The best uses of Send Me An Angel in a movie
Mar/100
Only three movies? Really? I feel like this song is in everything ever.
#1 RAD
#2 TEEN WOLF TOO
#3 THE WIZARD
Apparently I am an indie rock nerd
Jan/101
I was thinking about doing something about my favorite albums of the 2k oo’s and I came to realize that apparently, I am an indie rock nerd. Almost all of my favorite albums come from this genre and really, I had no idea. I think this is something that I for some reason keep secret from everyone. It’s not on purpose. It’s just that there is “hanging out with my friends” music (Tesla, Billy Joel, Michael Jackson), “songs I sing in karaoke” (Heart, George Michael, Outkast) and then the stuff that I listen to at home (Wilco, Hold Steady). I’m hardcore about this stuff. I don’t want to be that guy who plays a song on the jukebox at the bar that nobody knows and/or likes. I don’t want to be the guy singing The Pixies in karaoke, I want to be the guy singing the stuff that makes people say “woah who is that smooth mf-er”. That’s me, that’s how I roll.
Anyways, I don’t normally do music stuff because I’m always so behind on it but there is enough here to give you a little taste of what I’m all about. My best music of the double zeroes is:
I’m just a haolie boy
Sep/090
I realized that I wrote a lot about moving to Hawaii yesterday, but not actually about what it was like in Hawaii. Here’s the thing about Hawaii if you take away the beaches, the sun, the weather and everything else you are in an overpriced Alabama. Hawaiian people are stupid. Here’s how you know the Hawaiian people are stupid, they eat Spam. Spam is available everywhere in Hawaii. McDonalds has Spam McMuffins, Burger King has a Spam Whopper and Taco Bell has a Spam Chimichanga. Everywhere you go it’s Spam and anyone who has ever ate Spam knows that it’s fucking terrible. Honestly, I think if you met the CEO of Spam and asked him how he got his money he would do one of two things A) he would apologize or B) he would lie about it. There is no way anyone on the board of directors of Spam actually uses their product, they are most likely ashamed to be on the board of directors at Spam which proves that it’s a shitty product.
Whenever someone asks me if I surfed when I lived in Hawaii I tell them no and when they ask me why I tell them because Hawaiian people will kill you.
I can’t wait to read about me later on your blog
Jun/091
I’ve somehow reached a point in my life where I love anything that has the word “musical” in it.
Movie music
Mar/090
I went to see Watchmen yesterday and while I enjoyed it, I couldn’t help but think about the music. Maybe it’s because I read this review by Will Leitch.
Someone desperately needs to buy Snyder an iTunes gift card. His music decisions seem pulled straight from the Now THAT’S What I Call A Soundtrack! rack at Wal-Mart. Need an ’80s song? “99 Red Balloons!” Need a Vietnam song? “Flight of the Valkryies!” Need a song for a sex scene? Hilariously, Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah!” I’m honestly surprised we didn’t hear “Fortunate Son” when Nixon’s on screen and “In Your Eyes” when Night Owl tries to woo Silk Specter.
That I couldn’t get it out of my head, but the fact of the matter is that I couldn’t get it out of my head. This is a movie that I wanted to like. I read the graphic novel and while it was very, very good I am not a huge Watchmen fanboy. Either way, I wanted this movie to be good and I want it to succeed. I think that it is and that it will, but the music just ended up bugging me.
You see, my favorite movie of all time is Boogie Nights. Which (not) coincidentally has the greatest soundtrack of all time. The music is right for the time and fits with the themes of the scenes. It’s never generic like the Watchmen soundtrack is. WHICH IS INSANE. Could you be imagine being told in the 60s that the Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan songs you are listening to would one day be considered generic? It blows my mind. Anyways, since much of this movie takes place in the 70s and early 80s, how could they NOT use Velvet Underground tracks? Or even some crazy Bowie songs (a fake Bowie makes an appearance)? And when we hit the 80s, why not something a bit more down like The Cure or New Order? The whole thing bothered me. Not, that I know what song should have gone in what place or anything like that. Just that I know it could have been better and the movie suffered because of it. In contrast to The Wrestler’s soundtrack which actually added quite a bit to the movie, it makes a difference.
I guess when it comes to music in movies I need something that is known, but not popular and overplayed. I need something that I’ve maybe never heard by a respected artist. I need a song that takes on a new meaning when I hear it in the scene. Directors like Paul Thomas Anderson, Martin Scorsese and Quentin Tarantino understand this. Quentin Tarantino especially. Quentin Tarantino has given me at least one song that I have fell in love with in each of his movies.
- Reservoir Dogs: Little Green Bag, Coconut and completely changed the signifigance of Stuck in the Middle with You forever.
- Pulp Fiction: Misirlou, Girl, You’ll Be A Woman Soon
- Jackie Brown: Pretty much all 70’s R&B. Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time) sticks out
- Kill Bill: Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down), Woo Hoo
- Death Proof: Baby It’s You, Hold Tight!
I’m a firm believer that the soundtrack is as important to the movie as the actors, screenplay, director and everything else. When I used to pretend I was a screenwriter (which I should probably start doing again at some point) I would ALWAYS write to music and think of music in key parts. Sometimes you can convey things with music that you can’t with words or emotions. Sometimes you have to let someone else tell the story for you, through music. This is probably the result of the movies I grew up on, but it is what it is and I believe it.
BONUS FEATURE: 5 songs I would use in a movie
- Jason Webley – Eleven Saints
Have I ever mentioned how much I love this song? So much. I don’t know the scene yet, but it would be a good one.- Oasis – You Know What I Mean
Always pictured the opening bit with the guitars as someone is walking dramatically somewhere. Maybe at the end of a movie where the lyrics kick in as the credits hit.- New Order – Crystal
I love the way this opens and it’s catchy and depressing at the same time. Could use this for anything really. Drug scene? Check. Sex scene? Check. Life spinning out of control scene? Check.- The Decemberists – Mariners Revenge Song
I have no idea what to use this song for, but I love it so much I would find a way. Even if it’s just scene background music.- ? and The Mysterians – 96 Tears
I might actually go with a cover of this, but anyone who knows me knows I die for this song. If it comes on a jukebox, you can be pretty sure I played it.HONORABLE MENTIONS: Kings of Leon – Use Somebody, Simple Minds – Alive and Kicking, Annie – Chewing Gum, Junior Senior – Boy Meets Girl, Marie Digby – Stupid For You, Terra Naomi – Say Its Possible, Veruca Salt – Volcano Girls