Tuesday 5 April 2011

You Make Me Wish That I Could Sing

Being able to break out in song ....in key has been a dream of mine since before I could see over the kitchen table. So watching people express their emotions through song has always been a two edged blade - one that cut and made me smile.

Here are some of my favourite musical moments in cinema:

Easy A - Knock on Wood
Didn't make a huge amount of sense other than you should always break into song if you can. A great tribute to John Hughes and female empowerment in this snarky tale.


Ferris Buller's Day Off - Danke Schoen
Only this movie could have made a Wayne Newton song cool. While the whole parade scene is fabulous - I am much more fond of Danke Schoen lip syncing for some unknown reason. Matthew Broderick's commitment to singing those lyrics is a joy to behold.

"Thank you for Central Park in fall".


Mary Poppins - Feed The Birds
Such a melancholy song that just tugs at you. Always loved it even as a young tucker. After looking it up on wikipedia I read this "Walt Disney himself made the unusual request that the bird woman, though a non-speaking part (except for one line, stating the first line of the song's chorus), be a cameo by one of his favorite character actresses, Academy Award winner Jane Darwell. In her mid eighties and semi-retired from acting (she took episodic guest appearances about once per year in television shows), Ms. Darwell had recently moved into the Motion Picture Country Home due to her advanced age and feebleness. Needing neither the money nor the screen credit she declined the role. Walt Disney, still insistent, personally drove to the retirement home to plead with her. Charmed and flattered that she was so wanted, she agreed to take the part. Walt later sent a limousine to bring her to the studio. It was her last screen appearance or acting role." Beautiful considering it is a story about giving.


The Hangover - Stu's Song
Why the heck not?


Meet Me in St. Louis - The Trolley Song
Judy Garland...heaven


Oklahoma - Surrey With A Fringe On Top
This musical was my introduction to show biz.  I was in grade one and the high school was recruiting for their production of Oklahoma.  I got to dress up as a chook to dance around the surrey for two nights at the Burra Community School production in the town hall.  Ahh memories.  I honestly can't remember all that much other than wearing black gloves with sequins on them....that and having a ball amongst all the older kids.

It's a musical I've always loved (but FF'ed through the ballet section).  I believe my love of the bad boy might have started with Jed - I was always quite taken with him and I have no idea why.  He's kind of gross and depressing.  My favourite character was always Ado Annie!


10 Things I Hate About You - Cruel To Be Kind
"...in the right measure".  Oh boy.  This plus Heath Ledger's serenade of "Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You" = swoon-ville.


I can't NOT put Heath Ledger up now -


My Best Friend's Wedding - Say A Little Prayer
Just makes you wish you were sitting at the table joining in! I love how low and ridiculous Rupert Everett starts and how bad pretty much everyone is at singing. This is what a family singalong is traditionally like - tone deaf.


Mamma Mia - Waterloo
I am sorry but seeing Colin Firth singing in lyrca just has me in fits. He committed so wholeheartedly to being atrocious that I could help but love him more. Don't believe me, look at his high stepping entrance - brilliant! Unlike hearing Pierce Brosnan singing which has me clawing at my ears.


Fame
I've watched this one since before it was appropriate. I had no idea why Coco took her shirt off or what happened to Raoul's sister but I loved two songs more than life itself. Body Electric - it's just bliss, everything in my body relaxes when I hear this song. The opening singer looks scarily like Anna Kendrick as well.
But my favourite is 'Is It Okay If I Call You Mine?" the actor Paul McCrane (who became the armless and bald Dr Romano on ER) wrote this song and it's just filled with yearning and sadness. Very close to my heart.

Beaches - Otto Titsling
For some reason this tune has been popping into my head at the oddest moments of late.  Very catchy!


Hit me with your hits!

6 comments:

Jess - The Tales Compendium said...

haha I loved that one from Easy A!

And both the 10 Things... ones are great. In fact, the whole soundtrack was awesome :)

Splendibird said...

I like the totally random dance scene to "You Make My Dreams Come True" in 500 Days Of Summer and the big song and dance sequence in Enchanted. Also, slightly different but Christopher Walken in the video for Fatboy Slim's Weapon Of Choice is pretty awesome. I also quite like the prom dance thing in She's All That.

Bonnie @ A Backwards Story said...

I totally need to go watch "10 Things I Hate About You" now...especially the scene with Heath! *swoon*

I loved the Buffy episode, "Once More, With Feeling" where they broke out into song against their will b/c of a music demon! That had some great music...

Okie said...

what an absolutely fabulous collection of fun. Thanks for the memories. Great stuff.

Rhiannon Hart said...

I know it's corny, but Unchained Melody by The Righteous Brothers makes me wish I could sing. *happy sigh*

Anonymous said...

I think every single song in Mary Poppins made me want to burst into song. Especially A Spoonful of Sugar and Chim Chim Cher-ee.

And every single friggin Disney song known to man.