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| The Nightclub Went To The Movies from Time to Time |
Songs have a life don't they? They start out as ideas written down on paper, then develop into fully fledged songs that have aspirations of being played on the air.
The next step is chart success. What's after that - a feature of a greatest hits CD? Possibly, although there's always being an integral part of a movie soundtrack.
A song, by being part of a soundtrack, can be a symbol of an era, a movement and therefore have a life that stretches way beyond their "natural life".
One feature we used to have on "The Nightclub featuring The Late English Breakfast" back in the day on Valley Free Radio (www.valleyfreeradio.org) was one called "The Nightclub Goes To The Movies". Basically, it gave us a chance to play a song from a movie soundtrack we owned.
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| The Ladykillers (2004) |
Now there are certain films that we British are very fond of and the thought of remakes being done of them quite frankly is a bit of a taboo subject; it is something that quite frankly shouldn't be done. How can you improve on perfection?
Well, there was something about the premise of this remake that made me curious to see it. Linda was in agreement too. The film was remade by the Coen Brothers. We enjoyed it! The critics weren't too keen on it but we decided that the critics missed the point on this one. The storyline was the same but done in contemporary times set in the deep South. What else sealed it for us? Well, the wonderful gospel music that's what! It was a good story with some great acting and some wonderfully comic moments.
Here's the main point - music in films enriches the whole movie going experience. It can also, as this film did, introduce you to a genre of music that you'd never normally listen to. The gospel music chosen for the film was great and we decided we had to have it.
Anyhow, that film was the first film we saw together as a couple in the United States. The first film we saw together in England was another remake. This time, it was a remake of the classic 1966 film "Alfie", with Jude Law playing the part originally done by Sir Michael Caine. Again, the film wasn't a critical success but you know what films aren't always meant to be Oscar winners. Films are there to be enjoyed. The story in reality is quite a poignant one in many ways and Jude Law was perfectly cast as Alfie.
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| Old Habits Die Hard (Mick Jagger and Dave Stewart) |
My first trip the the famed Academy of Music in Northampton MA (http://www.academyofmusictheatre.com/) was when Linda and I went to see a film that is probably one of the most important films made so far this millennium. It was a film that told the story of Edward R Murrow, one of the most famous broadcasters this country has ever had. The film was called "Good Night and Good Luck"
The music again was wonderfully chosen for the film. All jazz classics, very evocative of the time they were originally performed, the songs enhanced what was a very very good film. Without getting too political, the film highlighted that the media has not progressed very far in the 60 or so years since Mr. Murrow campaigned tirelessly for freedom of speech against the oppressive right wing tactics of Senator Joe McCarthy.
Anyhow, one of the songs, the beautiful tune "When I Fall In Love" was the music chosen by Linda and myself as the music to walk down the aisle to on our wedding day. Very beautiful it was too.
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| Good Night and Good Luck 2005 |
I talked earlier about British pride in our films. There's one film that has been remade by the Americans which truly shouldn't have been done. My wife has come to understand this film's place in British popular culture. It's a film that is very British and also very evocative of the era it was filmed in. When we were deciding which DVD's we could dispose of as we begin the big clear-out in preparation of our move back to Britain, I held the DVD of the film in question and said "I'm not parting with this - ever!"
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| The Italian Job 1969 |
Now, here's the deal. Along with the excellent story, great acting, great scenery, the best car chase after Bullit, there's the music that's in the film. Again, very evocative of its time. There's two songs that stick out. There's Matt Monro singing "On Days Like These" and the classic "Getta Bloomin' Move On (Self Preservation Society)" that features at the end of the film. Very British. Very very good!
I have had the pleasure of playing this song when "The Late English Breakfast" reigned supreme on 103.3FM on Monday mornings (well it did in my head!) and I remember commenting that the film was wonderful and one of the best British movies ever. John Allen, the lead singer of the famously rowdy and wonderful "Big Bad Bollocks" who happens to be our friend and like me an ex Pioneer Valley DJ and Brit, heard me saying this and was moved to get in touch and say how much he agreed with me!
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| The legendary Big Bad Bollocks |
Enjoy the tunes and let me know what your favourite movie tunes are,
Ed
