Rach’s Musical Brain - w/c 22nd Feb 2021

This week it’s just a bunch of randoms. And I mean it, they’re really random. Sometimes you just have the embrace the randomness of your own playlists. Am I right?

My main playlist on Spotify is called Rach’s Randoms and it’s called that for a reason. If I hear a song and I like it, it goes in there... and it basically stays there. Over the years I’ve had Spotify, I’ve now gathered over 93 hours of music, give or a take a few minutes, and although these next 10 may not be up there amongst favourites, they’re still memorable in their own way. Every song is!

As ever, the playlist is here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5uvGPB5HsOhdICfOxGVqDZ?si=1QhQ1addTjSb7Eqb8NBmoQ

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NUMBER 10.

Look out for Mister Stork - Dumbo Chorus

I wish this was the way babies came to you. And in the film, I love the way Disney have animated the map like this... It’s quite clever. Everyone who gets their babies in this scene has a reprise in Baby Mine... and I DARE you to NOT cry at that song... oh god it always gets me.

NUMBER 9.

If Elephants Could Fly - Marcus Warner

Well this one really is random... despite being strangely (and eerily) apt for the song above it... I’ve posted Africa by Marcus Warner a few playlists before this... which was a Daily Mixer, and this one is too. It‘s repetitive but building nature is what I like so much about it, as well as the incorporation of the choirs and gradually the solo voice. And there’s something cute about an elephant able to fly. And not just Dumbo. Any elephant.

NUMBER 8.

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Pentatonix

You may think this one is EXTREMELY random, given we’re now in February and well past Christmas. But bearing in mind I add things to this playlist as I go - when it comes to mind - it can sometimes take a bit of time to reach the surface. But I absolutely love this song because it reminds me of this scene. It’s from the 2018 version of the The Grinch (which I reviewed in my Christmas movie playlist!) and it’s when Grinch is being chased through town by a choir. I had a hunch it was Pentatonix - probably one of the most famous acapella choir (an acapella choir is one that only uses voices, even to create the backing music) in the world - but it was confirmed when I finally looked it up. The best bit is when Grinch thinks he’s safe from them and then they suddenly appear out of people’s windows. Makes me cackle every time. If you want to watch the scene, please follow this link: https://youtu.be/BiPY5_H9EIw

NUMBER 7.

World‘s Finest - Blake Neely

Blake Neely does the soundtracks to the CW Superhero shows, and despite not necessarily being the best programme out of the lot - Arrow definitely was, followed v. closely by The Flash - it has the best theme. Although it hasn’t (and probably can’t?) use the Superman theme itself, you still have a close enough connection to it to know Supergirl is directly related to Superman, and I love that. This episode is where Flash’s Barry Allen comes for a visit, and it‘s arguably the best episode in series 1 I think.

NUMBER 6.

To A Future With An End - Rob Simonsen

This is probably one of the most underrated films someone has ever seen. Every time I see it, I fall in love with it all over again. It‘s a sci-fi/romance film... where Adaline Bowman has a freak accident and her aging is stopped because she’s struck by lightning at the same time as being freezing cold. She lives decades, watching her loved ones grow old as she stays the same age - even her own daughter - cursed to live in one place and then move on. But when she meets Elliot, she falls in love and wishes she could grow old with him. This song - as the track name suggests - is at the end. And it’s a shot of her looking in the mirror. And as she walks away, she stops, turns back and smiles... Well, I'll let you see that bit for yourself.

NUMBER 5.

In Dulce Jubilo - Mike Oldfield

I haven’t heard this song since 2012 when it was featured in the London 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony (kind of), showcasing the NHS, so when Josie started singing this on repeat I had to get involved. Mike Oldfield is best known for his epic work with Tubular Bells (a song that deserves a playlist all by itself given it’s all 1 track and lasts for 26 minutes!). He’s synthesised the original tune to make it more upbeat, particularly towards the end, and I can guarantee this one will be in your head for a while. So apologies in advance for that one!

NUMBER 4.

From Now On - Zac Brown Band

This is my favourite song of the reimagined album.. by far. I love the Zac Brown Band. I was first introduced to them in I Am Number Four - As She’s Walking Away- and they have such an original sound you can always recognise them! But being my favourite song from The Greatest Showman anyway, I couldn’t help but love this one.

NUMBER 3.

Turtle - Thomas Newman

I love the story behind this song. Cinderella Man is based on the true story of James J. Braddock, Champion Boxer, where he went from barely earning a dime to world champion boxer. This song is at the end. Earlier in the film, he asks his sons what they want as a pet... and they say a Turtle. At the end (spoiler alert, when he makes it to Champion) he gets his kids some pet turtles. James J. Braddock was Anglo-Irish, so the music has a kind of Irish vibe to it. It's a song your fingers can drum along to happily with your fingers, and one I never turn off when it comes on.

NUMBER 2.

Touch the Sky - Julie Fowlis

"But every once in a while, there's a day when I don't have to be a princess. No lessons, no expectations. A day where anything can happen. A day I can change my fate." A Princess' day off. And what Merida says about having a day... what she does is exactly what I would do. And I love Merida's horse, Angus. They use the voice of Julie Fowlis twice in the Brave soundtrack, and she has a very beautiful voice. Patrick Doyle did the score, and with a Scottish theme, you can guess the soundtrack includes pipes, drums and beautifulness.

NUMBER 1.

Where No One Goes - John Powell, Jonsi

Jonsi has been used throughout the How To Train Your Dragon series, and I love her voice, and how John Powell's soundtrack is rightfully award-winning, with its Viking twangs and highland motifs. The HTTYD movies were absolutely fantastic, and the music is a huge part of that. With the same composer all the way through - a definite positive - the animation is so visually stunning and the storylines in all 3 just get better and better. I will always regret not seeing the first film in the cinema. The first and only time I was persuaded away from seeing something... and when I finally did watch it on DVD, it had me in tears of amazement. I am super Disney fan, if ever there was one, but the Dreamworks Animation Studio movies are always on a whole other level.......

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So there we have it. 10 more random tracks for you to drum your fingers along to, dance to or even sway to. And all beautifully random!

Remember the playlist is here, and please give it a follow to stay up to date with the new stuff! The next weeks are reeeeeeally good (if I do say so myself!) :D

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5uvGPB5HsOhdICfOxGVqDZ?si=1QhQ1addTjSb7Eqb8NBmoQ