I’ve heard at least one critic predict that Top Gun: Maverick will be a major Oscar contender. I don’t quite buy that but I do imagine that the soundtrack will get a major awards push. As performed by Lady Gaga, Hold My Hand feels very Oscar bait-y. We’ll see.
As for the song itself, it’s okay. It’s definitely not my favorite Lady Gaga song, largely because it was so obviously conceived as a way for the film to win an award. To me, it has a bit of a gospel feel and, as I think I’ve said in the past, I find gospel music to be the most boring type of music in existence. That said, Lady Gaga’s voice is amazing and she certainly sells this song.
I wish I could just let go Of all the memories I know Of all the memories I know But they’re still stuck in my brain
Every time I fall asleep, I know I’ll wake up alone I’ll wake up alone Dreams of you
Wrap around my throat I think I’m gonna choke I think I’m gonna choke
Running, running, running, running though the dark Watch me run a little more ‘Cause when I said forever, I meant forever, now
I wish I could just let go Of all the memories I know Of all the memories I know But they’re still stuck in my brain
I never wanted to cry I always thought I would make it right But now I’m stuck inside this shame instead “Pontificating hypocrite” is what you said When my heart breaks just a little bit I wanna drop dead I didn’t wanna concede Or call my fantasies make-believe Holding tightly to the task at hand When I really should be focusing to learn and understand But I bury all the tragedy with sand
Running, running, running, running to my car I can’t fucking cry in front of her When I said forever, I meant forever, now
I wish I could just let go Of all the memories I know Of all the memories I know But they’re still stuck in my brain
Last week, I watched Mad Max. On Tuesday, I watched The Road Warrior and Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. As such, it only seems appropriate that today’s music video of the day should be the theme song from Beyond Thunderdome, We Don’t Need Another Hero.
Performed by Tina Turner (who, of course, also co-starred in Beyond Thunderdome), We Don’t Need Another Hero seems like it was pretty obviously written in an attempt to land, at the very least, an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song. Well, the Academy didn’t nominate the song but it did win a Golden Globe and it went on to become one of Turner’s biggest hits.
The video is a mix of Turner singing and scenes from Beyond Thunderdome. It’s not a bad song, even if it is hard to imagine any of the other Mad Max films featuring a power ballad. Then again, each Mad Max film is it’s own unique work of art. That’s one thing that makes the entire series so effective.
What sets All of My Life apart from all of the other adult contemporary, “easy listening” music that Phil Collins released in the 90s is that saxophone solo at the start of the song. That sax solo almost makes up for all the bland Disney sons that Collins wrote in search of that first Oscar.
As for this video, it’s largely a performance clip but, mixed in, there are a few scenes of Phil Collins going about his everyday life. Of course, for Phil, everyday life meant a private plane and a luxury tour bus. What a likeable bloke! Personally, I don’t care how Phil Collins spent his money. As the saying goes, “If you’ve got it…”
This video was directed by Jim Yukich. Yukich was one of those video directors who, if you were a successful musical artist in the late 80s or the 90s, you would probably end up making at least one video with Yukich. Yukich directed videos for everyone from Iron Maiden to Genesis to REO Speedwagon. He got around.
I’m still taking in the news that Bruce Willis has retired from acting for health reasons. When I was growing up, Bruce was the closest thing we had to an old fashioned movie star. No one can beat the bad guys like Bruce Willis. No one could deliver a stone cold perfect one liner like Bruce Willis. No one could liven up a movie like Bruce Willis. No one could surprise you with an unexpectedly sensitive and good performance like Bruce Willis. As far as I’m concerned, he is still the epitome of cool.. Moonlighting, Die Hard, Pulp Fiction, 12 Monkeys, The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, Sin City, Looper, and more, Bruce Willis had quite a career and I think that his reputation as an actor will only grow as his performance are rediscovered and reevaluated.
Bruce Willis was not only an actor but he also a singer. In 1987, at the height of his Moonlighting fame, he released The Return of Bruno, an album the featured Bruce Willis covering several classic R&B tunes. To support the album, he toured in the the character of veteran singer, Bruno. Today’s music video of the day was originally a part of an HBO special that was designed to promote the album. Bruno remembers performing at Woodstock and covers Young Blood, which was originally recorded by The Coasters in 1957.
Wow, a Haim walking video that wasn’t directed by Paul Thomas Anderson! In all honest, though, Jake Schreier did a fine job directing this video and it’s a good song as well.
Enjoy!
Some things are long forgotten Some things were never said We were on one endless road But I had a wandering heart
I said we were opposite lovers Said it from the beginning You kept trying to prove me wrong Said you’d always see it through And I know that I ran you down So you ran away with your heart
But just know that I want you back Just know that I want you back Just know that I want you I’ll take the fall and the fault in us I’ll give you all the love I never gave before I left you Just know that I want you back Just know that I want you back Just know that I want you I’ll take the fall and the fault in us I’ll give you all the love I never gave before I left you
I know it’s hard to hear it And it may never be enough But don’t take it out on me now ‘Cause I blame it all on myself
And I had a fear of forgiveness Said it from the beginning I was too proud to say I was wrong Said you’d always see me through All that time is gone, no more fearing control I’m ready for the both of us now
So just know that I want you back Just know that I want you back Just know that I want you I’ll take the fall and the fault in us I’ll give you all the love I never gave before I left you Just know that I want you back (Just know that I want you) Just know that I want you back (Just know that I want you) Just know that I want you I’ll take the fall and the fault in us I’ll give you all the love I never gave before I left you (Just know that I want you back, baby)
Just know that I want you back Just know that I want you back Just know that I want you I’ll take the fall and the fault in us I’ll give you all the love I never gave before I left you Just know that I want you back Just know that I want you back Just know that I want you I’ll take the fall and the fault in us I’ll give you all the love I never gave before I left you
Just know that I want you back Just know that I want you back Just know that I want you I’ll take the fall and the fault in us I’ll give you all the love I never gave before I left you Just know that I want you back (Just know that I want you) Just know that I want you back (Just know that I want you) Just know that I want you I’ll take the fall and the fault in us I’ll give you all the love I never gave before I left you (Just know that I want you back, baby) (Just know that I want you) (Just know that I want you back, baby) I’ll take the fall and the fault in us I’ll give you all the love I never gave before I left you
