Easy A

Friday, November 30, 2001

I loved this movie, although not enough to see it again. It was cool while watching it, especially the soundtrack. I wanted to hear all the songs again so I had them downloaded by my friend (who also was raving about the movie and the songs). Once I had them in my iPod, there was not the same feel for all the songs. So, it should be the movie that made the song good, right. Maybe I should watch the movie again each time I want to hear the songs. Alas, not much time is there for sparing in my life. There goes so much for the songs.

Soundtrack listing:


"Don't Cha"
Written by Sir Mix a Lot (as Anthony L. Ray), Cee-Lo (as Thomas DeCarlo Callaway) and Busta Rhymes (as Trevor Smith)
Performed by The Pussycat Dolls featuring Busta Rhymes
Courtesy of Interscope Records
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises


"Numba One (Tide Is High)"
Written by Jason Harrow, Dwayne Chin-Quee, John Holt, Tyrone Evans and Howard Barrett
Performed by Jason Harrow (as Kardinal Offishall) featuring Keri Hilson
Courtesy of Geffen Records
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises
******************************


songw which are not there


"Move Shake Drop (Remix)"
Written by Pitbull (as Armando Christian Perez), Hugo Diaz, Luis Diaz, 
Lazaro Mendez, Flo Rida (as Tramar Dillard), Jean Carlos Casely and Devin L. Parker
Performed by DJ Laz featuring Casely and Flo Rida
Courtesy of VIP Music/Federal Distribution/Universal Records
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises


"Bad Reputation"
Written by Joan Jett, Kenny Laguna, Ritchie Cordell and Marty Kupersmith (as Martin Kupersmith)
Performed by The Dollyrots
Courtesy of Blackheart Records Group
Under license from Lagunatic Music & Filmworks, Inc.




"Bad Before Good"
Written by Phelim Byrne and Matthew Hardwidge
Performed by Day One
Courtesy of One Little Indian




"Good Life"
Written by Ryan Tedder, Brent Kutzle, Noel Zancanella and Eddie Fisher
Performed by OneRepublic
Courtesy of Interscope Records
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises




"Rhapsody of the Awesome"
Written by Bert V. Royal and Will Gluck




"Knock on Wood"
Written by Eddie Floyd and Steve Cropper
Produced by Brad Segal (as Bradley A. Segal) and Doug Bossi


"Big Jet Plane"
Written and Performed by Angus & Julia Stone
Courtesy of Nettwerk Productions




"Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen"
Traditional




"Transatlanticism"
Written by Benjamin Gibbard and Chris Walla (as Christopher Walla)
Performed by Death Cab for Cutie
Courtesy of Barsuk Records
By Arrangement with Bank Robber Music




"Fight Dillon Fight"
Written by Rob Walker
Performed by Rob Walker Marching Band
Courtesy of 5 Alarm Music


"Symphonies"
Written by Dan Black and Jack Nitzsche
Performed by Dan Black
Courtesy of Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises


"Confession"
Written by Brad Segal (as Bradley A. Segal)




"Parking Lot"
Written by Brad Segal (as Bradley A. Segal)




"Phone Call"
Written by Brad Segal (as Bradley A. Segal)




"Waka Chaka"
Written by Brad Segal (as Bradley A. Segal)

My beautiful list

My playlist is beautiful. It has a Sufi song, a Moroccan gypsy song, a Turkish song, a song by an Indian rock band, a Rajasthani folk song and a Qawwali. While writing this part, I am hearing the Moroccan gypsy song. The myriad of flutes which make up the mainstay of the song along with some kind of drums are playing in slow gusto. Then some kind of bass guitar comes, replacing the flutes. As the sounds fade, first the guitar, and then the drum beats, a silence takes its place. You never know that the song has ended, but the next song starts breaking the silence.

The Moroccan gypsy song is replaced by Turkish instrumental song. Unless there is this harp like sound which is intermixed with the main wailing sound of some violin like instrument, this song sounds so Chinese. I had deliberately not put Chinese music in my playlist. These two cultures are so different that their music sets an entirely different mood on you. The sound of viola (which I shall name so) is typical Arab; the sound is not continuously modulated. The beauty is in the break, and when a high timbre string instrument adds to the cacophony, you feel altogether elevated. The strings are strung taut and the musician, whoever he may be, pulls at them as if they are Gordian knots, which need to be broken. The song ends with the strings being pulled one by one, verily a fitting end to the silence.

The Indian rock band starts with typical guitar flourish, along with the first chorus bringing on the tempo. The song feels as if this is also a continuation of all the previous songs. What can connect a Moroccan gypsy song, a Turkish song with an Indian rock song? Nothing; unless the song is such a fusion of Indian folk music with all of the instruments that can make up a normal song by any band in rock scene. In spite of this mix, they somehow bring Kabir and a lot of chorus into it. Funky folk. That’s what it is in the end.

A Rajasthani folk song with Shehnai is something which is new to me. This song has been with me for ages but I have never done justice to it, by playing it at least once. WOW. If anyone has heard Rajasthani folk song, you will find Shehnai absolutely at home playing to the tune of Dholak kind of instrument. It is so good that you feel your mind dancing like those women in the desert swaying their lehangas to the dry wind. Ever wondered if there is any of those women or men of desert without a yearning. I do not think so. It might not be what you or I yearn for. Like a Jeep or a trip to Kilimanjaro. Theirs might be much baser; more truer.

The Qawwali is sung in such high pitch that makes the singer reach to Him. Ali dum ali is a chant in all of them. It doesn’t matter to him if his jugulars are strained to the max and break or not, but he takes it to a plane of ecstasy that is only for a lover to feel.

I am with a beautiful person :)

Love is like a cloud, holds a lot of rain

 Another song which has been in played in loop for last few days. It is having lyrics which are so true for me..

Love hurts, love scars, love wounds and mars any heart

Not tough nor strong enough to take a lot of pain

Take a lot of pain
Love is like a cloud, holds a lot of rain.

Love hurts, love hurts

I'm young I know but even so

I know a thing or two I've learned from you

I've really learned a lot

really learned a lot.

Love is like a flame, burns you when it's hot.

Love hurts, love hurts

some fools rave of happiness; Blissfulness togetherness

some fools fool themselves; I guess

But they're not fooling me I know it isn't true

No it isn't ture. Love is just a lie made to make you blue.

Love hurts, love hurts.

Love hurts, love scares

love wounds and mares any heart

Grace is gone

Now this is something which I took just because of the song title. It ended in being very true. The song has exquisite sax lines. Dave Mathews band has a mix of instruments which makes it feel different, and I love to hear lyrics which says what I want to say, but is left unsaid because of lack of words.

So here goes what I want to say, said through
"Grace is gone"

Neon shines through smoky eyes tonight

It’s 2 am - I’m drunk again it’s heavy on my mind

I could never love again so much as I love you

Where you end where I begin is like a river going through

Take my eyes,take my heart cuz I need them no more

If never again they fall upon the one I so adore

Excuse me please one more drink

Could you make it strong cause I don’t need to think

She broke my heart my Grace is gone

One more drink and I’ll move on

One drink to remember, then another to forget

How could I ever dream to find sweet love like you again

One drink to remember, and another to forget

Excuse me please one more drink

Could you make it strong cause I don’t need to think

She broke my heart my Grace is gone

One more drink and I’ll move on

One more drink and I’ll be gone

You think of things impossible then the sun refused to shine

I woke with you beside me your cold hand lay in mine

Excuse me please one more drink

Could you make it strong cause I don’t need to think

She broke my heart my Grace is gone

One more drink and I’ll go

Excuse me please one more drink

Could you make it strong cause I don’t need to think

She broke my heart my Grace is gone

One more drink and I'll move on

One more drink and I’ll be gone

One more drink my Grace is gone

One more drink my Grace is gone

The Book of Eli: Soundtrack

There are few movies in the world which have made me listen to the sound of music very closely. Somehow, for no particular reason, I am very much defiant to myself in the last few months. There might have been reasons which are trivial but I made it a point to take it through.

The music of the movie, The Book of Eli was suggested by virtue of technology to me, a buzz from a friend of mine made me hear it, and I was wonder struck by the use of resonating sounds. The music by Atticus Ross, who is also the sound engineer for the movie, is absolutely magnificent in its subtlety and smooth silence. I was intrigued enough by a poster at a DVD shop which showed the hue of the movie as a very pale greenish yellow. It was good time for me to see it.

I searched for it and I found it among my 'yet to be seen' folder. The movie started in a very normal pace. I did not know what was the movie about. I did not know whether it was a post nuclear fallout movie or a alien invasion, neither did I know about the kind of book Eli had with him. From the start, I could make assumptions but I resisted. The movie has a stellar cast for so few central characters. Denzel Washington and Gary Oldman are the main protagonists and carry the movie splendidly on the brilliance of their acting.

Half an hour into the movie, I found the movie to be intriguing. Character of Eli is with many flaws, but lives by faith. He is typical 20^th century man. He wants to do the right, but luckily for him, the 21^st century men around him are so much involved in primal fights that he is left without any temptations. Gary Oldman, the venerable British Shakespearean actor as Carnegie is brilliant as usual.

The Book of Eli soundtrack was good enough to make me see the movie, and it gives a sense of afterthought and calm. Some of the tracks did not give me any feel or a sense of mood of the title, maybe it is the because of the lack of visual support(but what about the movies like, The last of the Mohicans or Forrest Gump?). Having said this, I will still say that I could put many of the tracks in my playlist and listen to it anytime. It has enough quality to soothe me, and there is a bit a melody to it too.

What transpires in between make the story, but the ending is simply fulfilling. The ending may be interpreted in many ways. Some may not even have crossed the mind of those who wrote the story even, but that is why the spoken word is so powerful. The Holy Book itself tells the same thing, God said(he spoke!), let there be light and there was light. He did not think, he did not command. He spoke. The movie talks about faith, in the absolutely best way possible - through music - "It doesn't have to make sense. It's faith, it's faith. It's the flower of light in the field of darkness that's giving me the strength to carry on. You understand? .... Is that from your book? .... No, it's, uh, Johnny Cash, Live at Folsom Prison."

   

Some more:

Atticus Ross is an English composer whose only credit is to scoring 5 episodes of the television series Touching Evil in 2004 and a part of score in the movie “New York, I Love You”. He is however probably most known for his collaboration with Trent Reznor and Nine Inch Nails(well, that is no news)