Tag: soundtrack

The Walker Brothers | I Can’t Let It Happen to You

“They weren’t British, they weren’t brothers, and their real names weren’t Walker, but Californians Scott Engel, John Maus, and Gary Leeds were briefly huge stars in England (and small ones in their native land) at the peak of the British Invasion,” reports AllMusic. “…They favored orchestrated ballads that were a studied attempt to emulate the success of another brother act who weren’t really brothers: the Righteous Brothers.”

The tune appeared in the recent TV series Master of None in 2017, part of a soundtrack that was nothing if not eclectic. “I Can’t Let it Happen to You” wasn’t a single for the Walker Brothers, but the album track, released in 1967, fit the quirky series perfectly. Pitchfork quotes the show’s music supervisor, Zach Cowie, speaking about the series’ star and co-writer, Aziz Ansari: “‘We’re both record collectors that are kind of always looking for crate-digging kind of deeper stuff. That sort of becomes a sound that unifies the whole series. A lot of it is just mixed up sort of records, and it does fit well with the character.'”

The Righteous Brothers’ influence is strong on this track, complete with a leisurely, behind-the-beat delivery, the lead vocal’s casual approach to pitch, and the spacious, reverb-soaked production. Starting in E major, the tune shifts to F major at 1:55 at the start of a brief instrumental bridge.

Rebecca Luker | Can’t Help Singing

Written by Jerome Kern and E.Y. Harburg for the eponymous 1944 film, “Can’t Help Singing” is performed here by Rebecca Luker, who passed away from ALS late last month at age 59. Luker had an illustrious Broadway career that spanned three decades and was known for her luminous soprano voice. “During her audition Rebecca brought such a freshness to the music, as if I had never heard the score before,” said Susan H. Schulman, who directed Luker as Maria in a 1998 production of The Sound of Music. “Little hairs stood up on the back of my neck. You don’t expect songs that you are so familiar with to take you by surprise that way. She has the most glorious voice. The instrument is so pure.”

Luker is survived by her husband and fellow Broadway actor Danny Burstein. This track is included on Luker’s 2013 album I Got Love, featuring the music of Kern. Key change at 1:53.

Try To Remember (from “The Fantasticks”)

“Try to Remember” is the opening song from Tom Jones’ and Harvey Schmidt’s 1960 musical The Fantasticks, which holds the record for the world’s longest running musical with 17,162 performances in its initial run. First performed by original cast member Jerry Orbach, the song at its core is about nostalgia for a simpler time:

Deep in December it’s nice to remember although you know the snow will follow
Deep in December it’s nice to remember without the hurt the heart is hollow
Deep in December it’s nice to remember the fire of September that made us mellow
Deep in December our hearts should remember and follow.

The tune briefly passes through two different keys starting at 1:51 before returning to the tonic F Major.

Mariah Carey | The Star

“The Star” was the first single released from the eponymous 2017 holiday film, inspired by the Nativity story. Performed by Mariah Carey, the song was nominated for Best Original Song at the Golden Globe Awards. In her review at Pop Sugar, critic Victoria Messina claimed “this brand-new jam just might give “All I Want For Christmas Is You” a run for its money.” Beginning in B major, the track modulates to Db at at 2:51 and then to Eb at 3:11.

Another Day of Sun (from “La La Land”)

“Another Day of Sun” is the thrilling opening number from the Academy Award Best Picture-winning 2016 film La La Land. Featuring a 95-piece orchestra and 40 voice choir and filmed on location in Los Angeles, the song depicts drivers stuck in traffic jam on a highway ramp, singing and dancing about their aspirations to succeed in Hollywood.

“It’s an optimistic song,” said composer Justin Hurwitz, “but it’s also about unfulfilled dreams.” Co-lyricist Justin Paul added, “You pursue that dream, and you go to bed and get up the next day, and it’s a gorgeous day. It encourages you in one breath, and in another breath doesn’t acknowledge that you just failed miserably. You wake up and it doesn’t match your mood. It’s a bright and shiny day.”

Key change at 3:21.

Stevie Wonder + Dionne Warwick | Weakness

After releasing a string of albums which rank among not only his best but the best of the 1970s as well (Music of My Mind, Talking Book, Innervisions, Songs in the Key of Life, etc.), Stevie Wonder took on some film scoring work for the 1984 movie Woman in Red. The style Stevie chose for this project wasn’t focused on evocative instrumental music. Rather, he most provided some pop/R&B hits which could stand entirely on their own, propelling the film to larger success in the bargain.

AllMusic reports: ” … still not having completed the official follow-up to Hotter Than July, he recorded the soundtrack to the Gene Wilder comedy The Woman in Red, which wasn’t quite a full-fledged Stevie Wonder album but did feature a number of new songs, including ‘I Just Called to Say I Love You.’ Adored by the public (it was his biggest-selling single ever) and loathed by critics (who derided it as sappy and simple-minded), ‘Just Called to Say I Love You’ was an across-the-board number one smash, and won an Oscar for Best Song.”

“Weakness” is another contribution from our frequent guest mod scout JB. It was only an album track for Stevie and Dionne, but might have made the cut as a single for lesser artists. The track kept a much lower profile than “I Just Called … ” or even the follow-up hit “Love Light in Flight.” But it’s certainly a showcase for Stevie’s unmistakable songwriting, embossed with the high sheen of 1980s arranging and production. Starting in Db major, the tune floats forward on a relaxed, gospel-inflected 6/8 feel and Wonder and Warwick’s world-class vocal blend. At 2:36, a short but mighty multi-key bridge lands us in F major at 2:51.

Waving Through a Window (from “Dear Evan Hansen”)

Broadway music director and pianist Greg Anthony Rassen (Bandstand, Bullets Over Broadway, An American in Paris) has written a stunning piano quartet arrangement of “Waving Through a Window,” from the hit 2015 musical Dear Evan Hansen, as a tribute to all of the Broadway musicians and other music staff who have been out of work since their shows went dark in March. “I did this arrangement with all of you in my heart,” Greg said in a Facebook post sharing the video. “Never stop making music.” Key changes at 2:10 and 3:01.

Strangers Like Me (from “Tarzan”)

“Strangers Like Me,” by English drummer and songwriter Phil Collins (best known for his work with the rock band Genesis), was originally featured in the 1999 Disney animated film Tarzan, and later included in a Broadway musical adaptation. Also popular as a pop song, the track reached the #10 spot on the US Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart. Straight-forward half-step modulation at 3:06.

Voctave | Someday

The a cappella group (and MotD favorite) Voctave released a new album, The Corner of Broadway & Main St Vol. 2 earlier this month, featuring an assortment of Disney and Broadway hits. “Somewhere,” from Alan Menken’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame, closes the album. Beginning in C major, the arrangement modulates to E at 2:11 before retreating back briefly to D at the 3:00 mark. A final shift to F occurs at 3:33.