I feel very honored to be one of the writers for The 83rd Annual Academy Awards hosted by Anne Hathaway and James Franco on ABC this Sunday night. So rather than watching the show with my wife, my kids and my friends at our usual Oscar party, I will gladly be somewhere backstage in a tux -- no doubt sweating profusely and laughing loudly, as I tend to do in these situations. Having been sworn to secrecy, I will now tell you precisely nothing about the show that's being produced this year by Don Mischer and Bruce Cohen. That said, I will throw caution to the wind and reveal exactly this much: The show's going to be great. You're invited. You should watch.
So, until the red carpet opens, here's my suggested playlist for all your Oscar parties this year. As usual, I reached out to all the beautiful people who follow me on Twitter at @wildaboutmusic, and asked for their favorite songs related to the movies and Hollywood. And as always, they delivered the goods. My favorite tweet of all came from @mannweil -- also known as the great songwriting team of Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil who were Oscar nominated for Best Original Song, "Somewhere Out There," from An American Tail. They reminded me about "Saturday Night at the Movies" by The Drifters -- a soulful pop masterpiece that they not only suggested, but also wrote.
Please add your own suggestions here -- and no, you don't have to actually have written the song -- but it couldn't hurt.
And enjoy the show.
CELLULOID HEROES - The Kinks
EVERYONE'S GONE TO THE MOVIES - Steely Dan
BABY I'M A STAR - Prince & The Revolution
TAKE YOUR GIRLIE TO THE MOVIES - Dean Martin
HOLLYWOOD MECCA OF THE MOVIES - T-Bone Burnett
AT THE MOTION PICTURE BALL - Bobby Short
HOLLYWOOD KIDS - The Thrills
PICTURE SHOW - John Prine
LOVE LIKE THE MOVIES - The Avett Brothers
IT'S ALL IN THE MOVIES - Merle Haggard
SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE MOVIES - The Drifters
THAT'S WHY GOD MADE THE MOVIES - Paul Simon
HOLLYWOOD - Chaka Khan & Rufus
HOLLYWOOD - The Runaways
HOLLYWEIRD - Poison
I LOVE L.A. - Randy Newman
IMITATION OF LIFE - REM
CELEBRITY - Brad Paisley
LOST IN HOLLYWOOD - Neil Diamond
VOGUE - Madonna
GONE HOLLYWOOD - Supertramp
DEEPER INTO THE MOVIES - Yo La Tengo
MY HUSBAND MAKES MOVIES - Karen Akers
MORE LIKE THE MOVIES - Dr. Hook
SHINING STAR - Earth, Wind & Fire
STAR - The Roots & Sly & The Family Stone
CINEMA - Yes
MRS. POTTER'S LULLABY - Counting Crows
MATINEE IDOL - Rufus Wainwright
CELEBRITY SKIN - Hole
LIKE DYLAN IN THE MOVIES - Belle & Sebastian
NOT LIKE THE MOVIES - Katy Perry
HOLLYWOOD - Michael Buble
Follow David Wild on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Wildaboutmusic
Mike Ragogna: My Life Is Good: Chatting With Randy Newman
Pretty Ballerina...Left Banke
And when I woke on a dreary Sunday morning
I open my eyes to find there's rain
and something strange within said
"go ahead and find her
just close your eyes
just close your eyes and she'll be there
she'll be there"
There's something about music composed in a minor key that always gets me.
Cinema Show-Genesis
Thanks
Cuts Like a Knife - Bryan Adams
Help! - The Beatles
Help Me - Joni Mitchell
I Fall to Pieces - Patsy Cline (Couldn't resist)
Stayin' Alive - Bee Gees
THE SOCIAL NETWORK:
All My Friends - LCD Soundsystem
Computer Blue - Prince
Home Computer - Kraftwerk
Thank You Friends - Big Star
With a Little Help from My Friends - The Beatles
TOY STORY 3:
ABC Boogie - Bill Haley
The Long and Winding Road - The Beatles
Ready Teddy - Little Richard
They Reminisce Over You - Pete Rock & CL Smooth
The Times They Are a-Changin' - Bob Dylan
TRUE GRIT:
Heroes - David Bowie
I'll Take You There - The Staple Singers
Run for Your Life - The Beatles
Underneath the Bottle - Lou Reed
Wilderness - Joy Division
WINTER'S BONE:
Family Affair - Sly & the Family Stone
Fight the Power - Public Enemy
Loser - Beck
Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out - Bessie Smith
Walk on the Wild Side - Lou Reed
Great list
Dance Away - Roxy Music
Get Ur Freak On - Missy Elliott
It's All Right Ma (I'm Only Bleeding) - Bob Dylan
Paranoid - Black Sabbath
TIny Dancer - Elton John
THE FIGHTER:
Boston Asphalt - Dropkick Murphys
The Boxer
He's Not Heavy (He's My Brother) - The Hollies
Mama Said Knock You Out - LL Cool J
Street Fighting Man - The Rolling Stones
INCEPTION:
All I Have to Do is Dream - The Everly Brothers
I Can't Explain - The Who
Sabotage - Beastie Boys
Suspicious Minds - Elvis Presley
Within You Without You - The Beatles
THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT:
Everyday People - Sly & the Family Stone
Girls & Boys - Blur
The Kids Are Alright - The Who (Of Course)
Let's Stay Together - Al Green (Spoiler)
This Charming Man - The Smiths
THE KING'S SPEECH:
Respect Yourself - The Staple Singers
Shout - Tears for Fears
Sing - Travis
Talk to Me - Sunny & the Sunglows
We Can Talk - The Band
You must come back. There's a bunch of us that show up with playlists every time David posts. If you fan him, you can sign up on your preferences page for an email notification when he posts a new blog. You should give it a try... would love to see your contributions.
I second cybolt: as the announcer used to say at the end of "The Beverly Hillbillies," y'all come back now...y'hear?
Sharp Dressed Man....ZZ Top
Magic Carpet Ride....Joan Rivers, [also Steppenwolf]
Walk This Way....Aerosmith
Tighter And Tighter, also done by Alive and Kicking
Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous -- Good Charlotte
Jump Up -- Elvis Costello
Stepping Out -- Joe Jackson
Going Back to Cali -- LL Cool J
Weekend in LA -- The Toasters
Time to Pretend -- MGMT
Pictures of You -- The Cure
Grace Kelly -- Mika
Congradulations -- The Traveling Wilburys
Living in Paradise -- Elvis Costello
Blew me away!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEZz6IAFyVk
Thanks
CELEBRITY SKIN - Hole
CHAMPAGNE AND REEFER - Big Bill Morganfield
CIGARETTES & ALCOHOL - Oasis
CITY OF ANGELS - The Distillers, or Above The Law
CITY OF DELUSION - Muse
COOLER THAN YOU - Americans UK
FACADE - Disturbed
GREAT EXPECTATIONS - Kiss
GUILTY PLEASURE - Cobra Starship
HELL AIN'T A BAD PLACE TO BE - AC/DC
HOLLYWOOD SWINGIN' - Kool & The Gang
HOTEL CALIFORNIA (Spanish Version) - Gipsy Kings
I HATE THE TV - Violent Femmes
IMITATION OF LIFE - Anthrax
IT'S LATE - Queen
I WILL TAKE YOU HOME - Russell Means
KINGS AND QUEENS - Aerosmith or 30 Seconds To Mars
L.A. WOMAN - Paul Oakenfold remix of The Doors' classic
LOVE US OR HATE US - Kreator
MALIGNANT NARCISSISM - Rush
ME & JOE DROVE OUT TO CALIFORNIA - Drag The River
MOTHER POPCORN - James Brown
NO BONE MOVIES - Ozzy Osbourne
NO NEW TALE TO TELL - Love & Rockets
ONE IN A MILLION - Guns N' Roses
PARTY HARD - Andrew W.K.
PERFECT SKIN - The 69 Eyes
PICTURE OF BEAUTY & INNOCENCE (COMMISERATING THE CELEBRATION) - Cathedral
PRETTY LIKE DRUGS - Queen Adreena
PRETTY VACANT - Sex Pistols
REHAB - Amy Winehouse
SAY GOODBYE HOLLYWOOD - Eminem
SEEMINGLY ENDLESS TIME - Death Angel
SHE IS THE NEW THING - The Horrors
SHOWROOM DUMMIES - Kraftwerk, or Leather Strip
STAGEFRIGHT - Def Leppard
STARF**KERS, INC. - Nine Inch Nails
Thanks
SUPERSTAR - Lauryn Hill
TAKE A BOW - Madonna
TEA & THEATRE - The Who
THE BALLAD OF JAYNE - L.A. Guns
THE BEAUTIFUL ONES - Prince
THE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE - Marilyn Manson
THE LAND OF RAPE AND HONEY - Ministry
THIS AIN'T A SCENE, IT'S AN ARMS RACE - Fall Out Boy
TOAST OF THE TOWN - Motley Crue
VIDEO - india.arie
WE ARE ALL MADE OF STARS - Moby
WHEN WE WAS FAB - George Harrison
WHITE KNUCKLES - OK Go
Thanks for that reminder
Greer Garson's legendary acceptance speech, which lasted anywhere from 20 minutes to 2 hours, depending on who's telling the story: "You Talk Too Much" - Joe Jones, or "Got A Lot To Say" - The Ramones
Shirley Booth tripping on the stairs on her way to the stage: "If I Fell" - Beatles, or "Trip, Stumble and Fall" - The Mamas and The Papas
Goldie Hawn and, "Oh my God, it's George C. Scott" (who preemptively announced his refusal of the award and his intention not to show): " You Won't See Me" - Beatles, or "Nowhere Man" - Beatles
Marlon Brando's refusal (via "Sasheen Littlefeather"): "Thanks A Lot But No Thanks" - Dolores Gray, or "Indian Reservation" - The Raiders
David Niven taken by surprise: "The Streak" - Ray Stevens, or "Naked Man" - Randy Newman
Sally Field's second win: "You Like Me Too Much" - Beatles, or "The Second Time Around" - Bing Crosby
Jack Palance's push-ups: "Only the Strong Survive" - Jerry Butler, or "One Hand, One Heart" - Carol Lawrence/Larry Kert
Anybody else wanna play?