Wednesday, August 20, 2008

War- what music is it good for?

As much as I loved Tropic Thunder, I also thought that as far as Ben Stiller went to spoof Vietnam movies, he didn't go far enough with the music. I'm guessing that to give the movie some connection to other Nam pictures, he used the mid/late 60's classic rock standards that usually make these kind of soundtrack: "Gimme Some Lovin'," "Run Through the Jungle" (technically from '70), "Sympathy For the Devil," etc.. The obvious idea is to match the music with the time period finding particularly upbeat rock standards or deep brooding tunes to fill that role.

But if Stiller really wanted to spoof Nam movies, he would have included some well-known songs from the time period that weren't exactly appropriate. Of course, that might have been a little too esoteric for anyone who wasn't a boomer or music nut but the contrast would have still been pretty funny.

In that spirit, imagine if you will, these chart-topping songs coming up in jungle and battle sequences. Adrenaline pumping or mysterious and spooky they ain't and that's the point. And yet, they are the forsaken hit parade, absent from these war flicks.

The New Vaudeville Band "Winchester Cathedral"
The Seekers "Georgy Girl"
Nancy and Frank Sinatra "Something Stupid"
Frankie Valli "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You"
The Monkees "Daydream Believer"
John Fred & His Playboy Band "Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)"
The Lemon Pipers "Green Tambourine"
Paul Mauriat and his Orchestra "Love is Blue"
1910 Fruitgum Co. "Simon Says"
Union Gap "Young Girl"
Bobby Goldsboro "Honey"
BJ Thomas "Hooked on A Feeling"
The Foundations "Build Me Up Buttercup"
Tommy Roe "Dizzy"
Henry Mancini and his Orchestra "Love Theme From Romeo & Juliet"
Oliver "Good Morning Starshine"
The Archies "Sugar Sugar"

Too poppy or too ballad-y I guess but I have to admit that I have a weak spot for a few of these (definitely not "Honey" and "Young Girl" though). Some of 'em could be used for irony at least, right?

If you can think of any other good ones from the late 60's that should be on this list, feel free to post 'em here.

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home