Track 3 - Wise Up

You got
What you want
Now you can hardly stand it though,
By now you know
It's not going to stop
It's not going to stop
It's not going to stop
'Til you wise up

Movies and music. How often do they really complement each other? How often a song brings out the real mood of a film? How often are songs developed specially for that matter?

Not very often at all. Most times songs are searched over to match the movie trama. The use of oldies is the most common. Soundtracks like Pulp Fiction (after Tarantino came up with the idea of playing old forgotten songs into movies and turning them into modern hits) are the most common and popular, I think.

Then, there are the movies that include new songs but you don't even notice, until someone nominates them for the Best Original Song category at the Oscars!
But very very few shake you up in your seat. Very few stick in your head long after you leave the theatre. Very few have that strength.

Wise up shocked me the day I went to see Magnolia. And it was all mainly because you just don't see it coming. You know you are watching an insightful movie. You know the characters are all dealing with strong-everyday issues and that you are going to get something out of it. You are all into the drama and the crisis. But the least you expect is a song to fade out the dialogues and star a whole secuence. Yes, the song becomes the dialogue!

And no, unlike what you're thinking, it doesn't turn the movie into a musical. No, no, no. Not at all! It words out the character's thoughts. And even though they are all going through different situations, the song fits every single one. They all sing the entire song. Each singing a different verse.

When it's over, the movie carries on unaltered. Then, of course, frogs rain down from the sky and you realise you couldn't had seen that coming either!! That's when you know this ain't no regular film.

Aimee Mann sang and played eight songs in that movie. Save Me is another great one that comes up at the end with the final credits. But it was Wise Up that stuck in my head and produced a craving to hear it again.

I had never heard Aimee before. And though, at that time, I was not a big fan of women voices, it impressed me. Such a sweet voice singing such strong lyrics. Just a piano and her voice. How could you ever forget it? Aimee did a great job.

I never heard anything from her again until I saw I Am Sam where she covers a Beatles song along with Michael Penn. Lovely too, but not quite as shocking.
I tried buying one of her albums but couldn't really get into it. She's all about soundtracks to me.

If you haven't heard Wise Up, I am sure you haven't seen the movie. So, this time, head out to Blockbuster or your local movie rental place before you look it up on Limewire. You won't regret it!

Whenever you hear it again, you'll see the movie in your head. Everytime.
Yes, that's when you know it is a great soundtrack song.

Can you think of any other with the same effects?

I can. But that will be Track 4.
I leave you now...