More Weird Songs

Compiled by Lukas Kendall

See the recent column:

But starters... I can't believe I let this topic go so far without mentioning the outstanding four-volume CD collection for Germany, Canto Morricone. See www.cinesoundz.de for more information on this fantastic collection of songs by Ennio Morricone. There are some vocals in here to very familiar themes. Vol. 1 is the '60s, Vol. 2 is westerns (sensational!), Vol. 3 is the '70s, and Vol. 4 is the '80s and '90s.

From: Michael R Goolsby <michael2001@juno.com>

The recent talk of the Powder theme has reminded of this song (which may or may not have already been discussed in this forum):

In the 1996 film TWISTER, there is a scene at the drive-in movie where a song (sung in a pop ballad style by a woman) is playing in the background as the two main characters talk. It is from the main theme of Ennio Morricone's beautiful score for LOVE AFFAIR. However, the closing credits did not seem to mention it. The print I saw was an unfinished work print with some effects still missing, but the closing credits seem to have been complete. Anyone know about this?

As an aside, I have a 2 1/2 year old girl who absolutely loves THE PHANTOM MENACE and she even has me play the CD (A New Hope, as well) whenever we are in the car or before bedtime. She does a really terrific vocal version of the main theme (yes, with lyrics of her own) and has a great time singing along to Darth Maul's music. If you were a kid yourself, as I was, when the first STAR WARS was released, it's so terrific to observe its lasting appeal in your own child!

The Love Affair song is performed by k.d. lang and can be found on Vol. 4 of Canto Morricone.

From: David Morgan, Morgands1@aol.com

From: Eric Aron <earon@javanet.com>

Subject: National Geographic Theme

I only remember the begining from high school...something like, "Look at that fossil...it could be really old." I know it' lame, but hey.

I recall Albert Brooks singing this at the beginning of "Twilight Zone: The Movie" when he and Dan Aykroyd were singing TV theme songs. I don't know if this was a "legitimate" song or something made up for the film.

From: "Cameron Fennell" <cameronfennell@hotmail.com>

Regarding the theme song for National Geographic, there were no lyrics written for the original version (which was composed by Elmer Bernstein). However, a version of the theme with unofficial lyrics was sung by Albert Brooks in "Twilight Zone: The Movie." These lyrics can be found at the official National Geographic web site at www.nationalgeo.com/infocentral/answer/gya9908.htm. Here are a few other film themes with vocal versions:

The Brothers Four recorded a vocal version of Dmitri Tiomkin's title music (not "The Peking Theme") to "55 Days at Peking" for Columbia records in 1963. Tiomkin's theme to "The High and the Mighty" also had lyrics added.

Jerry Goldsmith's "Fate is the Hunter" has lyrics which were performed by Johnny Desmond on the flip side of his "Rio Conchos" single. I have heard rumors that Goldsmith's "Papillon" theme may have had lyrics as well (performing artist unknown).

A vocal version of Malcolm Arnold's theme from "Tunes of Glory" was recorded by Terry Snyder and his orchestra for United Artists circa 1961.

Former Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page added lyrics to the godawful opening music he wrote for "Death Wish II" in 1982.

Judy Roberts recorded the theme to the Star Trek TV series with lyrics by Gene Roddenberry on an LP titled "You Are There." The album was released by Pausa Records around 1985.

Many of John Barry's themes have had lyrics added to them. Johnny Mathis sang a vocal version of the main (harmonica) theme from "Midnight Cowboy." Others include Tony Bennett singing the main title from "Walkabout" for CBS in the early 1970s, Andy Williams singing the love theme from "King Kong" (titled "Are You In There?"), in addition to vocal renditions of "Mary, Queen of Scots" and "Robin and Marian" (sung by an uncredited Audrey Hepburn on the bootleg).

One web site claims that lyrics were written for John Williams' main title to "Star Wars" (!) but were rejected by George Lucas. Does anybody know if these lyrics are for real, or is this just a joke?

That has to be a joke. I like Bill Murray's lyrics from his lounge lizard skit on Saturday Night Live, though.

From: Michael R Goolsby <michael2001@juno.com>

I own a copy of the sheet music of vocal version of Jerry Goldsmith's theme to "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" performed by Shaun Cassidy. It's called "A Star Beyond Time," with lyrics included. Paramount sent a ton of promotional material to theatres when the film was released, much of it still highly collectable. Just what made the sheet music promotional, I don't know. But I also have a promo LP that's never been opened plus a set of black and white stills.

One of the nice things I remember about the song is that it was supposed to play prior to the starting of the picture. That is, before the curtains opened and the lights dimmed, the music played sans image, setting the mood (of course, Klingons were the first thing seen on the screen, but it worked to a degree). It was, of course, taking a cue from earlier even films that would feature music both before the film began and during the intermission.

Which reminds me of a gripe I have: why do long films no longer have intermissions? It use to be common practice for any film exceeding 3 hours. We've had plenty of 3+ films in the past decade, but no intermissions. A great time to grab some more popcorn, go to the bathroom, and still enjoy a few minutes of "unadultured" music from the film. (I imagine some composers would welcome the opportunity to bring together 8 or so minutes of music that, for a change, wouldn't be buried under sound effects.)

I don't think audiences would tolerate an intermission anymore; nor would theater owners wanting movies to be shorter, so they can cram in more screenings per day.

I don't know if the vocal version of Ilia's Theme was ever intended to be an overture, but the film did go out with Goldsmith's instrumental version (or half of it at least) opening the movie, playing over black. The Black Hole had an overture the same year (1979); those were the last two such instances of this film tradition.

From: "Karl Scott" <karlcharlotte@earthlink.net>

Movie songs which should have never happened: Number One on my list is the adding of lyrics to Henry Mancini's Classic instrumental Peter Gunn for the James Bond wannabe Gunn Number One feature. Who ever came up with the idea for the lyrics should have been Gunned Down. Performed by a chorus the lyrics were dreadful and qualify for the worst written award. When we establish one.

From: lambert der <deragon53@yahoo.com>

To help answer Mark Hasan's question on Shaun Cassidy's vocal, I'm quoting from Star Trek The Motion Picture cd's booklet on Ilia's Theme, "Pop singer Shaun Cassidy recorded a vocal version of this theme as "A Star Beyond Time". Featuring lyrics written by L. Kusik, the recording was released only as a promotional single on the Warner Bros. label."

Finally, here are the lyrics to the Powder film song; thanks to Jos van Geffen for sending them in:

• [And reaching] will it not be soft and kind
• At rest from life, from patience and from pain
• At rest from bliss, we know not when we find
• How can I have enough of life and love

• In your eyes are my secrets that I've never shown you
• In my heart I feel I've always known you
• In your arms there's a comfort that I never knew
• You're what I've been waiting for, there's no one like you

• Sure as the sunrise, pure as a prayer
• You fashioned hope right out of thin air
• Ev'ry dream I abandoned, seems it could come true
• I believe in miracles, there's no one like you

• Innocent as a newborn in a world so fright'ning
• It's as if my world's been struck by lightning
• Ev'ry dream I abandoned, seems it could come true
• I believe in miracles, there's no one like you

The Lyrics were written by Zippel after the film was made, but Zippel clearly was inspired by it, as the last verse points out. There's no word how the song has come to Brightman, but i'll keep my inbox open!

Thanks! Finally, it's not a vocal, but the disco group Menage performed a pop version of Goldsmith's Alien theme on a 12" single on Fox Records in 1979 which is one of the best pop arrangements of a completely non-beat oriented score I've ever heard.

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