MUTTERINGS #65: HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY 2011

To all fellow Australians, and especially to the new Aussie migrants sworn in today at ceremonies all around the country, Happy Australia Day. May your barbie be always filled with snags, your beer bottle or wine glass never empty and our cricket team doing wonders on the pitch!!! Ok, ok,  two out of three ain't bad, I guess, LOL.

Also on this great day is the Indian Republic Day. I would therefore like to wish all my friends from the Indian sub-continent a very Happy Republic Day.

BTW, due to work and personal commitments, I am taking some time off from blogging. I should be back in full swing some time next month. E-mails and comments are still always welcomed.

MUTTERINGS #64: WHERE CAN I FIND ANOTHER...

OMG...after such a  long time I listened to one of my favourite Malay songs from my favourite Malay actor, singer, musician and director, the late Putih Ramlee, better known simply as P Ramlee. This is considered one of his best songs from his famous movie, Ibu Mertua Ku (My Mother-In-Law).

The storyline revolves around the tragic love affair between Kassim Selamat (P Ramlee), a poor musician, and Sabariah Mansur (Sarimah), an heiress of a wealthy woman. The movie is notable in that the opening act starts out as a light-hearted romantic comedy, but at the 30 minute mark turns into a dramatic tragedy. For the full story, go to WIKIPEDIA. This film is considered a Malaysian classic, and is remembered for the song "Di Mana Kan Ku Cari Ganti" (Where Can I Find Another) and the famous eye-stabbing scene during the film's climax. Enjoy the video clip. Lyrics and translation provide below.



Lyrics:

Hendak ku nangis
Tiada berair mata
Hendak ku senyum
Tiada siapa nak teman
Kalaulah nasib
Sudah tersurat
Begini hebat
Apa nak buat

Di mana kan ku cari ganti
Serupa denganmu
Tak sanggup ku berpisah
Dan berhati patah
Hidup gelisah

Alangkah pedih rasa hati
Selama kau pergi
Tinggalku sendirian
Tiada berteman
Dalam kesepian

Dunia terang menjadi gelita
Cahaya indah tiada berguna
Keluhan hatiku
Menambah derita
Namun kau jua
Tak kunjung jelma

Di mana kan ku cari ganti
Mungkinkah di syurga
Untuk kawan berduka
Menangis bersama
Selama-lama

English Translation:

I want to cry
But I have no tears
I want to smile
But there is no one to accompany
If my fate
Has been determined
To be this bad
What can I do

Where can I find another
Like you
I can't bear this parting
And heartbreak
Living in agony

My heart aches so much
Since you've been gone
Leaving me all alone
With no one
In loneliness

The bright world becomes dark
Its beautiful lights become useless
The weeping of my heart
Adds to my sorrow
But you still
Never appear

Where can I find another
Perhaps in heaven
To grief with me
To cry with me
Forever and ever

Source: P. Ramlee's Songs and Lyrics

MUTTERINGS #63: WHY DID THE CHICKEN CROSS THE ROAD?

SARAH PALIN: The chicken crossed the road because gosh-darn it, he's a maverick!

BARACK OBAMA: The chicken crossed the road because it was time for change! The chicken wanted change!

JOHN MCCAIN: My friends that chicken crossed the road because he recognized the need to engage in cooperation and dialogue with all the chickens on the other side of the road.

HILLARY CLINTON: When I was First Lady, I personally helped that little chicken to cross the road. This experience makes me uniquely qualified to ensure right from Day One that every chicken in this country gets the chance it deserves to cross the road. But then, this really isn't about me.

GEORGE W. BUSH: We don't really care why the chicken crossed the road. We just want to know if the chicken is on our side of the road, or not. The chicken is either against us, or for us. There is no middle ground here.

DICK CHENEY: Where's my gun?

COLIN POWELL: Now to the left of the screen, you can clearly see the satellite image of the chicken crossing the road.

BILL CLINTON: I did not cross the road with that chicken.

AL GORE: I invented the chicken.

JOHN KERRY: Although I voted to let the chicken cross the road, I am now against it! It was the wrong road to cross, and I was misled about the chicken's intentions. I am not for it now, and will remain against it.

AL SHARPTON: Why are all the chickens white? We need some black chickens.

DR. PHIL: The problem we have here is that this chicken won't realize that he must first deal with the problem on this side of the road before it goes after the problem on the other side of the road. What we need to do is help him realize how stupid he's acting by not taking on his current problems before adding new problems.

OPRAH: Well, I understand that the chicken is having problems, which is why he wants to cross this road so bad. So instead of having the chicken learn from his mistakes and take falls, which is a part of life, I'm going to give this chicken a NEW CAR so that he can just drive across the road and not live his life like the rest of the chickens.

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN: We have reason to believe there is a chicken, but we have not yet been allowed to have access to the other side of the road.

NANCY GRACE: That chicken crossed the road because he's guilty! You can see it in his eyes and the way he walks.

PAT BUCHANAN: To steal the job of a decent, hardworking American.

MARTHA STEWART: No one called me to warn me which way that chicken was going. I had a standing order at the Farmer's Market to sell my eggs when the price dropped to a certain level. No little bird gave me any insider information.

DR SEUSS: Did the chicken cross the road? Did he cross it with a toad? Yes, the chicken crossed the road, but why it crossed I've not been told.

ERNEST HEMINGWAY: To die in the rain, alone.

JERRY FALWELL: Because the chicken was gay! Can't you people see the plain truth? That's why they call it the 'other side.' Yes, my friends, That chicken is gay. And if you eat that chicken, you will become gay too. I say we boycott all chickens until we sort out this abomination that the Liberal media whitewashes with seemingly harmless phrases like 'the other side.' That chicken should not be crossing the road. It's as plain and as simple as that.

GRANDPA: In my day we didn't ask why the chicken crossed the road. Somebody told us the chicken crossed the road, and that was good enough.

BARBARA WALTERS: Isn't that interesting? In a few moments, we will be listening to the chicken tell, for the first time, the heart warming story of how it experienced a serious case of molting, and went on to accomplish it's lifelong dream of crossing the road.

ARISTOTLE: It is the nature of chickens to cross the road.

LENNON: Imagine all the chickens in the world crossing roads together, in peace.

BILL GATES: I have just released eChicken2010, which will not only cross roads, but will lay eggs, file your important documents, and balance your check book. Internet Explorer is an integral part of eChicken2010. This new platform is much more stable and will never reboot.

ALBERT EINSTEIN: Did the chicken really cross the road, or did the road move beneath the chicken?

COLONEL SANDERS: Did I miss one?

MUSIC #89: EVERGREENS – GREAT INSTRUMENTALS 1969 (INSTRUMENTALS)

The best of Polydor’s conductors and orchestras in one album. I give this recording 4 stars.

Evergreens – Great Instrumentals 1969: Instrumentals

Side One

1. Spanish Eyes – Bert Kaempfert and His Orchestra

2. A Man And A Woman – James Last and His Orchestra

3. Guantanamera – Kai Warner and His Orchestra

4. Mexico – Roberto Delgado and His Orchestra

5. Love Is Blue – The Peter Thomas Sound Orchestra

6. Mr Sandman – Bert Kaempfert and His Orchestra

Side Two

1. Games That Lovers Play – James Last and His Orchestra

2. Georgy Girl – The Peter Thomas Sound Orchestra

3. Capri Serenade – Kai Warner and His Orchestra

4. Strangers In The Night – Bert Kaempfert and His Orchestra

5. La Bamba – Roberto Delgado and His Orchestra

6. Lara’s Theme – James Last and His Orchestra

MUSIC #88: AYA SAWAN JHOOM KE 1969 (HINDI OST)

Welcome to the first simultaneous posting of soundtrack and movie review by yours truly and my friend Bollywood Deewana for this year. And to kick off, it is Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke (Winter Comes A-Waltzing) which stars the undisputed "Action King" of Hindi cinema Dharmendra, along with the beautiful Asha Parekh, Balraj Sahni, Nazima, Bindu, Aruna Irani, and Rajindernath. The music is by Laxmikant-Pyarelal and the lyrics by Anand Bakshi. Both film and music were box office hits in same year that saw other great movies such as Aradhana, Do Raaste, Khanyadaan, Jahan Pyar Mile and Aadmi aur Insaan to name a few. It made the seventh top grossing film at the Indian Box Office in 1969 (see list below).

Top Ten Indian Box Office Hits of 1969

1. Aradhana: Rajesh Khanna and Sharmila Tagore

2. Do Raaste: Rajesh Khanna and Mumtaz

3. Ek Phool Do Mali: Sanjay, Sadhana and Balraj Sahni

4. Prince: Shammi Kapoor and Vyjayanthimala

5. Inteqaam:  Sanjay and Sadhana

6. Jeene Ki Raah:  Jeetendra and Tanuja

7. Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke:  Dharmendra and Asha Parekh

8. Bandhan: Feroz Khan and Mumtaz

9. Jigri Dost: Jeetendra and Mumtaz

10. Sajan:  Manoj Kumar and Asha Parekh

The film boast some memorable songs, still well know to this day. The title track is a zippy number and in my opinion one of Rafi-Lata best fun duets and Saathiya Nahin Jaana as one of their better love duet. I must say I really do like Main Ek Haseena (hey, who doesn’t like Asha in the cabaret type songs?) especially for its movie clip. Ah, gone are the days when a bit of meat was revered and considered sexy. I wonder how many Bollywood actresses would be caught dead doing that same clip these days? I can just imagine the bad press :O



Anyway, I enjoy all the songs in this OST, my favourites being Saathiya Nahin Jaana, Majhi Chal, Bura Mat Suno, Yeh Shama To Jali and the title track. I give this 4.5 only because I am comparing it to other music from that year.

Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke 1969: The Original Soundtrack

Side One

1. Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke – Lata Mangeshkar, Mohd Rafi and Chorus

2. Yeh Shama To Jali – Mohd Rafi

3. Main Ek Haseena – Asha Bhosle

Side Two

1. Majhi Chal – Mohd Rafi and Chorus

2. Saathiya Nahin Jaana – Mohd Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar

3. Rama Duhai – Lata Mangeshkar

4. Bura Mat Suno – Mohd Rafi

MUTTERINGS #62: MR MEN AND LITTLE MISS...

Which one are you???

MUTTERINGS #61: THE DRUNK AND THE BIKER

A drunken man walks into a biker bar, sits down at the bar and orders a drink. Looking around, he sees three men sitting at a corner table. He gets up, staggers to the table, leans over, looks the biggest, meanest, biker in the face and says: "I went by your grandma's house today and I saw her in the hallway buck naked. Man, she is one fine looking woman!"

The biker looks at him and doesn't say a word. His buddies are confused, because he is one bad biker and would fight at the drop of a hat.

The drunk leans on the table again and says: "I got it on with your grandma and she is good, the best I ever had!"

The biker's buddies are starting to get really mad but the biker still says nothing.

The drunk leans on the table one more time and says, "I'll tell you something else, boy, your grandma liked it!"

At this point the biker stands up, takes the drunk by the shoulders looks him square in the eyes and says,

"Grandpa,....... Go home, you're drunk.

MUSIC #87: PRETTY WOMAN 1990 (ENGLISH OST)

Ok don’t gag, but Pretty Woman is one of my favourite romantic movies of all time (have I lost my credibility here?). I can watch this movie over and over again and the tissues still come out….regardless.

Anyway, Pretty Woman is actually loosely based on a true story and was going to be a dark drama on prostitution when it was re-conceptualized into a romantic comedy with a bigger budget. The movie was written by J.F. Lawton and directed by Garry Marshall. It stars Richard Gere, Julia Roberts, Hector Elizondo, Jason Alexander and Laura San Giacomo. Pretty Woman's plot centres on down-on-her-luck Hollywood prostitute Vivian Ward (Julia Roberts) who is hired by a wealthy businessman, Edward Lewis (Richard Gere), to be his escort for several business and social functions, and their developing relationship over the course of Vivian's week long stay with him. Roberts received a Golden Globe Award for her role.

The soundtrack to Pretty Woman was hugely successful and features the song "Oh, Pretty Woman" by Roy Orbison, which inspired the movie's title. Roxette's "It Must Have Been Love" reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in June 1990. The soundtrack also features "King of Wishful Thinking" by Go West, "Show Me Your Soul" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, "No Explanation" by Peter Cetera, "Wild Women Do" by Natalie Cole and "Fallen" by Lauren Wood. The soundtrack went on to be certified three times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.

My favourites from the movie include King of Wishful Thinking, It Must Have Been Love (one of my all time favourites along with Total Eclipse Of The Heart and Careless Whisper), Fallen and Oh Pretty Woman.

I give this OST 4 stars.

Pretty Woman 1990: The Original Soundtrack

Side One

1. Wild Women Do - Natalie Cole

2. Fame 90 - David Bowie

3. King of Wishful Thinking - Go West

4. Tangled - Jane Wiedlin

5. It Must Have Been Love - Roxette

6. Life in Detail - Robert Palmer

Side Two

1. No Explanation - Peter Cetera

2. Real Wild Child (Wild One) - Christopher Otcasek

3. Fallen - Lauren Wood

4. Oh Pretty Woman - Roy Orbison

5. Show Me Your Soul - Red Hot Chili Peppers

 

MUTTERINGS #60: THE AUSTRALIAN LAWYER’S EDUCATION

Waswo X Waswo  

The son of a cocky (Australian slang for farmer) from outback Queensland goes off to study Law at university. Not half way through the semester he has blown all of his money on the high city life.

He calls home. 'Dad, you won't believe what modern education is developing. They actually have a program here in Brisbane Uni that will teach a dog how to talk.'

'Bloody amazing!' his Dad says. 'Could we get Ol' Bluey (Blue Heeler – breed of dog) into the program?'

'No worries, just send him down here with $2000,' the young jackaroo (Australian slang for a young farmer or trainee in the agriculture field) says, 'I'll get him into the course.'

So father sends down the dog and $2000.

About two-thirds through the semester, the money again runs out. The boy calls home. 'So how's Ol' Blue doing, son?' his father wants to know.

'Awesome Dad! He'd talk Ya bloody head off. But you just won't believe this. He's such a brilliant talker, they'd like him to have a go in the reading class!'

'Read?' exclaims his father. 'No kidding! Jeez, I knew he was smart. Can you get Ol' Blue into that program?'

'Just send $4500. He's as good as in.'

As quick as the money arrives, it is spent.

At the end of the term the young bloke realises a problem...When he goes home for the holidays, his father will find out the dog can neither talk nor read. So on the way home he stops and shoots the dog.

When he arrives home his father is all excited. 'Where's Ol' Blue? I just can't wait to talk with him and see him read something!'

'Dad,' the boy says, 'It all had a bad outcome. Yesterday morning, just before we left to drive home, Ol' Blue was in the living room reading the Wall Street Journal. Out of nowhere he turned to me and asked, 'So, is your dad still shagging that little redhead barmaid from the pub?''

The father groans and whispers, 'I'll have to shoot that bastard before he blabs to your Mother!'

'I already did, Dad!'

'Good boy!'

The kid went on to be a successful lawyer.

MUTTERINGS #59: POOR BILLY…

Billy was at school this morning and the teacher asked all the children what their fathers did for a living. All the typical answers came out, fireman, policeman, salesman, executives, government workers, doctors, but Billy was being uncharacteristically quiet and so the teacher asked him about his father.

"My father is an exotic dancer in a gay club and takes off all his clothes in front of other men. Sometimes if the offer is really good, he'll go out with a man, rent a cheap hotel room and let them sleep with him."

The teacher quickly set the other children some work and took little Billy aside to ask him if that was really true. "No" said Billy, "He plays cricket for Australia but I was just too embarrassed to say."

MUSIC #86: DIL KI BAATEIN VOL. 1 (HINDI OST COMPILATION)

Never got a mixed tape in my teenage years (sob sob)...though my brother did have his share of those from the fairer sex (at 6 feet tall and looking like Askshay Kumar...it was no mystery why there were a trail of girls...LOL). Anyway, here’s a compilation on MATTERS OF THE HEART that I am sure would get the hearts fluttering. Well it made mine.....did it yours???



Dil Ki Baatein Vol. 1 - A Compilation Of Heartfelt Songs

1. Kabhi Palkon Mein (Harjae) – Kishore Kumar

2. Kabhie Kabhie Meri Dil Mein (Kabhi Kabhie) – Lata Mangeshkar and Mukesh

3. Ek Mulaqat Zaroori Hai (Sirf Tum) – Sabri Brothers and Jaspinder

4. Yeh Mulaqat Ek Bahana Tha (Khandan) – Lata Mangeshkar

5. Raat Ko Neend Aati Nahin (Judaai) – Alka Yagnik and SP Balasubramaniam

6. Lag Ja Gale Se (Woh Kaun Thi) – Lata Mangeshkar

7. Tum Bhi Chalo (Zameer) – Kishore Kumar

8. Humei Tumse Pyar Kitna (Kudrat) – Parveen Sultan

9. Aaj Ki Raat Yeh Kaisi Raat (Aman) – Mohd Rafi

10. Tera Chehra Mujhe (Aapas Ki Baat) – Kishore Kumar

11. Main Syair Toh Nahin (Bobby) – Shailender Singh

12. Dil Ki Baatein (Roop Tera Mastana) – Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar



PS: I acknowledge BS for providing some of the songs in this compilation.

MUSIC #85: WHAM! – MAKE IT BIG 1984 (ENGLISH)

Growing up, it seems everybody but I knew that George Michael was gay! Blame my naïve and trusting nature, that still plagues me to this day, haha. One may think it is a good trait to have; I myself find it a curse, makes me so gullible…..and I always learn the hard way that things and people are not what they seem. Oh well, some people learn the hard way, I guess.

Now why would GM being gay create such a response from me, you say? Because I fought the world for George...LOL….he was my teen idol, I loved him (and he did not even know I existed, sob, sob) and I had to fight my mum for putting up his posters in my mum’s so called elegant décor. But win I did….ha, ha. I may be gullible, but I am stubborn too.

So it is a no brainer when I tell you that Wham! was my favourite pop group from the 1980’s. For those of you who don't know, Wham! was a British pop duo formed in 1981 by George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley. The duo sold 25 million copies between 1982 until they broke up in 1986.

Their debut album was “Fantastic” in 1983, followed by “Make It Big” and ending with “Music From The Edge Of Heaven” in 1986.

In my opinion, “Make It Big” was the best of the Wham! albums and chart wise it hit #1 in both the UK and the USA and spawned four singles, all topping the charts on both sides of the Atlantic. My favourites include Careless Whisper (still is to this day), Freedom, Heartbeat and Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go.

I give this album 4 stars.

Wham! – Make It Big 1984

Side One

1. Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go
2. Everything She Wants
3. Heartbeat
4. Like a Baby

Side Two

1. Freedom
2. If You Were There
3. Credit Card Baby
4. Careless Whisper

MUTTERINGS #58: THE SMART SARDARJI

Elderly Sikh Man Riding A Bicycle.
Location: Amritsar, W. Punjab, India
Date taken: September 1946
Photographer: Margaret Bourke-White

A Sardarji (Sikh man with his full regalia) comes up to the Pakistan border on his bike. He's got two large bags over his shoulders. The guard Iqbal stops him and says, what's in the bags?' 'Sand,' answered the Sardarji. Iqbal says, 'We'll just see about that. Get off the bike. Iqbal's guard takes the bags and rips them apart; empty them out and find nothing in them but sand.

He detains the Sardarji overnight and has the sand analyzed, only to discover that there is nothing but pure sand in the bags. Iqbal releases the Sardarji, puts the sand into new bags, heaves them on to the Sardarji's shoulders, and lets him cross the border.

A week later, the same thing happens. Iqbal asks, 'What have you got? 'Sand,' says the Sardarji. Iqbal does his thorough examination and discovers that the bags contain nothing but sand. He gives the sand back to the Sardarji, and crosses the border on his bike. This sequence of events is repeated every week for three years.

Then suddenly, the Sardarji doesn't show up and one day the guard meets him in a 'dhaba' (roadside food stall) in Lahore . 'Hey, Buddy,' says Iqbal, 'I know you are smuggling something. It's driving me crazy. It's all I think about...I haven’t had a decent night sleep in three years. Just between you and me, what are you smuggling?'

The Sardarji, sips his lassi (yoghurt drink) and says, 'bikes'. . . . . . . . . . . .

MUSIC #84: SHARAABI 1984 (HINDI OST)

I wasn’t going to post this album for personal reasons....... But to shelf one of the greatest albums to come out of the 1980’s would be a great injustice, to the composer Bappi Lahiri, lyricists Prakash Mehra (who is also the director) and Anjaan, and singers Kishore Kumar and Asha Bhosle.

Sharaabi (Drunkard) stars Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Prada, Pran, Om Prakash, Deepak Parashar (loved him in the movie Nikaah) and Ranjeet playing the token villain. Amithabh plays a spoilt but generous hearted drunk son of an extremely rich and uncaring father Pran. Om Prakash plays the surrogate father and Jaya Pradha provides the romantic liaison. The movie is loosely adapted from the Hollywood movie, Arthur (which stars Dudley Moore).

Musically, in my opinion, this is one of Lahiri’s better albums and his choice of using Asha Bhosle as the female singer as opposed to her sister Lata Mangeshkar alongside Kishore Kumar just showed his calibre as one of the great new composers of the 1980’s and beyond. Kishore kumar just brought all the music to life in this album but if praises must be bestowed, it should be given to both the lyricists – Prakash Mehra for Manzilen Apni Jagah Hain and Anjaan for Inteha Ho Gayi Intezar Ki, De De Pyar De and my favourite, Mujhe Naulakha Mangawa De Re....especially the part where Kishore sings....

Hmm Hmm Hmm Hmm Hmm

De Re Na
Log Kehte Hai Main Sharaabi Hoon (2)
Tum Ne Bhi Shaayad Yehi Soch Liye Haan
Log Kehte Hai Main Sharaabi Hoon

Kissi Pe Husn Ka Guroor Jawaani Ka Nasha
Kissi Ke Dil Pe Mohabbat Ki Rawaani Ka Nasha
Kissi Ko Dekhke Saanso Se Ubharta Hai Nasha
Bina Piye Bhi Kahin Hadh Se Guzarta Hai Nasha
Nashe Mein Kaun Nahin Hai Mujhe Bataao Zara
Kisse Hai Hosh Mere Saamne To Laao Zara
Nasha Hai Sab Pe Magar Rang Nashe Ka Hai Juda

Khili Khili Hui Subah Pe Hai Shabnam Ka Nasha
Hawa Pe Khushbu Ka Baadal Pe Hai Rimjhim Ka Nasha
Kahin Suroor Hai Khushiyon Ka Kahin Gham Ka Nasha

Nasha Sharaab Mein Hota To Naachti Botal
Maikade Jhoomte Paimaanon Mein Hoti Hulchul
Nasha Sharaab Mein Hota To Naachti Botal
Nashe Mein Kaun Nahin Hai Mujhe Bataao Zara (2)

Log Kehte Hai Main Sharaabi Hoon (2)
Tum Ne Bhi Shaayad Yehi Soch Liye Haan
Log Kehte Hai Main Sharaabi Hoon

Thodi Aankhon Se Pilaa De Re Sajni Deewaani (2)
Tujhe Main (2)
Tujhe Saanso Mein Basaa Loonga Sajni Deewaani
Tujhe Naulakhaa Manga Doonga Sajni Deewaani (2)
Aaaa Aaaa

Beautiful, beautiful  lyrics in my opinion....And do listen to the music track too. Am I imagining it, or does it sound more like someone suffering from emphysema than cirrhosis of the liver? Regardless, I think it is just groovy. I give this album 5 stars.

Sharaabi 1984: The Original Soundtrack


Side One

1. Jahan Mil Javen Chaar Yaar – Amitabh Bachchan and Kishore Kumar
2. Mujhe Naulakha Mangawa De Re – Asha Bhosle and Kishore Kumar
3. De De Pyar De – Asha Bhosle and Chorus

Side Two

1. Manzilen Apni Jagah Hain – Kishore Kumar
2. Inteha Ho Gayi Intezar Ki – Kishore Kumar and Asha Bhosle
3. De De Pyar De – Kishore Kumar and Chorus
4. Music - Instrumental

MUSIC #83: COCKTAIL 1988 (ENGLISH OST)

With all the free flowing grog in tradition with NYE celebrations, I thought this would be an apt posting for NY's day (and I know some of you may not want to see another drink for quite some time after last month's excessive bozing and eating). Cocktail the movie was directed by Roger Donalson with screenplay by Heywood Gould. It stars Tom Cruise, Bryan Brown and Elisabeth Shue. Not a Tom Cruise fan myself but I did watch the movie for Australian actor Bryan Brown (BB), who has performed in some outstanding movies and miniseries such as The Shiralee (one of my favourite Australian movies and I totally recommend you watch this heart wrenching film), Breaker Morant, F/X, Tai-Pan, The Thorn Birds and Australia.

In my opinion, if it wasn’t for BB, this movie would have been a total waste of money and it is no wonder that it got nominated for four Razzie Awards for Worst Picture, Worst Screenplay, Worst Actor and Worst Director; winning the Worst Picture and Screenplay award.

It did however carry some memorable songs to come out of the late 1980’s including Kokomo (No. 1 in the United States, Japan and Australia charts in July 1988) and Don’t Worry, Be Happy; with some good old classics like Hippy Hippy Shake (originally by Chan Romero), Tutti Fruitti and Rave On! (originally by Sonny West).

I give this album 4 stars.

Cocktail 1988 – The Original Soundtrack

Side One

1. Wild Again – Starship (formerly 'Jefferson Starship')

2. Powerful Stuff – The Fabulous Thunderbirds

3. Since When – Robbie Nevil

4. Don't Worry, Be Happy – Bobby McFerrin

5. Hippy Hippy Shake – The Georgia Satellites

Side Two

1. Kokomo – The Beach Boys

2. Rave On! – John Cougar Mellencamp

3. All Shook Up – Ry Cooder

4. Oh, I Love You So – Preston Smith

5. Tutti Frutti – Little Richard

MUTTERINGS #57: HNY 2011