Favourite film soundtracks and themes
This is a feature suggested by Simone, your favourite film soundtracks. Now that got me thinking, there were a few top lists on television over the holidays about favourite soundtracks and they were featuring one song, not the soundtrack. To me a soundtrack is a collection of all the songs from the film, whereas the lists were proving there's another side to this feature, your favourite film theme.
So let's combine the two. What's your favourite film theme, i.e. one single song that so defines a film or film moment for you that whenever you hear it you think of the film, or you deliberately hum it to evoke the film memories. Then what film soundtrack sticks in your mind, or you've bought and genuinely like?
For me, and let me tackle the soundtracks first, there's a couple of clear winners because they are the only ones in my CD and digital collection that are soundtracks.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
I love it. I love the film and the music, and I've watched it so many times. I used to sing and dance to the Time Warp and Sweet Transvestite in the student union and I can remember the DJ (a guy who used to wear Dennis the Menace red and black stripy jumpers all the time) getting exceedingly annoyed about me asking for them - those and REM's Stand, but that's just because we did the silly dance to it…Anyway, I have that soundtrack and I love it, it always makes me smile and think of those days.
The Mission
I have this album, I think I originally had it on tape, and it's very relaxing to listen to and has some wonderful orchestrated songs.
Purple Rain
Not just the main theme, but the whole album by Prince, again originally on tape. There are some great songs on there, not such a great film, but the songs are good.
The Commitments
I remember buying this album on vinyl after seeing the film.
A Chorus Line
Yes, I have that soundtrack too. Hey I like the film version starring Michael Douglas and directed by Richard Attenborough, what's wrong with that? Some of the songs are quite cool, like I Can Do That, Surprise Surprise and Dance: Ten; Looks: Three.
Fame
Oh man. I have tapes of the television soundtrack and also the film. I remember being in the shower a few years ago and started humming this base track, a really funky song, and not knowing where it was from. Eventually I discovered it just popped into my head from years and years before when I was listening to the Fame tapes. Hot Lunch Jam.
Walk the Line
I haven't bought this yet but it's a definite purchase. Never was I a Johnny Cash fan until I saw this film and now I'm really switched onto his music.
Batman Motion Picture Score
Now this is not the Prince soundtrack, this is the Danny Elfman orchestrated soundtrack which has the killer theme in it. When I used to write in my youth I would always listen to this theme which would help me slip into the mood I needed to start writing. It's a great film and a superb theme which really does identify the film
So that leads us nicely onto the film themes. There are definitely some songs that stick with me from a film, here are a few:
Batman, the original theme
Star Wars main theme and the Emperor's theme
Back to the Future - The Power of Love by Huey Lewis and the News
James Bond themes galore - Diamonds are Forever, Live and Let Die, etc, etc
Chorus Line's main theme - One
Highlander's love theme - Who Wants to Live Forever by Queen
Magnolia provides a few good songs from Aimee Mann including One
Caddyshack - Kenny Loggins I'm Alright, man I love that dancing gopher! He's also brought us another couple of classic themes, are they in your list?
Against All Odds, I love hitting that drum beat moment in the Phil Collins song
Rocky's themes, the opening theme as well as Eye of the Tiger by Survivor
Fame - Hot Lunch Jam, I have to mention that one
Always - Smoke Gets in your Eyes by The Platters
Okay, I've deliberately held back because I have a huge list. There's just a few for you. What about your list? Do you have classics like Jaws or are you going for much smaller films like Mannequin, or newer films like Love Actually?
Get your suggestions in for your favourite soundtracks to films as well as just your favourite themes.
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