Dec 15, 2023·edited Dec 15, 2023Liked by Roy Edroso
Being pretty bad at singing hits a little close to home, friend.
But here's one (no lyric this version):
I am overly fond of Samba & bossa nova especially the great decade of the late 50's thru late 60's (at least those years in the US when the wave struck so forcefully). Aquarela do Brasil to this day still kills me with its swing, chord changes, winsome upbeat vibe...and there is one version that haunts me for maybe all the wrong reasons – the tag version in Terry Gilliam's Brazil. It's a minute long, and it slightly overdoes it with the orchestration, but it cut straight thru me when I heard it in theater. Because it is the premier antithetical to the plot. It's almost painful to hear in that context.
Anyway, while looking for something else last week*, I found a link to that recording, opened it, played it and felt the throatlump.
*I think that, as long as I keep following every link-that-I-found-on-the-way-to-another-link I will never die. Like Sara Winchester and her pile of a mansion...
I reckon mine would be "She Drives Me Crazy" by Fine Young Cannibals, used in Tin Men. I saw the movie in theaters when I was in high school, then when I was at Clarkson U and DJing at WTSC (was the call letters if mem serve), got my hands on the record and listened a bunch... Forgot about it but when I watched the movie again in my 30s memories came rising back. Have watched a couple times since. I love that movie and the song is a big part of why. I mean there's a lot else to love about the movie too
“Far from the Road” from True Detective hits a note as it evokes a sense of dread; not different from my thoughts of despair for our country under another Trump term. And it’s sung by the Handsome Family, which might as well be the Manson Family or Trump family. Six of one........
Used as "Local on the Eights" music on the Weather Channel back in the mid-90s. Grabbed me from the beginning. Took me about ten years to find it again.
Perhaps not exactly what Roy was driving at, but a throw-away snippet of music from an ancient Bugs Bunny cartoon has stuck with me for half a century.
Is it profound? No. Does it carry some special context for me? No. Stir precious memories? Not really. Still, it haunts me in a way, coming unbidden to my inner ear for no reason at random times throughout my life. Such is the inscrutable way of the human brain!
I have a weird one, and recency bias is at play since I just rewatched it. But I love how director Charles Poekel uses Clara Rockmore's theremin version of "The Swan" in the film Christmas, Again. ICYMI it's a mumblecore Xmas story about a depressed Christmas tree salesman in Greenpoint. I know, how did Hallmark miss this one? For me it's part projection, part nostaliga for a place I loved. When these sadsacks' lives are soundtracked to Rockmore's never-less-than-haunting music their story becomes something less like nostalgia and more like art.
There are two that come to mind right away. I first became aware of Satie’s Gymnopedie No. 1 when it was played at the end of “My Dinner with Andre.” It’s stayed with me since. And I remember hearing Hank Williams singing “Why Don’t You Love Me Like You Used to Do” over the radio in “The Last Picture Show.”
Dec 15, 2023·edited Dec 15, 2023Liked by Roy Edroso
Le Ronde, a French film by Max Ophuls, based on a play by Arthur Schnitzler, the guy who wrote the source for Eyes Wide Shut, is an anthology of interconnected stories where a couple meet up, hookup and then move on, one or both characters meeting up and hooking up with different people, with one or both of those characters hooking up with someone else. This goes on through 10 different stories, circling back to the original character to complete the round.
Anton Walbrook serves as the omniscient Master of Ceremonys, starting the round, commenting on the situation and even entering into the plot of certain vignettes.
At the start of the film he introduces himself, explains how the plot is going to work and sings a little song about it. With all the Third Wall breaking going on with his character, the whole film comes across like a musical with only one song.
The film is one of those finely honed masterpieces where every second was thought out ,planned for and created just for the film. When I was young and watching every film I could , I dismissed Ophuls as old fashioned. I was young and foolish. Around about age 60 I rewatched something of his I had earlier, foolishly dismissed. Then I took a dive back into his work and realized for the 900th time I was foolish when I was young. (I had a good time)
The one song that makes the whole film seem like a musical -
It’s a cliche by now, but Samuel Barber’s “Adagio for Strings” used in Oliver Stones’s Platoon drenched in deep pathos. I was already familiar with it; its use in the movie made it even more poignant.
Lothlorien/Lament for Gandalf in “Fellowship of the Ring.” I think that’s the title of it. The haunting lament that plays as the group flees the Mines of Moria.
Being pretty bad at singing hits a little close to home, friend.
But here's one (no lyric this version):
I am overly fond of Samba & bossa nova especially the great decade of the late 50's thru late 60's (at least those years in the US when the wave struck so forcefully). Aquarela do Brasil to this day still kills me with its swing, chord changes, winsome upbeat vibe...and there is one version that haunts me for maybe all the wrong reasons – the tag version in Terry Gilliam's Brazil. It's a minute long, and it slightly overdoes it with the orchestration, but it cut straight thru me when I heard it in theater. Because it is the premier antithetical to the plot. It's almost painful to hear in that context.
Anyway, while looking for something else last week*, I found a link to that recording, opened it, played it and felt the throatlump.
*I think that, as long as I keep following every link-that-I-found-on-the-way-to-another-link I will never die. Like Sara Winchester and her pile of a mansion...
I reckon mine would be "She Drives Me Crazy" by Fine Young Cannibals, used in Tin Men. I saw the movie in theaters when I was in high school, then when I was at Clarkson U and DJing at WTSC (was the call letters if mem serve), got my hands on the record and listened a bunch... Forgot about it but when I watched the movie again in my 30s memories came rising back. Have watched a couple times since. I love that movie and the song is a big part of why. I mean there's a lot else to love about the movie too
Roy, a few songs come to mind.
“Far from the Road” from True Detective hits a note as it evokes a sense of dread; not different from my thoughts of despair for our country under another Trump term. And it’s sung by the Handsome Family, which might as well be the Manson Family or Trump family. Six of one........
Good times....:)
Terry Coleman's "Cool Breeze": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVC5rD6WAf4
Used as "Local on the Eights" music on the Weather Channel back in the mid-90s. Grabbed me from the beginning. Took me about ten years to find it again.
Perhaps not exactly what Roy was driving at, but a throw-away snippet of music from an ancient Bugs Bunny cartoon has stuck with me for half a century.
https://youtu.be/lHM2vhiOykY?si=zTqbmgRVDmopFEnP
"The five o'clock whistle's on the blink
The whistle won't blow, and whatdya think?
My Papa's still in the factory
'Cause he don't know what time it happens to be!"
Is it profound? No. Does it carry some special context for me? No. Stir precious memories? Not really. Still, it haunts me in a way, coming unbidden to my inner ear for no reason at random times throughout my life. Such is the inscrutable way of the human brain!
I have a weird one, and recency bias is at play since I just rewatched it. But I love how director Charles Poekel uses Clara Rockmore's theremin version of "The Swan" in the film Christmas, Again. ICYMI it's a mumblecore Xmas story about a depressed Christmas tree salesman in Greenpoint. I know, how did Hallmark miss this one? For me it's part projection, part nostaliga for a place I loved. When these sadsacks' lives are soundtracked to Rockmore's never-less-than-haunting music their story becomes something less like nostalgia and more like art.
There are two that come to mind right away. I first became aware of Satie’s Gymnopedie No. 1 when it was played at the end of “My Dinner with Andre.” It’s stayed with me since. And I remember hearing Hank Williams singing “Why Don’t You Love Me Like You Used to Do” over the radio in “The Last Picture Show.”
The Cavalliera Rusticana intermezzo from Godfather 3. Almost saved the movie.
From the opening of 1992's "Used People," ... Frank Sinatra with Tommy Dorsey's band and "The Sky Fell Down."
Obscure movie, not particularly revered, but a favorite of mine.
Lou Reed's Perfect Day playing while Renton ODs in Trainspotting
And Vangelis' L'Enfant from the Year of Living Dangerously.
Le Ronde, a French film by Max Ophuls, based on a play by Arthur Schnitzler, the guy who wrote the source for Eyes Wide Shut, is an anthology of interconnected stories where a couple meet up, hookup and then move on, one or both characters meeting up and hooking up with different people, with one or both of those characters hooking up with someone else. This goes on through 10 different stories, circling back to the original character to complete the round.
Anton Walbrook serves as the omniscient Master of Ceremonys, starting the round, commenting on the situation and even entering into the plot of certain vignettes.
At the start of the film he introduces himself, explains how the plot is going to work and sings a little song about it. With all the Third Wall breaking going on with his character, the whole film comes across like a musical with only one song.
The film is one of those finely honed masterpieces where every second was thought out ,planned for and created just for the film. When I was young and watching every film I could , I dismissed Ophuls as old fashioned. I was young and foolish. Around about age 60 I rewatched something of his I had earlier, foolishly dismissed. Then I took a dive back into his work and realized for the 900th time I was foolish when I was young. (I had a good time)
The one song that makes the whole film seem like a musical -
https://youtu.be/-uBs-E6Pwcw?si=0u_7h5RlwMKDTuyt
One thing about this- about halfway through the film I started to worry if these people were all wearing condoms.
It’s a cliche by now, but Samuel Barber’s “Adagio for Strings” used in Oliver Stones’s Platoon drenched in deep pathos. I was already familiar with it; its use in the movie made it even more poignant.
I am a sucker for Terry Pratchett and toiling chimes so this bit of filler gets me every year I watch Hogfather. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJqproUn-8E
this was really beautiful roy. thank you for
sharing
Lothlorien/Lament for Gandalf in “Fellowship of the Ring.” I think that’s the title of it. The haunting lament that plays as the group flees the Mines of Moria.