Category Archives: Music Review

Song of the Day: Theme From The Godfather by Nino Rota

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

Today, the Shattered Lens observes the birthdays of two great actors, Robert Duvall and the much-missed Diane Keaton.

Along with being two of America’s best actors, Duvall and Keaton also co-starred in the first two Godfather films.  They didn’t share many scenes in the second film (though there was at least one Duvall/Keaton scene that was filmed but not included in the final film) but, in the first film, they have a memorable moment in which Keaton (as Kay) visits the Corleone compound while the Corleones are in the middle of a gang war, and asks Duvall’s Tom Hagen to send a letter to Michael in Sicily.  Hagen explains that he can’t do that because that would serve as evidence that he knew where Michael was.  When Kay notices a car that has obviously been bombed, Tom blandly replies, “Oh, that was an accident.  Luckily, no one was hurt!”

In honor of these two amazing performers and my favorite movie of all time, today’s song of the day is Nino Rota’s theme from The Godfather.

Music Video Of The Day: What’s Good (The Thesis) by Lou Reed (1992, dir by Tarsem Singh)

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

This song originally appeared in the 1991 Wim Wenders film, Until The End of the World.

Tarsem Singh also directed The Cell, that film in which Jennifer Lopez goes into the mind of a serial killer.  That’s a film that I’ve been meaning to review for a while, even though I don’t remember caring much for it the last time that I watched it.

Enjoy!

Music Video of the Day: I Can’t Drive 55 by Sammy Hagar (1984, dir by Gil Bettman)

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

52 years ago, on a date that will live in infamy, President Richard Nixon signed into law the national speed limit of 55 Miles Per Hour.  Though the law was later repealed, the scourge of the speed limit continues.

Though this song is just a little before my time, it still feels like it was specifically recorded just for me.  I have always considered traffic laws, not just the laws themselves but the way they are enforced, to be the epitome of everything that can go wrong when people blindly respect authority.

As for the video, it also feels like it was specifically filmed for me.  It’s actually a fun little video with a sense of humor and who hasn’t wanted to tell a traffic judge what he can do with his gavel?

Enjoy!

Music Video of the Day: The Heart of Rock & Roll by Huey Lewis and the News (1983, directed by Edd Griles)

Posted on by Jedadiah Leland

Huey Lewis and the News don’t get the respect they deserve and no, that Patrick Bateman monologue doesn’t count.

The Heart of Rock & Roll was inspired by a gig that the band played in Cleveland.  Before the performance, Lewis felt that the band’s hometown of San Francisco had the world’s best rock music fans but, after being greeted by an enthusiastic crowd in Cleveland, he realized that there were true rock and roll fans all over America.  “The heart of rock and roll is in Cleveland,” Huey said but when it came time to write the song, it was decided that “still beating” sounded better.

(The band actually directed several regional versions of the song.  If you heard the song on the radio in Maryland, Huey included a shout-out to Baltimore.  If you were in Texas, he would mention Dallas and Houston.  In Canada, he gave credit to Toronto.)

The music video was directed by Edd Griles.  Shooting occurred in several different locations while the band was touring.  The New York shoot was the most difficult as it lasted for 13 hours and in freezing weather.  Amongst the rock and roll greats included in the video: Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Bill Haley, Roy Orbison, Little Richard, and Chuck Berry.

Enjoy!

Music Video of the Day: Any Way You Want It by Journey (1980, directed by ????)

Posted on by Jedadiah Leland

To me, there is no better way to close out the year than with this classic song from Journey!  Have a happy and safe New Year’s Eve!

Ever since I first saw Caddyshack (not to mention the episode of The Simpsons were Rodney Dangerfield played Mr. Burns’ son), Any Way You Want It has always been my favorite Journey song.  The video is also Journey at its best, simple, without pretension, and rocking!