So lemme get something out in the beginning: I like myself a good musical. Be it "Little Shop of Horrors" or "Song and Dance" or Jesus Christ Superstar", if it has good music and intriguing stories, I love it. So a few months ago I found out about an upcoming Julie Taymor-directed project that told the story of a group of counter-culture friends in 1960’s New York City. And they told it by using of 22 Beatles songs.
Well…I was intrigued.
Having been able to attend a special advanced screening of the film
a few weeks back, I feel lucky enough to say that the film is a real
treat. From it’s amazing use of imagry to it’s fluid storytelling, the
Taymor directed project is the kind of movie you leave and keep talking
about for weeks with friends.
But that’s the movie. This review
is about what the true backbone of the film was: the soundtrack. Taymor
cast actors for the leading roles in this film who had the ability to
sing. Sing Beatles songs more specifically. She didn’t want them to
sound LIKE the Beatles (in fact it is obvious in many cases this is
exactly what she did not want), but she wanted the singers to do the
songs justice.
A great many of the songs are preformed by the two primary characters in the film (Jude and Lucy, respectivally played by Jim Sturgess and Evan Rachel Wood…and yes, all charecters in the film ARE named after Beatles songs) but there are also some incredible cameos in the film that fortunetly the studio was able to secure for the soundtrack too.
One of my favorite non-Jude and Lucy cuts was the rendition of "I Am The Walrus" preformed by Bono (who played a brilliant Dr. Robert) and The Secret Machines. Like many of the other preformers on this soundtrack, they have been able to take an established and wonderful song and breathe new life into it almost to the point of making it sound like an entirely new creation. Bono and The Secret Machines were able to do this AND pay respect in the same song. It must be heard.
Bono and Edge appear later together on "Lucy in The Sky with Diamonds" and Joe Cocker turns up with the song that I had hoped would gain inclusion in this collection, his gritty version of "Come Together" (Cocker played a homeless man in the film). When the guitar kicks off the song you know what’s coming, but then when you heard the voice of the aged, yet brilliant Cocker, you get blown away by the power in the words. As you know, this is NOT the first time Cocker has marvelously covered a Beatles track (Wonder Years anyone?) and hopefully, it won’t be the last.
Selma Hayek, who has a very small but memorable role in the film pops in to lay a few vocals down on "Happiness a Warm Gun" and the incredibly underrated Dana Fuchs KILLS the game with her heart-racing "Helter Skelter".
Earlier on the album, Jim Sturgess is able to get you out of your seat with his poppy "I’ve Just Seen a Face" and Evan Rachel Wood brings out the emotion that many of this generations war-seperated lovers must be feeling with her "It Won’t Be Long".
Possible the standout record in this collection is the short and quiet "I Want to Hold Your Hand" by T.V. Carpio. T.V. has been able to take this song which I personally have always thrown in with early-era Beatles throwaway pop and really unleased the anguish in the lyrics.
I wish that Eddie Izzard’s demented ode to "For the Benefit of Mr. Kite" had made it to the CD, but I will remain content with this collection until I can own the DVD of this amazing film. Joe Anderson’s "With a Little Help From My Friends" would have also been a gem in this set, but it is a song that needs the imagry Taymor placed it alongside to really shine.
While no collection of covers could ever be perfect (especially when trying to replicate the Fab Four) ACROSS THE UNIVERSE comes damn close. I definitely recommend this exciting and different take on already beautiful music.
4 out of 5 worms.
