The Music of Martin Scorsese's Films

Flavorwire has written and posted a phenomenal analysis of the classic rock 'n roll music Scorsese used in his epic films. Taking a look through Scorsese's accomplished filmography, the post highlights memorable scenes from his body of work, and goes through the iconic music that has come to epitomize those groundbreaking scenes. It's a must-read for anyone who calls themselves a Martin Scorsese fan.

"By 1985 I stopped really listening to popular music. But the earlier songs created images in my head. Somehow some of those images and feelings—not all of them—were able to be used in certain pictures. Certain scenes suddenly reminded me of a piece of music that I thought would be perfect for a film." – Martin Scorsese, Conversations with Scorsese (2011)

 
The opening sequence of Mean Streets - Ronettes’ “Be My Baby.”

Soundtrack to the 80s - 'Drive'

With a style that's a cross between Top Gun and Pretty in Pink, the soundtrack for Drive is infused with electronica-inspired pop, and lyrics that literally transport you back to the 80s. This is the soundtrack to have blasting while you're driving around aimlessly on a summer night, windows down, and wind blowing. Not that I do that...or anything...

Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon

Urge Overkill's cover of "Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon", just came up on my iPod shuffle - yes, of course I've got the entire Pulp Fiction soundtrack on there. As always, I felt like watching this scene for the millionth time. Just cuz. Tarantino is the master of choosing the best pop songs for his soundtracks and the Pulp Fiction track-list is no exception. Eclectic beyond words, he mixes classic rock and roll, soul, and of course, the surf music that has come to represent Pulp Fiction, to perfection.

The music doesn't act as simply a filler, playing in the background of whatever's happening on-screen. It IS what's happening. Tarantino brings the music to the forefront, seamlessly weaving it with the characters and plot. Somehow it seems natural when characters start dancing and singing along to a track that's playing, at least in Tarantino's world.

Jay-Z & Kanye Release "Otis", but Duckie Did a Better Job

Earlier this week, Jay-Z and Kanye released a track off of their highly anticipated upcoming collaboration, Watch the Throne. An ode to the late, great, intoxicating soul-man, Otis Redding, an artist so talented and beloved that really, he needs no last name. He's Otis. The track is good, featuring some memorable and jarring lines from good-ol Mr. West (I say that sarcastically because although his talent is indisputable, I can't stand the essence that is Kanye: the brand). But really, as I was listening to it, I couldn't stop wishing that Jay-Z and Kanye would just shut up so I could hear the Otis sample underneath their rhymes.

So, for everyone who listened to Jay-Z and Kanye's tribute to Otis, and hoped they'd stop being so rude as to talk over a classic soul track, here is the iconic scene from Pretty in Pink (you know the one...), with  Duckie Dale so perfectly lip-syncing along to Try a Little Tenderness.



"This is a very good tune. My mother used to sing this. This is Otis, I love Otis."
- Duckie Dale (Pretty in Pink)

Adele - 'Someone Like You' Live at 2011 BRIT Awards

Once in a while, a performance comes along that completely redefines music, that moves you, leaves you speechless and completely hypnotizes you into a dream-like state.

Adele's voice is capable of doing that and so much more. Her latest album, 21, was released just this week and already I can't get enough of it, especially the song "Someone Like You" and her cover of The Cure's "Lovesong".

Watch her BRIT Awards performance and prepare to be mesmerized.
              
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Soundtrack to 2010 - Music That Saved My Life

I hate those 'time flies' rants so I won't do one, but I will say that it really is hard to believe it's already 2011.

These are songs that made up the soundtrack to my life over the past year, not necessarily from this year, or from this decade for that matter.

Sweet Disposition - The Temper Trap
When I first heard this song, I must've rushed home and listened to it another five times just to hear every word and every note. I drink it in every time it plays, and seeing them sing it live was enough to turn this into an all-time favourite.

                          
Florence and the Machine - Dog Days
This was THE song of the year. You aren't doing it justice unless it's full blast, so you can hear the fantastic instrumentals, paired with probably one of the most gorgeous rock vocals of the last few years, courtesy of Florence Welch.

                          
Kate Nash - Kiss that Grrrl
Addictive, you WILL be singing along.


Penny and the Quarters - You and Me
If you don't recognize it, it's the song Ryan's character plays for Michelle's character, in Blue Valentine. It's hypnotic - I love it.



Otis Redding - These Arms of Mine
I've loved this song forever, I mean, IT IS Otis. And if you can remember, it's playing in the background when Baby visits Johnny's room in Dirty Dancing.


Sufjan Stevens - Chicago
Very few songs have the ability to make you feel like it's the first time you've ever heard it, each time you listen to it. This is one of those songs.


Eminem - Love the Way You Lie
I know, it's so overplayed, but for whatever reason, this is one song I NEVER change the station from. It epitomizes the genius that is Eminem, his passionate and reckless nature, and the crazy we all know is in him. Although it is scary to hear him verbalize the abusive things he's thinking, it's a kind of destructive poetry, even WITH Rihanna on the track. She should just stick to singing other peoples' choruses.

I Need You So Much Closer

I randomly came across Transatlanticism by Death Cab on shuffle today and it immediately reminded me of Six Feet Under. Even though the moment in this scene is drug-induced, there's something so special and real about it. This (phenomenally-cast) group of misfits, sitting around, contemplating the meaning of 'it' all. The atmosphere the Death Cab song creates literally mesmerizes you into a dream-like state, till you can't really tell if they're on drugs or you are. It's sort of beautiful.



It got me thinking about how when you hear certain songs, they automatically make you think of a movie or TV show you heard it on. I love that about music, the way it reminds you of different moments in your life, connecting you to memories of the same emotions you may have felt when you first saw or did something that you love.

'I hope she'll be a fool - that's the best thing a girl can be in this world' - Baz Luhrmann takes on The Great Gatsby!

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It's official! Carey Mulligan has signed on to play spoiled little rich girl Daisy Buchanan in Baz Luhrmann's rendition of the classic American novel, The Great Gatsby. Since the rumors started, I've been hoping they'd pick her for this role, craving to see more of her since her phenomenal performances in An Education and Never Let Me Go.

Now before you start recalling the torture of reading this book in high school, let me add that the role of Jay Gatsby is being filled by Leo Dicaprio. Swoon. And Nick Carraway (although who really cares after you have Leo) will be played by Tobey Maguire. Although it may have been a bit much to grasp in high school, this novel had all the elements of a great drama: love, betrayal, jealousy, misconception... Ok, now it sounds more like an everyday episode of General Hospital.

Perfect timing for this film adaptation, with Boardwalk Empire getting us all warm and fuzzy over the 1920s and prohibition era (as some of you may already know, Gatsby is a bootlegger!). The clothes, the music, all of it is so intriguing and addictive to watch, to be completely drawn into. Plus, Baz Luhrmann (with the exception of the torturous mistake that was Australia) is a genius, having made two of my favorite movies, Moulin Rouge, and the only rendition of Romeo + Juliet that I can actually sit through. He's already proven to be capable of staying true to the themes of classic literature, but we'll definitely be in for some of his signature flash and pizazz. And of course his great taste in music - both Romeo + Juliet and Moulin Rouge have two of the best soundtracks of any film.

Sing for the Years - Aerosmith in Concert!

There was a moment the other night, early in the show, when my heart stopped, just for a second.  The amazing Steven Tyler was bumped by Joe Perry (accidentally, I hope) and landed in the audience.  At first, we couldn't tell if he was attempting to stage dive and grasp at the last shred of youth left inside him, but when security rushed to pull him back up on stage, we figured it was definitely an accident.  And in true Rockstar fashion, he got right back into Love in an Elevator.

Since last year, when Steven Tyler did in fact fall off the stage mid-concert, injuring his neck and back, Aerosmith fans everywhere have been on edge.  It's hard to see someone who you've always seen as so powerful, both in voice and presence, suddenly so fragile.

Either way, the show was amazing!  Pure electric energy, adrenaline pumping rock n' roll..  The set list was fantastic, as the band went on to play hits both old and new, including What it Takes, Cryin', Dream On, and their cover of The Beatles' Come Together.  And, the show gave each member the opportunity to shine on their own: With Steven's always-chilling vocals (how the hell can he still hit those high notes?!), Joe Perry's amazing guitar solos, and Joey Kramer on the drums, pounding us into submission.

The boys men of Aerosmith seem to transcend generations, somehow resonating even with today's youth. It's funny, this is one show I've been to where on one side of me there was a 14 year old boy and on the other was someone around 65.  And the fact that all the band's members are over 60 is such a testament to their agility and freaking ability make great music that we still care about today.  Aerosmith will forever be Cocked, Locked, and Ready to Rock.  

I'm never as good as when you're there.

I'm going through a musical transformation of sorts.  It happens to me every few years where I rediscover a different side of myself and fall deeply in love with the art of music and musicianship so much so that I feel like I can't stand it anymore.  Lost in a trance, I'm reminded of a quote from one of my favourite movies of all time, Almost Famous, where Band-Aid Saphhire describes love of music actually quite perfectly.

"they don't even know what it is to be a fan.  you know, to truly love some silly little piece of music, or some band...so much that it hurts."

I totally get that.

What I'm listening to right now that's got me in this mood.
Metric - All Yours
Band of Horses - No One's Gonna Love You
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Maps
The Entire Temper Trap Album

July, in a nutshell.

Things I'm loving right now:

Lady Gaga: Oh my Gaga.  Last week’s concert at the ACC was one of the best I’ve ever been to.  And guess what, she danced and sang at the same time with No lip-syncing!  See Britney, it can be done.  Her voice is amazing.  Gaga sings (and sometimes yells) straight from the heart and it’s so raw when she does.  People tend to get distracted by the costumes and façade of her image and button-pushing videos, but when you strip all that away and it’s her sitting at a piano, belting out a song like Speechless, you are left speechless at how breathtakingly beautiful the experience of it is.

True blood Season 3: I can’t even explain how excited I get on Sunday nights (actually, I usually watch on Monday nights) when I get to slip into the magical and most of the time, very colourful Bon Temps and get to live in this world were sexy vampires and werewolves cause a lot of ruckus.  Growing up watching Buffy and now with this Twilight craziness, this is obviously something so relevant, especially teens, no matter what the decade.  Something about eternal love just makes us girls swoon!  That and Alexander Skarsgard.

Vanessa Marcil’s upcoming return to GH: I’m regularly googling her name this week, just to make sure she’s still planning on reprising her epic role as Brenda on GH.  I know I may seem ridiculous at doing that but who the hell cares.  According to one post I found, the official date is August 11.

The Hills is finally over so maybe now I can look forward to the beginning of the end of reality TV? – HA.  I literally laugh out loud at the thought.  It’s probably just wishful thinking, but that would be just divine.  I’m so sick of having to get through endless reports on Jake, Vienna and company just to see some actual entertainment news.  (I do, however, appreciate the absurdity that is Jersey Shore, a guilty pleasure of mine as; you are free to judge my hypocrisy.)

Total ECLIPSE of the Heart

I’ve got some big news for all the open (and closeted) Twi-hards out there. I’m going to the premiere for Eclipse on Monday with a dear, dear friend of mine (Shout out to K-Jo for the awesome hook-up!) So excited, although the movie definitely doesn’t look as good as the books are addictive, there’s a special place in my heart for Twilight (swoon for Edward) and I’m excited to be one of the first people in Toronto to see the movie!

Will definitely post about it next week!

On another note, I can't seem to stop listening to the Temper Trap album literally on repeat, periodically throughout the day. That's all.
Love Lost by The Temper Trap

This Movie Is Broken (Social Scene)

I just came across the trailer for This Movie Is Broken - A Rock Show Romance featuring the music of Broken Social Scene and I had to share it.

We are definitely long overdue for what looks like is going to be a new indie-rock movie about music and l-o-v-e.

It reminds me of one of the more recent ro(ck)mances, Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist - which I can seem to watch over and over again for Michael Cera's adorable-ness and that hilarious Andy Samberg cameo, not to mention that awesome Devendra Banhart track (Lover).

Oh, and did I mention, the movie takes place in our gorgeous city.

Check out the trailer.

Drake OFFICIALLY releases Thank Me Later

So, the most talked-about day for Hip-Hop in a long time, came and went yesterday. Drake's highly anticipated came out in stores (officially, because I know most of you heard it before, don't lie!) to what are expected to be very high 1st week sales, despite the album being leaked a couple of weeks back.

Either way, by now I'm sure you've all had a chance to listen to the album and I'd love to know what you really think. I'm getting mixed reviews and I have to say I kind of agree. I feel like the best songs on the album have already been released and I don't think it lived up to the hype. Poor guy though, because the real thing is almost never as good as the hype and Drake's come around at a time where everyone just wants him to be the one to 'save' hip-hop from the 'crap'hop that floods our stations today.

The problem is also that we all heard the mixtapes and got super excited because here was this up and comer who got so much love from the Greats that he had to be something special. Add that to the highly publicized race to sign him to a label - that kind of pressure would get to anyone. And all this before he even had a chance to release an actual album.

So, with all that in mind, and with the fact that his mixtapes got so much love, maybe it's actually the record label's influence that screwed up Canada's own Drizzy-Drake. He probably could have done much better without them.

Top Five Movies about Music

So, in honour of watching High Fidelity again tonight for the umpteenth time, I thought it would be fitting to write down my own TOP FIVE list combining my two favourite things: Movies about Music.

So without further ado, here’s My Top Five Movies about Music.

Honourable mention goes to Selena. There’s something about talented people dying before their time that creates a sense of sadness unlike anything else. When people die without living up to their potential, you get to thinking about what if? What would the world of music be like if artists like Selena and Kurt Cobain hadn’t died? Would there even have been a Britney Spears? Would the cookie-cutter, test-tube American Idol artists exist? It’s like that whole domino effect thing where one action moves you down a certain path. So, did these significant musical losses change the course of music forever?


#5 – Pulp Fiction. You know I just had to put a Tarantino flick on my list. Using an eclectic mix of rock and roll, pop, and surfer music, the music in the film only enhances the storyline and makes it more memorable. And every time you hear the song ‘Girl, you’ll be a woman soon’, tell me you don’t picture Mia Wallace, prancing around her living room, just about to snort Vincent’s heroin. I mean, he even takes a traditional greek melody, the Misirlou, and makes it rock and roll.

Favourite Tracks:
"Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon"- Urge Overkill
"Misirlou" – Opening theme

#4 - Moulin Rouge. Technically, this movie’s not exactly about music, but it gets on the list for its stellar song-choices. The soundtrack brings together the best pop songs across generations. What other movie puts together a musical spread made up of Madonna’s “Like a Virgin”, Elton John’s “Your Song” and Nirvana’s “Smells like Teen Spirit”.

Favourite Tracks:
"Your Song" – Elton John
"Elephant Love Medley"

#3 - Brown Sugar. Bringing together the greatest hip hop of our time, the movie features music that is untainted by the masses, with artists like Common, Erykah Badu, and Mos Def. Staying far away from the Crap-hop that drowns our radio stations today, Brown Sugar poetically unfolds a lifelong When Harry Met Sally –style love story, personifying hip hop as a metaphor for the love the two characters share. It’s about not selling out in life, music, and love, and for that reason, it’s #3 on my list.

Favourite Tracks:
"Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip-Hop)" - Erykah Badu & Common
"Used to Love H.E.R." – Common

#2 High Fidelity. The movie opens with John Cusack going through a bad breakup, following his character as he revisits past relationships through music, trying to figure out what went wrong. It’s not the end point that matters in this movie, which is the inevitable make-up, so much as the journey. And, along the ride, we get a kick-ass road-trip mix in the form of ‘Top 5’ lists about everything and anything. High Fidelity gives us the most extensive and diverse playlist in a movie to date. Eclectic and alternative, it’s highly self-righteous about what is and isn’t cool, but it seems to work.

Favourite Tracks:
"Baby I Love Your Way" – Lisa Bonet
"Dry the Rain" – The Beta Band

And my #1 all-time favourite movie about music is Almost Famous. This gets #1 because it’s all about loving music and how it can literally change your life. Based on writer Cameron Crowe’s experiences travelling with bands like the Allman Brothers and Led Zeppelin, we get a backstage pass to the musical scene of the 1970s filled of course, with sex, drugs, and rock and roll. What makes it stand out as a film, is Kate Hudson, as Penny Lane, leader of the Band-Aids – a group of girls (traditionally known as groupies) who love music and musicians so much, they dedicate their lives to following them around. Patrick Fugit’s character’s innocent and naive look at his pure love for music is corrupted by the commercial aspect of music – and it literally shows that fame and popularity are the root cause of the downfall of bands.

Favourite Tracks:
"Tiny Dancer" – Elton John
"That’s the Way" – Led Zeppelin

Fierce Fashion Stills from Gaga's new TELEPHONE video

Check out Gaga's fabulous rendition of the classic Jail-stripes, with killer shoulder pads.


Loving the lit-cigarette-shades and Gaga all chained up.


According to Gaga, her mom actually did use Coke cans as curlers! Loves it.


And finally, my fourth favourite look from Gaga's Vid, her telephone hair!

Drake drops his first official single "Over"

Drake finally dropped “Over,” his first official release from his highly anticipated album Thank Me Later.

And, he chose to release it first in none other than his hometown of T.O. on Flow 93.5 at Midnight last night. Way to rep Toronto, Drake!

My Verdict: Great background beat and hook. Plus, Drake's got a smooth flow. Hope the video's better than that thing he did for Best I Ever Had.