Songs from Stage and Screen – Page 9

The Top 500 Songs in Modern Music History…Song #145: Sweet Jane by Velvet Underground (KEXP)

This list of songs is inspired by lists published by radio station KEXP-FM from Seattle in 2010, as well as the latest poll taken in 2021 by Rolling Stone Magazine. For the most part I will faithfully countdown from their lists, starting at Song #500 and going until I reach Song #1. When you see the song title listed as something like: Song #XXX (KEXP)….it means that I am working off of the official KEXP list. Song XXX (RS) means the song is coming from the Rolling Stone list. If I post the song title as being: Song #xxx (KTOM), it means I have gone rogue and am inserting a song choice from my own personal list of tunes I really like. In any case, you are going to get to hear a great song and learn the story behind it. Finally, just so everyone is aware, I am not a music critic nor a musician. I am a music fan and an armchair storyteller. Here is the story behind today’s song. Enjoy.

KEXP: The Top 500 Songs in Modern Music History.

Song #145: Sweet Jane by Velvet Underground.

When I was a boy, growing up in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, my mother was someone who taught me a lot of life lessons by way of familiar phrases or mottos. For instance, it was Mona Frances, herself, who raised me to “not judge books by their covers” or, in other words, don’t pre-judge people or things without giving yourself a chance to get to know them/it first so you can gather the facts needed to make a proper judgement. When I was a boy, her admonishments to “not judge a book by its’ cover” often went in one ear and out the other. But, she had her ways of making these lessons stick. All I can say about it, really, is that after a few years of opening ottoman-sized gift-wrapped presents on Christmas Eve (*We had a family tradition of opening one gift on the 24th), only to discover a pair of new socks or pyjamas at the bottom (which no kid really wants), I began to realize that the best gifts weren’t necessarily in the biggest boxes and so, I started to learn “not to judge a book by its’ cover” in a way that had meaning for me as a boy. Lesson learned, Ma. Thanks. But, if we are all being honest, it is hard to restrain ourselves from rushing to judgement on the people we meet based upon factors such as appearance and so on. We are all judgey types, whether we want to admit it or not.

The song, “Sweet Jane” was written and sung by Lou Reed when he was still a member of Velvet Underground in the early 1970s. Reed often wrote his songs as morality plays set in NYC; often creating scenarios involving flawed characters who existed in the underbelly of life in the city. In the song, “Sweet Jane”, the play that forms his song involves Jack and Jane and himself, as the Rock star. Each of these three people find freedom in the “uniforms” they wear as bankers and clerks and musicians but, at the same time, the outward appearance of the lives they seem to be living places them in boxes that restrict their abilities to achieve the highs that Life has to offer. The term, “Sweet Jane” is said to refer to heroin but, in this song, it is more the elusive feeling of the immediate “high” that comes with drug use that Reed is after in this song. “Sweet Jane” isn’t really about drugs at all. It is about the image of ourselves that we project to others and how it affects our ability to get the most out of life.

The song, “Sweet Jane” comes from an album that was sarcastically called, “Loaded”. As you may know, Lou Reed and Velvet Underground served as the “house band” for Andy Warhol and his Art crowd and Reed always produced music that contained an “Art-first” mentality. As such, Velvet Underground became the poster kids for Art-Rock and became highly influential as a result but, on the business side of the ledger, they were wildly unsuccessful and were deemed to be commercial failures. Before recording “Loaded”, Reed’s record company threatened to drop the band if the new album didn’t come “loaded with hits” thus, Lou Reed responded with the title, “Loaded” as a middle finger to the “suits”. To be fair, “Sweet Jane” was the most radio-friendly song that Velvet Underground had released. It has gone on to be covered by many artists including Reed’s own, personal favourite, Canada’s own, The Cowboy Junkies, who recorded their cover on an outstanding album called, “The Trinity Sessions”.

There are several versions of this song as sung by Velvet Underground floating around on the Interweb. There are rocked-out versions, slower/softer/more subdued versions, longer versions with more instrumentals and shorter versions with the bridge to the song removed. Depending on what you like, there are a variety of albums recorded, live and in studio, that contain a version of “Sweet Jane” that is sure to tickle your fancy. Whatever the case, “Sweet Jane” is one of the more intelligently conceived songs in our countdown. There is much wisdom in giving people and experiences the chance to unfold, unfettered by our prejudices. It isn’t easy but, if I have learned anything at all from my mother, it is that Life’s greatest gifts don’t always come in the shiniest of packages. That is as true throughout the year as it is at Christmas time. Thanks for the wisdom, Ma and Lou.

Here is “Sweet Jane” by Lou Reed and Velvet Underground. Enjoy….and grow.

The link to the video for the song, “Sweet Jane” by Velvet Underground, can be found here.

The link to the official website for Velvet Underground, can be found here.

The link to the video for the song, “Sweet Jane”, as covered by The Cowboy Junkies, can be found here.

The link to the official website for The Cowboy Junkies, can be found here.

The link to the video for the song, “Sweet Jane”, *Cowboy Junkies version, as used in the movie, “Natural Born Killers”, can be found here.

The link to the official website for Rolling Stone Magazine, can be found here.

The Top 500 Songs in Modern Music History…Song #149: Old Time Rock n’ Roll by Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band (RS)

RS: The Top 500 Songs in Modern Music History.

Song #149: Old TIme Rock n’ Roll by Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band.

Much of my musical education/awakening came during my twenties. At that time, I was living in London, Ontario and, because of the unique geography at play there, I was able to listen to radio from Detroit, Michigan, just as easily as I did from Toronto. The people I was hanging out with at the time tended to lean toward The Motor City so, as a result, I became quite comfortable listening to radio stations such as WRIF: “The Home of Rock n’ Roll”. *(You need to re-read their slogan but do so in a deep, James Earl Jones voice plus, with an echo effect). Anyway, WRIF played a steady diet of “Classic rock” so I got to hear quite a bit of The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, The Cars, The J. Geils Band, John Cougar Mellencamp, The Boss, along with a husky-voiced man who was a proud native son to those who lived in Detroit….his name was Bob Seger.

Bob Seger scuffled around a bit through the early stages of his career; releasing albums that were hits locally but duds, nationally. He played in many bands, as a session player, as well as, the front man with assorted backing bands. It wasn’t until the mid-1970s, that he finally hit his stride on the national stage with an album called, “Night Moves”. Throughout his career, Bob Seger has had many hits which have gone on to become staples of the classic rock radio format such as “Katmandu”, “Night Moves”, “Mainstreet” *(which is my favourite song of his), “Rock n’ Roll Never Forgets”, “Still the Same”, “We’ve Got Tonite”, “Hollywood Nights”, “Against the Wind”, “Like a Rock” and, the subject of today’s post, “Old Time Rock n’ Roll”. Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band have sold over 75 million albums worldwide. Bob Seger was elected to The Rock n’ Roll hall of Fame in 2004.

The song, “Old Time Rock n’ Roll” was from an album called, “Stranger in Town” and was released in 1979. At the time, it charted well but, as most of you know, what really took this song into the stratosphere of fame was its’ inclusion in the movie, “Risky Business” and, in particular, its use in a scene where Tom Cruise’s character lip syncs to it while dancing in his underwear. That scene has gone on to become one of the most iconic movie scenes of all-time. When Bob Seger recorded “Old Time Rock n’ Roll”, he had no idea it would go on to used as it was which was partly because he does not have a wriiting credit for the song. Seger recorded the song after it had been written by two musicians he knew. Seger felt the song was an accurate representation of how many people felt about music around Detroit. If you recall, the very late 1970s and early 1980s, saw the explosion in popularity of synthesizer-driven bands such as Depeche Mode, The Cure, etc., as well as, many Disco-era singers and bands, too. There was always a backlash against those type of bands by fans of bands who were guitar-driven. So, “Old Time Rock n’ Roll” is a tip of the hat to those fans who weren’t into Disco or Synth-Pop and were, instead, into straight-ahead, guitar-driven arena rock. But, because Seger only recorded it but didn’t actually write the song, he had no control over what commercial uses it would end up being used for. Thus, he had no say in the song’s inclusion in the movie, “Risky Business” but, as sometimes happens in life, Seger lucked out and ended up having the biggest hit of his career soundtrack one of Hollywood’s most iconic movie moments. As the old saying goes, “Sometimes is is better to be lucky than to be good”.

“Old Time Rock n’ Roll” has been selected by The Library of Congress as having “cultural significance”. It is, also, one of the most popular songs on radio stations with the classic rock formats, along with being a favourite in bars, at wedding receptions and backyard bbqs and so on. Bob Seger came from a working class background and used that knowledge to write some of the best songs that explored that lifestyle. It is no wonder that his music resonates, as it does, with “ordinary people”.

So, without further delay, here is a man with a voice like no other….Mr. Bob Seger, singing his greatest hit, “Old TIme Rock n’ Roll”. Enjoy.

The link to the video for the song, “Old Time Rock n’ Roll” by Bob sever and the Silver Billet band, can be found here.

The link to the video from the movie, “Risky Business” that features the song, “Old Time Rock n’ Roll”, can be found here.

The link to the official website for Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band, can be found here.

The link to the official website for Rolling Stone Magazine, can be found here.

The Top 500 Songs in Modern Music History…Song #30: Yesterday by The Beatles (RS)

KEXP: The Top 500 Songs in Modern Music History.

Song #30: Yesterday by The Beatles.

“Yesterday” by The Beatles was written and released in 1964. It was written during the filming of The Beatles’ first movie, “Help!” and was included on the soundtrack/album of the same name. “Yesterday” was written by Paul McCartney and stands as an important song in the overall evolution of the band. What makes “Yesterday” so important has little to do with the song, itself but more, what the song represented in the “bigger picture” of what it meant to be a Beatle. We all know how the story of The Beatles ended up five years or so after “Help!” hit the theatre screens. But, have you ever wondered when the first step was taken that resulted in the band breaking up and not being on good terms? Well, many people point to “Yesterday” as being that initial fissure. So, let’s jump into the midst of this discussion and find out how true the rumours are. Here is the story of “Yesterday” by The Beatles.

“Yesterday” is a song about a young man who has done or said something wrong and is pining away to reverse course and return things to the way they once were. At the time of pre-production for the film, “Help!”, The Beatles were known as “The Fab Four”. Everything they did, they did together. The rush of stardom affected them all as one group. They dressed the same. They sang as one voice. And, of course, they all sported the same mop-top haircut. Paul McCartney and John Lennon had co-written all of their hit songs up until that point. The decision to branch off into movies, made after watching Elvis do the same in the US, was a decision that they had all agreed would be a good way to introduce the band and their music to a wider audience. Although unrelated, the boys in the band were all friends, almost like brothers, if you will.

At that time, Paul McCartney had a girlfriend named Jane Asher, who was an actress, among many other things. It was while staying at her family home, with her parents, that McCartney woke from a dream with the tune for “Yesterday” complete in his head. He rushed to get up and immediately sat at the piano that Asher’s family had and he began to play the tune. It was so fully formed that, at first, McCartney assumed it must already exist somewhere and he had inadvertently heard it and was simply reproducing it from his subconscious. So, even with the tune fully realized, McCartney sat on the song for several weeks. He played it for a few people and each time asked them if they had heard the tune before. None of them had. Eventually, he decided to play it for the band and begin the process of writing lyrics and making it a “Beatles” song. To a person, all members of the band disliked the song. Their reasoning was that it is a complete departure from anything the band had recorded and released up until that point. But, Paul McCartney pushed forward on his own, anyway. He spent every spare moment during the filming of “Help!” to rehearse and flesh out the lyrics. This infuriated the film’s director who accused McCartney of being self-interested and not caring enough to put his best effort into the film. The other members of the Beatles agreed. When Paul McCartney had finally finished the lyrics and played the song for George Martin, the rest of the band walked away from the song. They declared that it was a Paul McCartney solo song and not a Beatles song. Martin knew it was a different sound for The Beatles but, he relented and agreed with Paul, providing, of course, that Paul would add some orchestral flourishes that Martin had in mind. At first, Paul disagreed, thinking that it was more of a solo piano song but, in the end, in order to get Martin’s seal of approval, Paul McCartney relented. George Martin added the strings and other touches and the song, as we know it, came to be. That still didn’t please John, George or Ringo who made a stand and declared that they would not abide by “Yesterday” being released as a single under The Beatles name. So, in the UK, it was held off. If you look at the track listing for “Help!”, you will see that “Yesterday” is the second last song on Side #2….hardly a prime position for any song that had a chance of being a hit. That track listing was traditionally set aside for songs considered to be “filler”. But, in the US, the American distribution wing of The Beatles empire operated with a bit more latitude that did Abbey Road Studios so, “Yesterday” was released as single in America. It raced to the top of the charts and stayed there for several weeks. It was only when US success could no longer be ignored, that “Yesterday” was released in the UK, where it became a hit as well.

That “Yesterday” was the first instance of discord among the Fab Four, does not make it a bad song and it does also not make Paul McCartney the villain in starting the band down a road that would eventually lead them to an acrimonious breakup. But, what “Yesterday” did do was to introduce the idea of individuality in a group setting. It was the first case of one of the guys pursuing their own interest on “company time”, as it were. When Paul McCartney used breaks during the filming of “Help!” to work incessantly on “Yesterday”, he sent a signal that told the rest of the band that all-for-one-and-one-for-all was not necessarily the motto anymore. As time went on in the later half of the 60s, it is far easier to find instances where The Beatles members were pursuing their own objectives, as opposed to working toward cohesive, group-oriented goals. George Harrison going to India and John Lennon doing his bed-ins for peace with Yoko Ono are but, two, obvious examples. One of the things that struck me most when I watched the “Get Back” documentary on Disney + awhile back was the degree to which being a Beatle had changed and had become a job that each member checked in and out of each day, like punching a time clock, as opposed to the adventure that it had been for all of them in the beginning. Sometimes, people who have been together simply grow apart in time. That appears to be what happened with The Beatles. And, if there was a moment when their gaze transitioned from inward to outward, it was when Paul McCartney woke from a dream one night and decided he had to write this song and bring it to fruition, regardless of all else that was going on with the band that he was an important part of.

“Yesterday” has gone on to be one of the most loved songs in the entire Beatles catalogue. In fact, it holds a place in the Guinness Book of Records for being the most covered song of all-time; wth over two thousand cover versions out there in the world for us to enjoy, should we care to look. “Yesterday” also holds the distinction of being the first Beatles song written and performed by only one member, without any contribution from the other members of the band. It was also the first Beatles song to incorporate an element of Classical music in it when George Martin added on all of the violins. It was a song like “Yesterday”, with its mixture of Pop and Classical, that would be held up as inspiration a few years later when songs like “Nights in White Satin” by The Moody Blues, became a big hit. All in all, “Yesterday” is a lovely song and can happily stand on its own as being an excellent, well-crafted song. But, it will be forever regarded, by those who loved The Beatles and bemoaned what became of them, as being the first signs of a schism in a relationship that, until that time, seemed more like family.

The link to the video for the song, “Yesterday” by The Beatles, can be found here.

The link to the official website for The Beatles, can be found here.

Thanks, as always, to KEXP, for supporting all manner of bands and artists. The link to their wonderful website can be found here.

The Top500 Songs in Modern Music History…Song #178: My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion, from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack of the film, “Titanic” (KEXP)

KEXP: The Top 500 Songs in Modern Music History.

Song #178: My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack to “Titanic”.

There are few songs in this entire countdown that will illicit as visceral a reaction as will this song, “My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion from the movie, “Titanic”. For some people, the soaring power of this ballad showcases Celine Dion’s voice in a way that is breathtaking while the subject matter of the song touches their hearts in a way that very few songs do. For others, “My Heart Will Go On” is the poster-child for over-rated, over-played, over-produced music and, as such, hearing it played aloud is akin to an orchestra of fingernails screeching down a chalkboard while all you want is peace and quiet in its wake. Regardless of your take on this song, “My Heart Will Go On” has sold over 18 million units worldwide, making it one of the Top 3 biggest selling songs by a female recording artist, in any genre, of all-time. It won the Academy Award for Best Song from a Motion Picture, the Grammy Award for “Song of the Year” and “Best Performance, Pop, by a Female Artist”, as well as, “Best Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Recording”. This song was rated as the #1 song of the year on the charts and has been rated by industry organizations as one of the Top Five songs of the 1990s and one of the Top 20 songs of the entire 20th Century! The data all point to the impactful nature of “My Heart Will Go On” and the notion that this song is certainly one of the more memorable songs ever. So, with that in mind, here is the story of how this song came to be. All aboard!

I just read a quote that went something like…..”Sometimes, God’s greatest Mercy comes in the form of unanswered prayers.” This is very true of how the song, “My Heart Will Go On” came to be in the soundtrack to the movie, “Titanic”. At the time that “Titanic” was in production, there were rumblings that the movie was experiencing cost overruns. There was even talk that the movie was shaping up to be one of the costliest, most epic failures in Hollywood history. The studio heads were aware of the financial situation and decided to take matters into their own hands. They met with director, James Cameron, and broached the idea of commercial tie-ins; merchandise sales and hit songs were the ideas pitched…..anything that would create additional revenue streams that might help offset the huge expeditures that Cameron’s movie was racking up. Needless to say, James Cameron was feeling the “Art” of his project which, in his mind, was a “serious period piece” and he had no time for watering down his vision with “Happy Meal Toys” and Pop songs. But, as we all know, often in life, the financial fiddler calls the tune, and Cameron was told that a hit song needed to be part of his thinking, too. Mr. Cameron was not amused.

Initially, “My Heart Will Go On” was written as an instrumental piece that would play over the closing credits. The musical score was written by a man named James Horner. With pressure mounting to create a “hit song”, Horner’s instrumental was given lyrics. These lyrics were written by a man named Will Jennings. After shopping the song among a variety of singers, the duo ended up meeting with Celine Dion and her husband/manager, Rene Angelil. It is important to note that, at this time, Celine Dion was not the Mega-Diva that we know her to be today. In those days, in the early 1990s, she had had a few modest hits and, in particular, she had just completed the song, “Beauty and the Beast” with Peabo Bryson for the movie soundtrack to the film of the same name. So, when Dion was asked to give, “My Heart Will Go On” a chance, she declined because she didn’t want to become pigeon-holed as a “soundtrack” singer. So, James Horner sung the song for her and Rene Angelil. Dion was still not convinced but, her husband heard something in the amateurish singing of Horner that spoke to him of the song’s hit-making potential. So, he suggested that it wouldn’t hurt to give it one try and help make a rough demo of the song so that Horner could bring that back to James Cameron to see if he would be ok with Celine Dion as his singer. Even though it was reported that there was much sighing and that Angelil was given the “hairy eyeball” for making Celine sing a song she didn’t really want to be singing, she agreed to make the demo. The rest, as they say, is history.

Celine Dion recorded the demo in one take. When everyone heard how she told the story of Jack and Rose, they were all moved to tears. Everyone was aware of how powerful a voice she had but, what impressed them most about her performance was how much emotion she was able to convey during those parts of the song that called for restraint and subtlety. Even though James Cameron didn’t like the idea of having a “Pop song” at the end of his movie, he agreed to use Dion’s demo version which, aside from the addition of some instrumentation which was added later in studio, appeared on the “Titanic” soundtrack as originally recorded in that one take.

So, a song that originally didn’t even have lyrics, which was unwanted by the movie’s director and which was initially rejected by Celine Dion, herself, ended up becoming one of the biggest hits of all-time. The song and the movie have become inextricably linked together, amplifying the reach of both, in the process. The success of “My Heart Will Go On” helped raise Celine Dion into the upper echelon of the ranks of all female singers and has helped cement her legacy as possessing one of the most beautiful and powerful female voices ever. For James Cameron, the emotional tone of the song was, as it turned out, the perfect final ingredient in a love story set amid one of the world’s greatest tragedies in history.

Evidence that “Titanic” and “My Heart Will Go On” continue to touch lives, even today, can be seen in numerous ways but, one that I have witnessed for myself took place in Halifax. As you may know, when the real ship, “Titanic”, sunk off of the coast of Newfoundland, a majority of the bodies that were recovered were brought to Halifax for burial. There are three cemeteries in Halifax that hold the bodies of these victims; the biggest being, Fairview Lawn Cemetery. In Fairview Lawn Cemetery, the grave markers are arranged in such a way that they form the bow of a ship. One of those markers bears the name, “J. Dawson”. In the movie, “Titanic”, Leonardo DiCaprio’s character was named “Jack Dawson”. In real life, Titanic victim, “J. Dawson” was a crewman and had nothing to do with the movie nor with Leonardo DiCaprio at all. Despite this, his grave marker has visitors come to it almost every, single day. The maintenance crew at Fairview Lawn Cemetery are constantly having to gather up teddy bears and other gifts (many of which are cleaned and then, donated to charities in the area), as well as, constantly having to re-seed the grass in front of his marker because so many people kneel before it that the grass is always being worn away, leaving a bare dirt spot in an, otherwise, pristine, grassy memorial area.

Along wth the hubris of thinking that we are more powerful than Nature, the story of the Titanic tragedy is one of Love and Loss. James Cameron captured that well in his portrayal of Jack and Rose and their love that has endured through the many years. The song, “My Heart Will Go On” is the musical complement to Cameron’s movie and perfectly conveys the power and importance of true love. Whether you feel the song is amazingly moving or else, that it is over-played and over-sung, is something you may wish to talk about in the comments below. Have at it!

Let’s see what all of the fuss is about….here is Celine Dion with “My Heart Will Go On” from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack to the movie, “Titanic”. Enjoy.

The link to the video for a live version of the song, “My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion, can be found here.

The link to the video for the song, “My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion, from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack to the film, “Titanic”, can be found here.

The link to the official website for Celine Dion, can be found here.

The link to the video for the trailer to the movie, “Titanic”, can be found here.

Thanks, as always, to KEXP, for supporting artists and bands from around the world. The link to their wonderful website can be found here.

The Top 500 Songs in Modern Music History…Song #181: How It Ends by DeVotchKa (KEXP)

KEXP: The Top 500 Songs in Modern Music History.

Song #181: How It Ends by DeVotchKa.

This is the post that I have been waiting to write since this whole countdown-thing started! This song, “How It Ends” by DeVotchKa is not a song that is here by fluke…..even if you have never heard of it nor the band before. No, “How It Ends” is a transformational song that has, literally, changed the lives of many who have come across it. It is a song that, like many of you, I had never heard of before encountering it as part of this countdown list. But, when I did listen to it over a year ago, I was transfixed! “How It Ends” is close to being an overtly religious song; not in the sense of it being like a hymn but, more, in the sense of what a song that simulates what The Rapture would sound like. It is a grand and glorious song that you might expect someone like Josh Groban or any of the “Tenor” combos to sing. It is orchestral, in construction. “How It Ends” is about bearing the burdens of Life and doing so with Grace and Love and, in the end, receiving “Eternal Salvation”. It is not surprising that, when the “eternal salvation” portion of the song arrives, its’ score swells and soars. However, the story of how this song got to be considered one of the best of all-time extends beyond the quality and content of the actual song, itself. For, as far as I can tell, “How It Ends” has never achieved any of its’ notoriety because of radio airplay. Instead, those who swear by this song all do because they have encountered it as the soundtrack moment to two climatic scenes from two critically-acclaimed movies (which I shall talk about below) or else, as the soundtrack to a source of music that many of us, as older folk, may not have even thought of as a source of music…..video games! So, let’s chat about how this song has come to change so many lives, shall we? Here is the story of “How It Ends” by DevotchKa.

“DeVotchKa” is a Ukranian word for, “girl”. That having been said, DeVotchKa are a band out of Denver, Colorado, that is mostly comprised of men. Originally, DeVotchKa served as the back-up band to an entertainer named Dita Von Tesse who, at the time, was attempting to revive the art of Burlesque in the US. While in this role, the band released several albums of original music that, while not selling well commercially, none-the-less, came to the attention of two people named Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris. This married couple were movie directors who were assembling the pieces that would, eventually, go into their debut movie called, “Little Miss Sunshine”. “Little Miss Sunshine” starred Greg Kinnear, Toni Collette, Alan Arkin, a pre-Office Steve Carrell, Paul Dano and Abigail Breslin. The movie ended up being nominated for four Academy Awards; winning two. Dayton and Faris hired DeVotchKa to score the entire movie. The band agreed and used songs from their established albums to do so. This included using their song, “How It Ends” in the final scene in the movie. Now, in order to appreciate the significance of this, it helps to know a bit about the movie, itself. “Little Miss Sunshine” is billed as a comedy but, it is not. It is a movie that uses the plot device of a physical journey (across America in a Volkswagon mini van) to show the personal, emotional and spiritual journeys that each of the characters are in varying stages of completing. Needless to say, the climatic scene resolves their personal journeys, just as the music of “How It Ends” swells and soars. Many who have watched “Little Miss Sunshine” have recognized themselves in the characters on screen. We all have our flaws and, by watching how fictional characters dealt with similar flaws….some well and some not so well….viewers got a version of therapy, vicariously. So, the message at the end of the movie that salvation and redemption are possible has, quite literally, given depressed and suicidal people Hope. There is much power and Life energy in the concept of Hope. How the directors of the movie used DeVotchKa’s song, “How It Ends” goes a long way to giving the audience that sense of Hope to go on and, as such, the song has developed a highly devoted cult following.

The second movie that used “How It Ends” was a movie from 2005 called, “Everything is Illuminated” starring Elijah Wood and directed by first-time director, Liev Schreiber. “Everything Is Illuminated” uses a similar plot device of a physical journey of discovery that leads to a spiritual journey of discovery. In this case, Wood’s character is a writer tasked by his family with preserving his family’s history. Unfortunately, their family story intersects with The Holocaust. In the movie, Wood heads off to the Ukraine in search of a woman who was credited with saving hs Grandfather from a Nazi firing squad during the War. There are actual moments of levity, as Wood travels in a rickety taxi with an “interpreter” who barely speaks English and a driver who believes he is blind. But, in the end, the storyline reaches an emotional conclusion that makes sense. I won’t tell you if the ending is a happy one or a sad one but, it is in keeping with the tone of the movie and is scored by DeVotchKa’s song, “How It Ends” thus, giving the final scene an emotional wallop that, like “Little Miss Sunshine” has helped “Everything is Illuminated” to have a devoted, hardcore following, too.

But, as much as these two movies have used “How It Ends” to great success and acclaim, it is really how the song was used in a video game called, “Gears of War” that really shot this song into the stratosphere. As you may recall, from a much earlier post about a song called, “Black Sheep” by Metric, from a movie called, “Scott Pilgrim versus The World”, the world of storytelling in this age of technology is much different for younger people than it is for we, older folks. Many movies now have “alternate universes” created around them that help viewers have a deeper, more immersive experience. These “alternate universes” deal with origin stories of main characters, sequels, prequels, etc. and can take the form of graphic novels, TV series, regular book and movie formats and, quiet often, in the format of video games. Video games have evolved a great deal from the early days when I bought an Atari system to play “Pong” on my TV. I thought I was such a rock star to be able to do that. Well, in today’s world, video games are highly-sophisticated and slickly-produced. They play like movies that allow the gamer or player to interact with the characters onscreen and explore their world. For some gamers, the interactivity inherent in today’s video games makes them more satisfying to experience that the passive act of watching a movie in a theatre or from your couch at home. Part of what makes today’s video games so vibrant is that you are allowed to join in the dramatic scenarios that unfold onscreen and, as such, you can become emotionally invested in the storyline of the game and in the fate of the characters you are playing alongside. This is the case of what happened in “Gears of War”. As you may imagine, “Gears of War” has a survivalist element to it, as Good battles Evil. As the action unfolds and, as you become familiar with the onscreen characters and develop attachments to them, the song, “How It Ends” begins to play, as one of the main characters wrestles with a decision that may end up costing him his life. Needless to say, “How It Ends” dovetails neatly with the emotions of the moment and helps to elevate this particular scene above the ranks of those that usually unfold in the gaming world. The “Gears of War” scene was captured and released as a trailer to help sell the game and, as such, it came to the attention of an entire sub-class of consumers in the gaming world who, in turn, helped boost the reach of this song…in the online world….to staggering levels. Because of this exposure, DeVotchKa, was invited to play at the Bonneroo Music Festival, which is primarily a festival for young folks and, which usually features only acts on the charts as of that moment. DeVotchKa have never been a mainstream act but, they have a vast and varied following that rivals anything enjoyed by the likes of a Bon Jovi or an Aerosmith, for example. And yet, they exist in a world that you and I are hardly aware of. That fact, alone, makes their success completely amazing to me!

“How It Ends” is, arguably, the most overtly religious song in this entire countdown! It has sold millions of downloads despite never appearing on mainstream radio. It has helped to save lives based upon the movies it has appeared in and it has been granted a position of honour in the thriving, growing Gaming world by gamers worldwide. In order for you to experience this song, I will give you a live performance video below. I will, also, add the trailers for “Little Miss Sunshine”, “Everything Is Illuminated”, as well as, “Gears of War”. If you never thought that “eternal salvation” would make a good topic for a song then, get ready to be surprised because here is one of the most beloved songs of all-time….a song you have likely never heard of until today….”How It Ends” by DeVotchKa. Enjoy.

The link to the video for the song, “How It Ends” by DeVotchKa, can be found here.

The link to the video for “How It Ends”, as seen in the movie, “Little Miss Sunshine”, can be found here. ***SPOILER ALERT: This scene depicts how the movie ends. Just so ya know.

The link to the video for the song, “How It Ends”, as used in the movie, “Everything is Illuminated”, can be found here.

The link to the video for the song, “How It Ends”, as used in the video game, “Gears of War 2”, can be found here.

The link to the video for the song, “How It Ends”, as seen at the Bonnaroo Music Festival, can be found here. ***This performance feels like a church revival meeting.

The link to the official website for DeVotchKa, can be found here.

Thanks, as always, to KEXP, for supporting good music in all formats that it is found today. The link to their wonderful website can be found here.

The Top 500 Songs in Modern Music History…Song #199: Refugee by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (RS)

RS: The Top 500 Songs in Modern Music History.

Song #199: Refugee by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

The song, “Refugee” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers comes from one of my favourite albums, “Damn the Torpedoes” that was released in 1979. That album produced hits such as “Don’t Do Me Like That”, “Here Comes My Girl” and “Refugee” and opened the floodgates to a string of memorable songs such as “The Waiting”, “You Got Lucky”, “Don’t Come Around Here No More”, “So You Want To Be A Rock n’ Roll Star”, “Needles and Pins”, “I Won’t back Down”, “Free Fallin'”, “Last Dance for Mary Jane” and so many more. Of course, “Refugee” was proceeded by another of my favourite songs, “Breakdown”, from their self-titles debut album.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers followed an unusual route to stardom for an American band. They were scuffling around in their home country during the mid-seventies; enduring several band name changes, several line-up changes and so on before settling on the name, “Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers”. The classic lineup that lasted for most of the remainder of their career included Tom Petty (as lead singer), Mike Campbell (lead guitar), Howie Epstein (bass), Benmont Tench (keyboards) and Stan Lynch (drums). They had their first taste of success as a band not in the American Heartland, where their music tended to be set but instead, they broke through first in England, of all places. The success that they enjoyed in England caught the attention of record executives Stateside and soon, the band was signed to a contract and their debut album was recorded and released.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers got their first break in America when their song, “Breakdown” was selected to be on the soundtrack to a very under-rated film called, “FM”. It was a movie about life at a classic rock radio station. The band even made a cameo appearance as this cool and up-and-coming band. The success of their debut album lead to “Damn the Torpedoes” and, with that album, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers had established themselves as worthy peers to other “Heartland Rock” singers such as Bruce Springsteen and John Cougar Mellencamp.

The song, “Refugee” was never meant to discuss the plight of those people forced to flee their homelands in search of peace in other countries. Tom Petty wrote the song during a contractual dispute with their record company who, according to Petty, were trying to pull some financial shenanigans on the band. He has stated that the entire album, “Damn the Torpedoes” was a defiant, raised-middle-finger to the record company who was trying to do them wrong. As it has turned out, the members of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers all agree that “Refugee” came along at just the right time and that the anger they felt at “the suits” caused the song to have just the right amount of edge to it to make it stand out among all of the other songs competing for the attention of rock n’ roll listeners. Tom Petty is on record as stating that “Refugee” is the band’s most satisfying song and that he and the guys never tired of performing it live.

As you may know, Tom Petty passed away a couple of years ago. But, before he left this Earth, the band had amassed sales in the tens of millions worldwide. They were first ballot Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame inductees back in 2002. And, to think that one of America’s most respected singers first tasted success in the land of bangers and mash! I guess it doesn’t matter where you start. It’s the starting that counts.

So, without further delay, from “Damn the Torpedoes”, here are Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers with their first Top Ten hit, “Refugee”. Enjoy.

The link to the video for the song, “Refugee” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, can be found here.

The link to the official website for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, can be found here.

The link to the video for the trailer for the movie, “FM”, can be found here.

The link to the official website for Rolling Stone Magazine, can be found here.

The Top 500 Songs in Modern Music History…Song #54: Jailhouse Rock by Elvis Presley (RS)

RS: The Top 500 Songs in Modern Music History.

Song #54: Jailhouse Rock by Elvis Presley.

The story of the song, “Jailhouse Rock” is an interesting one which only has slightly to do with “The King”, himself. It is the story of Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame songwriters, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller being held “captive” in their hotel room until they produced the song. It is, also, the tragic story of what happened to one of Elvis’ main co-stars in the movie, “Jailhouse Rock” and how it caused Elvis to be unable to watch the movie after it was made. It is, also, the story of “Jailhouse Rock” became one of the first openly homoerotic songs ever recorded. Finally, it is the story of one of the most famous movie dance sequences ever filmed; a scene so engrained into the fabric of the song that it is almost impossible to think of the song without seeing the “inmates” dancing up a storm. So, let’s get right down to business, shall we? Here is the multi-layered story of one of Rock’s greatest songs…..”Jailhouse Rock”.

Mike Stoller and Jerry Leiber were enormously successful songwriters and musicians during their heyday. They were responsible to such enormous hits as “Yakkety Yak” by The Coasters, “Stand By Me” by Ben E. King, “On Broadway” by The Drifters, as well as, “Hound Dog” and Jailhouse Rock” for Elvis. When Elvis decided to begin to diversify his career by starring in movies, “Jailhouse Rock” was one of his first ventures. The movie was originally called, “The Hard Way” because its’ plot involved Elvis being a prison convict who discovers his talent for singing while in jail and who, upon release, rehabilitates himself and becomes a star. Stoller and Leiber were contracted to create the soundtrack for the film. They were brought to New York City to write the score. However, they had never been there before (they were from L.A.) and, upon arrival, they did all of the tourist things such as seeing Broadway shows, going to night clubs, etc., and ended up accomplishing very little. The legendary story is that the assistant producer was sent to check on their progress and, upon finding them gallivanting around town, locked them in their hotel room, barred the door with a sofa and refused to allow them to leave their room until progress became tangible. Stoller and Leiber were professionals and knew they had overstepped their bounds. They got down to work and ended up creating four songs in one day. One of those songs was “Jailhouse Rock”. The songs were shown to Elvis. He loved “Jailhouse Rock” quite a bit right away. Once the jail house dance scene was filmed, everyone involved knew it was iconic and, as a result, the decision was made to change the name of the movie to “Jailhouse Rock” as well. There are many fans and critics, alike, who consider the dance scene from “Jailhouse Rock” to be Elvis’ greatest moment on screen.

When the song was released as a single, it raced to the top of the charts, where it stayed for more than a month. It was part of a stretch of time when Elvis absolutely ruled the charts with #1 hits such as “Hound Dog”, “Love Me Tender”, “Heartbreak Hotel”, #All Shook Up”, “Don’t Be Cruel” and “I Want You, I Need You, I Love You”.

The movie, “Jailhouse Rock” was not as successful for Elvis, as was the single. The movie made it to #3 on the box office list but ended up only being the 14th highest grossing movie of the year, when all was said and done. In the movie, Elvis’ character is eventually released from prison and begins to carve out a career for himself in music. He does so under the professional guidance of a young, female manager who, in real life, was known as Judy Tyler. Tyler was in her mid-twenties when she starred opposite Elvis. Prior to this movie role, she was best known for her on-going role on the famous “Howdy Doody” show. It was hoped that “Jailhouse Rock” was going to be Tyler’s big break and that future stardom awaited. Unfortunately, three months after shooting wrapped……and one month prior to the movie being released….Judy Tyler and her husband were killed in a car accident. Her death shook Elvis to his core because he thought that she was super nice and talented and was rooting for her success as much as anyone else. When she died, Elvis found that the Joy was completely sucked out of the movie for him and, as a result, he was unable to watch the movie ever again without breaking down.

Whether it was intentional or not, the song, “Jailhouse Rock” was one of the very first songs to ever openly mention the possibility of a homosexual relationship.

“Number forty-seven said to number three,

“You’re the cutest jailbird I ever did see.”

“I sure would be delighted with your company.”

“Come on and do the jailhouse rock with me.”

I once knew a woman who was an ex-prison guard. She spoke openly about the number of rough, tough men she witnessed become, in her words, “institutionally Gay” because their sexual impulses were so strong. Men who, in the outside world, would start a barroom brawl at the merest of hints that they were Gay or showed interest in another man. But, there it was in “Jailhouse Rock”, as plain as day. Even in the film’s dance sequence, two male back-up dancers pair off in a suggestive manner. So, it should come as no surprise that “Jailhouse Rock” sent a shockwave of electricity through the Gay Community which, at the time, was still mostly conducted in secret in our civilized society of the day. At a time when representation mattered a great deal, hearing those lyrics and seeing those male dancers pair off was a pivotal moment for a great many young men.

Just before we end this post, here are a few tidbits of trivia for you to toss out and about at parties and around the dinner table……did you know that there really was a “Purple Gang” in real life? In the song, Elvis sings about “The whole rhythm section was The Purple Gang”. Well, in the real world, The Purple Gang referred to a group of Prohibition Era Jewish mobsters who were contemporaries of Al Capone and who were said to have been the ones doing the shooting during the infamous “St. Valentines Day Massacre”. Elvis, also, mentioned a person named “Shifty Henry” who, as it turned out, was a real person and a terrific musician at the time of the song being written. In a different but, related note, the famous children’s television show, “School house Rock” was inspired by the song/movie title, “Jailhouse Rock”.

So, without further delay, here is the iconic jail house dance sequence from the movie, “Jailhouse Rock” starring Elvis Presley. Enjoy.

The link to the video for the song, “Jailhouse Rock” by Elvis Presley, can be found here.

The link to the video for the trailer for the movie, “Jailhouse Rock”, can be found here. ***Well worth checking out!

The link to the official website for Elvis Presley, can be found here.

The link to the official website for Rolling Stone Magazine, can be found here.

The Top 500 Songs in Modern Music History…Song #210: Exit Music (For A Film) by Radiohead (RS)

RS: The Top 500 Songs in Modern Music History.

Song #210: Exit Music (For A Film) by Radiohead.

In 1995, Australian movie director Baz Luhrmann was nearing completion of the second in his “Red” triliogy of movies. His first movie was a well-received, modest hit called, “Strictly Ballroom”. His third and final movie….one that would win him an Academy Award for Best Director…was to be “Moulin Rouge”, starring Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman. The middle moive…the one he was working on in 1995 was a modernized adaptation of Shakespeare’s, “Romeo and Juliet” starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Clare Danes. All of Luhrmann’s movies showcased his love of music and, as such, the soundtracks played a crucial role in all films, including, “Romeo and Juliet”. Luhrmann knew that he wanted a song for the closing scene of the movie that was forward-thinking, innovative and emotive, all at the same time. As he thought of who best to fulfill this important element of his movie, he turned to the gentlemen from my favourite group, “Radiohead”.

At the time Luhrmann contacted “Radiohead”, they had already begun the process of recording songs for their new album called, “OK Computer”. Luhrmann sent them the rough cut of the final 20-30 minutes of the movie. In short order, “Radiohead” sent Luhrmann a finished song that, because it played at the very end of the movie, was entitled, “Exit Music (For A Film). “Exit Music (For A Film)” is not part of the official “Romeo and Juliet” soundtrack because “Radiohead” had already slotted the song on their new album, “OK Computer”. But, for Luhrmann, it was the final puzzle piece that completed his movie and he happily acquiesced to “Radiohead’s” request. “Romeo and Juliet” went on to be a very successful movie; earning several awards along the way. “OK Computer” went on to one of the most critically-acclaimed albums of the last 25 years; with “Exit Music (For A Film) being one of the reasons why.

In terms of record sales alone, (almost ten million in sales), “OK Computer” ranks as one of the biggest albums of all-time. It spawned a series of innovative and ground-breaking songs such as “Paranoid Android”, “Karma Police”, “Climbing the Walls” and the song that Spin Magazine declared as the #1 song of the 1990s, “Let Down”. These songs are not Pop songs and, as such, did not race up the charts but, listening to them each, it is easy to see the intelligence of lyrics that accurately predicted what life was to become for all of us as we transitioned to an information society. “OK Computer”, not unlike famous albums such as “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” by The Beatles, has been lauded as being that album that comes along every generation or so, and pushes the entire music industry forward with some element of technical innovation. For “Radiohead”, this innovation manifested itself in the form of new recording techniques that made better use of emerging technology….techniques that are common today but were unheard of back in the mid-1990s. I am biased in my critique of this album because “OK Computer” is my favourite album of all-time. The title of the album comes from the book, “A HItchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”, where one of the characters is always talking to a computer and saying, “Okay Computer, chart a course for……..” and so on.

The song, “Exit Music (For A Film)” is sung in a hauntingly slow, word-by-word style. Lead singer, Thom Yorke, says that he was inspired by the song, “Folsom Prison” by “Johnny Cash”, of all people but, if you listen critically and carefully, you will be able to see how the slow beginning of “Folsom Prison” is present in “Exit Music (For A Film)” and how both songs have powerful moments about three-quarters of the way through and how both end in quieter tones, with just the singer’s voice at the end. When I first heard, “Exit Music (For A Film)”, I was unaware that it was meant to be for the “Romeo and Juliet” movie. The song stands alone as capturing a seemingly life-and-death moment in the lives of young lovers (who are never named). But, knowing the story of “Romeo and Juliet” adds a deeper layer of meaning to the lyrics and elevates the song to a higher plain. I am pleased with this song, as are “Radiohead” and Director Baz Luhrmann, too. I hope that you will be, as well.

So, without further delay, here are the very best band around, “Radiohead” with “Exit Music (For A FIlm)” from the movie, “Romeo and Juliet”. Enjoy.

The link to the video for the song, “Exit Music (For A Film) by Radiohead, can be found here.

The link to the video for the trailer for the movie, “Romeo and Juliet”, as directed by Bay Luhrman, can be found here.

The official website for Radiohead, can be found here.

The official website for Rolling Stone Magazine, can be found here.

The Top 500 Songs in Modern Music History…Song #59: Love Will Tear Us Apart by Joy Division (KEXP)

KEXP: The Top 500 Songs in Modern Music History.

Song #59: Love Will Tear Us Apart by Joy Division.

Back in the 1970s, there were all manner of songs that ended up becoming hits. One of the sweetest was a song by a husband and wife duo, Captain and Tennille, called, “Love Will Keep Us Together”. The song was a sugary Pop gem and ended up being included in a lot of mix tapes being made as expressions of love from one lover to another. In the song, the lyrics speak to Love as being the key ingredient in a relationship that helps it to survive the ups and downs, the struggles and the temptations of life. It is all Hallmark sweet and special; helping Captain and Tennille reach the top of the charts for the only time in their career.

As mentioned, for many couples, “Love Will Keep Us Together” was a song that symbolized all that was good between them as couples. This song had it all….the romance, the pledge of fidelity, the commitment, too. But, as much as this song spoke to many young lovers, it also had the exact opposite effect on those who found themselves in relationships that weren’t all hearts and flowers. One such couple was Ian Curtis and his young wife, Deborah Woodruff. To Curtis, the lead singer of Joy Division, every time “Love Will Keep Us Together” played on the radio, it grated on his very last nerve. To him, it was a reminder of everything he didn’t see in his own relationship. He and Woodruff had married when they were still very young. Emotional maturity is often difficult to come by when you haven’t experienced much of life yet. It is, especially, difficult when you are, also, battling a variety of mental illnesses, such as Depression, some physical conditions, such as epilepsy, all the while starting up one of the most exciting and influential bands of the late 70s/early 80s, Joy Division.

So, in response to the Captain and Tennille song, Ian Curtis wrote, “Love Will Tear Us Apart”. This song describes a marriage that has grown cold and is excruciatingly painful to endure. The funny thing about this song is that, despite the dark and dour nature the song’s subject matter, the fact remains that “Love Will Tear Us Apart” is a really great sounding song. Written at the dawning of the era of Synth-Pop, “Love Will Tear Us Apart” has a driving beat and a loud, intense, powerful lyric-driven foundation. It must not have been easy to for Ian Curtis to sing this song on stage but, it may have felt cathartic, too. In any case, his boozy, slurred delivery is one of the defining aspects of what makes this song so great. As a listener, you can feel the passion and the earnestness coming through in his voice. “Love Will Tear Us Apart” remains Joy Division’s most recognizable hit song. It is a song about the ending of a marriage, “Love Will Tear Us Apart” that remains a hugely popular song to sing aloud, whenever it airs in a pub or on the radio.

Just to show how small and incestuous the music community can be at times…..when Joy Division were in the studio recording, “Love Will Tear Us Apart”, a very young U2 were in the studio next to them, recording one of their first hit songs called, “11 O’Clock, Tick Tock”. Both bands wandered back and forth between their respective studios, listening in on what the other was doing, trading stories and, generally, just hanging out. In the end, U2 recorded their song and returned to Ireland, while Joy Division recorded, “Love Will Tear Us Apart” and roared up the music charts. Not long after this, Ian Curtis committed suicide. When asked for a comment, Bono, from U2, spoke of the strange energy emanating from Ian Curtis. He described him as being almost pathologically shy and self-deprecating but, in front of a microphone, he transformed into a beastly-strong performer who made you feel every emotional coursing through his body and soul. For many, that description also seems fitting for the song, itself. It is a painful song that possesses an amazingly powerful energy and forcefulness. It is a song that you shouldn’t find yourself liking but, you do. It is the perfect example of the paradoxes that encompass so many of us.

When Ian Curtis died and was laid to rest, his estranged wife, Deborah, had his tombstone engraved with the words that will forever be associated with her and her husband. Some marriages stand the test of time. Others, like that of Ian and Deborah, become immortal for how unhappily ever after it all was.

The link to the video for the song, “Love Will Tear Us Apart” by Joy Division, can be found here.

The link to the official website for Joy Division, can be found here.

There was a movie made about Ian Curtis life called, “Control”. The many difficulties faced by Curtis and Woodruff lay a prominent role in the film. The link to the trailer for the movie, “Control”, can be found here.

The link to the video for the song, “Love Will Keep Us Together” by Captain and Tennille, can be found here.

The link to the video for the song, “11 O’ Clock, Tick Tock” by U2, can be found here.

Thanks, as always, to KEXP for supporting the music of the very best bands and artists, regardless of genre. The link to their wonderful website can be found here.

The Top 500 Songs in Modern Music History…Song #62: Mrs. Robinson by Simon and Garfunkel, from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack to the film, The Graduate (RS)

RS: The Top 500 Songs in Modern Music History.

Song #64: Mrs. Robinson by Simon and Garfunkel, from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack to the film, The Graduate.

If you are “working on commission”, it usually means that someone has approached you, as a creative type, and has formally requested the creation of an original work, with compensation being provided upon completion, to the satisfaction of the buyer. In the Art world, “commission work” is a fairly standard affair and is quite often how many artists make ends meet. We have already seen many instances where, in the music industry, there were songwriters whose main job was to write for singers whose job it was to strictly sing the songs that were written for them. Motown worked that way. The Brill Building in New York worked that way. When Garth Brooks first went to Nashville, he was a songwriter to hire, too. But, when we talk about the song, “Mrs. Robinson” by Simon and Garfunkel, we are speaking of a different sort of situation where Art was commissioned. In this case, we are talking about someone approaching an established singing act and asking them to sing something new just for the buyer. This is the story of how that happened and why, among many other things, “Mrs. Robinson” did not win the Academy Award for Best Song the year it was released.

In the mid-to-late 1960s, Simon and Garfunkel had established themselves as one of the “voices” of their generation. The poetry of their lyrics captured the mood of optimism and hope that was spreading across the land. The harmony of their paired voices was invoking a longing for a more innocent and carefree time. One of the people whose heart was touched by their songs was Hollywood director, Mike Nichol. Nichol was a big fan of Simon and Garfunkel, often listening to their music in between takes on the movie sets he found himself working on. He found their music soothing and inspiring. So, it came as no surprise that when he was putting together plans for a new movie called, “The Graduate”, to star Anne Bancroft and a young, Dustin Hoffman, that Nichol started making formal inquiries as to whether he could license some of Simon and Garfunkel’s work for his new movie. He had, “The Sounds of Silence”, along with “Scarborough Fair/Canticle” already in mind. But, he, also, requested that the pair come up with a new, original song for the soundtrack, too. In order to help them draw their own creative inspiration, Nichol provided Simon and Garfunkel with a portion of the script.

So, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel read the draft of the script for “The Graduate” and thought that Nichol’s take on a loss of innocence was timely because they, themselves, had felt the mood in America shifting beneath their feet….away from the heady, “Summer of Love”, Peace and Love, hippie vibe and moving toward something else….something more ominous and less innocent for their nation. So, Simon and Garfunkel agreed to write three new songs in exchange for a flat fee. Nichols agreed and paid up. In a few weeks, Simon and Garfunkel met with Nichols and played their three songs for him. The first two were dismissed outright by Nichols. Then, they played Song #3 which turned out to be “Mrs. Robinson”. The story really was that Paul Simon thought the first two songs were pretty good and was a little discouraged by their quick rejection. When he started to introduce the final song, he actually downplayed it a bit by saying that it really wasn’t totally complete and that any section that was still in “rough draft” form would have lyrics that went, “Dat, da da da, dat, da da da, dat, da da da, do”. For Simon, he said that the song, which was called, “Mrs. Roosevelt” at that moment in time, was more focused on the syllable count matching the beat of the song. So, he played his unfinished work. Nichol was thrilled with it; especially, the “Dat, da da da”-part. Because he knew enough to understand the syllable count mechanism that Simon and Garfunkel were using, he suggested that the title be changed from honouring Eleanor Roosevelt and, instead, become the famous, “Mrs. Robinson” that we know the song by today. *(“Mrs. Robinson” was the key female character in his film, played by Bancroft). Simon and Garfunkel agreed to the change. The song was polished and sold to Mike Nichols for inclusion in the soundtrack of “The Graduate” and the rest, as they say, is history.

However, a funny thing happened on the way to the Academy Awards. In retrospect, a classic song such as “Mrs. Robinson” that touched on losing innocence as a person and as a nation, would seem like it should have been a shoo-in for the Best Song Oscar. However, such is the busy nature of sales transaction and big budget film-making that no one thought to submit the song for consideration by the deadline for applications. Mike Nichols was too busy making his groundbreaking movie. Simon and Garfunkel were too busy working on their next album, “Bridge Over Troubled Waters” (which would be their final studio album together). So, Academy voters never had the chance to recognize “Mrs. Robinson”. Instead, “If I Could Talk to the Animals” from the movie, “Dr. Doolittle” took home the prize that year.

Paul Simon was known for touching on real people, places and things in his songwriting. “Mrs. Robinson” was no exception. One of the most famous lines in the entire song…..a line that touched everyone and added such depth and poignancy to the song….was when he wrote:

“Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio?

A nation turns its’ lonely eyes to you.”

For those unaware, Joe DiMaggio was a famous baseball player who played his entire Hall of Fame career with Paul Simon’s favourite team, the New York Yankees. In a world of superstars with big egos and questionable character, Joe DiMaggio was a gentleman. He was briefly married to Marilyn Monroe. When he retired, he became the face of an ad campaign for a product called, “Mr. Coffee”. At one point in the 1970s, Paul Simon ran into Joe DiMaggio at an event. Joe asked Paul Simon why he had written him into “Mrs. Robinson” in such a way that seems to indicate that he, Jolting’ Joe, had let America down. Paul Simon was aghast that DiMaggio would have taken that point of view because it was, in fact, the exact opposite to what Simon had been trying to say. So, he explained to the Hall-of-Fame legend that he was actually lamenting the loss of class that DiMaggio had brought to the public stage and that he felt America was missing his example now that he was retired. Paul Simon went to great lengths to reassure Mr. DiMaggio that he actually considered him to be a hero. Being the gentleman that he was, Joe DiMaggio shook Paul Simon’s hand and the two embraced.

“Mrs. Robinson” is a landmark song from a landmark movie. It has become woven into the fabric of the times as they existed for so many in the 1960s. In fact, for many people, “Mrs. Robinson” is one of the songs that best exemplifies what the 1960s were all about. For all of us, as fans, we should be forever grateful that another fan, Director Mike Nichol, thought enough of their music that he sought them out to create this very song that touched so many lives. We should, also, be grateful that Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel thought enough of Mike Nichols vision for his new movie that they agreed to “marry their fortunes together”, as it were, and create this masterpiece that has as lyrics, nonsense words such as “Dat, da da da” that, somehow, reads like poetry.

So, without further delay, here is “Mrs. Robinson” by Simon and Garfunkel, from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack to the film, “The Graduate”. Enjoy.

The link to the video for the song, “Mrs. Robinson” by Simon and Garfunkel, can be found here.

The link to the video for the trailer for the movie, “The Graduate” can be found here.

The link to the official website for Simon and Garfunkel, can be found here.

The link to the official website for Rolling Stone Magazine, can be found here.