2019.11.30
Robbie Robertson's theme song and a variety of juke box-like songs
Another member of the Scorsese team that should not be forgotten is Robbie Robertson, who was in charge of music. A former member of the Canadian rock band The Band, the two hit it off during `` The Last Waltz, '' which depicts their breakup concert, and ``I felt a bond like brothers.'' They even lived together on Mulholland and exchanged knowledge about movies and music with each other.
After `` Raging Bull, '' he started participating in Scorsese's films as a musician, and they have already worked together about 10 times.
In the movie, the dark tone of the theme song of ``The Irishman'' hints at the fate of the main characters. "This movie is unlike any gangster movie you've ever seen, so we created a score like no other," Robbie said.
At the end of the song, a blues-like song called `` Remembrance '' is played, and the sound of the guitar and harmonica really touches your heart. This song is taken from Robbie's new album `` Cinematic '', which was released this fall.
The album also includes a song called ` `I Hear You Paint Houses, '' modeled after Frank Sheeran from ``The Irishman,'' in which Robbie performs a light-hearted duet with his old friend Van Morrison. This is the English title of the movie's original book, and is said to be what the real-life Hoffa said when he first spoke to Frank Sheeran on the phone (the original says, ``I hear you're painting all these houses.'') Hoffa tells Sheeran).
The album also includes the theme song for Robbie's new documentary film Once Were Brothers, which was executive produced by Scorsese. The lyrics "Once upon a time we were brothers" seem to refer to the relationship between the members of The Band and Robbie, but they also evoke the bonds between gangsters portrayed in Scorsese's films. As the title "Cinematic" suggests, this is an attractive new album with cinematic elements.
In addition to Robbie's music, ``The Irishman'' features music from the 50s, 60s, and 70s. There are some quotations from film music, such as `` The Barefoot Countess '' (54), but the most memorable one is `` Grisby's' ' theme song for the French-Italian co-production `` Keep Your Hands on the Cash '' (54). It would be "Blues ." This is a masterpiece of film noir directed by Jacques Becker, in which Jean Gabin plays the role of an old gangster, and there are similarities with this film (the use of a harmonica is also a commonality with two songs by Robbie Robertson). (And I feel strangely sad.) The scene in the movie shows Sheeran and Buffalino talking at a bar.
The song used at the beginning is Five Satins ' 50's all-days " In the Still of the Night ." It sounds nostalgic and gentle. In the scene where Sheeran first meets the woman who will become his second wife, Joe Stafford 's ` `You Belong to Me' ' is played, expressing his feelings in the song.
In the second half, the beautiful melody of male singer Julie Valli's ``Al Dilla'' plays during the Teamsters' award ceremony scene. Val is a Scorsese favorite and has been featured in Goodfellas and Casino . Rock musician Steve Van Zandt plays the role of Val and performs a live lip- syncing performance (showing a softer look than usual). There's also a sense of Scorsese's sense of playfulness here.
As usual in Scorsese's films, the songs are performed by the Glenn Miller Orchestra , who also appears in the original work, as well as the Percy Faith Orchestra , Fats Domino, Santo & Johnny, and Bill Doggett. This time, the rock-style songs are relatively subdued, and there are many romantic songs and upbeat Latin-style songs, which neutralize the impact of the men's bloody conflicts.
Scorsese's gangster movies have a mysterious charm that makes you want to watch them over and over again, and that is largely due to the power of music. This is because you will want to surrender to the lively images edited to match the tempo of the sound over and over again. Scorsese creates movies that are like the jukebox of an era.
Text: Sawako Omori
Movie journalist. His books include "Lost Cinema" (Kawade Shobo Shinsha) and other books, and his translations include "Woody" (by D. Evanier, Kinema Junposha). Contributes to magazines such as ``Weekly Women'', ``Music Magazine'', and ``Kinema Junpo''. A research book based on the web series, `` Mini Theater Revisited, '' is also scheduled to be published.
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*Information as of December 2019 article publication.
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