If My Life Were a Soundtrack - Steph

The Soundtrack of my Life:  “Stealing Beauty” compilation. Film by Bernardo Bertolucci. Music by various artists…

1. 2Wicky: Hooverphonic

2. Glory Box: Portishead

3. If 6 was 9: Axiom Funk / Bootsy Collins

4. Annie Mae: John Lee Hooker

5. Rocket Boy: Liz Phair

6. Superstition: Stevie Wonder

7. My Baby Just Cares For Me: Nina Simone

8. I’ll be Seeing You: Billie Holiday

9. Rhymes of an Hour: Mazzy Star

10. Alice: Cocteau Twins

11. You Won’t Fall: Lori Carson

12. I Need You: Sam Phillips

At the very least, this is one of my favorite movies and soundtracks. Since I went to film school and focused my studies on Italian film and creative writing, once I found “Stealing Beauty” I knew I had stumbled upon a gem. I traveled to Italy for a summer studies semester just after watching this 1996 Bertolucci film… and thought I had found love the day I met the film’s lead actor, Liv Tyler’s crush, Ignatio Oliva, in an Italian tavern called the “Drunken Ship.” Sounds like a great place to meet a crush, right? He was such a lovely guy and treated my American crew to dinner and drinks, and offered a little taste of the world of “Stealing Beauty.”  He even told us what it was like to work with Bertolucci, one of my long time favorite directors.  “Let’s just say, this was the most stunning film shoot I have been or will ever be a part of,” he said as we all picked his brain about working with one of the greats. Over several pints, he admitted to temporarily falling for Liv Tyler… He said it was the setting; I think it was the music…

Every single time I listen to this soundtrack, I feel like I should light 600 white candles and take a seven hour lavender bath. I think at heart, I am a romantic girl… aren’t we all deep down, just sappy big-eyed girls who wanna be rescued and swept away?  Maybe not, but this soundtrack hypnotizes me, leaving me doe-eyed.  I often feel like Lucy, the film’s lead, who sets off for an Italian summer vacation to a distant relative’s Tuscan dream home.  If only they lived on a vineyard, then I would jump right into the film itself and make a living. She’s bent on finding the childhood dream-boy she remembers meeting once as a young girl.  The film follows Lucy through her discoveries, her embarrassing escapades, and her travels to a place where she feels virtually alone. Sounds like me at 22, heading out to scary L.A. to make some sort of difference and years later, stumbling upon a well paved path.

Not only does this soundtrack make for the perfect mood setter, but tracks from John Lee Hooker, to Billie Holiday to Sam Philips throw this entire digital age into the trash can… there’s a sound to these older records we’ve somehow replaced with a slicker, overproduced tone.  I don’t mind it so much, but I will say as soon as Liz Phair’s track “Rocket Boy” comes around, I have to immediately fast forward.  It drives me crazy actually, even though this is my favorite soundtrack (nothing’s perfect).  In fact, on my computer, I have it deselected so I never have to hear the song ever, ever, ever again. I know that it made the soundtrack as her “coming of age, throw caution to the wind, Debbie Harry dance routine” scene, but I suppose I don’t relate to bratty, enraged teenagers anymore.   As for the rest (best) of the tunes, my favorite is probably “My Baby Just Cares for Me” by Nina Simone… her voice transcends the decades, her attitude sarcastically demands attention and care.  You have to go get this soundtrack, watch the movie, fall in love with Italy… set up that seven hour bath and candles… and tell me what your favorite track on this record is and why?

You might not meet Liv Tyler or Ignatio Oliva, or even Jeremy Irons, but after you see the movie and listen to it’s soundtrack, you’ll feel as if you belong on that Tuscan ranch… Enjoy.

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