Stemmata, you write beautifully!
(Excuse me, everyone. I’ll need a moment. Something is stuck in my eye. Sniff, sob.)
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This makes me think of two movies in particular that most likely wouldn’t have been as popular without their soundtracks: “The Big Chill”, and its Afrocentric version and predecessor, “Cooley High”, the latter of which might be largely unknown outside of the demographic* that enjoyed it the most. The nostalgia that is intertwined into the plots due to the song selection is by far the vehicle that makes the movies memorable, and that takes into account that the plots themselves are strong enough to make for good movies even without the soundtracks that were chosen. Furthermore, had new music or original music been featured instead of songs that took viewers back to their childhoods and high school sweethearts and first dates and breakups and hookups and other sweet/bittersweet memories, the impact of these movies would not have been embedded so deeply in our psyches as they were.
Written-By – C. Yarin*, F. Perren*3:13 D5 –Four Tops Reach Out I'll Be There 3:00
Written-By – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield5:03 A2 –The Temptations My Girl
Written-By – Ronald White, William Robinson, Jr.2:55 A3 –The Rascals Good Lovin'
Written-By – Arthur Resnick, Rudy Clark2:28 A4 –Smokey Robinson & The Miracles The Tracks Of My Tears
Written-By – Marvin Tarplin, Warren Moore, William Robinson, Jr.2:53 A5 –Three Dog Night Joy To The World
Producer – Richard A. Podolor*Written-By – Hoyt Axton3:24 B1 –The Temptations Ain't To Proud To Beg
Written-By – Edward Holland, Jr., Norman Whitfield2:31 B2 –Aretha Franklin (You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman
Written-By – Carole King / Gerry Gofin*, Jerry Wexler2:41 B3 –Smokey Robinson & The Miracles I Second That Emotion
Written-By – Alfred Cleveland*, William Robinson, Jr.2:46 B4 –Procol Harum A Whiter Shade Of Pale
Written-By – Gary Brooker, Keith Reid4:03 B5 –The Exciters Tell Him
Written-By – Bert Russell2:29
*I intentionally declined to use the term “target demographic” because I believe it perpetuates an assumption that certain entertainment/media projects should only be limited to narrow audiences or should be restricted from consumption by all audiences, both of which are factors in decreased broadcasting and in turn, decreased exposure of on-screen and off-screen talent, and decreased profits/revenues for the well-deserved.
Welby, old pal, I made several points in my post, so I do not know which one or ones with which you disagree. Please clarify.
I tried to stress that I am NOT of the opinion that the song selections fully made these movies as good as they are, as a lot of people believe, instead, I think they’re very great scripts that were acted very well and both movies stand up highly on their own even without the music. Had the music been original songs written specifically for the movies, for instance, as opposed to these classic songs, the movies would have done well and been memorable box-office hits. The slam-dunk was making the song classics fit the story and the story fit the song classics. If you’ll notice, the songs don’t connect directly as a plot device, but they are certainly background mood-setting devices, sort of a tacit peek inside the characters’ thoughts and dilemmas and desires and regrets and secrets.
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You’re a prude!
(J/k.)
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Element 99 