Five AWESOME Movie Soundtracks!!

From time to time, movie music really pisses me off.  First, there’s the “Best Original Song” award at the Oscars.  How many times have they given that statuette to a song that just rolls during the closing credits?  Bunch of crap.  A “best original song” should be directly linked to the plot and characters in the film.  Which is why “Lose Yourself” by Eminem is the ULTIMATE “Best Original Song” ever. 

But this is a post about movie soundtracks.  And let me first get out of the way why I HATE soundtracks that are really more like “Music INSPIRED by blah blah blah”.  In that vein, Madonna’s I’M BREATHLESS is really not a movie soundtrack – even though three of the songs are actually featured in DICK TRACY.  And the soundtrack from THE THING CALLED LOVE – more crap.  Most of the songs on that soundtrack were not featured in the film; and, actually, all the GREAT music from that film is what’s performed by the stars:  River Phoenix, Samantha Mathis, Dermot Mulroney, and Sandra Bullock. 

And I digress yet again.  For me, an AWESOME movie soundtrack is one you actually want to buy and listen to again, and again, and again.  It can feature instrumental music or lyrical songs.  It can feature music actually written FOR the movie (like a musical or rock-opera) or music that APPEARS in the movie.  And when it all comes together as a magical collaboration of plot, character, and emotion…THAT’S a great movie soundtrack.

1.        PURPLE RAIN – Prince (1984)

Seriously, how can you not love this soundtrack?  Well, I guess if you don’t like Prince, then you wouldn’t like PURPLE RAIN.  But then I would say you are a fool and can’t really appreciate popular music for what it CAN be and SHOULD be.

What’s really cool about PURPLE RAIN is that the songs help to tell the story.  It all starts with LET’S GO CRAZY, and you get a sense for who “The Kid” is and what he’s all about.  You learn a bit about his band, and how Wendy and Lisa get frustrated by Kid’s ego and selfishness.  By the time you get to DARLING NIKKI, you understand the conflict between Kid and his female bandmates.  And when Kid and his band finally perform PURPLE RAIN, which is actually Wendy and Lisa’s song, you see a performer who has turned a corner (personally and professionally) and is ready to move forward.  I WOULD DIE 4 U and BABY I’M A STAR are icing on the cake – and are actually my favorite performances of the film. 

2.       HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH – John Cameron Mitchell (2001)

A true “rock opera”, Hedwig and the Angry Inch is a 2001 American musical-comedy-drama based on the stage musical of the same name about a fictional rock band fronted by an East German transgender singer.  The film was adapted and directed by John Cameron Mitchell; the music and lyrics are by Stephen Trask.  I"m not going to dive into the plot, but I'm just going to say the songs are some of the most poetic and "real" stories about love, life, and human relationships that I can think of.  They will make you laugh, cry, and sing out loud.  All will make you think.  And if you dig Michael Pitt at all (MURDER BY NUMBERS, BOARDWALK EMPIRE), you really need to check out this film, too.  He sings!!  

3.       A CLOCKWORK ORANGE – Walter Carlos (1971)

I have bought and sold a lot of CD’s over the years – this is one I still own from my earliest CD purchases.  Meaning I have never sold it only to buy it again.  Known more for being a misogynistic and violent film as opposed to having really kick ass music, if you love Beethoven then you already know about A CLOCKWORK ORANGE and its soundtrack.  The Ninth Symphony is the star, and it’s featured both as a “classical” performance and electronica as well.  All I can really say is….you’ll never think of SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN the same way again.

4.       SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER – The Bee Gees/Various (1977)

Disco may be dead, but this is one classic soundtrack that will live forever.  It’s the only disco album to have won a Grammy for “Album of the Year”, it sold more than 15 million copies, and is ranked number 131 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.  What’s not to like?  Seriously, even if you can’t stand disco, you need to experience this soundtrack.  Talk about music defining an era – this soundtrack did all that and more. 

5.       STAR WARS – John Williams (1977)

I can’t think of another film SCORE out there that resonates for me as much as the soundtrack from STAR WARS (1977).  My Aunt Judy got me this LP (yes, that’s the vinyl record) for Christmas and I played that thing to death.  I even owned the 45 single, too.  The “B” side was the song from the Mos Eisley Spaceport scene…CANTINA BAND.  This soundtrack won John Williams (the composer) the most awards of his career, including an Oscar, Golden Globe, BAFTA Award, and three awards at the 1978 Grammy Awards.  If you are a Gen X’er, chances are you had access to this film score/soundtrack in your house somewhere. 

Even if you’ve seen these movies, check out the soundtracks separately.  You will NOT be sorry J.