3 hours ago
Monday, June 15, 2009
Can'tcha Say The Sun Also Rises
This song & this novel/film belong together
On the television, next to me, I can see the 1957 motion picture based upon Ernest Hemingway's novel, "The Sun Also Rises." I generally consider this to be the greatest, while at the same time being the most boring, movie made in the history of cinema: Great but boring. There should be an Academy Award for that category. It was near to the last performances made by actors Tyrone Power and Errol Flynn, who both died of massive heart attacks within two years after filming. Ava Gardner, the beauty among all beauties, appears as the Lady Brett Ashley. Yep, that she was.
On my computer, playing for perhaps the x00th time over the weekend, is the Boston song, "Can'tcha Say (You Believe in Me?)" This song was part of their 1986 album, "Third Stage," the name of which was designed to be symbolic of the onset of middle age. This song either wipes you out or not. No in between. The guitar work is magical, which is a hallmark of most Boston pieces. The singer, Brad Delp, who, in my not so humble opinion, was the absolute best, most versatile singer in the era of rock music, died by suicide at age 55 in 2007.
This novel/film and this song are a perfect match. They belong together. They were made to be together. They were "born" to be together. Possibly, a combined title could read "born too late." If you do not understand this combination, it is something to investigate, provided you have the time and are the curious type. Learn how good you are at reading between the lines, or if you even ever read/think that way.
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14 comments:
Hi Fram :) I like that "Great but Boring"....definitely should be added to the list of possible awards...LOL
I love the song but haven't seen the movie so I need to do my homework :) If you say they are perfect together, it must be so....LOL
Okay. I will watch the movie and then I will know the answer for sure :)
Have a Happy Day!
xx
Once again, Fram, like a magician, you pull a pair of things out of your hat with which I am not familiar.
I enjoyed the song and the music very much - reminded me a little in places of "Born to Run". With which you'll probably disagree :-)
Like Kelly, I haven't seen the film either. Maybe one day I should take a whole week off and watch nothing but classic films - I am something of a cinematic pygmy it has to be said.
And yes, to the 'great but boring' category. I'd also add a 'dull but worthy' category as well.
New seems to outweigh old in terms of motion pictures, books, cars -- you name it, which is only natural, I guess. In terms of songs, 1986 does not seem old to me, but for most people, it probably seems ancient.
The movie really is a classic, Kelly. Boring and slow moving, but a classic. It dates back to when many films concentrated on a story line rather than on a chase scene. Fine acting, intricate plot and great scenes of the running of the bulls in Spain. (Whoops. I guess we did have a "chase scene," too.)
By the way, things fell into place about six this evening and I watched a film you recommended in a post a few months ago. I noticed "Gran Torino" on pay-per-view, poured a big cup of coffee and moved in close to the television. About halfway through the movie, I tossed the coffee and grabbed a can of beer. I enjoyed the movie, but (as you might imagine) was a bit disappointed with the ending.
Yes, Katy. I know "young babes" love Bruce Springsteen to just about above all else but, to my warped mind, he is not even in the same league as Brad Delp. I will pay closer attention to "Born to Run" when I next hear it. Maybe it has similarities to "Can’tcha Say" that I have not noticed.
I am not certain how many people read Ernest Hemingway these days or spend much time watching movies from the 1940s, 1950s or wherever. I do. Just a habit.
Movies have fascinated me for about the same number of years as have books, although most made today I think are a waste of time to watch. "The Sun Also Rises" is definitely worth the time to watch if you are in a serious mood and ready to pay attention to all its detail.
I haven't seen the film or heard the song before, it's interesting how one reminded you of another. It does happen, and often the link is clear only to the person in question.
And I also think there should be "great but boring" cathegory! lol!!
Great tune that in my case had but completely disappeared. Since I have not seen the film I cannot give my opinion on that particular pairing but definitely agree with you that certain movies and songs go hand in hand together. Give me 'Amadeus' by Milos Forman and 'Don't Stop Me Now' by Queen anytime :-).
Greetings from London.
In most respects, I am very low profile, Polly, and that is among my reasons for loving this outfit. The original members were modest and guarded their privacy almost beyond belief for a rock band, while still being extremely fan-friendly. Brad Delp is generally regarded by fans as the nicest guy ever to sing a rock and roll song. Tom Scholz, a guitar player and rock-song-writer maestro, is as shy as they come as a stage presence.
I will advocate for Boston forever as the best band in the history of rock and roll, and Delp as the best singer.
I never owned this album, CiL, but assume I heard the song at some point in the past. I "discovered" it just a few weeks ago, and it has played in my mind or over my speakers a few hundred times since then. I cannot get enough of it, so it would seem.
Here is another who has not seen "The Sun Also Rises." It might make an interesting poll to list a dozen or two classic movies from the 1940s, 1950s, or whatever, and ask who has seen them and who has not. I thought everyone loved "old movies." I guess not.
I think your film/song match create an excellent selection.
Hi Fram the Wolf! Just for a while, because I have to run, but will be back on Friday. The song is super, but I need to watch this boring film, I will do it with my cat, if only I could find it somewhere. And I would also agree with idea of matching arts in one glimps of Something, of This, of the very special Smell, or Taste. For example: 'The Room with the View' and 'Take me to the moon', and Bach, and horse riding, all together :-) A lot of sunny hours to you! Bye, bye.
Not familiar with either the movie or the music, though thanks for adding the video! Quite enjoyed it! :)
I am not certain you and Jak would like the bullfighting scenes in "The Sun Also Rises," Magda, but most certainly you would enjoy the sights and sounds from Paris and other places in France, and from Pamplona in Spain.
"A Room With a View." That makes sense and explains a few things. I have not seen the entire film for some time, but just last week watched about 30 minutes of it on cable television while I was eating a meal.
Your point about many disparate arts fitting superbly into a single "something" is very well taken, and your glimpse evidently is much broader than my own had been. Thank you, I have seen my thought enlarged upon, and enjoy that.
It makes me happy that you enjoyed hearing a Boston song, Piper. I hope you consider listening to more of the band's music if you find the time. Brad Delp was a fabulous singer, and the band excellent musicians.
Keep and eye open for the movie on television, too. It is a very thoughtful film, examining life and love.
Great song and great band Boston. I haven't seen the film but went running to my bookshelf just now to pull The Sun Also Rises for a quick re-read (it has been a few decades) to see if I can figure out the riddle. "Born too late" hmmm, let me think.... :) However if it is something specific to the film and not the book do let me know.
My main thought there, Peggy, was that the song was born too late to be used in the motion picture, just as in the book/film, the two central characters, Brett and Jake, were too late to be the lovers they obviously would have been had it not been for the war; to put it succinctly.
I cannot recall if Ernest Hemingway ever explained the genesis of this novel, but it is one of the more complicated, more tragic, more disappointing love stories concocted, I think, allowing myself to write a bit between the lines and to play on words. I also think it is very anti-war, and reflects a negative bias toward women. Then, too, Hemingway did not like happy endings. I do.
I think I need to hit a few literature classes again, to find a few people who like to discuss this nonsense as much as I do.
Yes, the song and the band are r-e-a-l-l-y great.
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