History Main / PopStarComposer

** ''VideoGame/{{Halo 2}}'' has "Blow Me Away" by Breaking Benjamin, "The Odyssey" by Incubus, and "Connected" by Hoobastank, although the last isn't used in the game.

* Techno DJ Sasha produced several exclusive songs for ''VideoGame/{{Wipeout}} 3'', as well as including his single "Xpander".

* Anne Dudley, composer of the scores for (among many others) ''Film/AmericanHistoryX, Film/TheFullMonty'' and ''Film/TheCryingGame'' (as well as the TV series ''Series/TheTenthKingdom'') first became famous as a member of experimental electronica group Art Of Noise, as well as a prolific string arranger for many, many songs. She more or less moved into this full time - what she's done since leaving the band couldn't rationally be described as "pop".

* ''WesternAnimation/CuriousGeorge'' has songs by Music/JackJohnson.

* The band Music/{{Goblin}} wrote the soundtrack for ''Film/Suspiria1977''.

* Music/LittleRichard performs the theme song to ''WesternAnimation/TheMagicSchoolBus''.

* Jonathan Davis of Music/{{Korn}} wrote the music and the words for Lestat's songs in ''Film/QueenOfTheDamned'' (the novel had blatantly vampire songs; the film had more ambiguous ones). For contractual reasons, he couldn't sing on the official soundtrack album, so instead it included versions of these songs performed by other well-known singers (Wayne Static of Static-X, David Draiman of Music/{{Disturbed}}, Chester Bennington of Music/LinkinPark, Music/MarilynManson, and Jay Gordon of ''Orgy'').

** ''WesternAnimation/{{Moana}}'''s soundtrack, in addition to being composed by Creator/LinManuelMiranda, features singer Opetaia Foa'i of the New Zealand-based Pacific fusion band Te Vaka.

* Music/MarilynManson did the score for ''Film/ResidentEvil2002''.

* The score for Film/{{Kiler}} is by Music/KubaSienkiewicz and his band Elektryczne Gitary.

* The scores for ''Series/{{Heroes}}'' were written by [[Music/PrincesAssociates Wendy and Lisa]], who scored Tim Kring's previous show, ''Series/CrossingJordan'' (and later ''Series/Touch2012''). They also did ''Series/NurseJackie'' (winning an Emmy for the series theme).

* Creator/RainerWernerFassbinder's adaptation of ''Literature/BerlinAlexanderplatz'' used this for dramatic effect to emphasize the WhamEpisode nature of the epilogue. Until then the show had been a naturalistic HistoricalFiction set in the UsefulNotes/WeimarRepublic. However, the epilogue undergoes TrippyFinaleSyndrome filled with AnachronismStew and features [[spoiler: features a lot of anachronistic songs, including "Candy Says" by Music/TheVelvetUnderground, "Me and Bobby [=McGee=]" by Music/JanisJoplin, tracks by Music/{{Kraftwerk}} and "Chelsea Hotel" by Music/LeonardCohen]]. * The scores for ''Series/{{Heroes}}'' were written by [[Music/PrincesAssociates Wendy and Lisa]], who scored Tim Kring's previous show, ''Series/CrossingJordan'' (and later ''Series/Touch2012''). They also did ''Series/NurseJackie'' (winning an Emmy for the series theme).

* Jonathan Davis of Music/{{Korn}} wrote the music and the words for Lestat's songs in ''Film/QueenOfTheDamned'' (the novel had blatantly vampire songs; the film had more ambiguous ones). For contractual reasons, he couldn't sing the songs himself on the accompanying album, so they were performed by other well-known singers (Wayne Static of Static-X, David Draiman of Music/{{Disturbed}}, Chester Bennington of Music/LinkinPark, Music/MarilynManson, and Jay Gordon of ''Orgy'').

* Shudder To Think released two soundtracks in 1998 that were notable for being different from their normal alternative/art-punk sound: the score to ''High Art'' was a mixture of ambient music and instrumental trip-hop, while ''First Love Last Rites'' was a {{retraux}} 50's and early 60's pastiche with loads and loads of guest vocalists such as [[Music/TheSmashingPumpkins Billy Corgan]], [[Music/CheapTrick Robin Zander]], Music/LizPhair, and Music/JeffBuckley. Members Nathan Larson and Craig Wedren now both do soundtrack work from time to time.

[-[[caption-width-right:350:A [[Music/{{ACDC}} soundtrack that rocks]] for a [[Film/MaximumOverdrive movie that shocks]].]]-]

* [[Music/{{U2}} Bono & The Edge]] composed the songs for ''Theater/SpiderManTurnOffTheDark''. They also made a score for the Royal Shakespeare Company's production of ''Literature/AClockworkOrange'' (one of its tracks became the B-side for "The Fly" and was used in ''Film/JohnnyMnemonic'').

* ''Nothing Left To Fear'' was scored by Music/{{Slash}} in collaboration with Nicholas O'Toole. The score was primarily instrumentals featuring guitar and a string section, but two songs also featured vocals by Myles Kennedy (of Music/AlterBridge as well as Slash's backing group).

* Music/{{Air}} did the soundtrack for ''Film/TheVirginSuicides''.

* Creator/CameronCrowe's film ''Film/{{Singles}}'' features songs from bands in the Seattle grunge scene, which had just started to explode. Music/PearlJam wrote two original songs, "Breath" and "State of Love and Trust," for the film. Music/{{Soundgarden}} created an acoustic track for use in the background ambience of a scene. The song was "Spoonman," which was later re-recorded and became Soundgarden's breakout single. Meanwhile, Crowe's ex-wife [[Music/{{Heart}} Nancy Wilson]] wrote music for all of his movies up to ''Film/{{Elizabethtown}}''.

* Creator/RainerWernerFassbinder's adaptation of ''Literature/BerlinAlexanderplatz'' used this for dramatic effect to emphasize the WhamEpisode nature of the epilogue. Until then the show had been a naturalistic HistoricalFiction set in the UsefulNotes/WeimarRepublic. However, the epilogue undergoes TrippyFinaleSyndrome filled with AnachronismStew and features [[spoiler: features a lot of anachronistic songs, including "Candy Says" by Music/TheVelvetUnderground, "Me and Bobby [=McGee=]" by Music/JanisJoplin, tracks by Music/{{Kraftwerk}} and "Chelsea Hotel" by Music/LeonardCohen]]. * The scores for ''Series/{{Heroes}}'' were written by [[Music/PrincesAssociates Wendy and Lisa]], who scored Tim Kring's previous show, ''Series/CrossingJordan'' (and later ''Series/{{Touch}}'').''Series/Touch2012''). They also did ''Series/NurseJackie'' (winning an Emmy for the series theme).

* ''WesternAnimation/CuriousGeorge'' has songs by Jack Johnson.

* Music/RogerWaters composed the music to ''ComicBook/WhenTheWindBlows'', with David Bowie contributing the title song.
* ''WesternAnimation/OverTheHedge'' has songs written by Ben Folds.

* Creator/RainerWernerFassbinder's adaptation of ''Literature/BerlinAlexanderplatz'' used this for dramatic effect to emphasize the WhamEpisode nature of the epilogue. Until then the show had been a naturalistic HistoricalFiction set in the UsefulNotes/WeimarRepublic. However, the epilogue undergoes TrippyFinaleSyndrome filled with AnachronismStew and features [[spoiler: features a lot of anachronistic songs, including "Candy Says" by Music/TheVelvetUnderground, "Me and Bobby [=McGee=]" by Music/JanisJoplin, tracks by Music/{{Kraftwerk}} and "Chelsea Hotel" by Music/LeonardCohen]].
* The scores for ''Series/{{Heroes}}'' were written by [[Music/PrincesAssociates Wendy and Lisa]], who scored Tim Kring's previous show, ''Series/CrossingJordan'' (and later ''Series/Touch2012''). They also did ''Series/NurseJackie'' (winning an Emmy for the series theme).

* Music/EltonJohn wrote two extra songs for the ScreenToStageAdaptation of ''WesternAnimation/{{The Lion King|1994}}'', and went on from there to write songs for Disney's ''Theatre/{{Aida|JohnRice}}'' and the ScreenToStageAdaptation of ''Theatre/BillyElliot''. Less successful was ''Lestat'', a musical adaptation of ''The Vampire Chronicles''.

* [[Music/{{U2}} Bono & The Edge]] composed the songs for ''Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark''.

* ''Ça Ira'', by Roger Waters. Yes, really.

* The scores for ''Series/{{Heroes}}'' were written by [[Music/PrincesAssociates Wendy and Lisa]], who scored Tim Kring's previous show, ''Series/CrossingJordan'' (and later ''Series/{{Touch}}''). They also did ''Series/NurseJackie'' (winning an Emmy for the series theme).

* Music/DaveGrohl composed the score to the film ''Touch''. The score includes two appearances by other rock musicians: [[Music/XUSBand John Doe]] sings one song, while another is a duet between Grohl and [[Music/VerucaSalt A. Post]].

** Music/PhilCollins of Music/{{Genesis}} wrote the songs for ''WesternAnimation/{{Tarzan}}.'' A few years later, he also did the songs for ''WesternAnimation/BrotherBear'', which then is lampshaded in the DVDCommentary:

* Music/{{Genesis}} keyboardist Music/TonyBanks composed both the scores and contributed songs for ''Quicksilver'', ''Film/TheWickedLady'' and ''Lorca and the Outlaws''.

* ''Film/TheShout'''s score was composed by Music/{{Genesis}} keyboardist Music/TonyBanks. As of 2021, the full soundtrack has not seen an official release, although the main theme can be found on Banks' album ''A Curious Feeling'' under the title "From the Undertow".

* Alan Price of Music/TheAnimals did the soundtrack for ''O Lucky Man!'' He and his band appear throught the film as a GreekChorus. Lindsay Anderson originally wanted to make a documentary about them touring England, but the cost of licensing songs they performed was too high, so he put them in his film instead.

** Country singer Roger Miller wrote and performed "Oo-de-lally", "Not In Nottingham", and "Whistle-Stop" for Disney's ''WesternAnimation/RobinHood''.
** Almost all of the songs in ''WesternAnimation/OliverAndCompany''. "Once Upon a Time in New York City" was co-written by Barry Mann, "Why Should I Worry?" was written by Dan Hartman and Charlie Midnight, "Streets of Gold" was written by Dean Pitchford and Tom Snow, and "Perfect Isn't Easy" was co-written by Music/BarryManilow. Bonus points for the first two of those songs being sung by songwriters themselves, Huey Lewis and Music/BillyJoel (respectively), though neither of them wrote songs for the movie.

* Music/DavidByrne, former lead singer of Music/TalkingHeads co-wrote the soundtrack for ''Film/TheLastEmperor'' with Music/RyuichiSakamoto, who was the composer for ''Film/MerryChristmasMrLawrence'' (which he also starred in alongside Music/DavidBowie) and ''Anime/RoyalSpaceForceTheWingsOfHonneamise''. Sakamoto was also once a member of SynthPop {{supergroup}} Music/YellowMagicOrchestra, which means the Last Emperor has ''two'' pop star composers.

* Quite a few {{blaxploitation}} films - Music/IsaacHayes for ''Film/{{Shaft}}'', Music/CurtisMayfield for ''Film/SuperFly'', Bobby Womack for ''Across 110th Street'', Music/MarvinGaye for ''Trouble Man'' (which was his first big break), Music/JamesBrown for ''Film/BlackCaesar'', Roy Ayers for ''Film/{{Coffy}}'', Willie Hutch for ''The Mack'' and ''Film/FoxyBrown'', Music/EdwinStarr for ''Film/HellUpInHarlem'' and Music/BarryWhite for ''Together Brothers'' to name a few.

-->'''Rutt:''' Phil Collins, Phil Collins, Phil Collins... He's everywhere.
-->'''Tuke:''' Doesn't he take a break?

* Shudder To Think released two soundtracks in 1998 that were notable for being SomethingCompletelyDifferent from their normal alternative/art-punk sound: the score to ''High Art'' was a mixture of ambient music and instrumental trip-hop, while ''First Love Last Rites'' was a {{retraux}} 50's and early 60's pastiche with loads and loads of guest vocalists such as [[Music/TheSmashingPumpkins Billy Corgan]], [[Music/CheapTrick Robin Zander]], Music/LizPhair, and Music/JeffBuckley. Members Nathan Larson and Craig Wedren now both do soundtrack work from time to time.

* Music/DannyElfman formally started his film composing career with ''PeeWeesBigAdventure'' because both star and director were fans of his band Music/OingoBoingo.