We’re going to leave film scores out of the equation this time. This leaves Ennio Morricone out, as well as Bernard Herrmann and Elmer Bernstein. Maurice Jarre and Hans Zimmer have to take a seat, too. We’re talking strictly “pop” songs tonight.
Purple Rain (1984)
This post is dedicated to the double kick drums at 2:42 of “Darling Nikki”. Don’t even think of arguing with this. You can’t. Best movie soundtrack of all time. One small confession, however:Never seen the movie all the way through. Not once. I know this is heresy to admit in Minneapolis (this being The Purple One’s town and all), but I have heard this soundtrack a million times. My dad (of all people) kept a copy of the cassette in his car and gave it tons of playtime in between Huey Lewis and Billy Joel marathons. Is there a better beginning to an album than “Let’s Go Crazy”? No. A better closer than “Purple Rain”? Nope. Now I know that The Time made an appearance in the movie with a couple of songs (and both of their albums are pretty stellar, as well), but it’s the Prince & The Revolution LP that I’m talking about here.
On a side note: I remember a kid talking about this movie on the playground when it first came out. I thought he was such a badass because his parent let him see a movie with tits in it. I was still getting in trouble watching The Frog Prince on Shelley Duvall’s Fairy Tales. Something about references to God using frogs as a plague….no, I am not making that up.
Singles (1992)
This is still a good movie, I don’t care what anybody says. Sure, it felt like a blatant riff on a pop cultural “hot-thing-of-the-moment” (the Seattle “Grunge” explosion) even when it first came out. Still, the writing is pretty solid and the characters are likable. The soundtrack is a time capsule, with Pearl Jam (who had several members in the movie as part of Matt Dillon’s band), Mudhoney, Alice in Chains, and The Smashing Pumpkins. This was one of my favorite soundtracks when it came out and it still has my favorite Pearl Jam and Smashing Pumpkins songs. It also introduced me to the great Paul Westerberg.
Superfly (1972)
All bow down and worship Mr. Curtis Mayfield. Recently, I spent pretty much the last funds of the week on a vinyl copy of this. I jammed on it all night and goddamn if anything sounds as good as “Freddie’s Dead“. Aside from “Pusherman” that is. Real goddamn music here.
Honorable Mentions:
Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (2010)
On here pretty much for the fact that when I read the comics, Clash at Demonhead sounded exactly like Metric in my head. And sure enough…the music of Clash at Demonhead was provided by Metric! Sex Bob-omb, however, sounded better in my head (like The Thermals) than in the movie. Oh well.
Magnolia (1999)
Aimee Mann’s “Save Me” is one of the most beautiful sad songs I’ve ever heard. Lyrically, it’s a punch to the soul.
And anytime anyone wants to sing Harry Nilsson is okay with me. Which is why we’ll end with:
Popeye (1980)
Shut up. It’s brilliant.
