They pay love Mexican beer or the sun’s aura – maybe we’ll never know, but one thing’s for sure The Coronas adore Cameron Crowe‘s films. So much so the Irish band have made Q a Playlist of the best songs from his movies.
Elton John – Tiny Dancer
“We chose our favourite songs from Cameron Crowe films (basically just Jerry Maguire, Almost Famous and Vanilla Sky, we also stopped watching after Vanilla Sky) because we actually got our name off the typewriter William Miller uses in Almost Famous called the Smith Corona Deluxe! [So now we know! – Ed] We also chose Tiny Dancer because you can’t have any soundtrack list without mentioning this beauty from Elton John and Bernie Taupin.”
Bob Dylan – Shelter From The Storm
“A classic from Dylan’s Blood On The Tracks and the definitive scene in Jerry Maguire.”
Jeff Buckley – Last Goodbye
“An absolutely amazing voice! Apparently he was raised as Scotty Moorhead.”
Simon & Garfunkel – America
“’Honey, they are on pot!!’ Zoey Deschanel plays this song for her mother and describes why she is leaving to explore the country. A song written by Paul Simon about young lovers hitchhiking across America and the opening track on the Almost Famous OST.”
The Monkees – Porpoise Song (Theme from Head)
“The Porpoise Song was written by Gerry Goffin and Carol King for The Monkees film Head. It’s used brilliantly in Vanilla Sky as the drama builds and the song crescendos you feel like you are going a bit mad along with poor Mr Cruise. I also love the production on this song as it’s quite out there for The Monkees.”
The Cars – Moving In Stereo
“The B-side to ‘Best Friends Girl’ and the only song that squeezes into the list that isn’t in Jerry Maguire, Almost Famous or Vanilla Sky. It featured in the infamous fantasy scene in Fast Times at Ridgemont High when Phoebe Cates removes her bikini top. Has a bass solo which can only help!”
Radiohead – Everything In Its Right Place
“Plays in the opening scene of Vanilla Sky and an absolute stomper from Radiohead. I remember listening to the song for the first time when I was 15 or so and being blown away and still not having a clue how the rest of Kid A would sound like.”
Beach Boys – Feel Flows
“Played at the end credits of Almost Famous while a hand flicks through some old polaroids. This little known Beach Boys gem with an amazing flute solo was written and performed by Carl Wilson and I think it was actually sampled by Madonna on her Ray of Light album.”
R.E.M. – Sweetness Follows
As a kid listening to Automatic For The People I also stuck to the safe options like Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight, Everybody Hurts and Man on the Moon and it wasn’t until Vanilla Sky was released and I heard Sweetness Follows for the first time in years that I realised that it was such a dark and beautiful song. Afterwards I went back and listened to Automatic For The People religiously and is still one of my favourite albums to this day!
For more head to Thecoronas.net.
