signing versus
I haven’t written about music, or really long posts, or music posts, for a while now thanks to an overwhelming number of rehearsals and papers as it IS nearing the end of the term.
However, since I’m working on a paper right now, it’s only right that I procrastinate a bit and blog on the music that is distracting me.
Not too long ago, there was this week or two of my life where a large number of references to the film Moulin Rouge! came up. For one, the university opera is performing La Traviata this Saturday night, and of course I’m in the pit for it. (In case you aren’t aware, La Traviata and Moulin Rouge! are essentially the same story.) A friend of mine was also driving me to rehearsals for another orchestra and she had the soundtrack for the film playing as we drove. Thus, I was reminded of how brilliant some of the adaptations, especially that for “Roxanne,” are. Hearing the music made me want to see the film again.
However, it wasn’t until the same friend and I were listening to NPR and heard a short, familiar, but unidentifiable hook, that I was inspired to investigate further. Over the course of the night, while errand-running, I remembered bits and pieces of lyrics, but nothing truly helpful. Somehow, with the help of wikipedia and a friend, I managed to deduce that the tune was “Nature Boy,” by eden ahbez. And then I remembered that it was the opening cover tune for Moulin Rouge!, as sung by David Bowie.
So I went and dug up a whole bunch of different covers of the song, and finally got around to watching Moulin Rouge! in its entirety as was (Actually, ended up just purchasing the film because I couldn’t resist the gorgeous formula of prettily-filmed spectacle and equally complimenting music). “Nature Boy” is a truly haunting and beautiful composition.
I speak of the song because it refused to leave my head all day, and I since have decided it’s one of my all time favourites right next to “Feeling Good,” “Fly Me to the Moon,” and “Can’t Take That Away from Me.” I’m also rather deliriously in love with “The Man That Got Away” (no puns intended) and “The Home Fire” but neither of those songs really have multiple amazing versions. It’s pretty much the Judy Garland version for the former and the Louis Armstrong version for the latter for me…
In other news, I have found myself addicted to the stringwork in “What Goes Around…” by Justin Timberlake. The lyrics are admittedly unoriginal and boring, and I’m none too fond of his singing either. But again, Timbaland has done a wonderful job with the production. Sadly the appeal of the song will probably fade with time, but it’ll be a useful archive entry.
April 19 2007 09:14 am | films and music