Comments on: Total Eclipse of Subtlety http://toddseavey.com/2008/06/10/total-eclipse-of-subtlety/ Conservatism for punks. Sat, 22 Nov 2008 08:27:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.9 by: Todd Seavey http://toddseavey.com/2008/06/10/total-eclipse-of-subtlety/#comment-15011 Tue, 10 Jun 2008 15:15:52 +0000 http://toddseavey.com/2008/06/10/total-eclipse-of-subtlety/#comment-15011 Well, I hope I didn't mishear as I was listening to comments never meant to be aired, but I think that was the gist -- though after all this time, I can't be sure he didn't segue from complaining about music/plot mismatches to complaining about "movies that are just an excuse to sell soundtracks" or something along those lines. I am more confident I recall Michael Sembello, who sang "Maniac" from _Flashdance_, the poor bastard, saying something even more out of step with the times: In the early 80s, he said he wasn't sure he wanted there to be videos for his songs since they so often contain imagery unrelated to the lyrics, such as (as he put it) some guy singing "Oh, yeah, I really dig my girlfriend" while you see a Roman legion marching across the land. (Of course, if the narrator were singing about a historian, that might almost make sense.) Well, I hope I didn’t mishear as I was listening to comments never meant to be aired, but I think that was the gist — though after all this time, I can’t be sure he didn’t segue from complaining about music/plot mismatches to complaining about “movies that are just an excuse to sell soundtracks” or something along those lines.

I am more confident I recall Michael Sembello, who sang “Maniac” from _Flashdance_, the poor bastard, saying something even more out of step with the times: In the early 80s, he said he wasn’t sure he wanted there to be videos for his songs since they so often contain imagery unrelated to the lyrics, such as (as he put it) some guy singing “Oh, yeah, I really dig my girlfriend” while you see a Roman legion marching across the land.

(Of course, if the narrator were singing about a historian, that might almost make sense.)

]]> by: Xine http://toddseavey.com/2008/06/10/total-eclipse-of-subtlety/#comment-15010 Tue, 10 Jun 2008 15:09:00 +0000 http://toddseavey.com/2008/06/10/total-eclipse-of-subtlety/#comment-15010 "Deeper and Deeper" is, for this Fixx-loather, the only great Fixx song. But I'm surprised at Cy Curnin's claim that *Pretty in Pink* is an instance of mismatch between soundtrack and plot. In fact, it's a rare example of how well a carefully chosen soundtrack could reflect the plot (and I remember the *Rolling Stone* review saying as much). "Wouldn't it Be Good"? "Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want"? The terrific song "Left of Center," sung by Suzanne Vega (usually, ick) and with a brilliant piano part by Joe Jackson? All seemed very, self-consciously, apt. Of course, Molly Ringwald's character wasn't the slut described in "Pretty in Pink." “Deeper and Deeper” is, for this Fixx-loather, the only great Fixx song. But I’m surprised at Cy Curnin’s claim that *Pretty in Pink* is an instance of mismatch between soundtrack and plot. In fact, it’s a rare example of how well a carefully chosen soundtrack could reflect the plot (and I remember the *Rolling Stone* review saying as much). “Wouldn’t it Be Good”? “Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want”? The terrific song “Left of Center,” sung by Suzanne Vega (usually, ick) and with a brilliant piano part by Joe Jackson? All seemed very, self-consciously, apt. Of course, Molly Ringwald’s character wasn’t the slut described in “Pretty in Pink.”

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