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

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

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 #84: SHARAABI 1984 (HINDI OST)

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

MUSIC #83: COCKTAIL 1988 (ENGLISH OST)

MUSIC #77: LA BAMBA 1987 (ENGLISH OST)

La Bamba is a 1987 film written and directed by Luis Valdez and is based on the real life events that affected the live of rock star Ritchie Valens. The movie stars Lou Diamond Phillips (as Ritchie Valens), Esai Morales, Rosanna DeSoto and Elizabeth Peña.


Ritchie Valens

As with the movie, the soundtrack is also based on Ritchie Valen’s music and those of his R&R buddies of the 1950’s. Warner Brothers released the soundtrack in June 1987. Ironically, WB did not use Valen’s original recordings, but rather had the band Los Lobos record all of Valen’s songs. Even Bo Didley rerecorded his classic song “Who Do You Love?" for the movie.

If you like 1950’s R&R, then you would like La Bamba. My favorites from this ablum include the title song "La Bamba", "Come On Let's Go", "Ooh My Head", “Summertime Blues” and “Who Do You Love”.

 My verdict: 4 stars.

 La Bamba 1987: The Original Soundtrack

 Side One

1.  La Bamba – Los Lobos
2. Come On, Let's Go – Los Lobos
3. Ooh! My Head – Los Lobos
4. We Belong Together – Los Lobos
5. Framed – Los Lobos
6. Donna – Los Lobos

Side Two

1. Lonely Teardrops – Howard Huntsberry
2. Crying, Waiting, Hoping – Marshall Crenshaw
3. Summertime Blues – Brian Setzer
4. Who Do You Love – Bo Diddley
5. Charlena – Los Lobos
6. Goodnight My Love – Los Lobos

MUSIC #77: LA BAMBA 1987 (ENGLISH OST)

MUSIC #76: SILSILA 1981 (HINDI OST)

A Yash Chopra classic starring superstar Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjeev Kumar, Rekha, Jaya Bachchan nee Bhaduri and Shashi Kapoor in a guest appearance. Silsila (Chains) tells the story of lovers’ lost and found, family obligations before self, and the taboo subject of adultery. Rumours have it that the very subject that was addressed in the movie was being played out in real life between actors Amitabh Bachchan and his on screen lover/adulteress Rekha.

The music is by Shiv-Hari (Shiv Kumar Sharma and Hariprasad Chaurasia) with lyrics by Javed Akhtar, Rajinder Krishnan, Hassan Kamal and Dr Harivansh Rai Bachchan (the father of actor Amitabh Bachchan).

Both movie and songs were the rage of the early 1980s and are still well remembered among the masses to date especially “Rang Barse”. The soundtrack also sees Amitabh Bachchan singing most of his own songs in the movie. My favourites include “Dekha Ek Khwab” (there is only one part of this song on the album – why it is listed as Part 1 eludes me), “Neela Aasman So Gaya” and “Rang Barse”. I am disappointed that the song “Neeche Paan Ki Dukkan” sung by Amitabh and Shashi Kapoor was not included in the album....I thought that was an awesome rendition by both the stars! If anyone has this, please do share it with me!

My verdict: 5 stars

NB: The Shiv-Hari collaboration has also been responsible for other great music albums of the 1980s and 1990s such as Chandni, Darr, Lamhe, Faasle, Vijay and Sahibaan.

Silsila 1981 : The Original Soundtrack

Side One

1. Yeh Kahan Aa Gaye Hum – Lata Mangeshkar and Amitabh Bachchan

Lyrics: Javed Akhtar

2. Dekha Ek Khwab Part 1 – Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar and Chorus

Lyrics: Javed Akhtar

3. Neela Aasman So Gaya – Amitabh Bachchan

Lyrics: Javed Akhtar

4. Tum Jo Todo Piya – Lata Mangeshkar

Meera Bhajan

Side Two

5. Sar Se Sarke – Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar and Chorus

Lyrics: Hassan Kamal

6. Rang Barse – Amitabh Bachchan and Chorus

Lyrics: Dr Harivansh Rai Bachchan

7. Neela Aasman So Gaya – Lata Mangeshkar

Lyrics: Javed Akhtar

8. Ladki Hai Ya Shola – Lata Mangeshkar and Kishore Kumar

Lyrics: Rajinder Krishnan

MUSIC #76: SILSILA 1981 (HINDI OST)

MUSIC #74: EK CHADAR MAILI SI 1986 (HINDI OST)

Ek Chadar Maili Si (The Blanket Is Sullied) is a dramatic movie directed by Sukhwant Dhadda and adapted from the novella of the same title written by Rajinder Singh Bedi.

It depicts the tale of Rano (Hema Malini), who after the death of her husband Triloka (played by Kulbhushan Kharbanda) is forced to ‘marry’ her brother-in-law Mangal (Rishi Kapoor) who is 10 years younger than her and whom she treats as a son. The ceremony of “chadar dhalna” takes place, where a blanket is erected between the widow Bano and her brother-in-law Mangal and then removed to signify that Mangal is now her husband (although Mangal is in love with Raaji, played by Poonam Dhillon) and will take on the responsibilities of his deceased brother Triloka.

 It is therefore no surprise that following the theme of the movie, the music of Ek Chadar Maili Si is intense and dramatic. It is composed by Anu Malik with lyrics by Makhan Singh, Sudarshan Fakir, Farooq Qaiser and Sardar Panchi.

My verdict: 4 stars

PS: For an in depth review of this movie, check out this posting at PICTURESQUE.

 Ek Chadar Maili Si 1986: The Original Soundtrack

 Side One

1. Mata Rani De Darbar – Dilraj Kaur and Chorus
2. Is Duniya Mein Aurat Kya Hai – Asha Bhosle
3. Mar Gayee Mar Gayee 1 – Asha Bhosle and Gurcharan Kaur Bagan

Side Two

1. Maa O Maa Sherewaliye – Mohd Aziz and Chorus
2. Log To Mandir Masjid Jayen – Asha Bhosle and Shabbir Kumar
3. Mar Gayee Mar Gayee 2 – Asha Bhosle and Gurcharan Kaur Bagan

 

MUSIC #74: EK CHADAR MAILI SI 1986 (HINDI OST)

MUSIC #73: GOOD MORNING VIETNAM 1987 (ENGLISH OST)

The movie Good Morning Vietnam was directed by Barry Levinson and depicts the real life antics of Armed Forces Radio disc jockey Adrian Cronauer, played by comedian Robin Williams. The script was written by Mitch Markowitz, however, most of the humour in the film was improvised by Robin Williams during filming. Although nominated for both the Oscar and Golden Globe for his role (justifiably so), Robin only took home the Golden Globe award for his efforts.

If you are into the late 1960’s and early 1970s pop era, this is the soundtrack for you. Although around 30 songs were used in the film (see chart listing below), only 12 songs were released as a soundtrack. I would have thought that seeing the success of the first soundtrack and that of Dirty Dancing in the same year, Festival Records would have released a second soundtrack to Good Morning Vietnam. I know I would...but hey, what would I know.

The soundtrack went platinum in the US and made it to #10 on the The Billboard 200 Albums Chart and #1 on the Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart. The Louis Armstrong song, “What a Wonderful World” was released as a single and became a top 40 hit twenty years after its original release.

Source: Wikipedia

My verdict: 5 stars

Good Morning Vietnam 1987 – The Original Soundtrack

Side One

1. Adrian Cronauer (Dialogue)/Nowhere to Run – Robin Williams/Martha Reeves and The Vandellas

2. I Get Around – The Beach Boys

3. Game of Love – Wayne Fontana and The Mindbenders

4. Adrian Cronauer (Dialogue)/Sugar and Spice – Robin Williams/The Searchers

5. Adrian Cronauer (Dialogue)/Liar, Liar – Robin Williams/The Castaways

6. The Warmth of the Sun – The Beach Boys

Side Two

1. Adrian Cronauer (Dialogue)/I Got You (I Feel Good) – Robin Williams/James Brown

2. Adrian Cronauer (Dialogue)/Baby, Please Don't Go – Robin Williams/Them

3. Adrian Cronauer (Dialogue)/Danger! Heartbreak Dead Ahead – Robin Williams/The Marvelletes

4. Five O'Clock World – The Vogue

5. California Sun – The Rivieras

6. Adrian Cronauer (Dialogue)/What a Wonderful World – Robin Williams/Louis Armstrong

MUSIC #73: GOOD MORNING VIETNAM 1987 (ENGLISH OST)

MUSIC #65: MORE DIRTY DANCING 1988 (ENGLISH OST)

Following the success of the first Dirty Dancing soundtrack in 1987, RCA released a second music recording from the movie, simply titled “More Dirty Dancing” in 1988. The album went multi platinum as well. For a full review of the soundtrack, go to my Dirty Dancing post HERE.

My rating: 4 stars

More Dirty Dancing 1988 – The Original Soundtrack

Side One

1. (I've Had) The Time of My Life (Instrumental Version) 1 - The John Morris Orchestra

2. Big Girls Don't Cry - The Four Seasons

3. Merengue - Michael Lloyd & Le Disc

4. Some Kind of Wonderful - The Drifters

5. Johnny's Mambo - Michael Lloyd & Le Disc

6. Do You Love Me - The Contours

7. Love Man - Otis Redding

Side Two

1. Wipe Out - The Surfaris

2. These Arms of Mine - Otis Redding

3. De Todo Un Poco - Michael Lloyd & Le Disc

4. Cry to Me - Solomon Burke

5. Trot the Fox - Michael Lloyd & Le Disc

6. Will You Love Me Tomorrow - The Shirelles

7. Kellerman's Anthem - The Emile Bergsteign Chorale

8. (I've Had) The Time of My Life (Instrumental Version) 2 - The John Morris Orchestra

MUSIC #65: MORE DIRTY DANCING 1988 (ENGLISH OST)

MUSIC #63: DIRTY DANCING 1987 (ENGLISH OST)

Don’t know about you, but mention Dirty Dancing, and automatically that lean supple body of Patrick Swayze comes to mind (fan face) - and the famous quote - “No one puts Baby in a corner”!

I had just started my first uni degree when this movie came out and was the first movie I went to watch with my new found friends. Yes my parents were quite strict in this aspect and I was only allowed to go out or watch movies with the family, or at least chaperoned….yah, so archaic….And then suddenly, here I was, at uni, away from home and all this freedom…Scary yet exhilarating. Anyway this post is about the music, not my life story!

Dirty Dancing, the movie, was released in August 1987 and features Patrick Swayze, Jennifer Grey, Cynthia Rhodes, and Jerry Orbach. The story, set in 1963, is a coming of age drama about a teenage girl's rebellion against her father by starting a relationship with a dance instructor during a family summer vacation. Although a low-budget film by a new studio and with no major stars (except for Broadway legend Jerry Orbach in a supporting role), Dirty Dancing became a massive box office hit and it was the first film to sell more than a million copies on home video.

Dirty Dancing, the soundtrack, generated two multi-platinum albums and multiple singles, including "(I've Had) The Time of My Life", which won both the Golden Globe and Academy Award for Best Original Song, and a Grammy Award for best duet.

As the movie was set in the early 1960’s, the film's soundtrack started as an oldies music revival. But what no one expected was the demand for the album which caught RCA Records by surprise. Even before a single had been released, there were a million albums on back-order for the OST. The Dirty Dancing album spent 18 weeks at number one on the Billboard 200 album sales charts and went platinum eleven times, selling more than 42 million copies worldwide. It spawned a follow-up multi-platinum album in February 1988, entitled More Dirty Dancing, which I will be posting shortly.

Songs from the album which appeared on the charts included:

1. (I've Had) The Time of My Life – Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes: #1 on the pop charts.

2. She's Like the Wind – Patrick Swayze (yes, he sings too): #3 in 1988.

3. Hungry Eyes – Eric Carmen: #4 in 1988.

4. Yes – Merry Clayton: #45 in 1988.

My verdict: 4 stars

Dirty Dancing 1987 – The Original Soundtrack

Side One

1. (I've Had) The Time of My Life – Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes

2. Be My Baby – The Ronettes

3. She's Like the Wind – Patrick Swayze

4. Hungry Eyes – Eric Carmen

5. Stay – Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs

6. Yes – Merry Clayton

Side Two

1. You Don't Own Me – The Blow Monkeys

2. Hey! Baby – Bruce Channel

3. Overload ¬ Alfie Zappacosta

4. Love Is Strange - Mickey & Sylvia

5. Where Are You Tonight? – Tom Johnston

6. In the Still of the Night – The Five Satins

NOTE: On 15 October 2007, RCA Records re-released a 20th anniversary edition of the soundtrack. The release contained remastered versions of the original album's songs (in a different tracklisting) plus additional tracks, as well as a DVD featuring promotional video and photo material.

MUSIC #63: DIRTY DANCING 1987 (ENGLISH OST)

MOVIE #07: GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES 1988 (JAPANESE/ENGLISH ANIME)

I used to admonish my other half when he stayed up late and watched Japanese anime (I am still perplexed as to why it is shown that late at night – usually after 10.00 pm on SBS). It all backfired when one night, with nothing on telly, I watched my first Japanese anime and to boot, it was an offering from the famous Studio Ghibli. Ever since, I have been a fan. If you want to give anime a go, I recommend you start with GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES (GOTF) (or Hotaru No Haka in Japanese) from Studio Ghibli, one of the finest anime created and one of the most touching war films ever made, anime or not. It is directed by Isao Takahata, who also wrote the screenplay.

Set in the aftermath of World War II, GOTF focuses on the lives of Setsuko and his young sister Seita and how they struggle against both the elements of wartime and a depreciating Japanese empire. The most striking thing about GOTF is probably how real everything seems and its depiction of the gravity of the era and war. I cried quite a few times during the course of the movie, and by saying this, I hope I have not put off any blokes that may be reading this – it is mushy, yes, but it deals with war, human emotions and sibling love – not the boy meets girl, stick finger down throat, stuff. And what’s wrong with that I say!!! Anyway, I’ll save that argument for another time.

To the movie – With the Japanese empire in crisis and food shortages a daily occurrence, it is heart breaking to see a brother struggle to make ends meet for his sister, who does not understand the gravity of the situation, especially when the children have had an idyllic childhood, sheltered from the war until the war finally arrives in Japan.

It is now 1945 and Japan is losing the war. Setsuko and Seita’s lives crumble when the children lose their mother in a bombing and their father, whilst he is in service with the Japanese navy. Setsuko has to ‘grow up’ overnight and look after his sister. At first, they take refuge at some relative’s place. When the true colours of the relative emerge, Setsuko leaves to fend for himself and his sister. They make do in a cave by the river. What seems like a Huckleberry type fun adventure soon shows its true form. Seita develops skin disease from malnutrition and things get from bad to worse. The kids are forever hungry, and Setsuko has to resort to theft. To find out what happens to the children, I recommend you watch GOTF. I give this movie 5 stars.

PS: Don’t let the release date put you off – the quality of the anime is phenomenal! As you can see from the pictures.

FYI: The story is based on the semi-autobiographic novel by the same name, whose author, Akiyuki Nosaka (born 1930), lost his sister due to malnutrition in 1945 wartime Japan. He blamed himself for her death and wrote the story so as to make amends to her and help him accept the tragedy.

Due to the graphic and truly emotional depiction of the negative consequences of war on society and the individuals therein, some critics have viewed Grave of the Fireflies as an anti-war film. Roger Ebert (American film critic) considers it to be one of the most powerful anti-war movies ever made. Animation historian Ernest Rister compares the film to Steven Spielberg's Schindler's List and says, "It is the most profoundly human animated film I've ever seen."

Websites to check out:

http://www.ghibli.jp/
http://www.nausicaa.net/miyazaki/films/
http://disneydvd.disney.go.com/studio-ghibli.html

MOVIE #07: GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES 1988 (JAPANESE/ENGLISH ANIME)