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April 18, 2007
The QT Effect
Whatever you think of the cinematic abilities of Quentin Tarantino (and for the record, I vote rad), you have to envy the man's record collection. More than any other contemporary director, Tarantino has an uncanny knack for picking exactly the right piece of music to set the mood for a scene and brand it into your mind forever. Wes Anderson might be a quality selector of pop music, but that's more a function of a genteel good taste than a savant knack for unearthing hidden treasures that will forever bear his stamp. Nico's "These Days" is going to make anything sound sad and doomed, after all. And Scorsese, forget it, little dude's selection well has run dry. While QT generally excavates multiple songs from the ether per film, there's always that one, that one song that you think of immediately when one of his flicks is brought up.
To date:
Reservoir Dogs - "Stuck in the Middle With You"
Pulp Fiction - "You Never Can Tell"
Jackie Brown - "Didn't I Blow Your Mind This Time?"
Kill Bill - "Woo-hoo" (the lamest on its own, but it worked in context, and I'm going for cultural saturation so I'm taking it over the amazing Nancy Sinatra song in the opening credits)
and now, from Grindhouse's Death Proof segment...
Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick, & Tich - "Hold Tight"
If the loud mouthed in-film pop culture references are to be believed, and let's assume they probably are, the awkwardly named Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick, and Tich narrowly missed out on the talents of one Pete Townsend. That should key you in to the sort of hard charging Mod rock we're dealing with. It won't ruin anything for those who've not seen it to say that this mid-sixties single comes in at a moment of extreme tension. The relentless drum pounding and carefree, almost reckless vocals create a perfect in-song dichotomy. We know there's imminent trouble, but the protagonists aren't so sure. The dirty beat and guitar lick, forever fused to the twisted frames of a Tarantino flick are now officially impossible to forget.
As to why it was ever forgotten in the first place...
With all respect to Quentin, the trouser display here is perhaps more disturbing than even his best efforts.
(video via Covert Curiousity)
// Quentin Tarantino's Death Proof Original Soundtrack buy
Posted by Jeff Klingman at April 18, 2007 08:40 PM
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Comments
Although I was certainly familiar with it before seeing the film, now every time I hear "Misirlou", particularly the opening scale, all I can remember is Pulp Fiction.
Posted by: Randall Monty at April 19, 2007 08:41 AM
I totally know what you mean. When I hear "Walk of Life" by Dire Straits, all I can think of is Lucas, with Corey Haim.
Posted by: david at April 19, 2007 11:25 AM
You said it way better than I could have, nice entry.
...and thanks for the link!
Posted by: Covert Curiosity at April 19, 2007 03:35 PM
