26 June 2012
Black Sheep – Dewey Cox
From the 2007 film Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
Pop star Dewey Cox moved with the times. The Apatow/Kasden creation careened through a mighty, genre-spanning career, which parodied Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan, the early UK beat invasion and more, all steered by John C Reilly’s excellent comic timing and surprisingly elastic vocals. But perhaps his finest moment was when, after leaning a little too heavily on Dylan’s oblique stylings–“You know, how come nobody ever asks Bob Dylan, 'Why do you sound so much like Dewey Cox?'” he fumed at a press conference– he dropped acid (with The Beatles, obviously) and holed up in the studio Brian Wilson-style, demanding take after take, recording live animals and avant-garde orchestral arrangements - relegating his rather pissed-off drummer to a solitary gong. As a Pet Sounds parody, this track is impressively accurate. -NJ
Fever Dog – Stillwater
From the 2000 film Almost Famous
Seen through the adoring eyes of William Miller until the sheen starts to wear off, Stillwater epitomise ‘70s rock ‘n’ roll decadence; not surprising, considering they are based on writer Cameron Crowe’s experiences touring with The Allman Brothers Band, Led Zeppelin, The Eagles, and Lynyrd Skynyrd. (Any part of the film that seems excessive to the point of ridiculousness, you can bet actually happened while a teenage Crowe watched on, taking notes with his eyes.) Crowe and wife Nancy Wilson, of Heart, wrote the bulk of the Stillwater songs while on their honeymoon (!) the highlight of which is the incendiary Fever Dog. -NJ
Gimme Some Money- Spinal Tap
From the 1984 film This Is Spinal Tap
Before Spinal Tap were dubbed England’s loudest band, they flirted with a number of styles, resulting in the hilariously spot-on beat pop track Gimme Some Money. Nigel’s solo is the highlight, but it’s all good stuff. The band later became a rock juggernaut, filling 15,000 seat arenas before their career tapered off. Not to worry though, as their manager explained in the film, their appeal was just “becoming more selective.” -NJ
Threshold - Sex Bob-omb
From the film 2010 Scott Pilgrim vs The World
Although the Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World soundtrack sports many great Beck-penned tunes, Threshold is the crème de la crème, with lyrics like “My body's stupid, stereo putrid” and “I'm hearing voices, animal noises” over just under two minutes of distorted, low-fi reverberated genius. -PR
Inside Of You - Infant Sorrow
From the 2008 film Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Russell Brand’s character Aldous Snow (actually a more tame version of Brand) wrote this double-entendre-ladened gem about the titular character, performing it in front of her heartbroken ex, Peter (Jason Segel). The character was such a hit that Apatow quickly commissioned a sequel of sorts, with Brand reprising the role (and recording a ten-track soundtrack) for the 2010 film Get Him To The Greek. -PR
That Thing You Do - The Wonders
From the 1996 film That Thing You Do!
Back in the summer of 1964, there were hundreds of bands across America trying to cash in on that crazy new youth fad, guitar groups. A number of them scored regional hits before disappearing into the footnotes of rock music; Pennsylvanian band The Wonders were one of these one-hit wonders. Originally dubbed the Oneders, which caused a multitude of phonetic mishaps, the group scored a local hit with That Thing You Do, a brilliant slice of power pop which was actually written by Adam Schlesinger from Fountains Of Wayne, who should actually be referred to as Adam Schlesinger from Tinted Windows, who we sincerely hope won’t meet the same fate as the Oneders. Google Messing With My Head, pronto. -NJ
The New Main Street Singers – Never Did No Wandering
From the 2003 film A Mighty Wind
John Michael Higgins hilariously leads this tightly choreographed number, Never Did No Wandering - a perfect folk pastiche from the minds behind This is Spinal Tap. Jane Lynch is also hilarious in this scene, which should surprise nobody. -NJ
Scotty Doesn’t Know – Lustra
From the 2004 film EuroTrip
Although the band who wrote this track aren’t fictional, the song was penned to tie in with 2004 film EuroTrip in which the philandering Fiona cheats on poor Scott with Donny, a fact Scotty finds out about in brutal detail, live at his high school graduation. The single peaked at #53 on the US Billboard Pop 100 and the band performed the track in the film with an inked Matt Damon cast as lead singer. Is it his finest role? Well, no, but it’s pretty damn funny. -PR
Clowns Never Laughed Before - Greg Brady
From the 1995 film The Brady Bunch
Clowns, beanstalks and ponies: Greg Brady’s hapless attempt at a love ballad. Although the oldest member of the family was not appreciated in his time (he was always booed offstage in the film), this lovely pop ditty is really happening in a far-out way. -PR
Sugarhigh - Gina and Coyote Shivers
From the 1995 film Empire Records
“What’s with today, today?” One of the most quotable movies of the '90s also contains this perfect pop gem, with a killer chorus belted by a two-pack-a-day Renee Zellweger, who never managed to top this moment. But we mustn't dwell, not on Rex Manning Day. -NJ
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