Otherwise it's a great (though admittedly still flawed) cop thriller that is 80s in all the best ways. But the music, dear God, it just doesn't fit. At all.
The film's second half is way better because the score is used less. Imagine The French Connection, and paste ridiculous 80s music over it, and that's how I feel about this one.
EDIT: I wish the blu-ray offered an option to watch the film without any music.
the quirky sound of Wang Chung, I've always thought, fit this movie perfectly.
shareInteresting post. This was one of the first soundtracks I bought as a kid when I saw the film. Used to own it in LP.
"Oh, Mama, can this really be the end, to be stuck inside of mobile
with the memphis blues again"
Interesting post. This was one of the first soundtracks I bought as a kid when I saw the film. Used to own it in LP.
"Oh, Mama, can this really be the end, to be stuck inside of mobile
with the memphis blues again"
I'm waiting for you,
And you're very late,
I know you'll come anyway, and I can hardly wait.
It's up there with Bladerunner as one of the pinnacle soundtracks of the Eighties
You are not your I-Pod
You are not your cellphone
You are not your Blu-ray
I think the soundtrack is 80's alright but it could have been better.
I prefer the style of The Turbo Kid... that style would have fit as well.
Wang Chung's OST reminds me of just random drums with some sound FX.
I prefer as well.... Blade Runner OST.
Heck another classic tune is Goblin's theme to Tenebre. That style is better than Wang Chung's... by a mile.
http://www.youtube.com/user/alphazoom
https://soundcloud.com/#carjet-penhorn
I understand what you mean. Wang Chung and Vangelis are in very different spheres musically. The soundtracks cant be compared. They are just way too different.
I think what is important to remember was that Wang Chung were first and pop band. The only reason I would have known about them and bought the record when I saw it in the stores was because I listened to their first album and the hits off it in 82/83.
I think its interesting that Friedkin chose them to do the music. At the time I didnt quite understand the under layers of the film but now when I watch it I have to admit the film has aged very well. It might pick up a stronger cult following as the years go on given all the retro 80s that is coming back in style again.
"Oh, Mama, can this really be the end, to be stuck inside of mobile
with the memphis blues again"
The score, in another context, would be distracting but because this is an 80s crime movie it gets a pass. Neon Noir wouldn't be the same without the synth music. Thief is another movie with a great only-in-the-80s score (Tangerine Dream).
shareWell 80's had terrible cheesy music (not counting the underground stuff cause in that department the 80s are the best) but it fit the movie just perfectly.
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Although it's not up there with either Mike Oldfield's work for The Exorcist or Tangerine Dream's work for Sorcerer, I was pleasantly surprised. I thought, considering Wang Chung's main hit, Everybody Wang Chung Tonight', that it would be awful. But I underestimated Friedkin's gift for getting the right scorer for the material. The score perfectly fits the L.A. culture and an 80's film without sounding too dated.
sharebig fan as well. been loving the soundtrack for decades. they had some cool liner notes about the scoring on the album. wish i still had the original to put them here for the fans.
to each his own.
Everybody Wang Chung tonight!!
Doesn't get much more 80's than that.
Schrodinger's cat walks into a bar, and / or doesn't.