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Movie Music Madness
Posted at 5:40 PM on January 28, 2008
by Mark Wheat
(18 Comments)
Sundance is everywhere. Oscar buzz is everywhere. Kimya Dawson's name is everywhere?!
How did that happen?! It's all because of one word. Juno. OK, two words. Juno soundtrack. Let's talk about it. Let's talk soundtracks. These days soundtracks are responsible for pushing indie acts like Kimya Dawson into the spotlight. The Garden State soundtrack did it for The Shins and Iron & Wine. Did a soundtrack change your life?
Jill Riley suggested this topic of discussion last week, so I asked her to share her faves;
" I'm not looking to them to introduce me to new music, at least I wasn't. My favorite soundtrack is from my favorite movie, American Graffiti. Would would that film be like without the music? The music serves the movie in such an important way. It launches the viewer straight into 1962. What's even more rad, is the music is essentially being DJed by Wolfman Jack the entire time. My dad, apart of the baby boomer era, experiences this movie in a nostalgic way and I experience it in a history lesson sort of way. I'm exploring the feelings from an an era I wasn't apart of. Same can be said for Forrest Gump. Along with the storyline, it's just a rollercoaster ride through a number of eras and songs that take you on a journey through time. It doesn't matter if you hate Forrest Gump or not, the soundtrack does so much for the timeline. You can't deny that. Barry from High Fidelity would surely hang me for this, but I love The Bill Chill. My name is Jill Riley and I love The Big Chill. Who knows, maybe someday my offspring will watch me ooze with music nostalgia when we watch Clueless together.
I can't talk about soundtracks without mentioning Quentin Tarantino. The man is a genius when it comes to crafting a soundtrack. Sure, Dick Dale's "Misirlou" gained tons of popularity after Pulp Fiction, but I don't believe that was his intention. Kill Bill put Shivaree into the spotlight, but in all reality his soundtracks are as genius as his writing. They aid the movie, they invoke a feeling. That's it! I want a soundtrack to stir some kind of emotion while I take in the picture and the dialogue."
They are great examples of the art of well chosen tunes Jill, and partly because of those examples soundtracks have become a big business and they have expanded to included "music that inspired the movie"?!?! That feels like Hollywood falling back on the cache of the music to bolster a film that doesn't use the tunes. "Shawn of the Dead" actually had a great scene that referred to music, as the characters threw albums at the zombies! But recently the same film makers made "Hot Fuzz" and left me disappointed because there was not more of the music from the soundtrack in the film! Quite honestly I'm afraid to go see "Juno " for the same reason. Music should not be on the soundtrack if it is not in the movie.
Some of my faves are "Run Lola Run", "pi", "Natural Born Killers"and "Out of Sight". I'm a sucker for little bits of dialogue from the movie in the music cd too, which these all have.
So what are your faves and should they be called soundtracks if the music is not in the movie?!
Comments (18)
All of David Lynch's soundtracks are amazing. This is largely due to Angelo Badalamente, the guy who does most of his scores. His soundtracks have much the same effect on me as Tarantino's have. Who can forget "In Dreams" from Blue Velvet? Somehow that song became more beautiful (and, yes creepy too) for me after the association with the film... "Falling" from Twin Peaks? Locals (locals, right?) Power Mad in Wild at Heart?
The list goes on and on.
Oh and I agree that if the song isn't in the movie it should be left off the soundtrack. that's silly.
I think the greatest soundtrack ever is the "Pulp Fiction" soundtrack. This soundtrack also works fantasticly well for road trip music.
I also think that Danny Elfman is THE MASTER of scoring movies.
And I too agree that if it isn't in the movie, what the hell is it doing on the soundtrack?! Thank you for letting me voice my opinion.
-Your faithful listener,
--Shinji
Ok. so I usually treat these comments as a stream-of-consciousness type thing. so I usually don't sound totally lucid and I often forget something...
Three more of my favorite soundtracks:
River's Edge: Lots of old Slayer. An awesome song by Hallow's Eve called "Lethal Tendencies". Plus the great, underrated Wipers, not to mention "Happy Day" by Burning Spear and Agent Orange, too.
Kids: "Natural One" by Folk Implosion (actually became a Top 40 hit), "Casper" by Daniel Johnston and... "Good Morning Captain" by Slint.
Lost In Translation.
American Graffiti is indeed the greatest movie soundtrack of all time. It set the course for virtually every film that utilized pop songs for its soundtrack. It's nostalgic, as Jill said, but for the characters in the film, Wolfman's ever-present stream of music isn't the old times -- it's life. Lucas' genius with that film was that its format (a bunch of kids cruising around listening to the radio) suited itself for allowing specific songs to be inserted for maximum impact at certain moments and still have it seem totally realistic -- making it seem like the omniscient music source is Wolfman, rather than the director. If I remember correctly, the only song in the movie that doesn't come from the radio is the Beach Boys' "All Summer Long", which plays over the end credits. For better or for worse, American Graffiti's soundtrack influenced every single movie that utilizes pop songs, whether they are central to the plot or mere window-dressing. I feel that Forrest Gump is an example of the latter, in which Robert Zemeckis deployed all these pop songs to set the time period, not to advance the storyline. I like the movie, but for example, there's no underlying artistic reason why "I Can't Help Myself" comes on the soundtrack when Forrest arrives in Vietnam; it is there to be set-dressing and nothing more. Sure, American Graffiti kind of does the same thing, but again, I think Lucas does an excellent job of structuring the film so that the songs and the story flow in perfect conjunction, rather than basing one on the other.
I'll chime in with another of my favorite soundtracks later in the week.
in a word, Snatch. that is the first great soundtrack that comes to mind for me. the film that made me appreciate both Brad Pitt & Oasis (nigh impossible tasks, i would have thunk).
& the sequencing of tracks on the disk is just about perfect, beginning with an indecipherable bit of Pikey from Pitt (points to anyone who can figure out what he's saying). i love it!
Haven't had time to digest the question fully, but have to chime in with Wells T. on the David Lynch, especially the use of "In Dreams", and that image of Dean Stockwell singing into the lamp was elegantly creepy. Even more synchronous, I was thinking about "In Dreams " this morning as I was pondering the soundtrack question, and then on the bus ride in, it turned up on my Pod shuffle. Coincidence? I think not...
Oh, and Danny Elfman deserves his own soundtrack category. Too bad he's never won an Oscar. They could create a "Best SOundtrack by Danny Elfman" Oscar category and he's still probably lose to Phil Collins or somebody.
I love the Blues Brothers but not too keen on Blues Brothers 2. Even my 10 year old daughter LOVES this film, and stole it from me !!!!! The only beef I have is the song 'stand by your man' does not appear on the cd, and others I did not hear in the film do. I don;t believe that if it does not appear in the film it counts as a soundtrack. Music be the soul of life, so ROCK ON!!!!!!!
Is it too cliche to say "O Brother, Where Art Thou"? I really do think the Coen Brothers and T-Bone Burnett did an outstanding job coordinating both the song selections, but also the performances and SOUND of that soundtrack to really add to the feel and flavor of the film. Plus, it's hard to argue with success, and you might as well throw that soundtrack in a thesaurus under the word "success".
My first instinct was "The Last Waltz," but I think that might be cheating a bit!
So.. I hope I am not wearing out my welcome but I have come across just a few more soundtracks I can't believe I didn't think of earlier. Then, I will stop adding comments.
Magnolia: almost all Aimee Mann. I guess the movie was more inspired by Aimee's songs than the other way around. At one point in the movie each character is seen lip-synching along to "Wise Up"... Heartbreaking.
Donnie Darko: All great 80's stuff. From the opening credits backed by Echo & the Bunnymen's "The Killing Moon" (unwisely changed to INXS's "Never Tear Us Apart" in the director's cut) to "Love Will Tear Us Apart" during a Halloween party to Gary Jules haunting cover of Tears for Fears' "Mad World", the songs in this movie are vital to the mood and world of this movie.
The Royal Tenenbaums: I love Mark Mothersbaugh and pretty much every other song on this soundtrack. And that scene with "Needle in the Hay"?..
Saturday Night Fever: no explanation necessary really. Even if you hate all the music on this soundtrack. It is still great. It would be great if "Stayin' Alive" and Yvonne Elleman's (sp) "If I Can't Have You" were the only songs on it...
I'll shut up now.
I digg the soundtracks which make you think of the movie when listening and when watching the movie make you think of the song. Yes to including quotes, clips from the actual movie too.
Reservoir Dogs, Purple Rain, Boogie Nights
I'm glad Aaron mentioned Boogie Nights, because that's my other favorite sdtk. It's a good example of how to construct a period soundtrack for your film that isn't exploitative or lazy -- every song is in the movie for a particular reason. Pay close attention the musical cues, and you'll see that they're practically a player in the film, which is what the truly great soundtracks do. For the complete experience, take volumes 1 & 2 of the soundtrack and sequence them in iTunes along with the movie.
All this, PLUS you get Mark Wahlberg singing "The Touch" from the animated Transformers movie.
There have been a lot of great suggestions. I would concur with the choice of “The Commitments”. It’s a great soundtrack and they did a great job of covering those R&B classics. The Missus and I still quote dialog from that movie all the time.
It’s been a while since I’ve seen it, but I would have to note Jim Jarmusch’s “Stranger Than Paradise” as a film with almost an “anti-soundtrack”. A majority of the movie doesn’t have much music in it, but when it does, the music stands out. I would commend it for the use of Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’ “I Put a Spell On You” alone. The character of Eva uses his music as her personal “soundtrack” to her life, which her American cousin (John Lurie) can’t understand. I love the quote she first plays it in the car: “It's Screamin' Jay Hawkins, and he's a wild man, so bug off.” The rest of the music is done by Lurie’s band, The Lounge Lizards.
I would also have to add as my all-time personal favorite soundtrack “song” as being “An Ending (Ascent)” by Brian Eno. Written for the NASA documentary “For All Mankind”, Eno created a soundtrack that defines “space music”. He released it as “Apollo: Atmospheres and Soundtracks” and it is a remarkable set of instrumental pieces and soundscaptes, that probably stand up better without watching the film. Those pieces allow you to really feel and imagine what space “sounds like”. I’ve listened to “An Ending” easily over 1000 times in my life and it is simply the most beautiful piece of music I have ever heard. In context of the film it’s incredible, in the context of a “soundtrack to my life” it is indescribable. It never fails to bring shivers, and I’ve listened to it while driving on a fog-laden rural road, to hearing it while riding the bus and viewing the urban scenery pass by with a whole new perspective.
One last potential question: How about songs that have been “overused” in soundtracks? How many times is Iggy going to license “Lust For Life” or are you going to hear Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Born on the Bayou” in a film ?
Thanks for another great topic!
"Harold and Maude"
The almost entirely Cat Stevens soundtrack brings everything in this film to life. Each song is so well chosen and connected to different parts of the movie and the lyrics almost act as a second script - the film just would not be the same without them or the music.
When Maude sings "If You Want to Sing Out"....."If you want to sing out, sing out, If you want to be free, be free, there's a million things to be, you know that there are.." you see that Maude is the catalyst that really allows Harold to come to life after a life that feels like death. He's like a bird being freed of it's cage.
And then you have "Trouble" in the final montage of the film. This song displays and enhances the emotions of this point in the story so beautifully. It is sad, it is bitter and yet it is freeing at the same time, which you know is everything that Harold is feeling.
To me.. that is what makes an incredible soundtrack.
Oh.. and ditto to Tiffany's entire comment on the "Garden State" soundtrack as well as it's connection to The Current at that time. I couldn't have said it better.
One of my favorite soundtracks is "Pretty in Pink." I loved that the music evoked both the longing and the independence of the "outsider" characters of the film. It introduced many of my favorite bands at the time to a larger audience - The Psychedelic Furs, The Smiths, Suzanne Vega, Echo & the Bunnymen, OMD, etc.
Another fave is "24 Hour Party People." How can you go wrong with Joy Division, New Order, James and the Happy Mondays?
Mark - one of my favorite movie music moments come from "Buffalo 66". not sure if i would pickup the soundtrack at all - don't recall much about the music elsewhere in the film. but there is one moment, pivotal scene in the film in fact, where the music is all - it is what propels the scene. in fact, it needs to be, as there is no dialogue.
its the point where Vincent Gallo walks into a seedy strip club and envisions his next move. the entire scene unfolds slow motion to the opening bass-&-drum workout of Yes' "Heart of the Sunrise", from Fragile (the same album as "Roundabout"). when i first saw it, i was absolutely floored - it is a great scene, and its the music that really makes it! as a youth, prior to my punk enlightenment, i had been a closet Yes fanatic. so i recognized the track, but i had never heard Yes played in this kind of setting - quite literally, my jaw dropped! it was a revelation.
next day i went & dug out my old Fragile LP & put it on the turntable. that moment, for me, makes the film.
I promise this is the last time I'll post, but I wanted to give props to Frick for mentioning For All Mankind. That was the first instance where I consciously remembered the music as a vital element in the film (I was probably 9 or so) and I can still hear those haunting strains during those epic sequences of flying through space. We taped it off the Disney Channel back in the early '90s, and I went to watch it a few years ago and the tape broke!
Surprised no one has mentioned Koyaanisqatsi and Powaqqatsi yet. For more wonderful Philip Glass, take a listen to the soundtrack for The Truman Show, which is just heart-stoppingly beautiful (and probably my #3 favorite soundtrack of all time!)
Mac, thanks for the props on For All Mankind. That album/soundtrack changed my life in a huge way. I had loved Eno before, and that cemented my musical path for a few years. Even got him to autograph the CD jacket for me.
I was going to mention the "Qatsi" movies but didn't want to overstay the welcome. The soundtrack to Koyaanisqatsi has to be listened to in tandem to watching the film. Powaaqqatsi works with or without the images.
I was lucky enough to see Koyaanisqatsi at the Northrup with the Phlip Glass Ensemble performing the music live to the film. It was one of the most amazing things I've ever experienced.
I get the procrastination award I guess, meant to post this weeks ago but didn't find the time. I really enjoy the Kelly's Heroes soundtrack: "Burning Bridges," sung by The Mike Curb Congregation and "All For the Love of Sunshine," by Hank Williams, Jr. I would mention "Out of Sight", but that is what I remember Mark talking about on the air.
I am also going to spout off about video game sound tracks: Battlefield Vietnam's soundtrack contains 100% awesomeness in the form of 60s and 70s funk/pop/counterculture hits. The list is here. Check it out!
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