Pajiba

"In your eyes"

Peter Gabriel. you know the film..

Oh yes.

"Oh la la" -The Faces

at the very end of Rushmore

the Gipsy Kings version of Hotel California during the introduction of Jesus Quinta in "The Big Lebowski". one of the most important movie moments of all time. dare i say....biblical.

Excellent!!!! Bravo!! Dustin...you have touched me like no other has! I shall treasure this mix of what can best be described as a fantastic assortment of scenes. Proves that even bad movies have at least one or two good scenes.

While I concur with all of your choices, I must add that I also thought the scene in Vanilla was perfect. However, there was a better one...the music that was playing at the very end, when he is on the roof talking to his "Tech Support" was, for lack of a better word, "Moving".

I heard that song played on XM Radio, and was immediately reminded of that great scene. I just wish I knew the name of the song!

Thanks, Nevin.

I needed that.

Damn it feels good to be a gangsta has to be one of my all-time faves.

This is one of my favorite pieces ever, Dustin. I (heart) you. Also, I think "Lust for Life" from the opening of Trainspotting is a good pick...the drums that go along with the pounding of Renton's and Spud's feet on the pavement is absolutely perfect. Oh, and so is "Perfect Day" in the same movie, with Renton being dragged off to the hospital.

Reservior Dogs opening sequence, "Little Green Bag"

Perhaps, Perhaps (Doris Day) from Strictly Ballroom-- lots of good music and scenes from that one.

"No, no, no-- it'll look worse. Go that way."

Brilliant.

"Thinkin' of you workin' up an appetite, lookin' forward to a little afternoon delight."

This totally made my day. That episode of Arrested Development? I wet my pants. Your true brilliance was evidenced in your Sports Night reference. Casey waiting out the 90 days until asking her out with Neil Finn playing in the background was delightful. ALmost as brilliant was the episode's ending with the Dana-Casey smooch to the sounds of "It's In His Kiss". Great television.

While on the subject of Reservoir Dogs, I would also suggest "Stuck in the Middle With You" or Joe Tex's "I Gotcha." I heard that song in a Dr. Pepper ad recently and all I could think of was that cop getting his ass kicked. Dr. Pepper must think no one has ever seen Reservoir Dogs, unless they WANT their product to be associated with gratouitous violence.

The one song that I can never separate from the movie when I hear it is "True" by Spandu Ballet (yes, I had to look that up). It's the song Steve Buschemi sings at the end of "Wedding Singer".
It plays on the god-awful EZ Rock radio station at work, and every time I hear it, I expect him to say "Robbie and Julia-ha-ha"

Dr. Pepper? What about the phone company that uses that 5-6-7-8's song from the end of "Kill Bill Vol. 1" (sorry, I don't know what it's called)? Talk about disturbing associations!

Oh, in talking about Arrested Development how can we forget Europe's "The Final Countdown?" I can no longer hear that song and not think of G.O.B. Bluth.

"Tired of Being Alone" by Al Green

This song plays at the end of Dead Presidents, when the cops are raiding Chris Tucker's house, only to find him dead and Soul Train playing in the background.

what about the chemical brothers? song that's playing in the lobby scene of the matrix?

I can't believe you would leave out "Fight the Power" by Public Enemy during the opening of "Do the Right Thing." You can't listen to that song without thinking about Rosie Perez boxing and dancing.

good choices...I have two to add! weee!

Like the other commenter, I second Reservoir Dogs, "Stuck in the Middle with You," while he cuts off the police officer's ear, and

From Rules of Attraction, Harry Nilsson's "Without You," the suicide in the bathtub scene...

(should I be concerned that my most musically connected scenes are both very violent ones? hmmm...and funny, the other Harry Nilsson song, the coconut one, at the end of Reservoir Dogs is rather inducive too... what is it about Harry Nilsson?)

Solid list, but I would include one more.
"We'll Meet Again" by Vera Lynn at the end of Dr. Strangelove. Hearing this song full of longing and desperate optimism as the nuclear bombs are exploding is the perfect end to a perfect movie.

I like Mad World, and it is perfect for the ending montage and summation of the movie, but the song from Donnie Darko that does it for me is Tears for Fears' "Head Over Heels." I have made people who've never seen the movie and don't know anything about it sit through that scene, starting when the piano begins and Donnie jumps off the bus, and it always makes them want to see the whole thing just based off that one clip. It's amazing just to crank up the volume and listen and watch, especially when there are herbal refreshments involved.

As embarrassing as it is to admit, my best friend and I would spend entire afternoons acting out the 'log dancing' scene from Dirty Dancing to 'Hey Baby' by Bruce Channel. I can't hear that song without fighting the urge to pretend I'm balancing on a log, about to fall into Patrick Swayze's arms.

And speaking of 80's movies, can anyone hear 'What a Feeling' without thinking of the Flashdance audition scene?

I guess with dancing movies it's a lot easier to associate a song with a scene and maybe not as earth-moving as heroin overdose + 'Perfect Day'.

Oh Lord, I could write a dissertation on this, because I'm a soundtrack dork...

Where Do We Go From Here - Buffy the Vampire Slayer (yeah, emphasis on "dork")

Only Living Boy in New York - Garden State (ah, get bent Braff haters)

Playing with the Boys - shirtless volley ball scene from Top Gun (awful song in a ridiculous movie, but admit it - you know it well)

Big Empty - The Crow, one of the first modern "genre" movies to really use a soundtrack effectively

Moby song in every freaking Michael Mann movie.

The Elliot Smith song from the end of Good Will Hunting, when the car is just driving down the highway.

Pusherman, from Superfly

The Sound of Silence - The Graduate

I'll stop before I explode.

Back to the Big Lebowski-I cannot hear "Lookin' Out My Back Door" by CCR without thinking of the Dude, driving home, fresh from retrieving his stolen junker from the police lot, with a beer between his legs, smoking a joint, and all the hilarity that ensues directly thereafter. I crack up every time that song comes up on the radio.

Hornby really knows his pop-culture music, doesn't he? The truthfulness of some of his writings astounds me still. I was personally a little disappointed in the movie version of High Fidelity at first because various things - one being the difference of ending. But I've come to find that if you take the movie as a mostly separate entity that just happens to have the same name and basic plot as the book, the Jack Black "Let's Get it On" ending is really quite rather fantastic. And the more I thought of the ending, the more I really liked the movie too, as much as I still think it doesn't quite do the book justice.

Since you mentioend the Coreys, how 'bout Echo & The Bunnymen covering "People are Strange" in The Lost Boys?

I can't hear "Layla" by Derrick and the Dominoes without thinking of the dead body montage in Goodfellas. The end of that song will forever in my mind have a mobster dangling from a meat hook.

Soooo glad you mentioned "Wise Up" in Magnolia! That was my first thought. As I was reading this and scrolling down the page slowly, I was hoping I see that and I did! Kudos to you for including it!

I know it's just a performance bit, but I still enjoyed it a lot.

In Talk to Her, there's a scene a party, and the song is called Cucurrucucu Paloma. I don't remember much else from the scene. Maybe it's not definitive, but it sure was pretty.

Oh, and I'm sorry, I must be a little younger, but "Pusherman" by Curtis Mayfield only makes me think of Jim Carrey in Cable Guy when he hooks up Matthew Broderick w/ the hooker. Sorry I had to admit I saw that movie, but Carey's glued on moustache and the way he walks in that scene are hilarious!

Another one I just thought of...Bob Dylan's "You Belong to Me" (I think that's the title) playing in Natural Born Killers when Mickey and Malorey Knox just killed her father (John Goodman) and start they're killing spree.

Another shameful reference:
"Great Balls of Fire" always makes me think of the Meg Ryan/Anthony Edwards piano scene in Top Gun.

Oh this makes me so happy, as I cling desperately to lost art of the mix tape. As does the Neil Finn reference (secret handshake) What a great list.

This is a fun game, so I'll put out my cheesiest favorite: Asia's Heat of the Moment in the 40 year old virgin. It was corny as hell and fit so perfectly with the comedy.

Helkat, I too have seen Cable Guy, though honestly don't remember anything except the scene at the medieval place. But Pusherman was written for Superfly... in fact the whole album is outstanding.

I agree with Amber about Doris Day's "Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps" in Simply Ballroom. It's interesting listening to Baz's commentary on that scene, about how the song was breaking their budget but he had to use it.

I disagree with the Nico song for the Royal Tenenbaums - the movie is filled with fantastic music, and I'd pick the orchestral version of "Hey Jude" in the introduction, or "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard", or even the relatively obvious use of Elliott Smith's "Needle in the Hay" during the suicide attempt. Maybe it was just Gwyneth's blandness in that movie, but I thought all of those songs had way more of an emotional punch.

this list is the fusion of my three favorite things, music movies and mix tapes.

suggestions are;
skip james, devil got my woman, from ghost world,
or, sufjan steves, chicago, from little miss sunshine.

also, amber, i though i was the only one absolutely floored by that bathtub suicide scene from rules of attraction

TK, I don't doubt you at all, hence my reference to possibly being a little younger than you. I do remember something in my youth about Superfly, but sadly, it revolves aroung the WWF and Superfly Snooka! HA!

And The Final Countdown w/ G.O.B. and his magic tricks...Oh lord, I'm dying!

Ooh, Ooh, I've got another one! "I'm Alright" from Caddyshack! Who doesn't think of the little shimmying gopher whenever they hear that??

Has anyone out there seen Billy Elliot? I LOVED this movie.


I love how the soundtrack for the movie is all about T. Rex and rock songs... and then you hit my favorite scene in the movie.


Billy's rehearsing with his teacher after he's just taken out all his frustrations on her and she slaps some sense back into him. You go from this incredibly tense scene to this beautiful, intimate look at Billy's practice time -- when he's really free.



And the song that defines that moment is "A Child is Born," played by Thad Jones. So hauntingly beautiful. It breaks my heart every time I watch this scene.

Oh you poor, inexperienced younguns. I gotta go back to the movie (and song) that started all this:

Born to be Wild - Easy Rider

You could feel the energy level in the movie theater just jump. It was a great moment in cinema...thekeez

Holy shit, just about everything from Jackie Brown, but "Across 110th Street" is very iconic for both Pam and Jackie as she moves on to a new life. Just letting the camera sit on her face as she's driving for almost the entirety of the song is one of the most poignant moments I've seen in movies.

Also, the classical music from 2001. I know, but it's true.

My guilty pleasure is Harry Belafonte - "Jump in the Line" from Beatlejuice.

Don't sell yourself short, Helcat - Jimmy Superfly Snooka is ooooold school. We may be closer than you think. And nice call on Caddyshack. "Hey everybody! We're all gonna get laid!"

And I know this is gonna make me sound a little... weird... but Me'shell NdegeOcello's "Beautiful" in the love scene in Lost and Delirious is a great moment. Is it creepy that I'm citing a movie with a lesbian love scene between two boarding school students? Yes. Does that diminish the effectiveness of the scene? Absolutely not.

Also, let's not forget O Brother Where Art Thou, particularly Hard Time, Killing Floor Blues. Though the R.L. Burnside version is faaaaar superior.

Oh, Stephie, you read my mind!! Love "Layla" on it's own, but, yeah, I too see guys on meat hooks and rolling into garbage trucks now!!

And, Helcat, John Goodman does not play Mallory's father in "Natural Born Killers". That was the late great Rodney Dangerfield (gonna check and make sure you're REAL clean....)

This list is brilliant...here's an obscure addition...."O Fortuna" from "Excalibur"--the knights are riding again, Arthur is healed and the land is in bloom...fabulous.

"Car Wash" anyone?

Can anybody drive down the road, hear "Bohemian Rhapsody" on the radio, and not begin banging your head, thanks to "Wayne's World"?

Beating the bar owner with pool cues to the tune of "Don't Stop Me Now" from Shaun of the Dead? Oh, God, I could do this for days....

Oh man, I LOVE "Across 110th Street"

I personally adore Stephanie Says in the Royal Tannenbaums, but I think almost EVERY song in the film is just so...so perfect, like in Rushmore as well, everytime I hear a song that was used in the film I instantly connect it to a scene from Rushmore. With that in mind, I'd like to vote for the song that plays while Max and Herbert are retaliating against each other, because it has such joie de vivre and hilarity behind it. I think the song is called You're Forgiven (or something like that), but I'm not sure who it's by. I also particularly like the last song as well, I think it's by Van Morrison but I'm not sure. I may be getting confused with Royal Tannenbaums. At this rate, I'll just say that Wed Anderson really knows how to pick good people to do music for his films. They're just so nostalgic and perfect! And Where Is My Mind by the Pixies in Fight Club was the single best ending to a movie song EVER! It was quite funny and fitting. I really enjoyed your list, you should do stuff like this more often, thanks!

And that Mad World song is so amazing and haunting, thanks for mentioning it!

Good call on Cucurrucucu Paloma - I spent months tracking down the artist and CD after seeing that movie.

All of the music in Tstosi is amazing, but especially the opening sequence to Mdlwembe by Zola.

maylai - that scene in Lebowski where he hits the dumpster while listening to CCR is indeed hysterical - one we've rewound many a time. That tune is forever changed for me as well.

Ooh! Tsotsi! Good call. Along those lines, "Unomathemba" from A Dry White Season is also great.

And while it's NOT a good movie, Una Palabra in Man on Fire is used beautifully.

BonBon-You are correct! Wonder what made me think John Goodman?! Weird! I must have been subliminally thinking of him though b/c I mentioned the Caddyshack song after that. Dangerfield was sooo creepy in that movie.

TK-Another Me'shell song that has nothing (I think) to do w/ a movie, but is so awesome: I think it's called "If that's your Boyfriend..." the next words in that line go "...he wasn't last night!" HA! She's got an amazing voice!

Helcat, I love you. That song rocks (off of Plantation Lullabies)! Who else has lyrics like "call me what you like, while I boot slam your boyfriend tonight!"

"Yoo Hoo" by Imperial Teen: where we are first introduced to the girls in Jawbreaker. That movie is always overlooked, and that moment is classic.

"A Million Miles Away" by The Plimsouls: where Nicolas Cage and Deborah Whatshername discover adult attraction for the first time in Valley Girl. I watched that movie when I was a kid and thought, "Oh. So that's what the big deal is about. No wonder people want to have sex." This is a big deal for a grade schooler.

"All By Myself" by Jamie O'Neal: where Bridget Jones gets drunk by herself in her apartment in Bridget Jones Diary. Although not great cinema, that movie was hilarious, and that scene touched a chord in single women over 23 everywhere.

"God Only Knows" by the Beatles: rolling over the end credits from Love Actually. That movie was so much better than I expected and that song made me turn to my mom and give her a hug.

How about the inspired use of "Just Like Heaven" in "Just Like Heaven?"

So much fun reading what people come up with! For what it's worth...
1. Cream, Sunshine Of Your Love - Goodfellas
The camera slowly inching up to DeNiro sitting at the bar, in time with the bass line. Marty sure can pick 'em.
2. The Who, The Seeker - American Beauty
Brilliant song to jog to on the last day of your life.
3. Brothers Johnson, Strawberry Letter 23 - Jackie Brown
A long-forgotten song, now a favorite. Perfect for dates and driving short distances with someone in your trunk.

Okay, everytime I hear Loverboy "Everybody's Working For The Weekend" Chris Farley and Patrick Swayze on SNL.

And I don't care what anyone says about The Life Aquatic, the David Bowie music, and then in Portugese is genius!

Oh and how could I forget!

the Smiths "Panic" in Shaun of the Dead.

Gina -- the song you're thinking of is A Quick One While He's Away by The Who. And that was going to be my pick as well; Anderson always uses songs well, but that one is particularly amazing, his best choice, surely much better than the Nico (I am also a Jackson Browne fan, and don't much care for her version, although it works in the scene).

also, Beck's cover of Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime at the end of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind came about as close as a song in a film ever has to shattering the bones around my heart.

Fucking perfect, Dustin. Right down to the Jack Black cover of Let's get it on. I will offer a few of my own:


Standoff (1998): Last scene. Hot Chocolate's I Believe in Miracles plays as Robert Sean Leonard's FBI agent character-wounded- limps to freedom after Natasha Henstridge's character is suddenly (via Deus Ex machina) killed. Nice symmetry.

Apocalypse now: Opening scenes: The End by the Doors. That song set the tone for the whole movie and Col. Willard's descent into the 'Heart of Darkness'. It signified the end of life, the end of the Apple Pie view of war, the end of innocence, the end of Willard's career all in conflux at the end of the Nung River. I think even Martin Sheen left that jungle a little crazier than he went in in. Never get out of the boat.

Lord of the Rings: Wood Elves' lament for Gandalf's death. Kidding.

Oh, Kitty X....how could I forget Bridget?? I LOVE Bridget, hell, most of my friends and I ARE Bridget.

And, God Only Knows at the end of Love Actually is by the Beach Boys. It is a great way to end that film....I also love the use of the Beatles "All You Need is Love" in the wedding scene. If that doesn't absolutely bury what you thought was your most romantic experience, nothing will.

Thanks Bon Bon. And, tragically, I knew that. I must chalk it up to hunger pains as the result of a skipped lunch.

The instrumental version of "Playground Love" by Air at the very end of The Virgin Suicides is perfect.

"Something Tells Me I'm Into Something Good" by Herman's Hermits, over the getting-to-know-you montage to end all montages, from The Naked Gun.

I second "We'll Meet Again" from Dr. Strangelove.

But howbout:

and "Day-O" from Beetlejuice

and "Danny Boy" from Miller's Crossing

"God Only Knows" in Love Acutally is by The Beach Boys. And the only version of "Just Like Heaven" that should be used in movies is the one by The Cure.

One of my favorite songs ever to be used in a movie, is "Caramel" by Suzanne Vega in Closer.

OR

"Cover of the Rolling Stone" by Dr. Hook in Almost Famous

"Oh La La" at the end of Rushmore. Also "I am Waiting" by the Rolling Stones. What can I say, I (heart) Wes Anderson.

Beck's cover of "Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometime" always makes me tear up even though I have seen Eternal Sunshine more than 20 times.

Wonderful! Wonderful! by Johnny Mathis as the gimps drive away with their mom in the trunk from, "The X Files"
Home (1996)

hmm, my favorite is absolutely the intro too "kids" when they come to the opening credits crashing into "daddy doesnt understand" by folk implosion, so perfect.

hey man nice shot by filter in the opening scene of Demon Knight (tales from the crypt). For some reason I always picture the car chase when I hear that song.

Also the sarah mclachlan song that plays when buffy runs away after killing angel in whatever the hell season that was of buffy the vampire slayer.

Um any song from rocky horror will result in me being able to spontaneously quote the script but I don't think musicals are supposed to count here.

How soon is now by morrissey during The craft when the witches are at the chain link fence watching the football game

Can y'all stand one more?
Battle Without Honor Or Humanity, by RZA from Kill Bill Vol. 1
Walking down the street with that on the player, you feel like O-Ren herself. Also good to psych up before important meetings.

"Wonderful! Wonderful! by Johnny Mathis as the gimps drive away with their mom in the trunk from, "The X Files"
Home (1996)"

God, thanks a lot for that flashback MRod. That episode tortured the crap out of me...I was much younger when that aired (13 to be exact, with a massive crush on David Duchovny) and I cannot hear that song without wanting to run and hide from the inbreds. Damn.

Put me down for most pathetic contribution: "This Will Be" by Natalie Cole, in (the horrible, but somehow memorable) "Taxi" (Queen Latifah and Jimmy Fallon version). I can no longer hear that song without screeching the high bits...

Which is upsetting, because it used to remind me of the end of "The Parent Trap" remake, which was wonderful if only because it immortalized a cute, pre-coke Lindsay Lohan.

And I'll also submit Damien Rice's "Cannonball" from "In Good Company" - sort of captures the relationship between Topher Grace and Scarlett Johannson's characters perfectly.

I also loved the list, all of them are wonderful moments (especially Afternoon Delight) but everyone is forgetting some great moments in soundtrack history...

1) You Never Can Tell by Chuck Berry, Pulp Fiction. A perfect song for dancing, and it foreshadows whats going to happen next.

2) Go Ask Alice by Jefferson Airplane, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Maybe its just me, but I cant help but think of Johnny Depp throwing an orange into the bathtub "when the song peaks".

3) Foxy Lady by Jimi Hendrix, Wayne's World. While Bohemian Rhapsody is more famous, I think Garth's mating dance to attract his dream woman is one of the funniest things I've ever seen. How can you hear that song without making the ears!?

4)Magic Moments by Perry Como, Dogma. The irony kills me, as does the look on Jay and Bob's faces when they're in the diner. Admittedly, while I like all the song placements in that movie, this one just sticks out the most.

And finally....

5) La Cenerentola Overature by Rossinni, Closer. This is the song that plays while the two men chat online. While most people probably couldn't identify it, it is placed in the scene perfectly, so that each swell in the music matches a big idea in the conversation. It suggests that the two are dancing around each other in perfect time to the music.

So many others, but those I really love.

Since someone called me out on my mistaken song genesis, I must do the same.

"Battle Without Honor or Humanity" was recorded by Tomoyasu Hotei.

*sigh* I feel so dirty.

"I can't believe you would leave out "Fight the Power" by Public Enemy during the opening of "Do the Right Thing.""

So true. I heard that song this morning and was thinking of how kick-ass that part of the movie is! Uncanny. Also love the use of "Teenage Wasteland" in Summer of Sam (an otherwise just-okay movie). Spike Lee's use of music is always pretty damn good.

Also agree with "Head over Heels" in Donnie Darko - just incredible. Also loved the resurrection of The Church's "Under the Milky Way" in that movie. I love that movie so much, partly because Donnie and I are contemporaries to the year.

Music moments in good movies are so easy to find - how about some transcendent ones in mediocre/shitty movies? The Verve's "Bittersweet Symphony" in Cruel Intentions and the cover of "Summer Breeze" in the beginning of I Know What You Did Last Summer.

I have to agree with jessecoombs, "Across 110th Street" by Bobby Womack was quite possibly, for me anyway, the perfect marriage of music and actor in a movie. Pam Grier was so perfectly heavy handed with her facial expressions during the final scene, as she drives her stolen Mercedes off into whatever sunset awaits ballsy stewardesses that have a penchant for the Delfonics.

Best line (can't resist): "AK-47. When you absolutely must kill every mutha fucka in the room, accept no substitutes."

good mix, but here are two vitals that are missing:

sussudio by phil collins(or however you spell it)- the hooker sex scene in american psycho

rockit by herbie hancock- the scene in the "peaches" episode of six feet under when nate converses with a corpse at a funeral

Some thoughts from another strangely proud Gen-Xer...
For me, it's "Little Child, Running Wild" off the "Superfly" soundtrack. God, I love that song. Story of my life. ---
From "Harold and Maude", it's after they make love, and Bud Cort (mmm...) is sitting up in bed blowing bubbles, and the song is "I Think I See the Light." Beautiful. ---
I'll never apologize for loving Jackson Browne! Nico took his virginity when he was like 17 and she was 35 or something, and when she covered "These Days" he was thrilled. --- Rebekah Del Rio singing "Llorando"in "Mullholland Drive." Gives me chills. ---
In "Thumbsucker", they used an absolutely beautiful cover of Big Star's "Thirteen" by Elliott Smith. Not a great movie but the song makes me cry. ---
In "A Clockwork Orange" where Alex is walking through the record store in time to Walter (Wendy) Carlos Williams' Beethoven's 9th Symphony. Coolest Scene EVER!! ---
I'll second the motion for "The Blue Danube"/space flight in "2001." ---
And "Eaten By The Monster of Love"/teen sex in "Valley Girl." Also, "The Fanatic" during the party scene. And The Plimsouls/sex in the club. God, I love that movie. Nick Cage -- what the HELL happened to you?!!??

I'll leave it at that. Sorry, but I get really into this sort of thing.

Everything from "The Big Chill", the movie that defined the movie soundtrack, and got people interested in Motown again.

There's this one song from Grey's Anatomy that sticks in my head.

Kendall Payne - Scratch. It plays in an episode of the second season, where Meredith sees the old lady die by all her friends and then goes and breaks down.

Another one, that I'm frankly ashamed of...

Love Spit Love - How Soon Is Now. Always reminds me of how good Charmed used to be; when Shannen Doherty was so much better than Alyssa Milano.

That's it!

I didn't like Morvern Callar that much, but I loved the scene where she walks through the flourescent green supermarket listening to "Some Velvet Morning."

Scorsese using Donovan's "Atlantis" for a brutal murder in Goodfellas...

Fincher using Bowie's "The Heart's Filthy Lesson" over the scrolling-up end credits of Seven...

I applaud the list, and especially the inclusion of The Breakfast Club/Don't You. However, since TBC is my favorite movie of all time (I love it more than jesus) and since Don't You is my personal theme song and has been since 1985, I abhor its placement at #2. #2? #2 is where you put the not-that-great song you aren't sure should be on the mix, the song that everyone forgets about; it's not where you put the song that defines in three minutes our generation, Dustin. It should close the tape! COME ON.

P.S. An enthusiastic seconding of You Never Can Tell, Pulp Fiction.

"Wonderful! Wonderful! by Johnny Mathis as the gimps drive away with their mom in the trunk from, "The X Files"
Home (1996)"

I third this! That episode was on TNT a little while back and it still scares the crap out of me. Glad to know I'm not the only one.

I'm also glad so many people agreed with my Reservoir Dogs suggestions.

Along the same lines, I could suggest one of several songs from the closing credits of the Sopranos....

The Kinks-Living on a Thin Line

Johnny Thunders-Can't Put Your Arms Around a Memory

Dean Martin-My Rifle, Pony, and Me

All great songs forever associated with Jersey accents and Tony Soprano's mouth-breathing

Oh jeez so many movie memories. and of course, a few suggestions of my own

1)almost anything ever on the TV show Homicide: Life on the Streets. Some standouts include Suzanne Vega's "Blood Makes Noise" in the episode "All is Bright", "Boom Boom Boom" in the episode "the Documentary", "What if God was One of Us" in "Sniper Part 1", and "No No No" (not the Eve cover I don't think) in the first Luther Mahoney episode.

2) Most of the Grosse Pointe Blank soundtrack, but especially the scene with "Under Pressure" and john Cusack realizing his mortality with the baby... i dunno I'm a sucker for John Cusack.

3) I know you already picked the John Hughes song for the mix tape, but c'mon... the Duckie scene to "Try a Little Tenderness"? Is pretty awesome.

4) Pulp Fiction. I'm drawing a blank on the song, but the one that plays when they're in the basement with Zed.

5)The theme for Requiem for a Dream. When they used it in LOTR commercials, I was so confused.

6) The aria in Shawshank Redemption from Marriage of Figaro. It's so delicate and soaring, such a contrast to the prison life.

7)Velvet Goldmine, anyone? I love that soundtrack. it's so of the era.

8) "Moon River" Breakfast at Tiffany's

9) "As Time Goes By" Casablanca
...i need to get out more...

Shameful yet I must -

"If You Were Here" by the Thompson Twins, from the end of Sixteen Candles (birthday cake, sitting on the dining room table). Did, does, and will always bring a tear - and make me feel like the longing fourth-grade dork I was.

Damn, i was gonna add my 2c but pretty much everyone here read my mind. All fantastic choices. By the way, the person at the top who mentioned the end of Vanilla Sky: that was Sigur Ros. One of the best bands in the world.

No, wait...I just thought of two more that I don't think have been.

The Blower's Daughter - Damien Rice: Closer
It'll All Work Out - Tom Petty
My Father's Gun - Elton John (both Elizabethtown...yeah, I liked Elizabethtown. Sue me. Crowe rocks.)

One more: Freebird. The Devil's Rejects. Fuck yeah.

The list is awesome and I now want to watch the things I haven't seen, just for those songs.

I know the Neil Finn song from "Felicity" - I know, I know, but there was some amazing music on that show, especially in the beginning. Which brings me to my addition: Aretha Franklin's cover of Bridge Over Troubled Water, from the 1st season Thanksgiving episode. It was perfect, and far more affecting than a scene from Felicity had the right to be. I've actually seen the scene with a different song (syndication sucks) and it doesn't pack the same punch.

Amen to "Llorando", Vivian Girl.

I second Keith's Gypsy Kings in The Big Lebowski. Fantastic.

And someone else mentioned the Big Chill. The only song that worked for me on that soundtrack was The Rolling Stones with "You Can't Always Get What You Want", which pretty much set up the whole movie.

What about Desmond Dekker's "The Israelites" in Drugstore Cowboy? Not a great movie, but an unbelievably good use of a song.

Just off the top of my head, I can't listen to Que Sera, Sera without thinking about Heathers.

Also:

The Cars' "Moving In Stereo" in the classic pool scene from Fast Times at Ridgemont High.

And I don't know if this counts (because it was their movie and all) but put on "Love, Reign O'Er Me" by the Who and I see a moped on the white cliffs of Dover.

Grosse pointe blank: the opening scene where he shoots the cyclist 'its gonna be a bright, sunshiny day'. No idea what the song is called but i always remember it heh.

An espisode of the sopranos; scene cut to christoper shooting up, Certamente by Madreblu is playing. Its not an english song but it suits the mood perfectly and any time the song pops up on my ipod i remember the scene vividly.

And this will probably annoy a lot of people but: I crack up every time i hear the opening line to that song from Snakes on a plane. I should probably be shot huh... hehe

Kudos on the list, its great, mad world kills me

Dev

dustin, this is such a great idea. and i love your list! i'd add the dylan songs in "Wonder Boys" - 'not dark yet' and 'shooting star' are both incredible.

Hey, Anna, that version of "How Soon Is Now" in The Craft wasn't performed by Morrissey - it was the Love Spit Love cover, which was later used in Charmed. I think it was a better version.

The other great cover in The Craft, which was a crap movie with a good soundtrack, was the great Juliana Hatfield version of Marianne Faitfull's "Witches Song". It was an obvious choice, but it's got some great power chords, and Juliana makes it work.

eayh great comments all around here, I have 2 more to add to the list

Hotel California-the entire back half of "Chungking Express," I dont know of any other movie where a song plays so many times and never gets old, and really captures the whole tone of the 2nd story.

"The third man theme" from the movie of the same name, what a risk to put a whole movie's soundtrack on the back of a single person playing a lone insrument, and it couldnt have paid off any more

Donnie Darko on the list! *fangirl squee*

I just wanted to add:

"Holy Fool" from the shooting-up-the-deli scene in Boondock Saints. It just fits so well, and it's a really good song out of context anyway.

Great stuff. A few additions:

Moby, God Moving Over the Face of the Moon during the last scene in Heat (Michael Mann)

Whatever was playing during Last of the Mohicans (Michael Mann) during the last scene where they're chasing up the mountain

Number of songs from Boogie Nights, especially when we first meet the crew during the pool party.

Bruce Springsteen, Secret Garden, Jerry Maguire

"Holiday Road" (?) from National Lampoon's Vacation

The song playing during an episode of "Boomtown" when they juxtaposed a prison execution with finding a cop held hostage.

Kate Bush's "This Woman's Work" in She's Having a Baby

"sweetness follows" by R.E.M., in Vanilla Sky, when Tom is abandoned in a street by Jason Lee and Penelope Cruz, heartbreaking, is like watching your friends movin on, getting a life while you can`t overcome your deformities, your emotional deformities.

"sweetness follows" by R.E.M. in Vanilla Sky

Ok, I know it wasn't exactly a cinematic gem, but I'm really surprised no one's mentioned the Napoleon Dynamite dance scene with "Just Dance" by Jamiraquoi!

jelinas-I love the opening scene of Billy Elliot with "Cosmic Dancer" by T-Rex!

Also: "White Wedding" by Billy Idol in the Wedding Singer, "Hallelujah" by Rufus Wainwright in Shrek, & "I'm Sitting On Top Of The World" by Al Jolson in Richard III (w. the crazed Ian McKellen spinning down into flames...makes me feel like cackling maniacally)

A lot of great ones were mentioned already such as "Without You" and "White Rabbit" but here are a few more...
"Goldenbrown" by The Stranglers---Snatch

"Twist & Shout" by The Beatles---Ferris Bueller's Day Off

"1812 Overture" by Tchaikovsky---V For Vendetta

"Come on Eileen" by Dexy's Midnight Runners---Spaced (TV)...has anyone seen that show?

"Something to Talk About" by Badly Drawn Boy---About a Boy (NICK HORNBY!)

"Black Betty" by Ramjam---Blow...The perfect walking music. I LOVE watching Johnny Depp pound through the airport to the beat.

And about 1200 more...there are too many great moments to list.

I love when Hugh Grant and that kid in "About a Boy" are singing "Killing Me Softly." It's just a mix of tears and laughter.
I also love all the music by Badly Drawn Boy, but especially during the scene where Grant puts the One Hit Wonders CD of his dad's song in and collapses on the carpet. It's either to "Something to Talk About" or "Silent Sigh," I can't remember which.

And I can't hear Johnny Cash's "Hurt" without thinking of that moment in "Smallville" when Danny Glover is looking through the one-way mirror at crazy Michael Rosenbaum.

Love the choices for the Donnie Darko, Arrested Development, and especially the Scrubs one. I watched that episode a little while ago, and it kind of killed me. I cry too much.

I thought *I* was the only one that thinks of Scrubs & Sports Night when I heard "How To Save A Life" and "She Will Have Her Way," respectively.

For me, it has to be the Dawn of the Dead remake title credits with Johnny Cash - The Man Comes Around playing.
Can't hear the song without thinking of zombies now.

I totally agree with "moon river" from breakfast at tiffany's but it will also always remind me of when Big leaves NY on Sex and the City

Also, as many times as I've watched the sketch Blue Oyster Cult's "don't fear the reaper" will always remind me of Will Ferrell and his cowbell

I hate these lists; I can't leave them alone. Because otherwise I'll never get any sleep, I'll just limit myself to movies and shows that aired after I was old enough to even notice there was music (so like 1990-ish).

Since Rushmore, Heat, Pulp Fiction, The Big Lebowski, and Eternal Sunshine ... have been covered, I'll move on.

Iggy & the Stooges - "I Wanna Be Your Dog" from Lock Stock: a chaotic, earbleed-inducing song for a head-swirling moment in a film that's probably just a little "too cool for school."

Lyle Lovett - "Mack the Knife" from the credits of Quiz Show: this cover (and it is essential that it be a cover) of one of the era's epitomic songs encapsulates the mood. This is one of the most underappreciated films ever.

Paul Westerberg - "Dyslexic Heart" from Singles: it's the worst song in the movie, but it also captures the spirit of it better than any of the others.

Paolo Conte - "Via Con Me" from Mostly Martha: a part English song in a German movie made that just popped out of the movie. It's a playfully Romantic (note capital "R") film that I highly recommend, and the song is even moreso.

Average White Band - "Pick Up the Pieces" from Swingers: this was a bad miss on your part. I feel no need to explain.

Skeeter Davis - "End of the World" from Girl Interrupted: the movie's only okay, but this scene is truly haunting. Winona Ryder walking in on a hanging body as this absurdly vanilla song plays from a record on repeat was surreal enough to plant itself firmly in my head.

Annie Lennox - "Don't Let It Bring You Down" from American Beauty: it's not on the released soundtrack, but it's truly delicious in the film and makes what could be a squirm-worthy scene feel intimate.

Freedy Johnston - "Bad Reputation" from Kicking and Screaming: I have always believed this song totally sucks and I still do, but when I watched this movie a few weeks ago, I was totally struck by how well wonderfully it fit the tone of the (near perfect) ending. Now I kind of love it in spite of myself.

Krishna Das - "Mere Guru Dev" from Mind the Gap: I can't describe this one; you'll just have to look it up. Flawless.

Styx - "Come Sail Away" from the pilot of Freaks and Geeks: an utterly inexcusable miss.

Oh, hell. I'll stop there. This is too hard, and this comment is too long already.

P.S. this is for my fellow "Ooh La La" lovers.

About the only one people haven't mentioned that I was trying to think of as I was reading was "Mannish Boy" by Muddy Waters in Goodfellas.
Awesome.

OH! And "You can't always get what you want" by the Stones at the beginning of Big Chill.

And pretty much the entire resevoir dogs soundtrack. My friend and I listened to it over and over again in grade 9, I think.

Dammit, someone commented while i was writing.

"Average White Band - "Pick Up the Pieces" from Swingers: this was a bad miss on your part. I feel no need to explain."

Oh HELL yeah. That motorcade through the Hollywood hills, the shitty car doors slamming in time with the beat. Gold. That movie is on my alltime favorite list. That song and "Nobody till somebody loves you" always makes me think of the opening montage. Dammit you're right, I get thinking about lists and can't stop

I totally forgot:

How could anyone hear "it's not unusual" by Tom Jones and not think of Carlton Banks or even in the series finale when Will Smith joins in the "carlton dance"

I'm too drunk to think of specific scenes, but pretty much all of Repo Man does it for me.

Gypsy Kings in Lebowski is also an unquestionable classic.

Pulp - Like a Friend in Great Expectations (Cuaron) is so incredibly well put together as well.

My list (in addition to the ones already mentioned - and some of these fall into the "shame" category):

"Just Like Honey" and "Brass in Pocket" - Lost in Translation; "What a Difference a Day Makes" - Run, Lola, Run; "Good-night, Sweetheart" - Three Men and a Baby; "It Must Have Been Love" - Pretty Woman (I know, I know); "And Then He Kissed Me" - Adventures in Baby-sitting; "Johnny B. Good" - Back to the Future; "Hallelujia" - Scrubs (Season 1); "Mozart's Requiem" - Amadeus; "Life Could Be a Dream" (or whatever it's actually called - Clue; "It's Raining Men" - Bridget Jones' Diary. And speaking of SNL sketches - who can hear Haddaway's "What is Love?" without doing that side head-banging thing?

Decent choices, but you neglected the best soundtrack ever: Trainspotting. The cue of choice is Lou Reed's "Perfect Day." That scene with that song never fails to floor me.

Honorable mention for the use of "Sister Christian" in Boogie Nights. One of the most tense scenes in film history, and who would have thought Night Ranger could fit it so well?

Ever since "Silence of the Lambs" I always battle an uncontrollable urge to look over my shoulder when I hear "American Girl" - it's come to symbolyze imminent danger...

Oh, dude. As much as Bohemian Rhapsody is one of my favourite moments in film, there's totally another part of Wayne's World that I just can't disassociate with the song. DREEEEEEEEEAMWEAVER!

I, like many others, was first introduced to Jim Carrol via "The Basketball Diaries". I love his song "People Who've Died" and I can't hear that song w/out seeing Leo in my head.

Also I love Richard Cheese's linge act cover of "Down With the Sickness" from the remake of "Dawn of the Dead". I just picture zombies and the hilarity of this song any time I'm unfortunate enough to hear the original (by Saliva? i dunno). Stupid midwest bars and frat rock.

God, I thought I could stay away... I was so very, very wrong...

Julee Cruise's "Falling" from Twin Peaks is perhaps the most brilliant, haunting song for a TV show.

Either Stevie Ray's "Mary Had a Little Lamb" or the ending's use of The Blasters' "Dark Night" in From Dusk 'Til Dawn.

Purple Rain (yeah, that's right) - the whole damn thing

Sarah Polley's track on The Sweet Hereafter (I forget the name of the song)

"Born Slippy" by Underworld in Trainspotting

I forget who mentioned "Twist and Shout", but I was JUST talking about that on Sunday!

Elmer Bernstein's "Theme from the Magnificent Seven"-- God I fucking love that movie.

And, of course, "Let's Hear It For The Boy", in Footloose! I kid, I kid... sort of.

to all those who brought up "Wonderful, Wonderful" from the scariest episode of the X-Files, ever.....thanks!! God, I can't hear that song without flipping out....the only episode of anything on TV that made me go around and check to make sure all my doors were locked!

What about the duet from "Marriage of Figaro" that Andy Dufresne plays over the prison PA in "Shawshank Redemption"? I am not an opera buff, but the power of the music in that scene and the reactions of the men, is breath-taking.

Whenever I hear the song "Clocks" by Coldplay I always think about Peter Pan (2003)...they used it in THE TRAILER! Its not even in the movie. HAH!

ALSO---"Maggie May" by Rod Stewart always makes me think of Heath Ledger sanding surfboards and singing along in "Lords of Dogtown"...They play it on the Muzak at my work a lot and it always makes me smile :)

"Girl" by Urge Overkill from Pulp Fiction.
How can you not play airguitar and then start dancing like a fiend when that comes on?

"Goodbye to You" by Michelle Branch puts visions of Willow getting dumped by Tara and Buffy&Spike making out in my head. Bit troublesome.

Sorry for causing flash backs to scary gimps from the X-Files, but I had to go download that from itunes (Wonderful, Wonderful) when my boyfriend told me it scared the crap out of his ex-wife!

It is always greatness when some happy-go-lucky song is playing while something scary, gross, or evil is happening.

And totally agree with the music from The Third Man, that is Anton Karas on the zither. Love that movie!

You know-I was going to mention the 2001 score. I'm a classical musician, so associations like that are not really all that common for me, but it's hard not to hear Johann Strauss' "Beautiful Blue Danube" waltz and not picture spaceships "dancing" (as beautiful a moment on film as I've ever seen--and it's between inanimate objects!). And the opening "Also Sprach Zarathustra," by that "other" Strauss (Richard) is also hard to disassociate with this movie, even after years in classical music.

(Of course, the one I really can't disassociate from this movie is the eerie monolith music, which is from the late avant garde composer Gyogi Ligeti, one of my heroes. It's hard not to hear his choral music and not think about a big giant slab of alien intelligence. Strangely appropriate, too...)

I feel this isn't entirely on point because it's a movie about Beethoven and this is a Beethoven piece, so it's not quite background. That said, the scene when the older Beethoven is conducting "Ode to Joy" and flashes back to being a child when he ran away from his drunk abusive father, undressed, lay down in the pond, and the camera panned away was just about the most breathtaking movie moment ever for me. I mist up just thinking about it.

1. i still make mix tapes. they take, on average, a week. sometimes over a month.

2. whoever mentioned johnny cash "man comes around" from the dawn of the dead remake, amen.

3. the beta band. "broken up a ding dong" from igby goes down.

Golden Brown by The Stranglers in Snatch, when the pikey knocks out Gorgeous George. The song at first feels anachronistic to the scene, but on account of the song's progression from whimsical harpsichord to the more dominating airy vocals mirrors the development of the scene and Turkish's speech in a slightly awry, yet perfect manner.

What a great comment section!


"Someone to Watch over me", I think from Witches of Eastwick -- I picture a blonde, brunette and redhead, all drunk and warbling whenever I hear it.


"Tu A Vo Americano" from The Talented Mr. Ripley and "My Funny Valentine" from the same movie.


That Frank Sinatra song about 16 being a pretty good year from Big Night.

"I've Got You Babe" - Groundhogs Day. It's my favorite movie, I'm not proud!

A lot of my favorites have already be listed above, but I'd like to add:

Movies
- Beaches || Bette Midler, "Wind Beneath my Wings" (but I was thrilled when they stopped play it on the radio)
- Real Genius || Thompson Twins, "Everybody wants to rule the world"
- Clueless || "Supermodel" (for the makeover scene) and (the intro scene with) "Kids in America"
- Girl, Interrupted || Argh! I can't pick, it's the whole soundtrack but especially the scene with "Time has come today."
- Forrest Gump || This is another one where the half the soundtrack reminds you of the movie, but especially "It keeps you running" and "Against the wind."

TV
- ER episode #? (where Onspaugh's kid dies) || Green Day, "Time of your Life"

Ileana Douglas ice-skating at the end of "To Die For" to "Season of the Witch" by Donovan.
Perfect.

I've got to say "Paint it Black" by the Stones at the end of the Devil's Advocate. It's another one that mostly plays over the end credits, but that song always calls to mind Pacino's cocky little smile right before they roll.

Everybody Wants to Rule the World at the end of Real Genius is Tears for Fears.

Ooh,ooh,ooh......adamae reminded me...not a big Stones fan, but "Sympathy for the Devil" at the end of "Interview with the Vampire" when the dreaded Lestat/Tommy C. ends up in Christian Slater's car, after just hearing about him all night.

Hey, the aria's name in Shawshank Redemption is "Sull'Aria". Its performed by Renee Flemming, who is absolutely amazing.

Also, someone above made a Silence of the Lambs mention, and it reminded me of my favorite moment from a movie that goes with the music. Goodbye Horses!!! Anytime I hear that, I either think of Silence of the Lambs or Clerks II (although both scenes are similar!) and laugh hysterically.

Rocky I can't believe you mentioned "The Israelites" I LOVE that song. My roommate bought his CD because of that movie and then put that song on "repeat" and promptly passed out. I had to listen to that song all night and I STILL LOVE IT. That's the real test, right there.

Can anyone hear Kenny Loggins' "Holiday Road" without thinking of Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo in a loaded-up station wagon?

"Dr. Pepper? What about the phone company that uses that 5-6-7-8's song from the end of "Kill Bill Vol. 1" (sorry, I don't know what it's called)? Talk about disturbing associations! "

The 3 songs by the 5.6.7.8's in the KillBill 1 are
Woo Hoo
I'm Blue
I Walk Like Jayne Mansfield (only 5.6.7.8 original track)

"Ooh,ooh,ooh......adamae reminded me...not a big Stones fan, but "Sympathy for the Devil" at the end of "Interview with the Vampire" when the dreaded Lestat/Tommy C. ends up in Christian Slater's car, after just hearing about him all night. "

Actually a cover by Axl and whoever was in GunsN'Roses at that time

Yes! the Buffalo Bill scene in Silence of the Lambs! Dancing around in his skin suit while that song plays is so disturbing.

And Grosse Pointe Blank? That song is "I Can See Clearly Now" by Johnny Nash. Awesome tune.

I wish somebody else had said this so I wouldn't have to.

"I Want Candy" from Private School. Everytime I hear that song I get... anxious.

Has anyone seen the film All About Lily Chou Chou? It's just got the most brilliant original soundtrack I've heard. Shiori's kite scene is one of the most affecting things I have ever seen. The music is just so perfect. It's also got lots of Debussy piano pieces-I honestly can't recommend this film enough. The rice fields stay with you forever, I swear.

Also "Playground Love" by Air in the Virgin Suicides. It just sets up the mood perfectly. And Bach playing pver Mitsuko's death in Battle Royale. So beautifully done.

My favourite use of music in The Royal Tenenbaums was actually "Stephanie Says" by the Velvet Underground playing over the falcon flying over the city. I adore that song and it was used to fantastic effect.

Stephie--I am so glad that you said this...I was thinking the EXACT same thing and reading the comments to see if anyone else though the same thing. I hear that song in my car and all I can picture is the guy on the meat hook and the guy falling out of the garbage truck. Great song, though!!

"stephie at September 27, 2006 12:48 PM" wrote:
I can't hear "Layla" by Derrick and the Dominoes without thinking of the dead body montage in Goodfellas. The end of that song will forever in my mind have a mobster dangling from a meat hook.

I thought the song in ChungKing Express was 'California Dreaming' rather than 'Hotel California'?

Oh--and how could I forget "You're The Best...Around" by Joe Esposito, from The Karate Kid!! I love that song (haha)...very inspirational!

Rocky - thanks for the kudos on the Gipsy Kings version of Hotel California. just knowing Jesus is about to come on, just as Philip Seymore Haufman says, "well, we just don't know Dude" and the classical flamenco guitar kicks in - its just pure power.

as for really, really, really shitty guilty pleasures, "You're the best.....AROUND" by Joe Esposito from the Karate Kid, during the tournament montage. i mean, that's just so awful its inspiring.

One of my favorite ironic cinematic moments is in Almost Famous when Penny gets her stomach pumped to the tune of Stevie Wonder's "Ma Cheri Amour". Every time I hear that song, it's all I can think of.

did that really get posted four minutes before my comment? that's really frightening.

this might not exactly qualify (and i might be accused of trying a little too hard here), but does anybody else here associate "Dont Fear the Reaper" with More Cowbell?

yay i'm glad someone else mentioned the way Scrubs used "Hallelujah", even though i liked the rufus wainwright verison better. (that song is so overused now though. "without a trace" used it well, but the first episode of the crapfest that is "saved" used it AND "hurt" in a one-two punch. less is more, guys.)
also, it may just be because I know the opera pretty well, but the use of "una furtiva lagrima" as the evil jonathan rhys meyers theme in Match Point was fantastic. it's so mournful, yet at the same time about something that should be happy. really a good choice.

The Mockingbird Song from the opening credits in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. The movie is not great but I love the book and absolutely love Savannah and since I have never heard that song used anywhere else, it is only associated with my most favorite vacation destination ever.

Love this post/thread! Here are my picks:

• El Bosco, "Nirvana" - from the final scene of Millions
  
• Counting Crows, "Colorblind" - Sebastian and Annette sleep together in Cruel Intentions
  
• Frou Frou, "Let Go" - final scene of Garden State
  
• Three Dog Night, "Eli's Coming" - another great one from Sports Night
  
• Yaz, "Only You" - final scene of Can't Hardly Wait
  
• Radiohead, "Talk Show Host" - Leo on the beach in Romeo + Juliet
  

Have to give shout outs to Kev Smith for some excellent music use in Clerks II...Smashing Pumpkin's 1979 and (especially) Soul Asylum's Misery were used absolutely perfectly. As was, of course, Goodbye Horses.

I have to say, and example of bad use of music is The Girl Next Door, a movie which I actually dug a lot. But there was a bunch of great songs (say, for example What's Goin On - possibly the finest song ever written) matched to completely inappropriate scenes. It's like the dude just wanted to throw all his favourite songs in the movie without even considering whether they'd fit.

Great thread. I don't think anyone's mentioned Aimee Mann's cover of Nilsson's "One" at the beginning of "Magnolia," so there it is... which brings to mind another "Amadeus" song/scene where his mother-in-law is screaming at him and is transformed into "The Queen of the Night."

Oh, and anyone who's seen the movie M will probably never think of that Grieg tune without thinking of Peter Lorre's character buying a little girl a balloon in order to get her to go with him so he can molest and murder her. And the melody plays an important role in catching him, too, so it's especially memorable.

"Sarah Polley's track on The Sweet Hereafter (I forget the name of the song)"

She did a lot of the music, but I think you're thinking of "Courage" near the end of the film. It's a cover of a Canadian band called The Tragically Hip. Very awesome and fitting for a very awesome movie.

NW

Snaps to Cait who mentioned the Johnny Cash song "Hurt" on Smallville. I couldn't even watch the show much after that because it just couldn't be topped.

Was it the Prom episode on Buffy the Vampire Slayer where Buffy slow danced with Angel to Mazzy Star's "Fade into You"? Because it devastated.

And "Shout" from Animal House. I know. I know.

And the group sing of "Say a Little Prayer" in My Best Friend's Wedding. It saved the whole film for me.

THANK YOU for including Pump Up The Volume. My favorite movie of all time. Long Live Happy Harry Hard-On!

Dustin you are a clever man. Your wife is a lucky woman.

"as for really, really, really shitty guilty pleasures, "You're the best.....AROUND" by Joe Esposito from the Karate Kid, during the tournament montage. i mean, that's just so awful its inspiring."

...or even better, the same song, except in "It's Always Sunny in Philadelhpia" during the steroid montage. So funny...

Maxine Nightingale's "Right Back Where We Started From" in Slap Shot

If you see the original version of the movie, there are a lot of different songs on the soundtrack but they got replaced for the home video and broadcast versions, and this song got used over and over again. Not that it's a bad tune but it's inseparable from this movie

Melanie's "Brand New Key" from Dirk's 'audition' with Rollergirl in Boogie Nights

I could come up with at least two more for Boogie Nights, including Night Ranger's "Sister Christian" and Beach Boys' "God Only Knows"

Peter, Paul, & Mary's "If I Had A Hammer" from Confessions of a Dangerous Mind

That song gets played a lot in that movie but the PP&M version works well in Chuck's 'Go ahead and shoot me' scene

Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come" from Malcolm X

Just so haunting, almost ominous

Oh wow how could i have mixed up california dreaming and hotel california fron Chungking Express, oh wait "the big lebowski" has been mentioned at least a dozen times... yeah that must be it

Great article!

I'd definitely add Mama Cass' "Make Your Own Kind Of Music" from the Season 2 opener of "Lost." It was always one of my favorite songs, but now it's completely tied to Desmond and the Hatch.

While I concur with all of your choices, I must add that I also thought the scene in Vanilla was perfect. However, there was a better one...the music that was playing at the very end, when he is on the roof talking to his "Tech Support" was, for lack of a better word, "Moving".

I heard that song played on XM Radio, and was immediately reminded of that great scene. I just wish I knew the name of the song!

I have no idea if this has been said yet or if you'll ever read this, but the song is called Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space by the band Spiritualized.

Hard Time Killing Floor Blues from "O Brother..." Absolutely haunting in context.

I believe I mentioned earlier that the song near the end of Vanilla Sky was by Sigur Ros, but here's a little more info for the couple of people who were wondering about it: it's the fourth track from their 2002 album () - yes, those two brackets are the title. It's sometimes referred to as "The Nothing Song", but on the actual album it, like all the other tracks, has no title. www.sigur-ros.co.uk has it for download in the "media" section.

Has to be Dire Straits' "Brothers in Arms" from the extraordinary episode of The West Wing, Two Cathedrals, as the President and his men head to the press conference in the rain.

Extraordinary powerful end to the season.

ip beats us all. We're all morons for missing that. Egads. Great choice.

thanks so much for the fantastic entry! can you make this a regular (or semi regular?) feature?


here are some that might make an appearance on my quasi mix tape thingy:




Laurel Canyon - In A Funny Way by Mercury Rev (perfect song for frances mcdormand's character in this movie, also perfect for a canyon country drive)


Velvet Goldmine - The Fat Lady of Limbourg by Brian Eno (yum, christian bale in horn-rimmed glasses researching mysterious vanished glam rocker)


Platoon - Tracks of My Tears by Smokey Robinson (willem dafoe was so lovable and sweet in this scene)


Kill Bill Vol II - About Her by Malcolm Mclaren


Almost Famous - Tangerine by Led Zeppelin (crowe squeezed this song in at the very end, but i like it even better than tiny dancer)


L.A. Confidential - Hit The Road To Dreamland by Betty Hutton (amazing montage--lots of great cheerful jazzy songs in this film nestled amongst the pathos, corruption, violence etc)


O Brother Where Art Thou? - Didn't Leave Nobody But The Baby by Emmylou Harris, Allison Krauss, and Gillian Welch (very scary and sexy, yet always makes me think of George Clooney saying about the toad "I just don't think that's Pete.")


Snatch - Cross The Tracks (We Better Go Back) by Maceo and the Macks (perfect song for Tyrone, Vince, and Sol and the squeaky dog)


The Beach - 8 Ball by Underworld (a really crappy movie with a really awesome soundtrack)


The Big Easy - Tell It Like It Is by Aaron Neville (one of the sexiest songs ever)


Trainspotting - Perfect Day by Lou Reed (the shot of Ewan sinking into the floor was absolutely gorgeous)

What a great list. Would make a great book: Movielovers Great Soundtrack Guide, or something like that but less stupid sounding.

The list made me think of Pat Garett and Billy the Kid. Not a great movie. Really all I remember of it is Chill Wills (I think he was the actor) as the dying sheriff while Bob Dylan sang "Knockin on Heaven's Door". I always think of that scene and think of my own mortality when I hear that song./

Sia's Breathe Me in the final scene in the final episode of Six Feet Under. Beautifully haunting.
The perfect ending.

I know The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou is pretty much everybody's least favorite Wes Anderson movie, but I have a real soft spot for it, and hearing pretty much any song from the soundtrack starts the scene it's in running in my mind. Particularly the Zombies' "The Way I Feel Inside", which is played during the funeral at sea. Wes Anderson/Mark Mothersbraugh soundtracks always define songs for me (Oh La La to the max!)

My guess is that the vast majority of people have never seen A Thousand Clowns, an excellent old movie (1965) sadly forgotten by almost everybody except for my dad (it's his favorite movie ever). Part romance, part family drama, part weird comedy and part wrestling match with the modern world - it's sort of like a precursor to some of the better indie movies out these days. Anyway, two of the characters sing and play "Yes, Sir, That's my Baby" on ukelele, and I can't think of the song without thinking of the movie, and vise versa. Seriously, track it down if you ever have the chance.

Jaan Pehechaan Ho, the song at the very beginning of Ghost World, with its super-energetic Bollywood dance, juxtaposed with the weird American characters...priceless. That song has graced nearly every mix CD (sorry! no tapes) I've made since that movie came out.

and much love to those above me who mentioned Cucurrucucu in Talk to Her and Sister Christian in Boogie Nights.

ALSO, the beginning of the Labyrinth, when Jennifer Connelly is running through the park with her fluffy dog, and we hear the first strains of David Bowie's excellent soundtrack. "It's only forever, not long at all..."

Here are some of my choices, for what they're worth:

1. "Soulful Strut" by Young-Holt Unlimited - I can't hear this without thinking of that cool handshake thing that (pre-coke, pre-drama, and totally-adorable) Lindsay Lohan does in "The Parent Trap."

2. "Don't Fear The Reaper" by Blue Oyster Cult - jmurae, I think everyone thinks "More Cowbell" when they hear the intro...

3. "Danke Schoen/Twist and Shout" - the Ferris Bueller on a parade float scene. Enough said. :)

4. "Pick Up The Pieces" by Average White Band - Someone mentioned that this is from "Swingers," but I always associated this with "Superman II," because it plays a couple of times in the movie, or the "Wake Up Wakefield" skit on SNL (which was supposed to be a "morning show" for some middle school; the intro music was "Pick Up The Pieces" played very badly by this junior high jazz band). Either way I can't hear this song without thinking of Kryptonians and/or bad junior high jazz bands.

5. "Canned Heat" by Jamiroquai - Long before "Napoleon Dynamite" came out I always thought of that movie "Center Stage" because 1. my teacher actually used this for our dance final (DANCE!) and 2. cheesy movie or not, those thirteen-ish fouettes the main character does at the end (dance...dance...dance...dance...) are unforgettable.

6. "Because" by Elliott Smith - The haunting end to "American Beauty."

Greer, the song in Buffy's prom episode was "Wild Horses" by The Sundays... the soundtrack to my own awkward teenage romances.

Dustin, I liked your inclusion of "If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out" because I actually went to high school near the cliff where they shot the end scene of "Harold and Maude"... I passed it every day on the way to and from school, and there were many, many mornings that I wanted to drive my car off that same cliff.

I just noticed that a lot of my choices sound really, really juvenile and/or mainstream/plebeian/unhip/etc, but I think there's enough obscure indie cred in these lists to outweigh my choices...

Great list! However, I cannot believe that nobody has mentioned Dazed and Confused yet! Free Ride by Edgar Winter and Hurricane by Dylan are infused in my brain with this movie.

"Poison" by Bell Biv Devoe is forever linked with Turk on Scrubs for me now.

How about the last episode of the first Nip/Tuck season with the Carver, when he's got Christian hogtied and all you see is the knife and a single tear running down Christian's paralyzed cheek, and "All I Know" by Art Garfunkel plays:

I bruise you
You bruise me
We both bruise
Too easily

Or "Don't Stop me Now" from Shaun of the Dead

Len's "Steal My Sunshine" from the movie Go! Love that movie!

Brian-
How weird! I was just saying yesterday how much I love that movie and haven't seen it in years. Peter Frampton's "Show Me the Way" sticks out from that movie. As does the classic, "Lowrider."

Love the paddle scenes where Ben Affleck's paddle says: FAH-Q! HA! And the other guy's is named: SOUL POLE!

Brian-
How weird! I was just saying yesterday how much I love that movie and haven't seen it in years. Peter Frampton's "Show Me the Way" sticks out from that movie. As does the classic, "Lowrider."

Love the paddle scenes where Ben Affleck's paddle says: FAH-Q! HA! And the other guy's is named: SOUL POLE!

"Poison" by Bell Biv Devoe is forever linked with Turk on Scrubs for me now.

Posted by: dickie at September 29, 2006 09:03 AM

Ah, dickie, one of the best "Scrubs" moments ever. Bring back the air band!

I also had to mention the ending of "A Life Less Ordinary" and the use of Gladys Knight's (and the Pips') "If I were your woman". I love that song anyway, but that song plus Ewan in a kilt was a bit much to handle, even though the rest of the movie was just blah.

When I hear Loverboy's "Workin' For the Weekend" I think of Grand Theft Auto... same with Twisted Sister's "I Wanna Rock". Too much wasted time on that game.

"I Remember You" - Slim Whitman (House of 1,000 Corpses) Doubt many of you are fans but this is during the long crane shot scene when Otis shoots the Deputy in the head. Chilling.

Not much else to cover, just popping in.

Sia's Breathe Me in the final scene in the final episode of Six Feet Under. Beautifully haunting.
The perfect ending.Oh, jen, I couldn't agree more...sobbing....sobbing...just beautiful. They did a great job with music throughout SFU.

As for "Don't Fear the Reaper" that IS "The Stand" (this.....is.....hell......)

And, "The Wall".....'nuff said

The one movie in cinematic history that I equate every song from it with the specific part that it is in is Forrest Gump. That movie did such a wonderful job of making every scene have a distinct feel because of the music that was used in it. And, it allowed those of us who had not grown up in the 50's, 60's, or 70's a chance to see how music changed with time... From a young forest dancing to Elvis' guitar, to Jenny contemplating suicide during Free Bird; from Forest landing in Vietnam with CCR's Fortunate Son to the multitude of other classic scenes in the film.
And, as stated before, Steeler's Wheel's Stuck in the Middle With You will be forever linked to Mr. Blonde's psychotic torturing of the policeman... as will most any song used in a Quentin Tarentino movie. He is the absolute best at making use of a song that you may not have heard in a while, or even ever, and completely reinventing the meaning/translation of the song, simply because of the scene it is used in.
For example: Lime in the Coconut in Reservoir Dogs... and even the song Like a Virgin, due to Tarentino's rant of its actual meaning. Pulp Fiction's Miserlou (the theme song)... while it used to be a surfing anthem, it is now known as the theme to the movie. When I hear "Up on the corner of 10th Street" I can see Pamela Greer from Jackie Brown. Kill Bill also had its moments of soundtrack gold, when the Rza and Robert Rodrigez (sp?) aren't scoring the film.

A couple of people have mentioned "California Dreaming" in Chungking Express I prefer Faye Wong's cover of the Cranberries "Dream"(which she calls "Dream Person") It is playing when she first breaks into Tony Leung's apartment and starts remaking is life.

Wong Kar Wai is a great one for music. The scene in Fallen Angels where "she" is listening to the jukebox playing Laurie Anderson's "Speak My Language" is haunting.

Oh, in another vein, running the closing credits of Brick, last year's high school noir over the Velvet Underground's "Sister Ray" was deeply satisfying for some reason.

Wait wait wait. What about Eye of the Tiger from Rocky!?!? That song is one of the ultimate picker uppers from a movie that is about a person we can all relate to, the underdog. Guaranteed to make me put on my running shoes and go do something the pulsing adrenaline.

Frankie Valle & the Four Seasons' "Can't Take My Eyes off of You" in "The Deer Hunter." Christopher Walken is just so haunting in that movie.

I love the title track to 24 Hour Party People by Happy Mondays as it plays over the credits. Love it!

Dude, I'm not familiar with the Bad Brains song you're referencing, so maybe they collaborated for one song or something, but Rollins didn't front Bad Brains, he fronted Black Flag.

Bad Brains was some Rastafarian homophobe.

This is a great discussion. I always think of events in my life in terms of music and still make up mix tapes to fit the "soundtrack." And I've never even bothered to try to explain to anyone why a certain Blue Oyster Cult song ("White Flags") is inextricably connected in my brain to the "Elfquest" series of graphic novels.

I'd include the tracks "Hanging" and "Escape" from the movie "Plunkett and Macleane." I'm constantly frustrated by the use of songs NOT from a particular movie's soundtrack being used in previews for that movie. The first time I remember hearing "Escape" was for the "Romeo Must Die" preview. I rented "P&M" and was overjoyed to find that same amazing track being played as Plunkett rescues Macleane from hanging.

The beautiful "Mad World" song is also used in the opening of a "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" episode.

Minor quibbles:

--The title of the Hot Chocolate song is "You Sexy Thing."

--The title of the Who song is "Baba O'Reilly," God only knows why.

I wish I knew who picked the songs for Quentin Tarantino movie soundtracks (QT himself?) because they are always so PERFECT.

Every time I hear "O Mio Babbino Caro" I can't help but think of Helena Bonham Carter and Julian Sands in "A Room With A View".

great mix. Yuo didn't go for all the obvious choices but put some really great songs on there.... now I want to make a movie mix. dammit

I'm too lazy to backtrack who said it, but Renee Fleming is not one of the sopranos in the "Shawshank Redemption" Sull'aria. The sopranos are Edith Mathis and Gundula Janowitz.

Glad to see others were equally scarred by "Eaten by the Monster of Love," in Valley Girl. :)

heres one more for you to add. the scene from in america where the girl is singing desperado. it is absolutely brilliant.

Cory, in the movie Pump Up The Volume, there was a cover of MC5's Kick Out The Jams. It was done by Bad Brains during one of the times when HR left the band, and Rollins filled in as the lead singer for the track. A kick-ass version, too.

My So-Called Life: Buffalo Tom - Late at Night, when Jordan finally holds Angela's hand in the hallway in the boiler room ep. Violent Femmes - Blister in the Sun, when Angela dances around her room.
Veronica Mars: excellent music overall, but specifically: The Dandy Warhols- We Used to Be Friends (duh, opening credits); Veronica - karaoke Elvis Costello cover; so many more....
Freaks and Geeks: Grateful Dead - Ripple, at the end of the last episode when Lindsay and Kim ride off with the hippies in their van.

so many more, but those are the main ones I can think of right now.

Armando, you are brilliant. You just SLAYED me with your comment about Europe's "The Final Countdown" making you think of G.O.B. Bluth from Arrested Development every single time you hear it. Lucky for me, I never hear that song, but IF I DID......

Thanks for completely cracking me up!!!

Highlander (series and movie) + Queen (especially "Who Wants to Live Forever")

Such a brilliant listing....well done.

"Billy Elliot" was mentioned but I think the best scene is when he's dancing so angrily to "A Town Called Malice" by the Jam.

I've just seen the trailer of Sofia Coppola's "Marie Antoinette" which is set to "I've lost you" by New Order...I still have chills...

Crying - Roy Orbison from Gummo, absolutely perfect for the last scene....the pool, the dead cat and bunny boy on a rainy day, soooo good.

also again, Crying - Rebeccah del toro from Mullholland Drive....how could this not have been on the list? the first time I saw it made me cry.

This list is the second best thing the Internet gave me this week, the best thing is the discussion that's been going on after...

What an incredible list of songs! And it comes at a great time as I'm prepping the HOLY GRAIL of mixes for my groovy brother who deserves some good tunes new and old... So let me add to this but with a request: can someone out there in the world wide nets please tell me the name of the song that played during the trailer for Abre los ojos (Open Your Eyes, Vanilla Sky MK. 1), I don't think it's in the movie and I remember the trailer playing before Run, Lola Run and it blew my brains before Lola got a chance to (she still did)...

Anyway, anyone can name that one I'll send VERY good karma your way... And sooooo---

'Bad to the Bone' - from T2 (a guilty pleasure, it fuckin' rocks too),
Overkill - Colin Hay, on Scrubs,
Mama Told Me Not to Come - Three Dog Night, in Fear and Loathing, what a night Johnny had...
Hip to be Square - Huey Lewis, in American Psycho... and Huey didn't want it on the soundtrack...
--and the Charlie Brown music in Arrested Development when everyone's bummed out slays me everytime...

The song "Dreams" by The Cranberries always makes me think of Japanese Buddhist Monks dancing around the monastery after seeing "The Next Karate Kid" about 9 times when I was younger.
I still love that movie.
Its so crap.
OHHH MAN.

And for anyone who has seen "The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert" how can you not picture Hugo Weaving vogueing and Terrance Stamp stomping around with a frown on his face to the song "Finally" by CeCe Peniston?
HILARIOUS!

Hey, you did a great job here today. I really enjoyed your concept--showing the films and your selections. Damn, It feels good to be a gangsta!

jhupp, thanks for saying 'don't let it bring you down' for american beauty. not on the (amazing) soundtrack but brings me right to that scene every time i hear it. and i forgot all about 'end of the world' playing during that scene in girl interrupted. and i have to see quiz show now.

gotta add: 'i put a spell on you' from stranger than paradise. coincidentally, not on the soundtrack.

I know people mentioned virgin suicides, but I don't think anyone mentioned "magic man" by Heart in that movie when Josh Hartnett is walking down the school hallway.

Then there's "closer" by nine inch nails at the beginning of se7en, and no matter how many times I hear "Suzanne" by Weezer i always think of the end of Mallrats when they're walking off with that chimp.

also, is there anyone left on earth who can hear "time after time" without thinking of romy and michelle???

How bout "The Man in Me" by Bob Dylan in the Big Lebowski? Brilliant opening to a movie. Or the spanish version of Hotel California that plays when the film first introduces Jesus. Come to think of it, the whole soundtrack to that movie is just awesome.

"How bout