Friday, May 14, 2010

Guess Which Movie – May 14

And now it’s time to play the party-game craze that continues to bring music and film fans to their knees: Guess! Which! Movie!

OK, people, here’s a reminder of how to play: I’m going to play five songs for you that are all included in a certain film. The song choices go (approximately) from less-associated to more-associated with that movie.

Example: If Pulp Fiction was the answer, the song choices might start with “Lonesome Town” in the No. 1 spot and end with “Misirlou” at No. 5.

A YouTube clip (without footage from the film) follows each selection, in case you don’t know the tune by name. Don’t scroll too fast, or you might cheat yourself out of a higher score. And we wouldn’t want that.

Comments, debate and discussion are always welcome. And, remember, no wagering.
Here we go – let’s see how many songs it will take you to Guess! Which! Movie!


5. “Take on Me,” a-ha







4. “White Lines (Don’t Do It),” Grandmaster Flash and Melle Mel







3. “Rudie Can’t Fail,” The Clash







2. “Let My Love Open the Door (E.Cola mix),” Pete Townshend







1. “Blister in the Sun,” Violent Femmes







And the answer is …





Grosse Pointe Blank (1997)

John Cusack’s been in his share of movies with great soundtracks, and this 1997 romantic-action-comedy is no exception. Centered around a high school reunion, Grosse Pointe Blank featured mostly period tunes from the early to mid-’80s. Among them: “Absolute Beginners” by The Jam, “Under Pressure” by Queen and David Bowie, “99 Luftballons” by Nena, and “Mirror in the Bathroom” by The Beat (the score for a brutal fight scene in a high school hallway). One of the big exceptions to the ’80s rule was “Live and Let Die” by Guns N’ Roses (recorded in 1991), which accompanied the moment Cusack’s character finds his childhood home has been replaced by a convenience mart.

In addition to contributing two Clash songs to the film (“Rudie” and a cover of “Armagideon Time”), Joe Strummer composed the score, some of which can be heard as “War Cry” on Grosse Pointe Blank Soundtrack: Vol. 2. That’s right; the movie got to have a second soundtrack compilation. If only every fantastic music movie got that treatment (Almost Famous, anybody?).

Maybe being a professional killer has its advantages.

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