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The two mediums of music & film go together like tea & toast. Never have the two been bound by such harmony. For instance, I’ve never seen ‘The O.C.’, yet I must have played dozens of pieces of music from the T.V. series which dominate the psyche of young kids all over the world, just because this or that track appeared on this very popular show. Likewise… ‘House M.D.’, ‘Gray’s Anatomy’, ‘Crossing Jordan’, etc., etc..

Films too. I’m not talking about the great musicals such as Sound Of Music or West Side Story. I’m talking about the common, mainstream, popular film which we see (and hear) every day. It’s as if the producer and director search for that special piece to go with a special scene, to enhance the overall emotion we are expected to experience. Again, the great directors from Spielberg to Ridley Scott have used music to urge the audience to laugh, sympathise or cry. ‘Schindler’s List’, ‘E.T’., ‘Close Encounters’…giant scores. Beautiful music. Hans Zimmer too. Gladiator, Rain Man, Thelma & Louise. The great Martin Scorsese actually uses rock music to give us that unique feel of time and chronological moments.

Music is indeed the assistant director nowadays. Like never before, the soundtrack is such a commanding part of film and T.V., we sometimes don’t even realize it.

If director Sergio Leone can bring a tear to the eye, composer Ennio Morricone can cause us to weep. It’s as simple as that. From the classic scene in Once Upon A Time In America where DeNiro meets Elizabeth McGovern, listen to how the music inspires us with such depth of feeling for that moment. Same with Cinema Paradiso. The final three minutes of that most extraordinary film have to be among the most gorgeous cinematic imagery in history.

As a dear friend said recently, (and I’ve mentioned this on my Sunday programme), today’s classical composers are to be found in Hollywood, Pinewood and the movie houses. Well said!

Keep watching those films and spare a thought for the score behind those pictures. There’s a world of beauty at your disposal.

See ya next month folks.

Love Yas!

Robbie France

This article was published in the October issue of Beachcomber magazine

This article was first published in Beachcomber Magazine in September 2008

Music is cyclical. Always has been. Usually by a span of 20 years. The explosion of pop in the 60s started a trend which continues today. One of the most intriguing subjects of today’s pop scene is the plethora of fabulous talent coming from the UK…especially the ladies. Amy Winehouse was at the forefront of this revolution with her album ‘Frank’ garnering awards and critical acclaim alike in 2004, before reaching even giddier heights with ‘Back To Black’ 2 years later.

Egged on by her success, we saw the likes of Amy McDonald, Adele, Duffy, Katie Melua, Kate Nash and to a lesser extent Estelle break through sometimes on both sides of the pond. Real singers. Real music. Real talent. Although there’s the obligatory nod to their 60s counterparts such as Dusty Springfield and Joni Mitchell as far as influences go, there’s also another reason. Money.

Duffy withstanding, all the major players on the UK scene now were alumni of the BRIT School in Selhurst London. Formed in 1991 to encourage excellence in the arts, it has been a monolithic success. As we reflect on the correlation between massive influx of funds into Team GB at the Beijing olympics, so we can see the exact parallel between The BRIT School and international success of the aforementioned ladies.
Plus there’s a tangible return to recording real music, without having to rely on computer wizardry to enhance a mediocre talent. This is where the legacy of the 60s & 80s comes in to play. 60s was full of top musicians, working at the top of their game. 70s went a bit limp. Punk exploded. A genre of music in which if you knew more than a handful of chords you were considered a maestro. Then came the 80s. If you were a successful musician in that era, you played to the maximum of what was humanly possible. A heady mix of commercialism and craft. I see that now.

It’s taken some time, but what a great bunch of years we have ahead as far as listening to fabulous performers singing good old fashioned great songs. It’s about time…litarally! See you next month.

Love,

Robbie France