MovieChat Forums > The Sound of Music (1965) Discussion > Edelweiss and Austria: film songs/scores...

Edelweiss and Austria: film songs/scores related with certain countries.

posted 8 years ago by brakerules
20 replies | jump to latest

I was wondering, (while I was re watching SOM today), what is the Austrian National Anthem. Not being Austrian myself I had to check this on You Tube and I have to admit that the Austrian Anthem was completely unknown to me as a song.

I assume that most non Austrians hardly know the music and the lyrics of the Austrian anthem, but can easily recall the music of the Edelweiss song and relate it immediately with Austria.

With its catchy melody and beautiful lyrics (that have in fact similarities with those of the original anthem's lyrics) Edelweiss could easily be called one of the most recognizable related with Austria songs.

Another similarly famous and related with a country song, is the music theme of Alexis Zorbas ( 1964) that brings in mind Greece.

Which are the film songs or scores that you relate immediately with certain countries?

[–] muchmeow 8 years ago

Because of Mamma Mia any song by ABBA makes me think of Greece.

[–] MIchiganJFrogg (-35) 7 years ago

[deleted]

[–] mplo (2370) 6 years ago

The song "Edelweiss" is highly political, and it could also relate to the political situation here in the United States, as well.

[–] Popcorngal (4937) 2 years ago

Yes ii is ,but still charming and pretty.

[–] mplo (2370) 2 years ago

You're right, Popcorngal! You've made a very good point. Thank you. "Edelweiss" is one of my favorite songs in "Sound of Music". My all-time favorite song in "The Sound of Music", however, is "Climb Every Mountain", because it's so inspiring, if one gets the drift.

[–] Popcorngal (4937) 2 years ago

I read as a child, MJ loved to sing "Climb Every Mountain" as a,child in Gary. Ms. Carr was his interior decorator for awhile. I find both songs have deep meaning.

[–] mplo (2370) 2 years ago

"Climb Every Mountain" is my all-time favorite song in "The Sound of Music", because it inspires me to continue to go after what I really want in life, and my dreams. "Edelweiss", too, is a beautiful song with meaning, but it is more political than "Climb Every Mountain".

I saw "The Sound of Music" at a long-since defunct movie theatre here in Boston, MA, late in the summer of 1965, when it first came out, and, while it admittedly doesn't hold the same place in my heart regarding movies as the old, original 1961 film version of West Side Story (which is admittedly my all-time favorite movie, hands down!), I was also impressed with "The Sound of Music", as well.

[–] TheDemon (598) 6 years ago

Waltzing Matilda for Australia.
Of course, 99% of the Earth's population that know this don't realise the song is about a thief who, when cornered by the cops, decides to suicide rather than being arrested.

[–] liscarkat (19416) 2 years ago

Yes, "Waltzing Matilda", we sang it in school when I was a little kid. I also associate "Tie Me Kangaroo Down" with Australia. It was a huge hit in the U.S. in the early '60s, constantly played on the radio and juke boxes. It's about a guy who suffers and dies slowly, after which his friends apply their taxidermic skills to his hide, which they hang on the shed wall.

[–] Popcorngal (4937) 2 years ago

I heard they had to change the lyrics a bit, since some of the original lyrics was offensive to the aboriginal community.

[–] Popcorngal (4937) 2 years ago

I never knew that.

[–] mplo (2370) 2 years ago

That's interesting! As much as I like "Waltzing Matilda", I had absolutely no idea that "Waltzing Matilda" was about a thief who decided to commit suicide when cornered by the cops, rather than get arrested. Now that I think about it, it's not at all surprising.

[–] nyctc7 (44104) 2 years ago

I remember when Superman flew to Switzerland to get some edelweiss for Lois Lane.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-N2mZ3pdiw&t=745s

[–] Popcorngal (4937) 2 years ago

I heard the flower grows in high dangerous mountainous areas. A guy must really love a woman to give her those.

[–] mplo (2370) 2 years ago

A guy must really love a woman from the bottom of his heart to risk his limb and life by going to dangerous high mountainous areas to obtain some edelweiss for her!

[–] mplo (2370) 2 years ago

Wow!! That I didn't know! That's interesting. Superman really did love Lois Lane with all his heart!

[–] nyctc7 (44104) 2 years ago

It was a dream sequence. Lois wakes up remembering Clark and Superman are one and the same. She rushes to embrace Clark and almost knocks off his eyeglasses. "My glasses!" says Clark rather meekly.

[–] mplo (2370) 2 years ago

Oh, wow! That part being a dream sequence is something that I admittedly did not know about. Kent Clark and Lois Lane's love, however, was real, which inspired the dream sequence.

Since dreams often are indicative of people's hopes and inspirations, as well as hang-ups, it makes sense to believe that Kent Clark's love for Lois Lane was real, and inspired this dream.

[–] nyctc7 (44104) 2 years ago

Oh yes. But I think that was about as close as it got on 1950s television :)

[–] mplo (2370) 2 years ago

Yeah --well: sometimes, the development of even more modern movies can be somewhat more modern movies can be inspired by 1950's television and/or movies.