Well i always think the music should make the scene better. The music becomes the character or becomes a character onto itself.
Now its hard to place musicals into this summary because well they are musicals and the whole movie revolves around them and their songs. So lets take something else. I always remember seeing Keeping the Faith with Ben Stiller and Ed Norton and them walking down the street and all of a sudden the song SMOOTH comes blaring over the speakers and it just didn't suit the mood/action of that scene at all. It felt out of place and was not needed for the scene itself. Why they use dit is probably to help sell the soundtrack as it was the hot song back then but it was a "money selling song" and not a suited song.
I like the list of movies you listed Pirate for exaples of great soundtracks that accompanied their films. They weren't all big name songs or maybe they were but many years ago. Still the director knew what they wanted and made it work in the film. They aren't out to sell a movie soundtrack but to sell a movie and its scene
Now i remember one song that just brought the movie scene to a very moving/powerful moment (which it was already but made even better by the song) Its the rare time i have cried watching a movie but i couldn't help it. The scene is from the ending of Pay it Forward when Spacey and Hunt all alone walk outside to see a huge gathering of kids, family and strangers all holding candles and flowers to
Spoiler (Highlight or Triple Click to Read):| remember Haley Joel Osmitt character (Hunt's kid)who is killed by a school kid, but started the whole Pay it Forward movement. |
Like a i said the scene was powerful as it was and then they brought in "Calling all Angels" and WOW did it bring me to tears. It was just so soothing and emotional all at the same time. It was almost the perfect song to use for that moment. Almost like the ending of Donnie Darko with Mad World as it basically sums up the entire movie and all its characters reaction in less then 3 minutes.
So my list of movie soundtracks with great songs (not score)
About a Boy (my fav. Reason why i became a Badly Drawn Boy fan)
Team America: World Police
The Crow
Wayne's World (the car and Queen alone)
Pink Floyd:The Wall (well everything is animated and acted too the music. Don't consider a musical because not all songs are seen sung by the actors)