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Monday, January 10, 2011

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


 

9 comments:

  1. Pretty Woman is one of my favourite movies. The concept of the word "Escort" in India is of recent origin since the daily newspapers adverise these services and now we know what the word means. When the movie was released, such ads were conspicuous by their absence. The movie was a great hit in Mumbai.

    I love the title track. Good Album for the fans!

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  2. OMG, I am glad I found another fan! As I said, I can watch this movie over and over again.

    Ah, it was only because of Malaysia's northern neighbour that I was aware of the concept. Family holidays to Phuket and bangkok saw many of those escort brochures in hotel lobbies. Yes, just like an Ikea catalogue, with all the measurements thrown in too,LOL!!!

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  3. LOL, you can say that again Veen!

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  4. This was one of my "sleepy movies", that is to say I was asleep before it ended. However, I do think the soundtrack is first class and some of the songs are memory rousing - I sometimes wonder just how feral my past was!

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  5. Veen, - here's an email I just received -
    A bloke walks into a brothel and says: "I'm a bit kinky, how much for total humiliation?"
    The madam replies $60.
    "Wow, what do I get for that," he says.
    She says: "A baggy green cap and an Australia shirt.
    I just thought it topical for your day's blog! Sorry!

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  6. I am not sure if I love the movie, but I say aye to the songs. Pretty woman was my caller tune for a long long time.

    Why don't I love the movie? I watch it often, and sometimes I do, sometimes I don't.

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  7. Oh Bob, how could you??? It is the all time feel good and finger-in-throat spew movie!!! Depending on who is watching, LOL...

    Well at least you agree the soundtrack is good...

    ROTL...good joke. I'll add it to the rest you sent. Ciao mate.

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  8. Fair enough Avdi...like me and contemporary hindi songs. Sometimes I like them sometimes I dont. BTW, "Zor Ka Jhatka" from Action Replayy is the current modern filmi song stuck in my head!

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  9. Yeh, we are so lucky we dont have a good taste :D

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Thank you for your comments. I will respond to them shortly.

Veen