Favorite Music Soundtrack from Non-Musicals

 

What is the soundtrack of your life? In moments of self-reflection or melancholic exercise, I remember those songs at certain milestones in my life. If my life is a movie, this playlist reflects the ups and downs of a life marked by challenges and disappointments and triumphs and resilience. Songs like "You Are" by Lionel Richie and "Have I Told You Lately" by Rod Stewart are musical counterpoints in my life.

As Carole King wrote: "My life has been a tapestry of rich and royal hue. An everlasting vision of the ever-changing view". Perhaps one day, I will elaborate more on my life's playlist; not as colorful as a celebrity's, indeed not as scandalous.

Favorite musical soundtrack from non-musicals

Over the years, some movie and tv theme songs have captured my attention, sometimes mutating (no pun intended with the current Omicron problem) from their original issue. The songs below achieved their fame or notoriety. They have become my personal playlist of soundtracks from non-musical films.

THE ENTIRE "SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE" SOUND TRACK

I enjoy movie musicals, but I also love when great songs emerge from non-musical films. Sometimes, the musical soundtrack defines the movie or tv show. The story becomes richer and more powerful because the music provides the backdrop to one or more scenes in the show. The cinematic experience is enlivened by melodies that speak to the soul.

About ten years ago, I found my old VHS tape of the Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan romantic comedy "Sleepless in Seattle" that I bought in 1993. I rediscovered Louie Armstrong, Jimmy Durante, and the rest of the gang. I plopped myself on my most comfortable chair and sang along with the music, even chuckling at the song, "Making Whoopee." Twenty-eight years since the movie about Sam, Annie, Jonah, Dr. Marsha, and the Empire Street Building, I am still watching. This has been an annual tradition for me during the holidays.

Some critics may dismiss this rom-com as cheesy and simplistic. Honestly, I don't know what I love more, this story or the music. Still, I love it for its quirkiness, its whimsy and magic, its unrelenting message of romance, and love the second time around with the melodies perfect for every scene. This is an anomaly in itself because I love every single song in this movie. Most of the time, only one song in a film would appeal to me.

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“YOU DON'T OWN ME” from the movie First Wives Club

This was a triumphant declaration of Women Power; a female anthem, if you will, of overcoming rejection and betrayal and of living life to the fullest.

 

“OLD TIME ROCK AND ROLL” from the movie Risky Business

Tom Cruise in his boxers. Enough said.

“I SAY A LITTLE PRAYER” from My Best Friend's Wedding

Just a giddy sing-along in a restaurant. Karaoke heaven. I can easily envision myself joining in. Can somebody start this in my key, please?

 

“TWIST AND SHOUT” from the movie Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

Imagine taking over a parade float and having everybody bopping along to a beautifully lip-synced version of the Beatles hit. Sway your hips, flail your arms with wide abandon, just twist and shout.

Sounds good to have the whole crowd just enjoying the music. Way before Covid-19 pushed for physical distancing and masks.

“UNCHAINED MELODY” from Ghost

 A love so strong that it protects even from beyond the grave. The pottery wheel/ceramic-making scene has become steamy and seductive. I must confess that I started laughing uncontrollably when I attended a clay pottery class during a vacation in Ilocos. It was awkward because my mind went to the gutter.

“HOW DID YOU KNOW?” from the movie All My Life

 “How did you know I needed someone like you in my life?”

 Knowing that there is a sad ending, wouldn’t it be still worth it to spend precious time with the one you love? Would it be better to save up on beautiful memories while you can? This was a tear-jerker Filipino movie that could rival "The Notebook."

 

“IKAW AT AKO” (You and I) from the movie Hello, Love, Goodbye

A promise for a forever love between two overseas foreign workers (OFWs) in Hongkong. I am impatiently waiting for a sequel. 

My favorite quotes from the movie:

Ethan: Kung mahal mo ako, bakit hindi ako ang piliin mo, Joy? (If you love me, why don't you choose me, Joy?)

Joy: Kung mahal mo ako, bakit pinapapili mo ako? (If you love me, why do you ask me to choose?)

Cue in the music, and the tears (mine) fall.

“YOURS” from the Korean TV series Jirisan

 There are much more memorable original soundtrack (OST) from tv shows. but that's another list. The theme from Voltes V and Hawaii 5-0 will surely be in the Top 10 list.

Here's my new LSS (Last song syndrome) from my bias Kim Seok-Jin (WWH) from BTS. Jin's voice is emotive and draws you in. He had me at the first note. His "Latatata" went down several octaves, down to just a piano accompaniment, and Wow!

Fangirling aside, Jin infuses his songs with emotions; his voice telling a story. I am mesmerized.

 

GUILTY PLEASURES , Part 2: Maxine, Movies, Musicals, ABBA, Fifty Shades

I am as guilty as everybody else. I proclaim my preference for things that may be considered campy, embarrassing, and unsophisticated by some misguided souls.

The guilt is not from liking them, but in that perverse pleasure of adding color and uniqueness to my otherwise ordinary and strait-laced life. Somehow there is humor in shattering people's expectations as they realize that there are more to you than meets the eye. Life becomes more interesting when you do things outside the box.

Hahaha, I am a paradox. Layers of contradictions, some kind of a biological puzzle. I am thirty shades of surprises. I am me.


THESE ARE MY GUILTY PLEASURES:


1. MAXINE- that crabby character from the Hallmark cards, who says what she wants when she wants. At this time in my life, I still have to filter my words and refrain from rolling my eyes at some absurd people, lest I offend someone. Or lose my job.

When the time is right, I want to be Nurse Maxine.

2. FAVORITE MOVIES- There are movies that just stay with you long after the credits had stopped rolling.

Airplane- was voted as the funniest movie of all time with three-laughs-a-minute rating, as per a recent survey by Love Film. This spoof disaster film starred Leslie Nielsen of the famed "I am serious and don't call me Shirley” quote.

Sleepless in Seattle- at least once a year, I watch this romantic comedy by Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. When “Sam” talked about missing his departed wife, I joined the chorus of “Awwws” from the radio listeners. The movie sound track was terrific, even the song “Makin’ Whoopee”.





Big- another Tom Hank starrer. This is a feel-good family movie of a child who wanted to be a grown-up. And he ended up having fun with the piano at FAO Schwartz. Heart and Soul and Chopsticks.





Harry Potter- turned J.K. Rowling from a welfare mom to the richest woman in United Kingdom, even richer than the Queen. I am a bigger fan of the book, but the movies mesmerize me. Especially the scene when Neville Longbottom, who used to be bumbling and mediocre, turned into my new favorite when he decapitated the snake Nagini. That deserved my loud “YES” (and fist pump) at the theater which earned an embarrassed laugh from my son. Have I traumatized him for life?

3. MUSICALS- I have been very vocal about my unrealized dream as a singer. It started when I got hooked with musicals, whether on stage or in the movies. It’s like being transported in an alternate universe of songs.

Singing in the Rain always leaves a smile on my face. Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds and Donald O’Connor. Absolutely top-notch dancing with the milk rain and umbrella-twirling and upturned couches. Jean Hagen was hilarious as the shrill-voiced Lana Lamont.



Other favorites- Sound of Music, Les Miserables and Miss Saigon



4. ABBA, a Swedish pop group provided the background music to my high school and college years. The group had long disbanded, but their music stood the test of time, thankfully, with tribute bands and the musical and movie “Mamma Mia.”

"I have a dream, a song to sing
To help me cope with anything
If you see the wonder of a fairy tale
You can take the future even if you fail
I believe in angels
Something good in everything I see."






5. FIFTY SHADES OF GREY JOKES-

Out of curiosity, to see what the hype is all about, I bought the book. Only Book 1; I don't have any interest in Books 2 and 3. Mommy-porn erotica does not appeal to me. Men with BDSM predilections scare me, even though Christian Grey is hot, hot, hot. (fans self)

What started as an e-book Twilight-based fan fiction by E.L. James became a run-away best-seller and spawned a whole industry of BDSM products and copycat books, and now a musical.

Critics bash the writing as "abysmal and sophomoric". My inner goddess says those critics are just jealous because E.L. James just got lucky and is now a very, very rich woman.

And that’s what I am impressed with. Every author dreams of hitting it big. Erika Leonard James certainly had a roller-coaster year, with a movie in the works.

I also love the jokes that came out of this book. I just get a perverse pleasure in seeing the shock on people's faces when I unleash my quirky sense of humor.

Overheard at the bookstore, two females in their 70s were discussing the merits of the book Fifty Shades. The ladies were nicely dressed and made-up, with bouffant blue-rinsed hair.
Lady#1: "This book reminds me of the good old days."
Lady #2: "Huh, speak for yourself. My playground is still active."
They both looked at me when I chuckled.
Me: "Good for you, lady."


Funny how you can get different reactions from the audience. We had a meeting one day with the ED leadership to discuss some changes in our electronic tracking board, with ten people in the room.
Chief: "We need to change the color of this new icon to gray."
MD: "Gray is boring."
Me: "There are fifty shades of gray."
Reactions (coughing, laughter, gasps of horror, surprise, confusion.)
Me: "Just kidding; just want to wake you up."



How can I hit it big when all I really want is to write innocent Harlequin-book romances?



PART 1- http://jcerrudocreations.blogspot.com/2010/12/on-not-feeling-guilty-about-guilty.html
PART 3- https://jcerrudocreations.blogspot.com/2019/07/guilty-pleasures-part-3-audio-books.html