Purely Because of a Movie – Songs on My iPod Part 2
Continuing my summer of 2014 series, which was begun right here and chronicled my history with said device, examining the music that ended up on my iPod byway of the films that featured it on their soundtracks. An inventory, as it were, and one I continue to add to. Especially since I press on with my movies-watching and music-listening.
New song and those of a more vintage variety, even years after the initial screening, which still got there purely because of a movie. As alluded in another series, the convergence of the music and film arts is one I’ve spent much time toward. I’ll attempt to break these songs up into the categories most fit into, at least for my bizarre thinking, purely to make it more manageable in presentation. Fewest to most.
Other Than English
This category came simply care of my kids. I’d always get a look from either when one of these songs played in the car, via my iPod. Or when my daughter would ask at home, “Dad, do you understand what they’re singing?” Only some, if they’re in Spanish, I’d say. I’d hear her tell her mother, “Mom, dad’s playing those Japanese numbers, again.” The following are those that made an impression, and sung in other than English.
La Marseillaise – Casablanca (1942): I’m not afraid to admit this scene, primarily through music, in my favorite film still gets to me. It’s inspiring beyond my own belief whenever I watch it, or hear this sung, and I mist over every single time. What of it?
Cancion Del Mariachi (Morena De Mi Corazon) – Desperado (1995): One of the better opening titles (I hope to showcase it soon) and numbers for a movie. Passionate in an energetic way that is unique to Spanish guitar and the Ranchera torch song, lyrics by Cesar Rosas. Makes me want to sing and strum across a bar top.
The lyrics are based on a fragment of an archaic Welsh poem Cad Goddeu (Battle of the Trees), and sung in Sanskrit ~ Wikipedia
Duel of the Fates – Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (1999): Say what you will about the weakest Star Wars film, the complaints are all true. However, the climatic showdown between the Jedi Master and his apprentice against Darth Maul, accompanied by John Williams splendid theme, is not one of them.
Elysium – Gladiator (2000): What a song! Emotive in the extreme, though it never raises its voice above a murmur. Lisa Gerrard’s wonderful contralto never as rich, deep, and doleful than in this song. Hans Zimmer’s instrumentation and arrangement hit their peak along with Lisa’s lyrics of unknown origin.
Llorando – Mulholland Drive (2001): As I already said regarding Roy Orbison’s ‘Crying’, “So when Rebekha Del Rio performed an a cappella version of the song, in Spanish no less, entitled “Llorando”, for all the world to see in Silencio theatre for David Lynch’s 2001 film, Mulholland Drive, the result was simply jaw-dropping.”
Flower of Carnage – Kill Bill Vol. 1 (2003): Quentin Tarantino certainly geeked out when he brought in Lady Snowblood’s “Shura No Hana” for his epic marital arts revenge tale. Sung by the redoubtable Meiko Kaji — the song title loosely translated by Tarantino as “The Flower of Carnage” — it is elegiac, to say the least.
Kill Bill Vol. 2 (2004)
Urami Bushi: QT bringing another of Meiko Kaji’s memorable songs, this one the theme song of the Female Convict Scorpion series, “Urami Bushi” (怨み節), for the second half of the revenge saga. Say what you will, but Tarantino needle-dropped soundtracks are never boring, or ho-hum.
Malagueña Salerosa: As Wikipedia has stated, “…also known as La Malagueña — is a well-known Son Huasteco or Huapango song from Mexico, which has been covered more than 200 times by recording artists.” It’s also not a ballad for the faint of voice. Tex-Mex band Chingón recorded it for the film, used in the end credits.
Arranca – Miami Vice (2006): The group Manzanita’s stirring song was another of the highlights in the Michael Mann film and soundtrack. Used to initiate a passionate dance number, and tryst, between Sonny (Colin Farrell) and Gong Li‘s mysterious Isabella Montoya in a Cuban nightclub, made me want to learn salsa.
Chhaiya Chhaiya – Inside Man: How could I’ve forgotten this? Director Spike Lee brought forward a really fine cast in one of the better heist flicks of recent years, highlighting an Indian song, from the film Dil Se (1998), that accompanied their first-rate title sequence1.
How about you? Any foreign language songs you’ve collected because of a movie?
The entire series can be found here.
- As I mentioned, I do recommend watching the original number performed in Dil Se. It’s energetically sexy and creatively jaw-dropping in its staging. ↩
It Rains... You Get Wet 
13 Responses to “Purely Because of a Movie – Songs on My iPod Part 2”
Elysium from Gladiator….Ulrich Schnauss is German and I love his electro-sound. He was featured in Elizabethtown. 🙂
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Great to hear about Elysium, Cindy. I’ve yet to watch Elizabethtown, and need to see it. Thanks, Cindy 🙂
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‘La Wally’ from the film, DIVA. I hadn’t been exposed to much opera when I first saw that film, but I loved that piece without even knowing anything about it.
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Oh, this will be another one I have to add to my collection! Wonderful selection, Naomi. Many thanks 🙂
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Loving this series, Michael. Many of Tarantino and Lynch’s selections have made it into my digital library as well.
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Great to hear you collect these, too, Eric! Hope you enjoy more of what’s coming. Many thanks, my friend. 🙂
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Great picks! I absolutely love Malagueña Salerosa! And, of course, the soundtrack to my favorite film (Kill Bill) is marvelous. I had forgotten about Llorando from Mulholland Dr. What a fantastic, haunting scene!
Recent aditions to my iPod include the French ” Ca Plane Pour Moi” by Plastic Bertrand (from 127 Hours and Ruby Sparks) as well as the Swedish “Bomfaleralla” by Afasi och Filthy (from The Fault in Our Stars).
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I thought I recalled how much you enjoyed KILL BILL. Yeah, Malagueña Salerosa is an awesome song.
That’s a great track! And remember it well from 127 Hours.
Another fun one! Thanks, Fernando 🙂
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Thank you! 🙂
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Niiiiiice. The inclusion of Miami Vice is especially good.
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Good to hear you’re a fan of Arranca. 🙂 It has a marvelous energy, along with its passion. Thank you, my friend.
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[…] the Temple of Doom (1984): One could argue I should’ve placed this opening number with my Other Than English listing. I would’ve, if Kate Capshaw had performed the Cole Porter number entirely in […]
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[…] Part 2 – Other Than English […]
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