This is about two of my favourite things, no not pizza and ice cream, music and film. Sometimes a song is played in a movie, and the combination of the sound and picture is about as good as a music video could get. Here are five of my favourite music videos within films:
Huey Lewis & The News 'The Power of Love' in Back to the Future.
What? Back to the Future again???? Has this guy seen any other movies?? Well yes, and I know my first blog was all about Back to the Future but how can I not mention this scene: Marty McFly dressed all cool in jeans, jean jacket, raybans and walkman realises he is LATE FOR SCHOOL! and jumps on his skateboard and car surfs through the streets of LA waving to whole gymfulls of ladies while 'The Power of Love' blasts out! This was the 80's at its best and soon after seeing it, I acquired a denim jacket, reflector sunglasses (not so easy to get your hands on in Keighley) and a skateboard. Unfortunately I was unable to skate behind cars on it, mainly due to the fact that I couldnt actually stand up on it.
Elton John 'Tiny Dancer' in Almost Famous.
In a film which is pretty much a two hour music video, this scene stands out as, in my opinion the best. The tour bus is traveling through America, filled with the band, hot young groupies and hairy roadies and Elton John comes on the radio. Normally this would be a cue to turn over but luckily we are in 1973, and Candle in The Wind was years from being written. We are treated to the amazing opening piano chords to Tiny Dancer, and when we get to the chorus the whole bus joins in! Whilst watching you feel like you are there on the bus with them, it makes you want to start a band and go on the road (in the early 70's), or at least get on a bus and listen to early Elton John.
Robert Tepper 'No easy way out' in Rocky IV
Who the hell is Robert Tepper? I've never heard of him but Rocky sure has, and when Apollo has just been killed by Dolph Lundgren and he'd fallen out with Adrian because he's only gone and agreed to a rematch in Russia! On Christmas Day! He gets into his car pops Robert Tepper into the cassette player and burns off while we are treated to an awesome montage of the last IV Rocky films. Rocky I feel your pain! And I remember when you and Apollo were running on the beach, yeah you had matching knee high socks and those weird cut off t-shirts that only look good if you are insanely ripped (trust me I tried to make one for myself when I was 13, I looked gay.) There's Mickey he died too in Rocky III, Mr T shouted at him and he had a heart attack. Here comes the amazing guitar solo, time for some press ups!
Burt Bacharach 'Raindrops keep fallin' on my head' in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
You dont expect this kind of song to play in the middle of a western film, but somehow it works and the whole montage with Paul Newman and Katherine Ross is brilliant. After she has been sitting on Paul Newman's crossbar all morning its hard to believe that Katherine Ross gets back into bed with the Sundance Kid, he's boring, and he cant swim. If Paul Newman cycled up to me with that song playing in the background I'd happily jump on the handlebars and giggle stupidly while he peddled me around, then we'd roll around in the hay and Robert Redford would come charging out in his long johns yelling at us to keep the noise down.....
Bob Dylan 'The Times They Are A Changin' in Watchmen.
I think this is the first time I've heard this song in any film, you dont get many early Dylan songs in movies. Blowin in the Wind is a bit over-covered and sounds too cliche almost, but The Times They are a Changin' is perfect for the opening of this film. Whilst you are watching the alternate past of Watchmen unfold the song makes the scenes seem infinitely more believable. Even though he only uses acoustic guitar and harmonica, Dylan with his ancient sounding voice and lyrics is as powerful as Led Zeppelin or The Doors. When The Comedian shoots JFK from the grassy knoll I almost fell out of my cinema seat.
