TopBilled Posted December 8, 2014 Share Posted December 8, 2014 Some of the finest songs ever recorded draw inspiration from classic Hollywood... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopBilled Posted December 14, 2014 Author Share Posted December 14, 2014 I read an excerpt from a biography about Bette Davis that said she loved Kim Carnes' hit song about her eyes. She was so impressed that she wrote a letter to Kim and to the songwriters. Anyone else love this tune...? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rB1JdXFktsQ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesJazGuitar Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 The best song inspired by classic movies and stars is The Kinks Celluloid Heros. One thing I really love about the song is that it mentions actors like Mickey Rooney and George Sanders. Of course the icons like Garbo, Monroe and Davis are mentioned but it was great that Ray mentions some of the non iconic actors. Also, what he says about each of them shows an understanding of the actors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopBilled Posted December 15, 2014 Author Share Posted December 15, 2014 The best song inspired by classic movies and stars is The Kinks Celuloid Heros. One thing I really love about the song is that it mentions actors like Mickey Rooney and George Sanders. Of course the icons like Garbo, Monroe and Davis are mentioned but it was great that Ray mentions some of the non iconic actors. Also, what he says about each of them shows an understanding of the actors. Interesting. Is it available on iTunes? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesJazGuitar Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 Interesting. Is it available on iTunes? I don't know. But here are the lyrics: Everybody's a dreamer and everybody's a star And everybody's in movies, it doesn't matter who you are There are stars in every city In every house and on every street And if you walk down Hollywood Boulevard Their names are written in concrete Don't step on Greta Garbo as you walk down the Boulevard She looks so weak and fragile that's why she tried to be so hard But they turned her into a princess And they sat her on a throne But she turned her back on stardom Because she wanted to be alone You can see all the stars as you walk down Hollywood Boulevard Some that you recognize, some that you've hardly even heard of People who worked and suffered and struggled for fame Some who succeeded and some who suffered in vain Rudolph Valentino looks very much alive And he looks up ladies dresses as they sadly pass him by Avoid stepping on Bela Lugosi 'Cause he's liable to turn and bite But stand close by Bette Davis Because hers was such a lonely life If you covered him with garbage George Sanders would still have style And if you stamped on Mickey Rooney He would still turn round and smile But please don't tread on dearest Marilyn Cause she's not very tough She should have been made of iron or steel But she was only made of flesh and blood You can see all the stars as you walk down Hollywood Boulevard Some that you recognize, some that you've hardly even heard of People who worked and suffered and struggled for fame Some who succeeded and some who suffered in vain Everybody's a dreamer and everybody's a star And everybody's in show biz, it doesn't matter who you are And those who are successful Be always on your guard Success walks hand in hand with failure Along Hollywood Boulevard I wish my life was non-stop Hollywood movie show A fantasy world of celluloid villains and heroes Because celluloid heroes never feel any pain And celluloid heroes never really die You can see all the stars as you walk along... You can see all the stars as you walk down Hollywood Boulevard Some that you recognize, some that you've hardly even heard of People who worked and suffered and struggled for fame Some who succeeded and some who suffered in vain La la la la.... Oh, celluloid heroes never feel any pain Oh, celluloid heroes never really die I wish my life was non-stop Hollywood movie show A fantasy world of celluloid villains and heroes Because celluloid heroes never feel any pain And celluloid heroes never really die Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopBilled Posted December 15, 2014 Author Share Posted December 15, 2014 Thanks for sharing, James. Here's one I love-- Breakfast at Tiffany's by Deep Blue Something: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roverrocks Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 I like this part of the 1990 song/video VOGUE by Madonna. !Greta Garbo, and Monroe Dietrich and DiMaggio Marlon Brando, Jimmy Dean On the cover of a magazine Grace Kelly; Harlow, Jean Picture of a beauty queen Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire Ginger Rogers, dance on air They had style, they had grace Rita Hayworth gave good face Lauren, Katharine, Lana too Bette Davis, we love you Ladies with an attitude Fellows that were in the mood Don't just stand there, let's get to it Strike a pose, there's nothing to it Vogue! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JakeHolman Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 The Immortal John Wayne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GGGGerald Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 This should be fun, there are lots of these. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlohlrJKpp8&list=RDGlohlrJKpp8#t=99 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopBilled Posted December 15, 2014 Author Share Posted December 15, 2014 Thanks for posting the clip for the Bertie Higgins song. In the 80s, WGN in Chicago used the song to advertise airings of KEY LARGO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopBilled Posted December 15, 2014 Author Share Posted December 15, 2014 Country music also pays tribute to classic Hollywood. Several sources say that the Statler Brothers' inspiration for their hit song Elizabeth was Liz Taylor. They also had a hit tune about Randolph Scott and western cowboys: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DownGoesFrazier Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 Some of the finest songs ever recorded draw inspiration from classic Hollywood... The Pretenders' "Message of Love" has the line "Like Brigitte Bardot". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DougieB Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 John Prine wrote a song called "Sabu Visits the Twin Cities Alone", based on his later career when he had to take whatever bookings he could get. It reminds me of "Mr. Bojangles" in that way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DownGoesFrazier Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 Not a song, but the record label "Casablanca": must have been inspired by the film. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopBilled Posted December 15, 2014 Author Share Posted December 15, 2014 Tanya Tucker's 1975 number one song Lizzie and the Rain Man is a direct comment on the plot of the Paramount classic THE RAINMAKER starring Burt Lancaster and Katharine Hepburn. I wonder if listeners of country music in the 70s knew that...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sepiatone Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 Some quick research leaves me with no definite credit as to the composer....the best I can offer is "Country" Joe MacDonald----- "DON'T BOGART THAT JOINT" Sepiatone 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkblue Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 The Pretenders' "Message of Love" has the line "Like Brigitte Bardot". and Rough Trade's 'High School Confidential' lyrics: teenage Brando's stalk her in the halls they tease her with cat calls (stella!) she's a combination Anita Ekberg/Mamie Van Doren Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lavenderblue19 Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 The song Key Largo by Bernie Higgins We had it all, just like Bogie and Bacall Starring in our own late show Sailin' away to Key Largo We can find it once again I know Just like they did in Key Largo Also referenced in the song is Casablanca Here's looking at you kid Play it again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkblue Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 Lyrics from 'Year of the Cat' by Al Stewart: On a morning from a Bogart movie In a country where they've turned back time you go strolling through the crowd like Peter Lorre contemplating a crime Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkblue Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 Surely one of the most well-known songs inspired by (and in this case, actually ABOUT) a movie star would be the Taupin/John composition 'Candle in the Wind'. Poor Marilyn - even this lovely gift would be taken from her and re-gifted to "princess die" instead. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DownGoesFrazier Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 and Rough Trade's 'High School Confidential' lyrics: teenage Brando's stalk her in the halls they tease her with cat calls (stella!) she's a combination Anita Ekberg/Mamie Van Doren The Jam's "That's Entertainment" (circa 1981) was no doubt inspired by MGM's mid-70s compilation film of the same title. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 There was a 1984 country music tribute to Dirty Harry called Make My Day. It was sung by T. G. Sheppard and featured Clint Eastwood reciting some of Harry's trademark movie lines ("Feel lucky, punk?", "Go ahead, punk, make my day," etc.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 And how could I forget the 1983 tribute to filmdom's favorite stooge --- The Curly Shuffle by the Jump 'N The Saddle Band? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midge Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 "Quiet Please, There's a Lady on Stage" was Peter Allen's tribute to Judy Garland. Early in his career he performed with her as her opening act. Some of the audience at Judy's night club shows behaved disrespectfully toward the woman he considered a legend (and who became his mother-in-law when he married Liza Minnelli). He wrote the song as a rebuke to those people who didn't realize that the lady on stage, damaged and broken as she may have seemed, was a legend who deserved respect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dargo Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 Taco (Ockerse)'s 1983 big hit song and reworking of Irving Berlin's lyrics to "Puttin' On The Ritz", includes the phrase... "Dressed up like a million-dollar trooperTryin' hard to look like Gary Cooper..Super duper" (...nope, Berlin didn't write it that way back in '29) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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