One of my favorite moments from The Simpsons comes early in the run nearly 20 years ago. Bart is taken to a Chuck-E Cheese-type pizza place to celebrate his birthday. (Though he never gets older. Odd.) On the stage is one of those tacky animatronic installations, like something you’d see at Disneyland or Six Flags. The canned song for this animatronic animal band goes like this:
You’re the birthday
You’re the birthday
You’re the birthday
Boy or girl!
Ridiculous, hysterical, and brilliant! (If I ever call you to wish you a happy birthday, you can be pretty sure that’s the song I’ll sing over the airwaves.)
As I turn 47 this morning at 9:37 A.M., here are five scores that are guaranteed to put a smile on the face of any boy or girl…birthday or not.
LILI–Bronislau Kaper‘s Oscar-winner doesn’t get much respect among film score fans, probably because of the overly played “Hi Lili, Hi-Lo.” But there is more to Kaper’s score than that one famous tune. And if this music doesn’t put a smile on your face, you might want to check your pulse.
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SILENT MOVIE–This Mel Brooks movie is only intermittently funny, but I defy you to get John Morris‘s memorable march out of your head.
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PILLOW TALK–The Doris Day-Rock Hudson sex comedies seem tame by today’s raunchy standards, but Frank DeVol‘s Oscar-nominated score weaves the catchy yet ridiculous title tune into a number of surprisingly comedic ways.
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MAX DUGAN RETURNS–I’ve never seen this third-tier Neil Simon film, but I fell in love with David Shire‘s music when I first heard it on a compilation disc years ago. Having the theme played by the clarinet probably had something to do with it.
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IT’S A MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD–I don’t find this film the least bit enjoyable or funny. Where the film fails in nearly every category, Ernest Gold succeeds in this delightful Oscar-nominated score.
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I guess you really can have your cake and eat it too! So as I sling back some tasty Mexican food and numerous margaritas this evening, I invite you to join me in the celebration by answering the following question(s):
This is a fun topic, Jim. (Happy birthday!)
One of the most infectious cues I know of comes from a score dear to your heart: The Fury. “For Gillian” is such a joyful piece of music; it moves me to crank up the volume and air conduct like a fool.
“Holiday Flight” from Home Alone is also a fantastically happy track. I love the celli playing so frenetically that their strings are probably starting a small fire.
And recently I’ve become newly endeared to the rural (fiddle) Shire music from Fellowship. Doug Adams described it best by calling it “buoyant.”
There are probably a hundred other such cues, but these are the ones that came to mind. I wish I had the ability to embed the cues in my comment!
Enjoy your day, my friend.
Thanks for the birthday wishes, Tim. Shameless, I mean, sneaky way of getting them, eh? :)
Obviously my head space was in comedy films when I wrote this so thanks for bringing in cues from more dramatic films. I can’t believe I didn’t even think of “For Gillian”! Such a great cue. And I love the HOME ALONE score and “Holiday Flight”. I might have remembered the FELLOWSHIP cues in a few weeks when I’m deep into covering the LOTR concert at Radio City.
I’m adding your cues to the playlist for the day. Thanks!
Oh, I love you for “Max Dugan Returns”! A personal favorite. You MUST see the movie. I was flummoxed when it sank in ’83. Neil Simon, Marsha Mason, Matthew Broderick, Jason Robards, Donald Sutherland, and David Shire all working at the very top of their game in a good old-fashioned, absurdist, charming, wish-fulfillment fantasy. I thought I was through with Simon by that point, but that lovely little film completely blindsided me.
For you, my friend, five happy tracks for your “special” day! ;)
1. “Reunited (Alternate)” — THE DAY OF THE DOLPHIN. It’s all about that scrappy little trumpet. This should have been the take they used.
2. “Fanfare/Main Title” — HOME MOVIES. Donaggio’s Rossini tribute, an ebullient Old World/New World celebration.
3. “Best Shot (Theme from Hoosiers)” — HOOSIERS. Goldsmith. Underdogs. Redemption. Exuberance. Need I say more?
4. “Goodbye, Eddie, Goodbye” — PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE. Paul Williams’ genius hat trick, a rock opera-cum-sly parody (as well as heartfelt homage) to the sounds that defined the music of the 60s and the 70s. The film’s first track, an infectious teen suicide lampoon, never fails to make me grin. The packaged lead singer breaking into his true ethnic voice is nothing short of inspired.
5. “Overture” — THE 7TH VOYAGE OF SINBAD. Thrilling orchestral bombast for one of the (still) most exciting fantasy adventures of all time. A Herrmann masterwork.
Also: Tim is right. “For Gillian” = Yes! And as long as we’re talking about Shire, I’ll throw in a baker’s 6th and say the “Return to Oz” Rag March.
And this: “Happy” was hard. I realized fast how much film music is either terribly somber or simply not joyous. Many scores thrill me to tears, but few I could classify as truly fun or happy.
But screw that! Happy, Happy Birthday, Jim! Peace & Love in the year to come.
One your recommendation, I’ll give the film of MAX DUGAN a try. :)
Can’t argue with HOOSIERS or RETURN TO OZ. I’ll check out the DAY OF THE DOLPHIN cue. Haven’t heard that score in years. And SINBAD is sitting in the pile next to my computer. I’ve never seen PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE.
And, yes, “happy” can be difficult–in film scores as in life. LOL Either way, thanks for the comment and the birthday wishes.