This week's Clip joint is by James Kipping, a freelance floor runner for film and television. Think you can do better? Email your idea for a future Clip joint to adam.boult@guardian.co.uk

Diegetic music in film is often heard in clubs scenes or car radios, creating atmosphere but rarely having the power to affect characters. So going for the most despondent Clip joint award, here are a selection of films that feature recurring songs that haunt our characters, songs that bring either painful memories or strike fear in others that hear them. The positive note being that I like to think these characters enjoyed the songs at some point in their lives…

1. Three Colours: Blue (Song for the Unification of Europe)

After Juliette Binoche's composer husband is killed in a car accident, his final unfinished melody continues to haunt her throughout the film. It is only through the persistence of Benoît Régent that we discover that it was actually Binoche who was the true composer, and finishing its ending finally gives her the redemption to move on with her life. The music is piercing, as shown is the video below.

2. M (In the Hall of the Mountain King)

Before it was synonymous with Alton Towers this was a hunter's song, whistled by Peter Lorre's serial killer as he stalked children around Berlin. "One has to keep closer watch over the children" … indeed.

3. About a Boy (Santa's Super Sleigh)

In About a Boy Hugh Grant spends the majority of his time indulging with the royalties his musician father left him. However at a time of year when most people are celebrating, Grant is disturbed by the omnipresent sound of his late father's Christmas one-hit wonder, reminding him of his cold and isolated life.

4. A Clockwork Orange (Beethoven's Ninth Symphony)

Previously a favourite composer of our "hero" Alex, after his rehabilitation the sound of this music cripples the man, forcing him to leap from a building at the end of the film. This is possibly the most visual of the clips, showing Alex in excruciating pain while curling up on the floor, and often parodied with the songs of Justin Bieber and Rebecca Black.

5. Casablanca (As Time Goes By)

One of the most incorrectly quoted lines of dialogue in film, Ingrid Bergman asks Sam to play it again, much to Humphrey Bogart's disgust. Is there anything left to say?

• Last week Ashley Clark selected cinema's greatest footballing moments. Here is James's pick from the thread.

1) You can't beat Monty Python, and monkey2's suggestion of The
Philosopher's football match is a joy to watch.

2) Framescourer shows us Dorothy playing her first game in Gregory's Girl.

3) FreakyChucker1 proves that girls can do it better in Bend it Like Beckham

4) Another unusual take on the sport in Shaolin Soccer chosen again by monkey2

5) And finally rowingrob has to note the awful Soccer Dog: The Movie.