Has there ever been worse music made? - Keoma (1976) Discussion

[–] egohome 18 years ago

I first saw that film back in 1985. I must say that ever since the soundtrack has been one of my all-time favorites... Even then, I recorded the score using a tape recorder and listened to the tape over and over again...

I must admit that the music has caused great controversy. For sure it is not intended for shakira lovers... If you have heard e.g. Lene Lovich you'd love the score...

The female voice has such a vocal range and a unique tone that one can appreciate only if he has wider listening range...

So, please, stick to shakira and spare us your intellect music opinions...

reply

[–] PostmortemG 18 years ago

"No, no my friends movielovers. No. You are wrong. The Keoma-soundtrack is the best. In a movie where everything is extreme, a soundtrack shoud be… And see the scene where Keoma’s father is killed. See the acting, camerawork, editing, passion and.. and hear the music. This is Cinema. With the Ilatianmovie-buffs (hello, Mr. Enzo) you never know if things were ment this way; there is only the result."

These are truly words of wisdom. Bizarre Italian cinema has been dead for over 20 years, yet people condemn this film's off-center soundtrack? These films have amassed such a following *BECAUSE* they are so strange, so un-U.$.A., so surreal, and ultimately so effective. Right now, this is *THE* Spaghetti Western for me, goofy singing and all. Also, to everyone who 'hates' the soundtrack: have you not noticed the beautiful, emotional melodies the guitars are playing underneath the singing? That's really what it's all about.

Franco Nero as Keoma = Christ hanging from the cross! ^_^

"Cain and Abel will go to Heaven... if they can make it through Hell!" -Los Hijos Del Topo

reply

[–] ravcon 18 years ago

Ha! Who's Shakira?

reply

[–] The_Dying_Flutchman 18 years ago

A gorilla model from West Covina.

Nothing exists more beautifully than nothing.

reply

[–] pipeoxide 18 years ago

Ugh, the actual score throughout the movie, free of vocals, was wonderful and fit the atmosphere of 'Keoma' perfectly...But when the male "vocalist" chimed in, it sounded like Arnold Schwarzeneggar...very painful to listen to. Imagine an awesome Morricone soundtrack -- 'Keoma' would be without a doubt one of the top westerns.

Tuco Benedicto Pacifico Juan Maria Ramirez

reply

[–] NostalgiaDrag 18 years ago

I LOVED the soundtrack for this. Surprising how polarizing those vocals are. I was mesmerized by it. I liked the soundtrack for this even more than the soundtracks for McCabe and Pat Garrett (I also think it's a better movie than the aforementioned two).

reply

[–] docp 18 years ago

I really do hate that woman who caterwauls throughout: she's the first person I've ever heard who makes Florence Foster Jenkins sound good.
As for the rest of the film, I'll not be watching it again in a hurry. To my mind it's artificially 'arty' with lots of posing and posturing and very little action (or even story).
I did like the 4 fingers revealing 4 men, however; that was definitely the highlight of the film although, admittedly, there were very few other moments to offer competition.
Marks out of 10: 1

reply

[–] NostalgiaDrag 17 years ago

KEOMA is non-stop action. And why does everyone seem to think a movie requires a tangible story or plot to be good? Most plot-oriented movies are expositional and boring.

reply

[–] smoovasbutter 17 years ago

I didn't mind the women singing so much, but the man singing got on my nerves. They were trying to be like Leonard Cohen.

Awesome movie though, even though Franco Nero looks more like a hippy at woodstock than a half breed.

reply

[–] NostalgiaDrag 17 years ago

I didn't mind the women singing so much, but the man singing got on my nerves. They were trying to be like Leonard Cohen.

But Guido's vocals were BETTER than Cohen's. I dig Cohen and all, but DeAngelis bros have this certain filthy quality to their music that I enjoy.

reply

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] promo_master 17 years ago

No, the Mannaja music rules too.

# Just like a man you will pay for the evil you have done!
# Like a snake!
# Like a snake!

reply

[–] mk_82 17 years ago

I just watched KEOMA for the first time, and the music didn't bother me at first but as it went on it became more intrusive and annoying. The music sans vocals is pretty cool. Although better music would've helped the film it still wouldn't have made it into anything special.

reply

[–] Tin Man-5 17 years ago

In theory, the Greek chorus-like music should have worked. It was obviously emulating Cohen's work in "McCabe and Mrs. Miller" and Dylan's "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid," both of which benefitted greatly from these musicians' contributions. Enzo admits that he was using Dylan in the early rough-cuts and that this is where he came up with the idea for the music.

The execution is where they fumbled. It was Italian music trying to ripoff American music, and it went so over the top that it came across as comical. As Peter Kenis put it in his review of the film in Rolling Stones, it is "a wailing and droning soundtrack that plays like Joan Baez and Tom Waits trying to kill each other."

It wouldn't have hurt to find a more competent musician to do the deed. As the spaghettis cast b-grade American actors for their films, they could have picked up some second-wheel American folk singer who could have contributed enormously to the proceedings and not made the music so unbearable. In fact, I vote that we restore the film with a new soundtrack - maybe Nick Cave, after his great work in "The Proposition" and "Assassination of Jesse James" should have a go. Keep the main musical notes, the harmonica and guitar, but for God sake, rewrite the lyrics and find someone else to sing them.

In the meantime, it's a testatment to the power of his film that it is still close to being a masterpiece IN SPITE of the bad soundtrack. The rest of the film is a near perfect example of a metaphysical acid-western, with all the correct spaghetti ingredients to make it a classic.

reply

[–] NostalgiaDrag 17 years ago

Re-work the soundtrack with NICK CAVE? You are a bad person, Tin Man. The Proposition is tedious as hell and extremely unevenly paced.

reply

[–] Tin Man-5 17 years ago

The Proposition was the last great spaghetti western, as far as I'm concerned. Brilliant, desolate, poetic carnage. About as uneven as a western set in hell is required to be. And anyway: Nick Cave's soundtrack was effing brillian, whatever you may think of the film.

reply

[–] NostalgiaDrag 17 years ago

Western set in hell? Bollocks, try CUT THROATS NINE. That flick is br00tal.

reply

[–] Tin Man-5 17 years ago

Liked that one too. It made my bones ache, it was so cold.

reply

[–] mk_82 17 years ago

In what way is THE PROPOSITION a spaghetti western? It takes place in Australia and is Australian made, and it's also a recent film. True spaghetti westerns pretty much died in the 70's from my understanding...

reply

[–] Tin Man-5 17 years ago

It's not a spaghetti per se, but I believe it emulates their style to the point that it's a clear homage. Closeups of sweaty faces, simple story, ethereal music, "man with no name" archetypes. Sergio Leone's trademarks are all over that film.

reply

[–] Sick_Spazmoid 17 years ago

The soundtrack is cool. Stop comparing it with others or with what you thing that is right way to sing. It perfectly fits the movie. We got it - it is not your kind of (elite) music.
____________________
I see undead people...

reply

[–] Tin Man-5 17 years ago

If I was an elitist, I certainly wouldn't love what are largely considered z-grade films like Keoma.

reply

[–] Sick_Spazmoid 17 years ago

I wasn't talking to you, but to the people complaining about the soundtrack.

____________________
I see undead people...

reply

[–] FinnurE 17 years ago

The soundtrack itself is not bad, but the singing that runs throughout the entire movie was completely unnecessary. It was OK for the opening and closing credit scenes, but I'd have preferred the rest of the soundtrack to be vocal-less.

http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=5184666

reply

[–] ubcool 16 years ago

the soundtrack is indeed over the top and ridiculous but somehow it works. its almost operatic in its power and really does help carry the audience along with the film.

reply

[–] ofumalow 16 years ago

The horrendous running-narrator(s) song reminded me of that "South Park" episode parodying pretentious 60s/70s English folk-rock, in which a trilling troubadour narrates the heroic odyssey of a gerbil inserted into Mr. Slave's anus, and which then travels his entire intestinal tract to the light at the end of the tunnel (aka the mouth). Seriously, watch it at the Comedy Central site (sorry, I don't know the name of the episode--it was several seasons back) and you will see what I mean. Maybe if I hadn't seen that episode I would have found the "Keoma" singing narration just bad...not hysterically bad.

reply

[–] sistermorphine71 16 years ago

It's awful. The singing (as opposed to the music alone, which I like) is supposed to enhance and punctuate dramatic scenes, but those tortured vocals become the primary focus as they distract us from the proceedings. I don't know which singer I hate more, though I'm leaning toward the woman. Her voice is like an icepick being driven into my skull. The De Angelis brothers did the scores for Street Law and The Shark Hunter and I absolutely loved those, but this didn't work for me. The soundtrack aside, I enjoyed this movie--good story, exciting action sequences and the deliciously hirsute Franco Nero!

reply

[–] litobrigg6 16 years ago

^^^Sistermorphine^^^ I agree, if we take away the vocals then the score would've enhanced the viewers experiance instead of taking away from it.

I got a Sixth sense, because I see dead presidents!

reply

[–] mr_fuzzer 15 years ago

The music i think is the one element i dont like. Everything is brilliant if you excuse that part. Too bad they didnt have Ennio Morricone. It sounds like they put music to a bad narrator almost.

reply

[–] Cinemaster69 15 years ago

The music in this film is awesome you goddamn savages!

reply

[–] hungerartist 15 years ago

for me the problem wasn't the music, or even the sound of the vocalists... it was the fact that they narrate EXACTLY what's going on in the movie in the most dramatic fashion possible. it not only detracts from the weight of the visuals and narrative, it is so heavy handed it's almost humorous. the problem is Keoma is a very serious film with little in the way of comedic elements. like i stated before, i think the MUSIC is great, and i don't mind odd sounding vocalists, but the lyrics are just plain RETARDED.

reply

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] vanhintaika 13 years ago

Are you serious? lol This has fantastic soundtrack, gives goosebumps every time. There is no need for perfect singers for everything, it gives charachter even if it's flawed singing. One of the best soundtracks.

reply

[–] mr_fuzzer 13 years ago

It grew on me the soundtrack amazing how you can go from hating something to liking it alot in a couple of years.

reply

[–] ilBuono 12 years ago

Just watched this movie. I thought the female singing was ok enough, probably because I didn't understand half of it. But when that guy sings: 'here I stand... gun in hand' or something to that extent almost in a way cookie monster would have sung it, I just cringe. Awful.

Loved the banjo tune and the harmonica though.

reply

[–] Woodyanders 11 years ago

I thought the singing was very quirky and effective. It's certainly a unique approach to scoring a Western, that's for sure.

I'm a totally bitchin' bio writer from Mars!

reply