Wednesday, September 10, 1997

Interview: "A Little Nights Music"

Entertainment Weekly, Written By Chris Willman
?? ?? 1997


Twenty-seven-year old director Paul Thomas Anderson didn't grow up to the superhits of the 70's, but he's built a monument to them with his Boogie Nights Soundtrack.

Having handpicked 40-odd songs for the soundtrack to his pornland epic Boogie Nights, filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson got nearly everything on his period-pop wish list. Only one songwriter asked to see the film before giving permission to use his tune: ELO-meister Jeff Lynne, whose "Livin' Thing" provides an It's alive! punchline to the scene where smut star Dirk Diggler (Mark Wahlberg) finally comes to terms with his...gift. "Jeff said, 'I have two young daughters, and I have a problem with sex and violence in movies. Should I see this?' So I screened it for him," chuckles Anderson. At the climax, rather than fleeing, Lynne leapt up, fists raised, as ELO kicked in post-prosthesis. "He said, 'I don't like sex and violence in movies, but this is the most brilliant f---in' movie ever!'"

Lynne isn't the only one who gets it. Boogie Nights has won acclaim for unearthing dozens of disco-era gems, which are "not only integral to the vibe of the movie," as scorer Michael Penn puts it, "but also commentary, whether it's just sort of a stupid pun or some real undercurrent of what's happening on screen."

Indeed, just as the story uses a proud porn auteur's reluctance to abandon film for videotape to symbolize the freewheeling '70s counterculture giving way to the mercenary '80s, that changing of the guard is made musically manifest, too, in the slide from the dance fever of 1975's "You Sexy Thing" to the pop-metal portent of 1984's "Sister Christian." Though the effect is deliberate, "that was done for me," Anderson laughs. "The music did get worse; we didn't create that. It's like, I'm making a movie from '77 to '84, gotta be time accurate and specific...and, oh, here's this Night Ranger song."

He can wax defensive when critics tar all the nightclub selections in the early scenes with the D-word. "Maybe people think it's disco because you're in a discotheque, but the Emotions' 'Best of My Love,' to me, it's a soul song--like a Supremes song, but in 1977."

The 27-year-old director discovered most of his Me Decade faves--from Marvin Gaye to the Move--late in life. But Rick Springfield's 1981 "Jessie's Girl" "meant something to me at the time. I was 13 and had a crush on a girl. I like that I can look at Mark in that scene and hear 'Jessie's Girl' and be selfish and personal about my attachment to it." But "this wonderful little love song" is ironic counterpoint in a violent third-act scene where Diggler, down-and-out, peddles fake drugs to gun-toting cokeheads. "Here's this fucking jackass who was the kid next door, who should have been dealing with that--wishing he had Jessie's girl--but instead he's selling baking soda."

Anderson's reasons for featuring Night Ranger's signature song in the same sequence were less personal, more practical. "Come on! That much porno and cocaine is gonna lead to 'Sister Christian.' But I dig that song. There's a cheesy, ridiculous quality to it, but you can tell that Night Ranger buy it--and that's all I'd ever want." If Boogie and its recently released 14-cut soundtrack are bound to afford the power ballad a revival, he's unrepentant: "If I can reach just one person with the 'Sister Christian' message, then I'll have done my job."

12 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Maybe the songs at "A Little Nights Music" will become my ringtone. You can visit SonneriePortable to discover more cool sonnerie portable gratuite.

      Delete
  2. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love it. I like your music. I am a music fan. I want to mention you that music is ring tones. Ringtones bring us joyful moments and vigilance. Unique ringtone. Ringtones are attractive. Please visit my homepage to find the best ringtone on your mobile phone: https://ringtonesmobile.net/

    Here are some examples of ringtones I would like you to refer to and install for free by following the instructions below:

    - Tera Fitoor ringtone here
    - Ya Lili ringtone here
    - Pilla Ra ringtone here
    - Rx100 ringtone here
    - Paniyon Sa ringtone here

    I need to comment on your post. Wish you have the best ringtone selection for your mobile phone. Hope my ringtone makes you happy.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I think https://bestringtone.net/tarse-ye-naina-anand-bajpai-ringtone-download music is also a cure. It is seen as an explosion of humanity. It is something that can make us all touched. There are no cultural barriers

    ReplyDelete
  5. Yeah the hockey wags in Toronto will talk about it, but who cares? I love how our esteemed Avalanche corespondent tries to stir the pot, like with the Stastny to the Kings trade rumor that he wasn sure if it was credible or not, but decided to throw it out there anyway. It kind of amusing but still slightly annoying. I like EJ too, a good guy and he was great again in yesterdays game, but i did like Stewie more..

    There are no tight ends in the CFL Have to believe another NFL team will pick up Alex Singleton, the former Stampeders star, who was cut by Philadelphia after making a boatload of tackles in the pre season. Figure the same scenario with receiver Duke Williams, cut Saturday by the Buffalo Bills Andrew Harris tests positive in the CFL for drugs and gets suspended for two games. The same suspension in baseball is half a season. (tags: Cheap Real Yeezys, Discount Jordan Shoes Wholesale, Cheap Yeezys)

    Bengals have allowed 20 sacks, third fewest in league. Steelers WR Antonio Brown leads NFL with 122 receptions. He needs two catches to have second highest single season reception total in league history. Indianapolis WR Marvin Harrison had 143 in 2002. (tags: Jordan Shoes For Sale Cheap, 2020 Jordan Release Dates, Ray Ban Sunglasses Outlet)

    She met Scott in August 2010, and by January 2011 she had secured the role. Actresses Anne Hathaway, Natalie Portman, Gemma Arterton, Carey Mulligan, and Abbie Cornish were all considered for the role during development. It is designed to be indistinguishable from humans, and begins to develop "its own ego, insecurities, jealousy and envy" (tags: Coach Outlet Store Online , Michael Kors Bags Sale, Coach Outlet Store, MK Outlet).

    ReplyDelete
  6. your article is very good and everyone can download ringtones for free at it is https://klingeltonmobi.de extremely high quality and completely free

    ReplyDelete
  7. It's great that your post is very meaningful and useful for everyone and besides it everyone can download ringtones at bruitages mp3 because it is extremely high quality and completely free

    ReplyDelete
  8. I had HIV I was told there was no cure except medication that can control it, I totally lost hope, all I could think was losing my life because I was so depressed and confused about the whole situation , few weeks ago I read about Dr Ojie natural herbal medicine which was guaranteed, I ordered the medicine after using it for 2 weeks I went for test and I tested negative I am so excited to share my testimony thank you so much dr Ojie you can also contact dr Ojie via WhatsApp or call +2349015357322 Email doctorojie1@yahoo.com OR doctorojie@gmail.com, Dr ojie also have medications for, Kidney failure ,Herpes 1/2, CANCER, ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), Hepatitis A/B, chronic pancreatitis, Emphysema, COPD (Chronic , Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), asthma, Acute angle-closure Glaucoma, Diabetes, CHRONIC PANCREATITIS thanks everyone God bless.

    ReplyDelete
  9. this is real take it serious, who will believe that a herb can cure ten
    years HIV in my body, i never believe that this will work i have spend a
    lot when getting drugs from the hospital to keep me healthy, what i was
    waiting for is death because i was broke, one day i hard about this great
    man who is well know of HIV and cancer cure, i decided to email him,
    unknowingly to me that this will be the end of the HIV aids in my body, he
    prepare the herb for me, and give me instruction on how to take it, at the
    end of the two week, he told me to go to the hospital for a check up, and i
    went, surprisingly after the test the doctor confirm me negative, i thought
    it was a joke, i went to other hospital was also negative, then i took my
    friend who was also HIV positive to the Dr voodoo after the treatment she
    was also confirm negative . He also have the herb to cure cancer please i
    want every one with this virus to be free, that is why am dropping his
    email address, voodoospelltemple66@gmail.com i want you to email him he
    is a great man. the government is also interested in this Dr voodoo
    thank you for saving my life, and I promise I will always testify
    for your good work you can also add him on whatsApp
    +2348140120719

    ReplyDelete
  10. My first symptoms of ALS occurred in 2014, but was diagnosed in 2016. I had severe symptoms ranging from shortness of breath, balance problems, couldn't walk without a walker or a power chair, i had difficulty swallowing and fatigue. I was given medications which helped but only for a short burst of time, then I decided to try alternative measures and began on ALS Formula treatment from Tree of Life Health clinic. It has made a tremendous difference for me (Visit w w w. treeoflifeherbalclinic .com ). I had improved walking balance, increased appetite, muscle strength, improved eyesight and others. ]

    ReplyDelete