JPF Home Page Forums General Messages General Message Forum That Thing You Do

Saw this charming movie again on the tube last night. Inspired me to go to YouTube and find a clip. If this doesn't get across the joy of playing music, I don't know what does.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPMLG8mnCRM

Scott

That's great Scott. For me, it's something like this...give it a good chance - these are some of the best in their genre.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7h6j...next=1&playnext_from=PL&index=13

Slainte,

Barry

Great video, Barry!

And a cool idea too from you. To All: What video really gets across the joy of playing music for you? Not necessarily the best song but the one where it is clear the musicians would not want to be anywhere else at that moment?

Scott

You know, Scott - sometimes when the right video/music hits ya, you wonder "why in the world am I doing anything else when this moves me to distraction?" (nevermind the obvious answers :-)

bc

Y'know, I don't think I could pick a single one. I like all those movies where the live music is part of the action--"This is Spinal Tap," "O Brother, Where Art Thou?", the Beatles flicks, "That Thing You Do," that old one where Paul Robeson plays Leadbelly, and so on. Problem is, I can't watch 'em without my fingers getting itchy--I want to go *play*. I have the same problem with live performances.

Joe

And if you notice the crowd's alittle "joyful" also. Recipe: 3 guitars, a drummer, (w/shades of course) a very catchy and likeable (50ish) upbeat melody w/simple lyrics spells happiness/success/hit!!!!

Not only did I like the song but I loved the movie. I especially liked the part, towards the end, where Liv Tyler tells off her jerk bf in a very eloquent way, then falls for the "good guy". I love movies where the nice guy gets the girl in the end!

Hey Joe - and Barry:

Sounds like we all have the same problem.

I love that scene near the end of "Oh Brother" where they sneak on stage so that the George Clooney character can get his wife's attention. They sing a song and get a so-so response. Then the start "Man of Constant Sorrow" and the crowd realizes it's the Soggy Bottom Boys and goes wild. They're surprised as hell - They didn't even know they were famous.

Scott

Yeah, you're right, Lynn. That song isn't very sophisticated but it's impossible to to bounce to it.

Scott

Yeah, me too, Polly!

That IS a good scene.....

I also like the one where they first play the song in public. They get Guy to practice it in the garage with them because their regular drummer broke his arm. They play it as a very slow ballad and Guy is too nice to say anything but he's clearly bored with it.

Then they go to the talent show and Guy starts it off with a real uptempo beat. The bandleader spins and tells him he's playing it too fast but doesn't want to miss his cue so he spins back around and starts singing. The band realizes as they play the song that it's very cool as an uptempo piece. As does the audience of course....

Great scene....

Scott

I own & LOVE this movie. It is on my favorite music movie list And many times when I'm bummed out I put it on.

I love music story movies ESPECIALLY when they take place in a the time when POP & Rock music was at it's GREATEST, youngest and most special.

I can not wipe the smile off of my face when they hear "That Thing You Do" come over the radio. And they all race to the drummers Dad's appliance store. I FEEL that 100% ...that is MY dream since I was a baby!

Why was it much more special then?
Hey if you got your band on TV right now it would be very cool BUT there are 2000 stations playing 24/7 I see a different OFTEN pretty NON SPECIAL band on TV every single night. "Hey my bands gonna be on blah blah MCB 3 channel 1006 on Sunday night at 3:45 am"

How about my bands gonna be on The Ed Sullivan Show or American Bandstand

Get on TV when you only have SEVEN channels and they go off the air at 4:00 am!
Now that's SPECIAL!

Also LOVE when you see kids lining up at a local RECORD STORE! with a cardboard
stand with your bands picture and name... to buy YOUR record!

Anyway Tom Hanks co-wrote a bunch of those songs!
Notice how the bass player only gets credited as "THE BASS PLAYER" lol..

I have personally lived & experienced so much of that flick in my life.
I love the whole perspective of that simple movie... the label the tour, the conflict of interests the one hit wonders, the girlfriend (Charlize Theron) who split for the dentist, the drummers jazz influence, how he sped up the song to make it a hit... the recording in the church. The MIRACLE of "making it"

When I got the phone call hearing my band had been picked up by Columbia Records I was happy and had a special quiet moment with on ore two fist shakes in the air. It only had taken me about 16 years professionally to get there.

BUT it was NOT with the guys I played my whole life with & grew up with. It was two guys I had only met twice
and 2 people I only worked on sessions with for a brief time.

NOT the same at all........

LOVE that movie - My favorite music movie perhaps is 1946 AAL Jolson Story
staring Larry Parks!

That's another great scene! Dad is perplexed but Mom is dancing in her seat.

I knew you had to have this movie, Sub!

Scott

Cindy and I were in the center of old town Williamsburg, and stayed in that big corner Inn. (Dirt road for that main street). We rented "That Think You Do", in lieu of "Johnny plays humpback".

We were amazed at ho good the film was. I was glued to all the happenings of those kids as if there,,,for like most of us, we have been there in one way or another of dreaming, hoping, or for some doing it.

I loved the scene where the drummer was listening to the jazz band, and is idol was there. Later they recorded, "Spartacus".

Real cool!

We can't think of that vacation without strong memories and feelings about that film! Those bus trips to the fairs! The TV show, with something like The Beatles in their film "A hard Days Night".

Just a wonderful young hopeful band story, with cute boy/girl things, tamed down of course, but charming as anything!

Thanks for the memories,,,,again!

john

Great movie!!

Hey, wasn't that our fan?

It's very important you don't stink today.

You see, we're not "The Wonders" right now. We're "Cap'n Geech and the Shrimp Shack Shooters

Yes I read that Tom and others cowrite some of the songs and Tom wrote and produced the movie but as far as this song in particular, it was written and composed by an Adam Schlesinger. Here's the lyrics. Now if one of us posted these lyrics over on a Lyric Board we might read a critique like:

"too corney"
"too simple"
"not groundbreaking enough"
"needs more meat"

BUT it just goes to show if you've got that take it over the top melody it really doesn't matter. Granted this was written for a movie of that time period so it all works but hey I still love that music and wish we had more of it today.

You doing that thing you do!
Breakin' my heart into a million pieces
Like you always do.
And you, don't mean to be cruel.
You never even knew about the heartache
I've been going through.
And I try and try to forget you girl
But it's just so hard to do.
Every time you do that thing do!

I know all the games you play
And I'm gonna find a way to let you know
That you'll be mine someday.
Cause we, could be happy can't you see?
If you know me let me be the one to hold you
And keep you here with me.
'Cause I try and try to forget you girl
But it's just so hard to do.
Every time you do that thing do!

I don't ask a lot but I know one thing for sure.
It's the love that I haven't got girl.
And I just can't take it anymore.
Cause we, could be happy can't you see?
If you know me let me be the one to hold you
and keep you here with me.

Cause it hurts me so just to see you go
Around with someone new.
And to find that you, you're doing that thing.
Every day just doing that thing.
I can't take you doing that thing you do

just go to show you that keeping it simple is the way to go, overspicing the soup can spoil it

HEY..... just for the record (pun intended)....if anybody out there has a love for this kind of music and an ability/knack/desire for writing those kind of melodies (slow or uptempo) I will gladly roll up my sleeves and team up with you and write lyrics in that vein. I love this music and I don't believe it has to be kept in the past, but I would love to see it be reintroduced in the present, even if it's just sprinkled inbetween the music of today. The only way that's gonna happen is if we get busy so let me know, you know where to find me. I'm serious Read this:

Written and composed by Adam Schlesinger, bassist for Fountains of Wayne and Ivy, and released on the film's soundtrack, the song became a genuine hit for The Wonders in 1996 (the song peaked at #41 on the Billboard Hot 100, #22 on the Adult Contemporary charts, #18 on the Adult Top 40, and #24 on the Top 40 Mainstream charts). The track was nominated for the 1996 Golden Globe Award as well as the 1996 Academy Award for Best Original Song. Mike Viola of The Candy Butchers provided the distinctive lead vocals for the Wonders

I loved the Oneders (Oh-Needers)!

Our 2LT band has been doing that style of music for a while, (not as good or worse, for I don't really know, being close to the tunes a long time now. Bud and me a long time before that even. Heck!!! Since lizards ruled the earth.

Get Busy With it
All Over Again
You Girl Only
Love You Lately
London's Ferris Wheel
Light of My Eyes
You're The One
Without You, (real Oldie)
etc.

When media or us are ready, we'll have plenty to go with.

Or not.

John

Yeah, that was a great scene, John. I can see why that resonated with you, because you were in a similar situation - at least once as I recall.

Actually, I'm starting to see a little bit of a pattern in that folks are drawn to a scene in the movie that relates to something that happened in their own life.

Cool!

Scott

LOL

Yes, but I think it also speaks to the point that the success of a lyric is highly dependent on the genre. Try and imagine this lyric in a country song - I'd probably cringe. But in an uptempo pop song, it works.

Yeah, I wish we'd hear more of this kind of thing too, Lynn. Every once in awhile, we do. I remember when "Beach Baby" was a hit - that was a throwback. As was "Walking on the Sun" to some extent. It's always a pleasant surprise.....

Scott

Yeah, can't disagree....as long as the lyric and music work together - as they certainly do here.

Scott

OK, Lynn - If I ever get one, you're first on my list!

Scott

That's classic, Jack. I love those little screw-ups that appear in these movies. Like in "A Mighty Wind" when their record company forgot to drill the hole in their records and they had to do it themselves. Or in "Spinal Tap" when the guy got trapped in his pod....

Scott

Those are good examples, John. Your lyrics always match the feel of the music and get the song across on an emotional level - which is the thing to shoot for, I reckon.....

Scott

Thank you Scott. Didn't think they did all that though.
Just tunes I like playing and singing, as I hear them.

Actually I think that That Thing You Do could work as a country song, you simply change the vocal delivery a little, alter the beat slightly and maybe add some different instrumentation. Lyrically, I think it is fine for country.

Yup.

Joe

You guys might be right. Still, I think it would come across as a little sappy in a country version. Not to say people might not still like it...

Scott

Guys, Chad fell down.

You ARE my biggest fan.