It’s Academy Awards time this weekend, and I’ve got to say I feel pretty out of touch with new movies. There was a time when I was catching three or four of the best picture nominees before the Oscar telecast (this year, I’ve seen one: Little Miss Sunshine). But those days seem to be gone. My time and money are being spent in other ways lately.
That’s not to say I don’t still like movies. Quite the contrary, and here’s your Top Five Friday Mini-mix to prove it. I’ve chosen songs that played important, memorable parts in some of my favorite movies. And I think the mix works pretty well from a “mixed tape” standpoint, too. So, enjoy and have a great weekend.
1. Simon and Garfunkel - Mrs. Robinson
Imagine a world without pop songs on soundtracks. Now throw into that world an entire movie full of pop songs, and you’ll have The Graduate. The inclusion of previously-released Simon & Garfunkel songs on the soundtrack to that film was groundbreaking, and that decision has influenced music in film to this day, in which soundtrack consultants basically make a mixed tape of theme-appropriate songs and call it a score.
But besides all that, Mrs. Robinson is a great song that captures the mood of the ’60s generation living through a period of intense upheaval and staring at a decidedly uncertain future. Plus, it’s a damn catchy pop tune.
2. The Shins - New Slang
Remember what I just said someone putting together a mixed tape and calling it a soundtrack? Well, Zach Braff did just that in Garden State. He picked out all the songs before they started filming. In fact, he would sent the soundtrack along with the script to actors he was interested in casting.
New Slang is a beautiful song, and it’s an integral part of the meeting of the two main characters. The melody and lyrics create a thoughtful tone and let the viewer know that Natalie Portman’s character has some interesting stuff going on below the surface. When Braff’s character puts on the headphones, he’s interested, but when he hears the song, he’s downright intrigued.
3. Chuck Berry - Johnny B. Goode
I bet you didn’t know that Michael J. Fox is the real king of rock & roll. Turns out, this one time, he went back to 1955 and played Johnny B. Goode at his parents’ high school dance. Really ripped it up, too. Just think, if it wasn’t for him, we’d still be listening to Lawrence Welk.
4. John Hiatt - Have a Little Faith in Me
An underrated gem in Johnny Depp’s filmography, Benny & Joon is such an unorthodox love story. Depp plays Sam, an illiterate wanderer who dresses and acts like Buster Keaton. Mary Stuart Masterson plays Joon, a mentally ill woman who acts out in town and doesn’t trust anyone but her brother Benny. The movie tells the story of Sam and Joon falling in love, and the centerpiece of their love story is Have a Little Faith in Me by John Hiatt. It’s a beautiful song, and it perfectly captures this romance between two broken people.
5. Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody
There’s not really anything insightful I can say about Wayne’s World. But I looked up some trivia on IMDB about it, though. So far, Wayne’s World is the only Saturday Night Live spin off movie to gross over $100 million. When the actors were filming the Bohemian Rhapsody scene, Mike Myers and Dana Carvey both injured their necks from head banging. Carvey didn’t know the words to the song while they were filming, and you can see him mouthing the wrong words a couple of times. Excellent!
And there you have my pre-Oscars mini-mix. Have a great weekend!
