I keep on saying that I don't "do" contests; and then I do. I claim I'm not competitive; by and large I am not, but I do admit to being happy to win - when it happens. So let me declare again that I don't participate to win, but rather because the topic resonates for me. It also means that I won't don't always follow the rules as @zord189 discovered when he wanted just one song. He got this.
Considering the instructions
They are simple
The Topic For This Round Is…Movie Tunes
...
Create a blog post with your top 3 nominations along with your reasoning behind them.
I looked carefully: there is no small print
Given that I went a little OTT with the Songs of (my) Life, not only do I have a standard to maintain, but I really had a very difficult time picking my top three. I've gone round in circles, this post has brewed, grown, been pruned and I'm sure that when I'm done I will still find that I've got others that I've missed.
There are tunes from movies that have stuck with me over the years - for many different reasons. Some of them are entire soundtracks. Soundtracks I knew word for word: before ever seeing the film. Yes, I mean film. I'll begin with these.
The Sound of Music
As a child, I loved Julie Andrews: she was my hero and she sang like an angel. One of my favourite records (yes...there I go again...) was an album of beautiful Christmas carols. Ermm...I digress... I cannot remember the first time I saw The Sound of Music, but I do know that I knew every song, and when I saw them on celluloid, they developed new meaning. All of them.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
This 1975 film was banned in Souh Africa for years, but as teenagers we managed to find and listen to the soundtrack ad nauseum. I loved the melodies and the rhythm, but at 13, from an ultra conservative home, I really had not the slightest inkling of what the film was about. It was something I learned by osmosis over the years. It's a film I have never seen, but I have seen a couple of stage adaptations, including one here in McGregor. All the more memorable because of the cast - and their real life personalities. Nobody will ever be able to "do" a better Frankenfurter.
The final soundtrack in my selection of three, is -
Grease
The storyline of that 1978 film resonated for the then 16-year old Fiona, and the music was a combination of 70's pop and 60's rock and roll with the odd ballad chucked in for good measure. Brilliant. At least two songs from this soundtrack feature in Songs of (my) Life...
No, I'm not done yet:
Bond
I think we all have, or have had, our James Bond phases. Depending on one's gneration, one has a one and only Bond. My only Bond is Roger Moore. I don't really like what's happened to the genre; perhaps I'm old fashioned but I don't like the introduction of the gratuitous violence. Quantum of Solace: just no. Daniel Craig: just no. But there have been some billiant theme tunes. Some memorable for the films, others for different reasons.
Three, no four, I just really love. The first two I have seen - as home movies * on a Sunday evening at boarding school. The other two: I have no idea. I think I have, but hey, the formula is such that well, the story is largely inconsequential.
Rita Coolidge – "All Time High" Octopussy
Carly Simon – "Nobody Does It Better"
Sheena Easton - For your eyes only
This 1981 song evokes fabulous memories of university, people places, loves...not...
Golden Eye - Tina Turner
I am a huge Tina Turner fan. My ex-husband loathed her and when she came to South Africa, I was going to the show. Come hell or high water. This was her opening song. Need I say more?
Other random movie songs that just can't be ignored
Also in that post to which I keep referring, are other of of my favourite movie tunes. Memorable for the movies as much as for the periods in my life when I saw them: Blondie's Heart of Glass from American Gigolo, and, actually, I should have included the entire soundtrack of Fame, and I did not mentioned, but which would have been apt in ***that *** post, is Irene Cara's Out there on m own.
These two deserve special mention. They speak for themselves.
Streets of Philadelphia - Bruce Springsteen 1993
Madonna - This used to be my Playground 1992
Last, but not least, my top 3
The third place is a tie: two very poignant songs - one from the seventies, from the musical, Hair, and which until I did my research for this post, I didn't know, had been voted best song in 1979. Like Rocky Horror it was banned in South Africa and I only saw it in 1981 or 1982. When it was released, it was cut to shreds.
Easy to Be Hard - Hair
I will never forget this scene in the film, and I still get cold shivers when I hear the song - as I did the other day, when I heard it on the radio.
As an aside, John Savage , who played Claude, in the film, spent some time in Johannesburg, South Africa, in the 80's and I had a little to do with him because of my involvelment with the street children movement. Lovely, unassuming man.
Tie with this is
Calling You - Bagdad Cafe
This 1987 film arrived in South Africa in 1988. I was living in Johannesburg at the time (when I was working with street children and met John Savage) and this film made an enormous impression on me - as did actress CCH Pounder - a story of healing and friendship - unexpected. And the fellowsip of women.
Second place is also a tie. The first, because that opening scene is one that is memorable for all the right reasons, including this song. The rest of the movie? Well, it's a chick flick, but not up there with the best. But this Righteous Brothers' song....well, it has a life way beyond this movie.
Unchained Melody - Ghost
You make me feel like a Natural Woman - The Big Chill
Carole King's song, from the Tapestry album is one of her best. However, no more apt than when it is carefully placed in this film. The Big Chill has to be one of those timeless films that resonates for people who've had any real life, and relationship, experience. And deep (or not) friendships.
The Number One
The top of the three has simply got to be Bohemian Rhapsody. It continues to "live", and more than just survive, succeeding generations of music genres. It's featured in two films, including the eponymous Queen biopic (which I cannot wait to see, but living in the boondocks....), which is testimony to the gigantic talent and brilliance, not just of Freddie Mercury, but the ensemble that made Queen, Queen.
A last word (or three)
Thank you very much to @curie for supporting this contest.
Thank you to the @phc3 team for the inspiration.
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This is my thirty-sixth straight day of posting at least once a day as part of @traciyork's #SteemBloPoMo challenge.
Thank you for keeping me company and helping me to achieve my goal of a daily post for four consecutive weeks:
Until next time
Fiona
The Sandbag House
McGregor, South Africa
Photo: Selma
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