I've had a really weird week with movies and music. This type of thing happens occasionally, but it's happened three times in 7 days. Kind of cool.
The first time was when I went to see Flight of the Phoenix one week ago today. I don't think I liked it quite as much as OSC. I mainly went because it had Hugh Laurie in it, and it was playing at Brewvies, the coolest theatre in all of the world. Pretty cheesy flick, but right in the middle there was a scene with some crazy nomads that was set to "Angel" by Massive Attack. I thought it was the best scene in the movie, but maybe just because I was so busy grooving that I didn't pay too much attention to what was going on. Totally saved the movie for me, though, and after it was done I went out to my car and put in the album that the song is from. I now have a totally new appreciation for that song, just from seeing it in a different context. I love me some Massive Attack.
A couple days later I was watching TV and There's Something About Mary came on. I'd never seen it before, and I wasn't too impressed. Of course it was the TV edited version, so they may have ruined it with the editing, but I didn't get the hype that was all around it when it came out. But right in the middle of that movie they had a montage scene set to "History Repeating" by Propellerheads. What a fantastic track. In fact, that album is one of my two favorite techno discs of all time. And I own a fair amount of techno, so that's saying something. I didn't really gain a new appreciation for it like I did with "Angel", since it wasn't used very creatively. But it was, once again, my favorite scene in the movie just for the chance I had to groove.
Then finally, last night I was watching the latest episode of House on Fox. I don't know if anyone saw it. The opening scene had some homeless person trying to find a person in the middle of a rave. They were playing trance music... what other options did they have? Anyway, it sounded familiar, and just before the scene ended I realized that it was the first track from Tranceport by Paul Oakenfold. Ooh, classic. This time it didn't make the best scene from the episode... there were plenty of other cool parts in last night's House. But it was pretty damn groovy.
I don't know if this happens to other people, or if anyone else gets as psyched as I do when it does happen. I guess I just wanted to document a coincidence this odd. I'd be creeped out if it wasn't so much fun.
Posted by MyrddinFyre (Member # 2576) on :
I remember being super excited when a Rusted Roots song came on in the middle of Ice Age Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Yeah, this hardly ever happens to me, unless I'm watching a movie like O Brother or Songcatcher. I think Iris DeMent's "Our Town" has been on a couple of TV shows, though.
Posted by Annie (Member # 295) on :
I've noticed a strange related phenomenon in movie previews. Maybe they think it's obscure enough that not many people will get it, but there have been previews to at least 12 different movies that use a part of the theme music to Dragonheart.
I've seen the same pop song used in many movie previews (Semi-Charmed Life, anyone?), but never music from another movie until recently.
I guess they were just really fond of that Dragonheart score and a little sad it didn't sell better, I don't know.
Posted by Jim-Me (Member # 6426) on :
"Glory", "Braveheart" and "The Shawshank Redemption" get used a lot, too.
Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
I love the opening music on House, too.
Posted by Ben (Member # 6117) on :
music from Requiem For a Dream was used in a remixed form to advertise Two Towers & Return of the King. THe video game ads used the music as well. many people wondered why that song wasnt on the soundtrack. but it made me happy.
Posted by lem (Member # 6914) on :
XXX and Lost in Translation both had songs I groove to and did not expect to hear in a movie. I will rewatch so I can get the song titles-I am drawing a blank now.
I think it was either Morphine, Chemical Brothers, or Crystal Method.
Posted by Eruve Nandiriel (Member # 5677) on :
"Damaged" by Plumb.
I heard it in a random movie once, and started jumping up and down going "oh my gosh...it's PLUBM!". I was just startled because they're not really a mainstream band, even though I've listened to them for years.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
I just watched a rerun of "Ed." (where was I when it was on TV?
At the end, a Nick Drake song came on. Much coolness!
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
"I remember being super excited when a Rusted Roots song came on in the middle of Ice Age"
Yes! "Send Me On My Way."
Posted by Annie (Member # 295) on :
And then there's the opposite - when a great song pops up in a movie where it really doesn't belong.
Everytime my k.d. lang version of "Hallelujah" comes up on my playlist, my little sisters say, "it's the song from Shrek!"
It is NOT the song from Shrek! It's Leonard Cohen! It's about love and God and loss of faith and all kinds of deep deep stuff and I get angry every time someone identifies it with Shrek.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Hmm. I remember loving it in the movie, and it was during a very sad/poignant part.
Posted by Ben (Member # 6117) on :
i know it's Leonard's work but i always think Buckley when i hear Hallelujah...just seems like a more desperate delivery, which i appreciate.
[ February 09, 2005, 04:12 PM: Message edited by: Ben ]
Posted by Annie (Member # 295) on :
The thing I don't like about the Rufus Wainright version (that they use in the movie) is that he pronounces "you" rather than "ya," ruining the rhyme with "hallelujah."
And it's a sad and poignant scene, but it's not about anything the song is about.
Posted by Hobbes (Member # 433) on :
On the trailer note I find that often songs arte used for the trailers that never appear in the movie, case and point Finding Forrester had a trailer with Philip Glass music in it. I can tell you there was none in the movie.
Hobbes Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :
Oooh! Don't Fear the Reaper by Blue Oyster Cult in Halloween, the first one, starring Jamie Lee Curtis.
Posted by Dread Pendragon (Member # 7239) on :
Pippen's song on ROTK.
I never listen to Rob Zombie until I saw The Matrix, but I really like the song that that was playing in the club when he met Trinity (dragula).
Posted by Ben (Member # 6117) on :
just reminded of lyrics of another song.
why'd ya say hallelujah if it means nothing to ya
so...yea...
Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
I hear Don't Fear the Reaper and I think that the only solution is a little more cowbell.
Posted by Carrie (Member # 394) on :
Gladiator's music shows up in trailers a lot as well.
Posted by Lupus (Member # 6516) on :
one song I haven't heard in a movie...but think would be really great for one of those romantic comedies where everything goes wrong is "table for two" by caedmon's call. Its about a conversation that the songwriter (Derek Webb) had with a friend about how it is difficult being single. It starts out rather lonely, but ends up with him coming to the conclusion that things will work out for him after all (since he is married now, I guess they did work out)
Posted by Ralphie (Member # 1565) on :
quote:I hear Don't Fear the Reaper and I think that the only solution is a little more cowbell.
My mind wars with itself that a song I have loved for as long as I can remember has been eternally altered by a ridiculously hilarious moment of comedy. I can't decided whether it's a good or bad thing.
As far as music in movies goes, I'm really glad that Lisa Gerrard has become a sort of go-to girl for dramatic music soundtracks. I've always thought her voice would make perfect backdrop/mood-setting music for films.
Posted by Foust (Member # 3043) on :
I liked hearing The Shins' A New Slang in Garden State. It's definately one of my favourite songs.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
I have watched a few(really bad) movies just to hear The Horse Flies playing in the background."Rivers Run North" and "The Year That Trembled."
[ February 09, 2005, 07:26 PM: Message edited by: Elizabeth ]
Posted by Ben (Member # 6117) on :
in highschool i suffered through STONEWALL just to hear What a Good Boy by Barenaked Ladies...
Posted by Eruve Nandiriel (Member # 5677) on :
quote: Gladiator's music shows up in trailers a lot as well.
Yay, it's not just me. People were starting to think I was crazy because I kept "hearing Gladiator music everywhere".
Posted by Da_Goat (Member # 5529) on :
I loved hearing Eels in Shrek 2, even though I had never heard that particular song before.
And, though I never watch the show (I've tried...), I've heard The O.C. plays a lot of music I like.
I'm also going to be really cliche and say Bohemian Rhapsody was my absolute favorite part of Wayne's World.
Posted by Ryuko (Member # 5125) on :
I had a FREAK OUT when I heard the Frou Frou cover of Hero over the end credits of Shrek 2.
Also, practically the only reason I watched Garden State was because there was a Frou Frou song in the commercials. And it was the scene I liked best.
[ February 12, 2005, 08:57 PM: Message edited by: Ryuko ]
Posted by Baron Samedi (Member # 9175) on :
quote:Originally posted by Foust: I liked hearing The Shins' A New Slang in Garden State. It's definately one of my favourite songs.
Good call. Between The Shins, Zero 7, Nick Drake, Thievery Corporation, Iron and Wine does The Postal Service, and the use of a brilliant Simon and Garfunkel song that hasn't yet become a cliche, that's one of the best soundtrack movies I've ever seen.
When that movie came out, I kept hearing how I had to get the soundtrack. But I already have most of it, so it wouldn't make much sense. It made it a trip to watch, though.
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