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| a weekly series hosted by Wandering Through the Shelves |
New month, new Oscar-themed Thursday Movie Picks. This week we are talking about one of my favourite categories as I always remember a great song or score, even when the film they are featured in isn't particularly memorable. With that being said, today I'm only picking original song winners from movies I love(d), and that I still find myself singing every now and then.
"Lose Yourself", Eminem - 8 Mile (2002)
My taste in music changed a lot over the years but there's an artist I like since I was a child, and it's Eminem. While this isn't my favourite song from the rapper, it still is a great song, and it's the one that allows me to brag about him winning an Oscar.
"Shallow", Lady Gaga - A Star Is Born (2018)
Every time this song plays on the radio, I sing along. But there are also times when it doesn't play on the radio, or on my phone and I still randomly start singing it.
"You'll Be My Heart", Phil Collins - Tarzan (1999)
What I loved the most about this film as a child was Phil Collins's songs. Back then I listened to them in Italian — it still blows my mind how he sang the soundtrack in so many different languages —, but now that I'm fluent in English, I appreciate the original versions very more, and this is always one of my go-to when I'm in a Phil Collins mood.
These are all excellent picks!
ReplyDeleteI liked but didn't love this version of A Star is Born, my heart will always belong the the Judy Garland/James Mason 50's version and its Oscar nominated (but not winning) song "The Man That Got Away", however Shallow is a fine song.
ReplyDeleteI am NOT a rap fan or Eminem either and found 8 Mile an endurance test to sit through.
You know me and animation, I've never seen this version of Tarzan. Oddly I don't think I've even seen pieces of it when my nieces and nephews were small.
I went with a theme within the theme. I stayed with the song category and chose three songs that share the title of the film that won them the Oscar (my third did it in a roundabout manner but still....). They all enjoyed chart success on their own.
The Way We Were (1973)-Fiery, opinionated Katie Morosky (Barbra Streisand) meets handsome goyish guy Hubbell Gardiner (Robert Redford) in college during the 30’s. While he admires her moxie and she his writing talent they move in different circles. As WWII is winding down, they meet again and despite their vast differences they fall in love and marry but those very differences eventually tear their relationship asunder. Both the film and the title tune by Marvin Hamlisch, Alan & Marilyn Bergman were gigantic hits, the Streisand’s recording of the song going to # 1 on Billboard as well as winning the Grammy as Record of the Year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNEcQS4tXgQ
The Days of Wine and Roses (1962)-Gut wrenching chronicle of young couple Joe & Kirsten Clay’s (Jack Lemmon & Lee Remick-both Oscar nominated) descent into blackout alcoholism. Fittingly for something so dark the title song by Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer has a mournful quality but a soulful lilting beauty. Recorded by many artists it reached # 9 on the Billboard charts.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNlT7Rx77y8
The Joker is Wild aka All the Way (1957)-Joe E. Lewis (played by Frank Sinatra) was a rising singer on the Chicago nightclub scene of the Roaring Twenties until he angered a mob boss by switching clubs. In retaliation the mobster has Lewis’s throat cut, slashing his vocal cords and therefore his career. He slowly worked his way back as a comic over the next decade. Sinatra’s recording of All the Way written by Jimmy Van Heusen and Sammy Cahn was so popular (# 2 on the Billboard charts) the film was retitled to match it upon re-release.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxxDK0sFENo
I'm not familiar with any of the films you picks, nor the songs, but it does not surprise me The Way We Were won the Oscar. The lyrics are so beautiful and so is Streisand's voice.
Delete"Lose Yourself" and "Shallow" are great songs though I don't like that song from Phil Collins. I do love a lot of his work but I didn't like that song. Plus, it never should've beaten "Blame Canada".
ReplyDeleteI agree that this isn't one of Collins' best but I still enjoy listening to it.
DeleteA diverse selection, Sonia! Quite a few Disney films have been selected this week. Nice to see Tarzan included. I didn't know Collins sang in different languages!
ReplyDeleteOne of these days I really need to check out A Star is Born, it has such a catchy soundtrack!
ReplyDeleteI love all three of these <3
ReplyDeleteI really like You'll Be In My Heart. Tarzan is a bit underrated, if you ask me. I think I got sick of Shallow after a while but it's still a great song and deserving of the win.
ReplyDeleteI’m sorry, I just can’t stand rap nor do I like M & M (again, sorry but I couldn’t resist) so I have no desire to see the film. I have not seen the Disney film and don’t know the song but it’s nice..I had a listen. This is a good version of AStar Is Born and I do like this song aLot. My heart always belongs to Judy’s version and her one of many, signature tunes, “The Man That Got Away”, but I do really like this song by GaGa,
ReplyDeleteI didn’t know Collins sang it in different languages too…I thought they usually pick other popular singers to sing in their native languages.
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