly nominate that damned remake of "Lady Marmalade" with Christina Aga-whatever, Pink, Mya, and Lil' Kim.

Honorable mention for hilarity: "Playing With The Boys" during the volleyball scene of Top Gun.

Posted by: Melody at June 17, 2009 10:16 PM

Donovan's "Atlantis" in Goodfellas, while Billy Bats is being stomped to near death.

Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" at the very end of The Sopranos. I loved that ambiguous series ending (even though I can't stand that song).

& the "Dies Irae" at the beginning of The Shining is great in combo with the aerial photography following the car...

Posted by: oskar667 at June 17, 2009 10:18 PM

Melody, I agree with everything except "Moulin Rouge".

OK, the Duke and Harry singing "Like a Virgin" was really fucked up and wrong. But the rest of that movie is perfect.

Posted by: figgy at June 17, 2009 10:27 PM

"Oh Yeah" by Yello in Ferris Bueller's Day Off. It was the go-to 80's filler music (Secret of My Success comes to mind too), but Ferris Bueller is all about that song. Que Bella!

Posted by: logar at June 17, 2009 10:33 PM

Despite the almost uniformly crappy soundtrack throughout the rest of the movie, The times they are a-changing and Desolation Row are perfect choices in Watchmen.

Two other great choices are Tiny Dancer in Almost Famous, and All These Things I've Done in Southland Tales.

Posted by: Yanqui at June 17, 2009 10:34 PM

Best:
"Taste the Pain" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers in the opening scene of Say Anything. Sets up Lloyd Dobler perfectly.
"Spybreak" by the Propellerheads in The Matrix when Neo and Trinity fuck shit up in the lobby when they go to rescue Morpheus.
Worst:
"Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon" by Urge Overkill in Pulp Fiction. Painful. Maybe it's just because I hate that song.

Posted by: JohnG at June 17, 2009 10:36 PM

As for bad, how about "It's the End of the World As We Know It (and I feel fine)" in Independence Day? Spoiled the whole movie for me ;0

Posted by: logar at June 17, 2009 10:36 PM

"Ruby Tuesday" in Children in Men > most

Posted by: nicfitfromnc at June 17, 2009 10:42 PM

At the end of Interview with a Vampire: Sympathy for the Devil - Guns and Roses.

Posted by: Banshee at June 17, 2009 10:45 PM

One of my favorites has always been the use of the Dire Straits' Romeo and Juliet in Empire Records. But it might just be that I love that song. Of course, Say No More, Mon Amour is really the piece de resistance of that movie.

Posted by: MG at June 17, 2009 10:47 PM

Best:
Cat Power's version of "Sea of Love" in Juno is perfect. Tears every time.

Also, any use of The Kinks in any Wes Anderson movie.

Worst:
Other than the music in Watchmen, the score in the end credits of Cloverfield is fucking terrible, as is half the soundtrack of The Hangover, though I can hardly blame them for trying to make money and appeal to the Top 40 youth.

Posted by: ChristianH at June 17, 2009 10:49 PM

Oh, and to pile it on Watchmen, why in the hell was My Chemical Romance allowed to touch "Desolation Row"?! A disgusting cover.

Posted by: ChristianH at June 17, 2009 10:51 PM

I'm having trouble coming up with a "worst", so I'll just say any song accompanying an '80s fashion show interlude...

Posted by: sansho1 at June 17, 2009 10:59 PM

Dylan:
The Times they are a'Changin'

WATCHMEN! GO!

Posted by: annoyingmouse at June 17, 2009 10:59 PM

Hyphen.

Hyphen hyphen hyphen.


Who the fuck names themselves "Cat"?

A bearded, hippie schmuck I guess.


"Starlafur" by Sigur Ros in "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou" is something I'm powerless against.

Also, "Full Metal Jacket" owns "Surfin' Bird".

Posted by: Jay at June 17, 2009 11:01 PM

Though I may have misspelled that. "Staralfur"? I think that's it.

Posted by: Jay at June 17, 2009 11:03 PM

Vermillion, I have to agree with an unqualified YES to the Queen love. I might have to go listen to the Highlander soundtrack now...

One of my favorites has always been the use of the Dire Straits' Romeo and Juliet in Empire Records. But it might just be that I love that song. Of course, Say No More, Mon Amour is really the piece de resistance of that movie.

YES again, to mg - the Dire Straits scene in that movie is so beautifully done and that song fits it so perfectly. Although I have to also share a little love for Coyote Shivers singing Sugar High at the concert at the end of the movie. And now another movie to add to my Netflix queue. Thanks, guys. I'm never gonna get through that thing.

Posted by: Anne (in Reno) at June 17, 2009 11:08 PM


I second the Damien Rice love.

"Ripchord" by Rilo Kiley in Conversations with Other Women.

"Can I Kick It?" by A Tribe Called Quest in The Wackness.

"Ooh La La" by The Faces at the end of Rushmore. Growing up.

"Chicago" by Sufjan Stevens in Little Miss Sunshine.

"Trouble" by Cat Stevens in Harold & Maude. If I had to pick just one. I'd kill movie execs if that song was used for another movie.

Most painful song choices?

"Bennie and the Jets" by Elton John in 27 Dresses. Skank Cancer drunkenly singing in her best off-key voice. Ugh.

"This Year's Love" by David Gray in The Girl Next Door. Way too serious for that movie.

"Mr. Brightside" in The Holiday. What?

As for T.V.

"Devil Town" in Friday Night Lights. Come ON. Perfect.
and
"Come Around" by Rhett Miller on Scrubs.

Posted by: Annie at June 17, 2009 11:09 PM

When Will Ferrell's character plays Wreckless Eric's "Whole Wide World" to Maggie Gyllenhaal in "Stranger Than Fiction", I fucking lost it. God DAMN, that was a good song to use.

Posted by: Ed at June 17, 2009 11:12 PM

Memorable use:
"Don't You Forget About Me" - Breakfast Club
"Falling Slowly" - Once
The entire soundtrack of The Crow
"Down in Mexico" - Deathproof
"LLorando" by Rebekah del Rio - Mulholland Drive
"Ay Ay Ay Paloma" Gilberto Gil - Habla con Ella/Talk to her. Seriously this is the most gorgeous song use in a film ever.

Worst:
"I Say A Little Prayer" - My Best Friend's Wedding. This scene is hiney cringing bad. There's a dude with a lobster claw waving his hands around as the whole restaurant sings along.

Ditto to "Blower's Daughter" - Closer, "The End" - Apocolypse Now, "Tiny Dancer" - Almost Famous

Posted by: Vee at June 17, 2009 11:17 PM

And strangely, I really liked John Henry singing "Donald Where's Your Troosers" in T:SCC...

Posted by: Ed at June 17, 2009 11:19 PM

Best: (though some of these examples are from the credits of the movies)

The Pixies-Where Is My Mind?: Fight Club

The Rolling Stones - Ruby Tuesday: Children of Men
The Rolling Stones - Street Fighting Man: V for Vendetta

Peter Gabriel - Down to Earth: Wall-E

George Baker Selection - Little Green Bag: Reservoir Dogs

The Blues Brothers - Everybody Needs Somebody to Love: The Blues Brothers

Most of Little Miss Sunshine soundtrack, specially DeVotchka's songs (the instrumental version of How It Ends in the opening scenes is my favorite)

Bob Seeger - Old Time Rock and Roll: Risky Business (sorry, I love that song and that scene)

Posted by: Radlum at June 17, 2009 11:24 PM

Spider-Man, Spider-Man, Does Whatever a Spider-Can.

But Jay doesn't like Cat Stevens? What's wrong with you, man?
At least you made a good call with Steve Zissou. Those Portuguese covers of Bowie songs were pretty.

Posted by: Optimus Rhyme at June 17, 2009 11:31 PM

A good one that pops into my mind is Stuck in the Middle With You during Reservoir Dogs. And that entire soundtrack rocks.

Posted by: rachel at June 17, 2009 11:31 PM

I agree with most of the selections so far, and I'll add "These Days" by Nico when Margo gets off the bus in the Royal Tenenbaums to the best pile. Also, "Play with Fire" by the Rolling Stones in the Darjeeling Limited is deadly. My girl Aimee Mann (who killed it at Folk Fest last year) made mediocre Magnolia marvelous.

Worst, "Solisbury Hill" by Peter Gabriel in In Good Company, what a waste of an inspiring song for such an uninspiring movie.

Posted by: Agente Provocatrice at June 17, 2009 11:34 PM

Nico covering Jackson Brown's "These Days" from The Royal Tenenbaums as Margot disembarks the Green Line Bus.

Peter Sarstedt's Where Do You Go To My Lovely in Hotel Chevalier (Darjeeling Limited mini-prequal)

Rufus Wainwright's "Beautiful Child" at the end of The Baxter

Kenny Rogers's "Just Dropped In" in The Big Lebowski

Worst:

Jane Siberry's "Calling All Angels" at the end of Pay it Forward


Posted by: Martin at June 17, 2009 11:34 PM

Best: Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now" in Shaun of the Dead is perfect to me to add a specific example.

I can't think of a worst right now though...

Posted by: Natakie16 at June 17, 2009 11:37 PM

BEST:
1) "Butt Machine" at the end of an episode in Weeds Season 3 where this badass character rigs the sewage line to explode during an unveiling, and he's dancing to that song. Basically, any song in the first 3 seasons of Weeds they chose to end the episode. All fuckin' brilliant choices.
2) "Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometime" by Beck in the beginning of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Beautiful song for the moment.
3) "Painted Black" by the Rolling Stones in Full Metal Jacket used in the closin' credits.
4) "I'm a Man" by Black Strobe during the opening credits of RocknRolla.

WORST:
1) Tom Cruise singing "Free Fallin'" by Tom Petty in Jerry Mcguire... argh. Fuck you, you annoying little man.
2) this is hard to think of, but there's a lot of movies that have some awful fuckin' song choices... like NINE INCH FREAKING NAILS in 300. Whatev.

Posted by: AlexaCastro at June 17, 2009 11:37 PM

I like The Roots' "Here I Come" on the Superbad soundtrack - it just perfectly fits the moment Seth finally walks into that party.

Did anyone ever see that David Schwimmer movie called Duane Hopwood? There's an interlude in the middle set to Ben Folds' "Rockin' The Suburbs" and it is so incredibly jarring, I can't properly describe it. Has to be seen to be believed.

Posted by: Another Jen at June 17, 2009 11:37 PM

There's so many good ones here, but I have to add "Storybook Love" from The Princess Bride.

Posted by: Meghan at June 17, 2009 11:39 PM

Woah Martin, we were riding the same wave there with the Nico love. I'll add to Pay it Forward, the use of Sam Cooke's "Win Your Love for Me" when Kevin Spacey has his meltdown was pitch perfect, ending with that top 40 fodder, a definite misstep!

Posted by: Agente Provocatrice at June 17, 2009 11:40 PM

Ooh ooh! And the unequivocal best use of a song in a movie is "Get Back" by Ludacris at the end of Tropic Thunder. Tom Cruise bought himself a lifetime free pass for craziness with that dance.

Posted by: Meghan at June 17, 2009 11:47 PM

Melody, I agree with everything except "Moulin Rouge".

OK, the Duke and Harry singing "Like a Virgin" was really fucked up and wrong. But the rest of that movie is perfect.

Posted by: figgy at June 17, 2009 10:27 PM
-----------------------------------------------
Perfeck . . . perfah. . . pgnvdlktltltlttt . . . .
*aneurysm - dies*

Posted by: Lauren at June 17, 2009 11:50 PM

sansho1: Isn't that Verdi's Requiem in the beginning of Battle Royale? Though I agree,that music choice knocked my socks off.

On a Requiem note, I also love the bit in Amadeus when Mozart's Requiem is used.

Posted by: cleverpeach at June 17, 2009 11:52 PM

Figgy, that movie was an abomination. Fie!!

I second "Mad World" in Donnie Darko as best use of a song. Maybe tied with "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)" from Kill Bill.

Posted by: (ghost)Lauren at June 17, 2009 11:54 PM

Best:
'Handbag and Gladrags' (instrumental): end credits of The Office UK.

'Most of the time' - Bob Dylan: High Fidelity

'Where Do You Go To My Lovely' - Peter Sarstedt: Darjeeling Limited

Worst:
i second on 'Raindrops keep falling on my head': butch cassidy and the sundance kid. it makes the scene even more bizzare (Paul newman doing bike acrobats..??)

Posted by: dharmabum at June 17, 2009 11:56 PM

On a Requiem note, I also love the bit in Amadeus when Mozart's Requiem is used.

Posted by: cleverpeach at June 17, 2009 11:52 PM

Mum & Dad dragged me to Amadeus when I was 11 and I gave all the attention you'd expect (ie. none). Only this week I rented the director's cut and thank godtopus, what a beautiful film.

That whole composition scene was magic, poignant as much for for fact that Salieri finally got to witness the magic he had worked so studiously to destroy. The music was a true third character throughout the movie.

Posted by: RandyPanTheGoatboy at June 18, 2009 12:04 AM

cleverpeach, I might have to recheck. I saw it at a film fest back in 2001 before its eventual DVD release, and "Carmina Burana" kicked in right as the announcer looked at the blood-spattered ragamuffin just off the helicopter and said "I can't believe this -- she's smiling!" and the opening credits rolled. Then when I saw it on DVD I noticed a bunch of editing changes. Hmmm....

Posted by: sansho1 at June 18, 2009 12:05 AM

I don't know if anyone has mentioned this yet and I'm too lazy to check but I think the entire soundtrack for American Graffiti is pretty damned perfect.

I also loved the use of Colorblind by Counting Crows in Cruel Intentions.

Aaaaaand I completely agree with figgy. I totally loved Moulin Rouge too, sans the Like A Virgin atrocity. So... suck it.

Posted by: AbbyNormal at June 18, 2009 12:10 AM

No question...

A tie between Layla in Goodfellas and Analyse by Thom Yorke at the end of The Prestige.

Both gave me massive chills.

Posted by: Groovekiller at June 18, 2009 12:10 AM

Oooh, I just remembered Free Bird in The Devil's Rejects. It halfway made that overplayed song cool for me again.

Posted by: Kurdt at June 18, 2009 12:12 AM

All of Trainspotting, especially "Perfect Day"

Posted by: ugh at June 18, 2009 12:22 AM

Ack, how could I forget?

"Man of Constant Sorrow" and "Didn't Leave Nobody but the Baby" from Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?

My favorite soundtrack of all time.

Posted by: figgy at June 18, 2009 12:22 AM

You Could Be Mine - T2

It just kicked so much ass. Brilliant marketing as well.

Posted by: admin at June 18, 2009 12:25 AM

The Midnight Rider for the opening credits of The Devil's Rejects.


Worst soundtrack/score ever?

All Three Transporter movies. The first one's score is ridiculously bad.

Posted by: grendel at June 18, 2009 12:28 AM

Ditto what figgy says on the Oh Brother, Where Art Thou soundtrack.

My favorite non-credits song has to be The Rolling Stones' version of "Time Is on My Side" used in Fallen.

Posted by: branded at June 18, 2009 12:29 AM

Best
-The entire soundtrack to Everything is Illuminated.
-Mad World from Donnie Darko
-MIA's song in Slumdog Millionaire. Completely nonsensical and so perfectly MIA.

Worst
-The entire There will be Blood soundtrack. There were a few good songs, but between the obscenely bright colors and high pitched shrieky music, I left that movie with one of the worst headaches I've ever had.

Posted by: piroska at June 18, 2009 12:33 AM

The entire soundtrack to The Virgin Suicides.

Cat Power - I Found A Reason from V for Vendetta.

Posted by: AbbyNormal at June 18, 2009 12:37 AM

From In The Name of the Father, Jimi Hendrix 'Voodoo Chile' kicking in just as shots are fired from the rooftop.

Also Bono's song during the opening credits.

Posted by: slip at June 18, 2009 12:42 AM

I emphatically agree that "Where Is My Mind" is perfect for that final scene in Fight Club. Amid all the schizophrenia and crumbling buildings, what other song could be better?

I'd also like to express my love for Donovan's "Hurdy-Gurdy Man" in L.I.E. As Brian Cox (the pedophile) is driving slowly through the suburban streets like a shark on the hunt, this song adds just the right retro-creepy mood.

On the crappy side of things, Top Gun desecrated "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" and Risky Business took a crappy song ("Old Time Rock And Roll") by a crappy artist (Bob Seger) and let a crappy actor, and for that matter a crappy human (Tom Cruise) lip-sync it until the movie excreted an inherently unstable, super-concentrated, highly-radioactive isotope of crap that threatened to devour the entire human race.

Posted by: Moog at June 18, 2009 12:58 AM

For that matter, everything Tom Cruise has ever touched (with the exception of Magnolia) has become, to varying degrees, shit-encrusted.

Posted by: Moog at June 18, 2009 1:01 AM

Worst:
Layla (Goodfellas) - I hate most of Scorsese's choices for music. I usually like the song, but hate the placement.

Back in Black (Iron Man) - Robert Downey Jr. is way too cool to be introduced by AC/DC. This song, especially, has become a cliche for introducing cool characters in action movies.

Seymour Stein (High Fidelity) - This is the song Barry puts on to prove he can sell a record on the spot. I like this song alright, but Belle and Sebastian is not the kind of music that makes you perk up your ears and ask "What band is this?"

Best(I'm not counting original scores):
Shout (Animal House)

Gloria (The Outsiders)

Tiny Dancer and Tangerine (Almost Famous)

Mrs. Robinson and the Sound of Silence (The Graduate)

Where is My Mind? (Fight Club)

Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometime (Eternal Sunshine)

Freddie's Dead (Superfly)

Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001: A Space Odyssey)

Fight the Power (Do the Right Thing)

Posted by: Borg at June 18, 2009 1:13 AM

the entire soundtrack for Ladyhawke. with almost any other music that movie would be an all time clasic.

Posted by: EricD at June 18, 2009 1:13 AM

Set the WABAC machine for 1968.
The movie: 2001: A Space Odyssey.
The song: Richard Strauss' Also Sprach Zarathustra.

Could be best. Could be worst. I'm indecisive.

Posted by: Che Grovera at June 18, 2009 1:14 AM

Say what you will about Moulin Rouge, but that tango version of "Roxanne" was a stroke of genius.

Posted by: ceejeemcbeegee at June 18, 2009 1:15 AM

The whole Billy Elliot soundtrack is a good one. The Clash 'London's Burning' is a fantastic track for when Billy runs/dances through the streets in front of riot police.

Posted by: Seraf at June 18, 2009 1:20 AM

Wouldn't you know that the Borg would beat me to it. I've been assimilated.

Posted by: Che Grovera at June 18, 2009 1:24 AM

Every single song choice in "The Big Lebowski" is pitch-perfect, from the tumbleweed song at the beginning right on down to Townes Van Zant's "Dead Flowers" cover at the end.

Posted by: JrFanboy at June 18, 2009 1:36 AM

Then score from 28 Days Later- "That was more than a heartbeat."

Massive Attack "Angel" when the Pikey's mum gets burned alive in Snatch.

The wonderful score from Requiem for a Dream.

"Paper Planes" by M.I.A. in Slumdog Millionaire.

Posted by: krza at June 18, 2009 1:39 AM

I almost never notice the music in a movie. Seriously. I'm sure it registers at some subconscious level, but somehow I don't hear it.

That said, I DO kinda like it in "Die Hard" when the bad guys crack the vault open to "Ode to Joy."

It was "Ode to Joy," wasn't it?

See?

Posted by: , (the commenter formerly known as bucdaddy) at June 18, 2009 1:44 AM

Another Watchmen selection: "The Sound of Silence" over The Comedian's funeral. It was too loud first of all, and second of all you can't use that song anymore. Once something's in an iconic movie soundtrack like The Graduate's it shouldn't be used. Once the same scene is lampooned in something like Old School, it CANNOT be used.

Best: Tie between Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now" in the Shaun of the Dead bar scene, and Tears for Fears' "Head over Heals" in Donnie Darko.

Posted by: puppetDoug at June 18, 2009 1:48 AM

Oh, yeah, forgot: The soundtrack to "Woodstock" is terrible, they should have used some better bands.

Posted by: , (the commenter formerly known as bucdaddy) at June 18, 2009 1:48 AM

Good song in a horrible movie: In PS I Love You when they play The Pogues "Fairytale of New York" and Jerry's funeral.

Posted by: carolyn at June 18, 2009 2:03 AM

So much goodness here - I'm down with the Moulin (suck it), the Stones, MIA, and anything Blues Brothers (Rawhide: cannot get better than that, sorry)...

I'll add the few I can think of:

- Dirty Dancing, 'Hey Baby'
- X-men 3 I guess? 'Centre of the Sun' Conjure1 (very pretty song, very subtle)
- Full Monty 'Sexy Thing'
- Philadelphia - whatever that Maria Callas song was that Hanks explained...
- Natural Born Killers - 'Shit List'

Not the strongest entries, but they'll do...

Posted by: replica at June 18, 2009 2:31 AM

Another Watchmen selection: "The Sound of Silence" over The Comedian's funeral. It was too loud first of all, and second of all you can't use that song anymore.

Posted by: puppetDoug at June 18, 2009 1:48 AM

That was the point where my attitude to the soundtrack soured and never got better (scratch that- "Everybody Want To Rule The World" in the background in one of Ozymandias' scenes. DUH). It was like Snyder knew the opening he wantedm then played played jukebox darts with the rest.

Posted by: RandyPanTheGoatboy at June 18, 2009 3:31 AM

Can't belive I forgot about "Don't Stop Me Now" in Shaun of the Dead. Perfect.

He's already been mentioned a few times, but Wes Anderson is a genius with song choices. Of particular impact are "Hey Jude" and "Needle in the Hay" in The Royal Tenenbaums, and "Staralfur" in The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou.

Worst? Anything in Daredevil.

Posted by: Daniel Hall at June 18, 2009 3:33 AM

Good:

"Sister Christian" by Night Ranger in Boogie Nights and "Jesse's Girl" by Rick Springfield from the same. I'm not a regular fan of those songs, but damn Alfred Molina sells that scene.

"Ted, just admit it" from Jane's Addiction in Natural Born Killers.

Pulp Fiction.

Bad:

The "Comfortably Numb" rendition in The Departed was pretty damn cringe-worthy.

Posted by: Recondite at June 18, 2009 3:41 AM

To me a good song is one that when you hear it you can't help but think of the scene that it was playing over.

For the best,

"Devil Town" in multiple episdoes of Friday Night Lights. They played in in the 3rd (?) episode and first season finale. Both are awesome. Honorable mention to "Revival" by the Soulsavers during an episode this past season. Absolute perfection.

"Layla" in Goodfellas. Every single time I hear that song I think about the bodies being discovered one by one.

Everything in Mermaids. So perfect, every single one.


The worst,

I second (third, fourth, fifth?) the Moulin Rouge hate. My college roommate would sing that damn soundtrack every weekend when they were drunk. God I hate, hate, hate it.

I apologize for any obvious typos. I just drank A LOT of wine.


Posted by: Austin asking for trouble at June 18, 2009 3:44 AM

"Shout" in Wedding Crashers. That's a memorable scene

Posted by: Ari at June 18, 2009 5:29 AM

Surpised no one has mentioned:

Best
- "Remember Me As a Time of Day" Explosions in the Sky (Friday Night Lights) - fits perfectly with the atmosphere in the movie
- Stuck in the Middle (Reservoir Dogs)
- The Seed 2.0 (Collateral)
Worst
- Most of the Forrest Gump soundtrack
- Let's Hear It for the Boys (Footloose)
- It's In the Way That You Move It (Color of Money)

Posted by: Brian at June 18, 2009 6:38 AM

I love 'Girl, you'll be a woman soon' in Pulp Fiction - half because you hear it and you know something is about to go wrong and half because I love the crap dancing that Uma Thurman does (speaking as a crap living room dancer also).

I'm also a big fan of 'Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive' at the beginning of LA Confidential...cool song, cool opening, cool film.

Posted by: orangina at June 18, 2009 6:39 AM

"Singin' In The Rain" - Clockwork Orange. The whole soundtrack really, as well as 2001.

The "Intermezzo" from Pietro Mascagni's "Cavalleria Rusticana" at the beginning of Raging Bull.

Gorecki's 3rd in "Basquiat" (and the Armando Iannucci shows, of course)

Also, that song from "Even Dwarfs Started Small".

Don't really know about bad.... I want to see Watchmen now, though.

Posted by: TSF at June 18, 2009 7:07 AM

This is the song Barry puts on to prove he can sell a record on the spot

No.

Posted by: Jay at June 18, 2009 7:12 AM

Best: I just love Jennifer Saunders' version of "Holding Out For A Hero" in Shrek 2 as Shrek and co. storm the castle. It's campy and OTT, but it's just brilliant for the scene, and dragged the whole movie up in my mind. If we're going with scores, I have to back krza - "In The House, In A Heartbeat" from 28 Days Later is chillingly perfect. And a nomination for "Musical choice so good, you actually like the movie more" - as awful a film as Crash is, I loved the use of "Maybe Tomorrow" by the Stereophonics over the closing scenes. And finally, gotta give a nod to "Hot Stuff" in the Full Monty.

Worst: I'm having real trouble thinking of anything to top the Hallelujah scene in Watchmen. I can think of some truly awful musical moments in bad films ("Bring Me To Life" playing over Elektra's training scene in Daredevil stands out as one where those of us watching just scoffed and mocked), but much fewer where a bad musical choice has ruined an otherwise good scene. Watchmen is literally the only movie I've ever left thinking to myself "Man, I'd have liked that a whole lot more with a better soundtrack".

Posted by: Shay at June 18, 2009 7:15 AM

"Don't Fear the Reaper" at the end of "The Frighteners". I love that final shot when she grabs the picnic blanket like a cloak and swoops around like the Reaper as it goes to black.

"You will Never Leave My Heart" from "Appaloosa". Ed Harris sings and sounds a hell of a lot like Johnny Cash. Cool song that matches the movie's story in the lyrics.

Posted by: TylerDFC at June 18, 2009 7:16 AM

Since folks decided to throw in TV shows now, I put forth Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo. Especially the respective theme songs.

Posted by: Vermillion at June 18, 2009 7:32 AM

It's pretty simple and not all that meaningful, but Sweet Emotion at the start of Dazed and Confused always sends chills up my spine.

Posted by: Eep at June 18, 2009 7:51 AM

The whole Watchmen soundtrack left me cold. I just sat there thinking song selection wasn't being given any thought -- they just knew they needed music and threw money at it. And (for me, anyway) the subject matter didn't warrant the heavy dose of iconic songs.

Posted by: sansho1 at June 18, 2009 8:12 AM

"Little Green Bag" at the beginning of Reservoir Dogs!

Posted by: Bd at June 18, 2009 8:21 AM

It is unquestionably Underworld's 'Born Slippy' at the end of Trainspotting!
In fact the entire soundtracks is awesome, how quickly we forget eh?

Honorable mentions:

The Doors, 'The End' opening Apocalypse Now
The Pixies-Where Is My Mind?: Fight Club
Needle in the Hay from The Royal Tenenbaums
Simon and Garfunkel - The only living boy in new york in Garden State

Posted by: Conorhal at June 18, 2009 8:25 AM

I'm just glad my suggestion got made into a Seriously Random List!

Dustin already mentioned my top two... but I also loved The Stranglers - Golden Brown in the movie Snatch.

Posted by: Colin at June 18, 2009 8:36 AM

Elliot Smith throughout Good Will Hunting.

Also, Dropkick Murphys' Going Back To Boston about 15-20 minutes into The Departed when the title screen finally pops up.

Posted by: DRE at June 18, 2009 8:38 AM

Jeez, this late to the party and no one has cited Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells from The Exorcist?

Maybe just too obvious...

Posted by: clocker at June 18, 2009 8:56 AM

Best:

Entire soundtrack to About a Boy

Soundtrack to Thelma and Louise

Soundtrack to Pulp Fiction

Posted by: Grace at June 18, 2009 8:58 AM

Seymour Stein (High Fidelity) - This is the song Barry puts on to prove he can sell a record on the spot. I like this song alright, but Belle and Sebastian is not the kind of music that makes you perk up your ears and ask "What band is this?"

Having seen this movie way too many damn times, I have to nit pick. It is the Beta Band, and Rob puts it on. Belle & Sebastian are playing when Barry comes in, rips out the cassette and blasts out Katrina and the Waves.

Posted by: Lee at June 18, 2009 9:04 AM

Hey, it's 9:25, can we get some fucking new posts up?

*taps foot, drums fingers*

Posted by: , (the commenter formerly known as bucdaddy) at June 18, 2009 9:24 AM

The Limey has some of the best - King Midas in Reverse (Hollies/Graham Nash) when they first show Peter Fonda/Terry Valentine, The Seeker (The Who) when Wilson is walking up to the warehouse in the beginning and Terrence Stamp singing Colours (Donovan) in the flashback clip from Poor Cow. I might have to watch that movie tonight. What a great, underappreciated movie.

Also, there is a scene in Requiem for a Dream where, right after one of the getting high jump cut scenes, it transitions to Marlon Wayans scratching on the turntable and laughing with thumping beats in the background. I don't know what the song is since it has been about 5 years since I saw it, but that's the first scene I think about when I think of that movie. Probably because I'm trying to repress the last 30 minutes.

The whole Bottlerocket soundtrack just works, as is the case with most Wes Anderson movies.

Finally, I think I'm in the minority here, but I absolutely hate that Joaquin Phoenix sang all the songs in Walk the Line instead of using the real versions. I found it distracting for such a talented rapper to be singing country songs.

Posted by: Emcee Peepants at June 18, 2009 9:31 AM

Almost Famous - Tiny Dancer
Closer - Blower's Daughter
Little Miss Sunshine - Chicago
Good Will Hunting - Miss Misery
Fight Club - Wave of Mutilation
Pump up the Volume - Why Can't I Fall in Love or Let's Get Buck Naked and Fuck or Everybody Knows, fuck it...the whole soundtrack

Posted by: jamiepants at June 18, 2009 9:49 AM

Shit, I meant Where is my Mind, not Wave of Mutilation. I started thinking about Pump up the Volume and my mind went off on a tangent.

Posted by: jamiepants at June 18, 2009 9:50 AM

Sometimes the music in a trailer is better than the stuff in the movie:
Cells by The Servant from Sin City.
Red Tape by Agent Provocateur from Underworld.
Woo Hoo by Blur from Starship Troopers.

But for songs in movies, my favorite is No Budget by DJ Class & Mayo from the John Water's movie Cecil B. Demented followed closely by Vanilla Ice's Go Ninja from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: The Secret of the Ooze...

Posted by: Adam C at June 18, 2009 9:52 AM

Elvis's A Little Less Conversation in Ocean's 11 is a great example of how a well-known song can really emphasize a scene.

And I have to concur with all the Wes music fans -- the man knows how to use music in a film.

Also "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" in Rocket Science -- ooeee, that was an amazing use of a stellar cover (is it a cover in that case? or just a 'version'?)

Bad use of music? Anytime "London Calling" is played over a trip-to-London montage.

Posted by: Lizzle at June 18, 2009 9:57 AM

figgy is on top of it with Wise Up, but the two best, without a doubt, are

You're The Best from Karate Kid. The epitome of a montage song.

and

Stayin' Alive from Saturday Night Fever. As my mom says, nobody swings a paint can like John Travolta. This song was perfect for that vibe.

and the two worst

Stayin' Alive from Spidey 3. No explanation needed.

The crap opening credit song to Enterprise.

Posted by: ed newman at June 18, 2009 10:13 AM

It's a bit obvious, but given the build-up, using 'Bad Moon Rising' for the transformation scene in An American Werewolf in London was pretty near perfect. (Sigh) Remember when John Landis was good?

Posted by: tony cullen at June 18, 2009 10:26 AM

Anything from Amadeus can't count. It's not fair. It's MOZART, plus it's all music by the guy the movie is about, so soundtracking isn't exactly a creative process. It'd be like going with "Georgia on my Mind" from RAY or "Walk the Line" from Walk the Line.

This might also not count, since it's a TV show, but:

Sia's "Breath Me" over the last five minues ot Six Feet Under is one of the most emotionally devastating sequences in all modern entertainment.

Posted by: Martin at June 18, 2009 10:43 AM

I don't know the name, but the techno song played in Blade 1 where the blood starts spraying from the ceiling. Amaaaaaazing.

That is so my fantasy: to be a vampire who can afford bottle service...

Posted by: "luker" the barbarian at June 18, 2009 10:58 AM

For worst, I can't believe no one said "A Knight's Tale." The modern pop music ("We Will Rock You?" At a joust?) was damn jarring. I realize it wasn't a great movie, but they could have at least TRIED with the soundtrack, you know?

As for best, I am partial to the songs in Snatch and Get Shorty. I always bop along to that pop jazz stuff.

Posted by: Notorious_VMG at June 18, 2009 11:17 AM

The song from Terminator that was playing when Arnold was casing the dance club for Sarah. I think it was called "Photoplay". She knocks her drink over and bends down to get it just as Arnie looks her way. Everything goes into slo-mo and the song goes into an echo-effect. I bet you can hear it in your head right now...

Posted by: EastCoastUgly at June 18, 2009 11:24 AM

For worst: every piece of music in LadyHawk. Pretty solid flick ruined by shitty music. Whoever thought to pair 80's music with a medieval period piece taking one too many hits on the crack pipe.

Posted by: East Coast Ugly at June 18, 2009 11:28 AM

Late to the party, but the Blow soundtrack is pretty awesome.

Posted by: Kristen at June 18, 2009 11:32 AM

Edit: The song from Terminator 1 was "Burning in the 3rd Degree" not "Photoplay". Right club, wrong song.

Posted by: East Coast Ugly at June 18, 2009 11:51 AM

Love: Wonderful World by Sam Cooke in Witness, anything in a Wes Anderson movie, Red Right Hand in Hellboy (obvious I know, but still rocks) & Who Wants to Live Forever in Highlander.

Hate: The aforementioned inappropriate Watchmen choices (especially 99 Luftballons, which grated me even more than Hallelujah), and the ridiculous 'electric boobs' singalong in 27 Dresses (don't judge me, my friend was sick and it was her choice and I was trying to make her feel better, honest!)

Posted by: Lisa S at June 18, 2009 11:51 AM

This is not exactly a movie, but I loved the use of Nick Cave's "Lay Me Low" on that promo for the final 9 episodes of The Sopranos

Posted by: MRN at June 18, 2009 12:12 PM

There was an episode of the Sopranos that ended with Radiohead's Kid A. I thought the beginning of that song at the end of an episode where it just becomes the black screen with the end credits was awesome.

Posted by: lucy van pelt at June 18, 2009 12:53 PM

I love the opening scene in Ghost World, where Enid is dancing along to the Indian movie on TV. Actually, there's a lot of good music in that movie, thanks to Seymour's obsession with blues and jazz.

Posted by: Anna von Beaverplatz at June 18, 2009 1:00 PM

I'm going to have to go with Imperial Teen's "Yoo Hoo" in Jawbreaker, its hard to top this songs impact on an otherwise cliche scene.

As far as "Classical", without going for the easy answers it has be the Basil Poledouris version of the "Red Navy Hymn" in The Hunt for Red October.

Posted by: Grgareus at June 18, 2009 2:30 PM

Everything in Romy and Michele's High School Reunion. When they sing their made up lyrics to Footlose or when they dance to Time after Time. Good shit!

Somewhere beyond the Sea at the end of Finding Nemo gets me. But that's just a wonderful song so always a good choice.

As does La Vie En Rose in Wall-E and the Hello Dolly music in Wall-E. When he hums "sunday clothes" and dances with a trash can lid I felt new life breathed into Barbra Streisands campy musical. Hello Dolly is not a good musical but damn if "as time runs out" doesn't mist me up a bit as Wall-E pines for a loved one.

Frankly Pixar just knows whats up.

EVERYTHING IN PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT. Terrific cliches and sassy disco to compliment the best costumes the world has ever known.

Posted by: Avery at June 18, 2009 2:41 PM

Best:

Johnny Cash's When the Man Comes Around in the opening credits of Dawn of the Dead

Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich's Hold Tight in Death Proof

Worst:
The Juno soundtrack just kills me.

Posted by: KiwiBrownn at June 18, 2009 3:43 PM

OH!

"I Want Candy" in Marie Antoinette (fucking Sophia Coppola) and that song they dance to in "A Knight's Tale".

Posted by: figgy at June 18, 2009 3:50 PM

Er, I mean those were awful moments.

"Kissing You" from Romeo + Juliet was truly inspired. Weird movie but that scene was beautiful.

Posted by: figgy at June 18, 2009 3:55 PM

Tom Waits, "Innocent When You Dream," in Smoke.

Posted by: 64st at June 18, 2009 4:34 PM

The problem w/the Watchmen soundtrack is that the scenes didn't "earn" the attachment of those songs. Too copy/paste, not enough merit.

Posted by: Recondite at June 18, 2009 4:57 PM

Ooooh, love the comment threads... :)

For the worst, I absolutely agree with whoever said "Lady Marmalade". That was one of the shittiest, most annoying songs ever created or put into a movie (at least Beyonce wasn't big at that time, or her horrible screeching would have been a part of it, too).

Best...WOW. Too many to name... Okay, I'm going to repeat some of your excellent choices here:

"Kissing You", Des'ree, Romeo + Juliet
Entire Full Metal Jacket sountrack (esp. Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Are Made for Walkin']
"If You Leave", Orchestral Manouevres in the Dark, Pretty in Pink
"Put the Blame on Mame", Gilda
"Tiny Dancer", Elton John, Almost Famous
Entire Trainspotting soundtrack (esp. Born Slippy)
"Paper Planes", M.I.A, Slumdog Millionaire/ PineappleExpress
Entire Dirty Dancing soundtrack (esp. the use of Otis Redding, Solomon Burke, and The Shirelles)
"Mad World", Gary Jule's version, Donnie Darko

And, for the cheesy songs that are so bad they're good, and just fit in and are the first thing people think of when they think of these movies:

"I Wanna Sex You Up", Color Me Badd, New Jack City
"Take My Breath Away", Berlin, Top Gun
"Everything I Do, I Do For You", Bryan Adams, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves

Posted by: :) at June 18, 2009 5:04 PM

Oh, and how could I forget the entire Dazed and Confused Soundtrack?!!! "Slow Ride", "Hurricane"...

LOVE......

Posted by: :) at June 18, 2009 5:08 PM

the Sigur Ros song in Steve Zizou when they find the jaguar shark (actually, anything goes well with Bill Murra's tears)

Posted by: ht at June 18, 2009 5:34 PM


The Man Come Around, Johnny Cash in the beginning of the Dawn of the Dead re-make.

Posted by: Zach at June 18, 2009 5:37 PM

Yes Ma'am The Sopranos does have some classics. I don't know the season or episode, but it ends with Meadow telling Carmela that she is getting married. The looks on Edie Falco's face with the Johnny Cash song, "If I were a Carpenter" just kills me.

And also...when Kate Hudson is dancing on the stage to "The Wind" by Cat Stevens in Almost Famous. Think I like that more than Tiny Dancer and I don't particularly like Kate Hudson...

Posted by: patchfire at June 18, 2009 5:45 PM

Personally I loved the use of Nick Cave's Red Right Hand in the *first* Scream soundtrack. Remember when satire was done well?

Posted by: popejenn at June 18, 2009 6:12 PM

How about,

"Monterey" in Devil's Advocate

"All I Want is You" in Reality Bites

"Chewbacca" in Clerks

Ending song in Platoon

Battle song in Excalibur

Posted by: spunky brewster at June 18, 2009 7:39 PM

I hate having to choose just one of ANYTHING, but, fine...

Best Song: "Fire and Rain" from Running on Empty

Worst Song: "I Don't Want to Miss A Thing" from Armageddon

Best Soundtrack: The Natural

Worst Soundtrack: Ladyhawke -- hands down, without argument, for all fucking time. RUINOUS. Whoever wrote that soundtrack should be clapped in irons and boiled in oil. Whoever decided to USE that soundtrack should be clapped in irons, drawn, quartered and THEN boiled in oil.

DEVASTATINGLY AWFUL FUCKING SOUNDTRACK. Destroyed an otherwise BEAUTIFUL fucking movie.

Posted by: Maryscott O'Connor at June 18, 2009 8:11 PM

BEST:

"Burn" by the Cure, The Crow
"Ooh La La" by the Faces, Rushmore
"Miss Misery" by Elliot Smith, Good Will Hunting
"Hit 'Em High" by the Monstars (B-Real, Coolio, L.L. Cool J, Method Man and Busta Rhymes), Space Jam
"Sway" by Bic Runga, American Pie
"Down to Earth" by Peter Gabriel, Wall-E
"Dare" by Stan Bush, Transformers: The Movie (if you fight me on this I WILL CUT YOU)
"Tiny Dancer" by Elton John, Almost Famous
"School's Out" by Alice Cooper, Dazed and Confused
"Three Small Words" by "Josie and the Pussycats" (actually Letters to Cleo), Josie and the Pussycats
"The Times, They Are A-Changin" by Bob Dylan, Watchmen

Posted by: mightygodking at June 18, 2009 10:45 PM

Best: "He Needs Me" in Punch Drunk Love. Freakin' fantastic.

Posted by: JuniorMintz at June 19, 2009 12:06 AM

I'll third the "Raindrops" from Butch Cassidy as worst, but it also has one of the best: "South American Getaway." I still listen to that song and enjoy the Butchy memories.

Posted by: SaBrina at June 19, 2009 12:32 AM

Best: Whatever that yodelling/banjo thing was during the opening montage in Raising Arizona.

The Notre Dame fight song from Airplane!

Posted by: muchsarcasm at June 19, 2009 3:59 AM

figgy - it's Golden Years by David Bowie. Extremely excellent use of music in an otherwise silly movie.

I can only think of TV...

Best: all the music in Life on Mars (UK). Notable moments include:
The team chases a crook out of the local pool - the lot in their swimmers - to Live and Let Die by Paul McCartney/Wings (hilarious) (s.1, ep.2)
Bringing in a serial killer to the freakout bit in White Room by Cream (s.1, ep.1) and
Sinnerman by Nina Simone after unveiling a cover-up (s.1, ep.7) Brilliant.

Worst: the song at the end of every episode of Scrubs. I'm sure if you look at each episode in isolation you'll find one that works, but generally they lay it on WAY too thick. It's so fucking LAME. It's a pretty annoying show, but the weepy/melodramatic song formula makes it unwatchable.

Posted by: Alayna at June 19, 2009 4:48 AM

figgy: lol woops you were saying that you hated it - I thought it was really clever!

As opposed to most of the other contemporary references e.g. the Nike logo on the armour LAME

Posted by: Alayna at June 19, 2009 4:52 AM

Ooh, one I forgot earlier...although I usually detest the song, I love 'Without You' as used in Rules of Attraction, makes me go all woozy!

Posted by: Lisa S at June 19, 2009 5:22 AM

Best:

Mickey Mouse at the end of "Full Metal Jacket". Also "Paint It Black" over the credits.

The Kinks' "Strangers" in The Darjeeling Limited funeral scene.

Worst:

Limp Bizkit in anything.

Posted by: ben at June 19, 2009 5:23 AM

HELLO. No mention of South Park or Team America.

Posted by: Fucka doodle doo at June 19, 2009 9:25 AM

South Park music is inspired. When Satan serves "up there" I cry a little. When they parody Les Mis with "tomorrow night" I was both impressed and in stitches.

Someone mentioned space jam. I agree! I think that music is fan fucking tastic. You will never find another soundtrack to rile up a high school basketball game more effectively.

Dolly Parton: enough said. (If you thought I was gonna put her under the worst category you can go right ahead and suck it)
9 to 5 and traveling through are fantastic songs and brilliant in their respective movies. Say what you will about her, that big haired big boobed lady can write one hell of a moving song. *Side note: she wrote 9 to 5 using her acrylic fingernails. Name me any other person who can do that...that's what I thought.

Posted by: Avery at June 19, 2009 12:04 PM

Without A Paddle - R. Kelly.

Posted by: Bumwee McGee at June 19, 2009 3:09 PM

Anything Clint Mansell has ever composed is amazing, e.g. The Fountain, Requiem for a Dream, The Wrestler. Fucking genius.

Posted by: SqualorVictoria at June 20, 2009 3:03 AM

BEST -

New Born by Muse in High Tension
The Entire Breakfast On Pluto soundtrack
Kronos Quartet in Requiem For A Dream
Here With Me by Dido in Love Actually
'THe Beast' by ANgelo Badalamenti in Mulholland Drive.
Roxanne in Moulin Rouge
Jessie's GIrl in Boogie Nights
Damn in feels good to be a gangsta - Office Space

WORST - 'Last Goodbye' covered by Scarlet Johannson in He's Just Not That Into You

The entire Adventures In Babysitting soundtrack

Posted by: bubblegumshoe at June 21, 2009 1:28 PM

Definitely agree with 'Times They Are A-Changing' in Watchmen, and 'Where Is My Mind' by Pixies in Fight Club.

I'd like to add 'Stuck In The Middle With You' by Steeler's Wheel in Reservoir Dogs. He's gone off the boil a little in the last decade, but my God did Tarantino nail the soundtracks for RD and PF.

Posted by: Bronson at June 21, 2009 7:26 PM

The entire soundtrack of Rocket Science is BRILLIANT. Violent Femmes on cello? Violent Femmes in general? Plus Eef Barezlay? sooo good.

Posted by: Ashley at June 21, 2009 9:45 PM

This will be ignored probably, but I'm just watching Toy Story 2 and I HAVE to say that "When She Loved Me" is one of the most beautiful musical interludes ever.

Posted by: figgy at June 22, 2009 1:26 AM