Hollywood, Mon Amour

Swiss Adam earlier today posted Nouvelle Vague's version of The Guns Of Brixton. Which reminded me, if I needed reminding that while in Belfast the other week, I had a vinyl copy of Hollywood,  Mon Amour in my sweaty palms which I decided to put back, as at twelve quid I thought that it was rather steep. A rash move on my part which I'm bitterly regretting now.

Hollywood, Mon Amour is Marc Collin's (one half of Nouvelle Vague) revisionist takes on "classic" songs from 80s films such as Arthur, Top Gun, Rocky III, you get the idea. Surprisingly enough most of the tracks work really well and stripped down and out of context it is surprisingly easy to forget how pish some of these tracks and films were.

Here is my favourite.

Yael Naim - Flashdance . . . What A Feeling

I Knew These People

Today's track is a bit of a curiosity. I say track but it is really a scene from one of my favorite films which was included in it's entirety on the soundtrack album.

Paris Texas was a film directed by Wim Wenders from a story written by Sam Shepherd and starring Harry Dean Stanton. At it's basics it is the story of an amnesiac who has reappeared after 4 years and of his attempt to make sense of what happened and try to reconcile his family on his return. The film is beautifully shot and has some wonderful performances notably Harry Dean Stanton and Dean Stockwell. Or as one of my less discerning friends once said, "self indulgent, chin stroking pish".

I've never been a great fan of Ry Cooder's music but I don't think that this film would have half the impact without the harsh, jarring sound of his steel guitar and especially the acoustic Spanish guitar which breaks in half way through the track posted and which turns an already emotional scene into a heartbreaking one.

Enjoy.

Ry Cooder - I Knew These People