Welcome to the second of our music in the movies columns. This time I'm going to be looking at opening songs.

I've cheated a bit for a couple of the inclusions here as some of my selections aren't necessarily the first song you hear, but feature towards the start of the movies. 

The Man Comes Around, Johnny Cash - Dawn Of The Dead

This is opening track of Johnny Cash's excellent 2002 album of the same name. The album was the fourth part of Cash's, critically acclaimed, American recordings that included some of the best work of his career. American IV is probably best known for his heartbreaking cover of Hurt by Nine Inch Nails and his version of Personal Jesus, but this Cash original is one of the album's highlights. This isn't the first song that's encountered in the movie (that would be Have A Nice Day by the Stereophonics), but given the fact that it plays over the title sequence, it makes the cut. Plus, it's infinitely better than the song that precedes it. The lyrics and tempo of the song match the imagery of the title sequence and set up the rest of the film after an impressive opening to Zach Snyder's remake of Romero's classic. 

Sound Of Silence, Simon and Garfunkel -  The Graduate

I managed to pick up The Graduate soundtrack on vinyl for 50p last year, which I'm sure you'll all agree, is one hell of a bargain. Whilst Mrs. Robinson is undoubtedly the most famous song featured in the movie, it's this song that accompanies the opening sequence that's my favourite. 

Fight The Power, Public Enemy - Do The Right Thing

This song features a number of times throughout Spike Lee's 1989 classic, but the best use of it is over the opening title sequence. Recorded especially for the film, the song is regarded as one of the greatest hip-hop songs of all time and provided Public Enemy with their biggest hit. Spike Lee recorded two music videos for the song, but it's the staged political rally version that seems to be the one that's played. There are numerous awful cover versions of the song; I'd recommend that you steer well clear of the Vanilla Ice version. 

Lust For Life,  Iggy Pop - Trainspotting

The number of times I've heard this song over the years has diminished the effect it has on me, but there's no doubt that this is the ideal song to match the scene. This is perhaps an obvious choice, but with good reason. After all, this is one of modern cinema's most iconic scenes.  

We're Going To Be Friends, The White Stripes - Napoleon Dynamite

This twee number from the White Stripes proves to be a fitting accompaniment to the title sequence for Napoleon Dynamite. Seems odd that this doesn't feature on the official soundtrack released for the film, though. 

I Can See Clearly Now, Johnny Nash - Grosse Point Blank

The soundtrack of Grosse Point Blank is, in my opinion, one of the best around and proved to be a significant purchase for me as it led to me buying albums for a large portion of the artists that are included on both volumes that are available (most notably The Pixies and Violent Femmes). The track that opens the film is, perhaps, an odd choice given the fact that it coincides with an assassination, but it sets the tone perfectly for what's to follow. 

I'm Shipping Up To Boston, Dropkick Murphys - The Departed

Having friends who are huge fans of punk, I've heard plenty of Dropkick Murphys over the years, so it was great to hear a track by these Boston natives play near the beginning of Martin Scorsese's remake of Infernal Affairs that's set in their native city. The lyrics are taken from a Woody Guthrie song, but the Dropkick Murphys make the song their own, turning it in to a rousing number.  

New Noise, Refused - Crank

Taken from the incredible final album, The Shape Of Punk To Come, released from the influential, Swedish, hardcore outfit, New Noise proves to be the perfect song to match the scene where Jason Statham's Chev Chelios realises he has to keep his heart rate up. After all, the majority of the song is like an adrenaline rush. 

Statued, Adem - Dead Man's Shoes

This haunting acoustic number taken from Adem Illhan's 2004 debut, Homesongs, fits perfectly with Shane Meadow's brilliant thriller which boasts an amazing soundtrack that includes songs from Calexico, Smog, Aphex Twin, Richard Hawley and M. Ward, to name but a few. Dead Man's Shoes is one of my favourite films and one of the few films I immediately rewatched after my first viewing.  

The Times They Are A-Changin', Bob Dylan - Watchmen

I had mixed feelings when I heard The Times They Are A-Changin' would play over the title sequence for the Watchmen, but this is possibly the greatest title sequence of recent times and another entry from a Zach Snyder film. The six minute plus title sequence charts the rise and fall of the Minutemen (not the band) and provides background to the key characters. A great song to accompany a great scene.

What are your favourite opening songs? Let us know in the comments.

• Music in the movies: the best movie songs of 2009