Monday March 08

Listicle, Soul On Film, SoulTube

Movie Soundtracks Worth Doing A 'Kanye' For

Whether you were watching the Oscars last night to witness Mo'Nique win for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the movie Precious or you wanted to turn on the famously boring awards show to lull you sleep, you may have caught the infamous speech interruption of the evening which is being called the "Kanye" moment of the night. Of course, referring to the incident at last year's MTV VMA's when Kanye West took the microphone from poor little Taylor Swift.

Last night's drama involved filmmaker Roger Ross Williams, director of the documentary Music by Prudence, who was bumrushed during his acceptance by a white woman in purple, faintly resembling a cross between The Facts of Life's Mrs. Garrett and Mrs. Roper from Three's Company. She rambled off a speech few of us understood, leaving us to scratch our heads and ask, "is she high?" after, of course, asking the question of the night, "who the hell is she?"

Come to find out, this woman, Elinor Burkett, was an early producer on the film, which focuses on the life of a disabled young woman from Zimbabwe who is the lead vocalist of the band Liyana. Burkett has told the press that the movie was her idea and should have been more inclusive of the stories of all of the members of Liyana instead of focusing on the title character, Prudence. While Burkett didn't explain all of that to us last night while she cut off Williams, it is kind of understandable if she was in her feelings about being dissed and not included in the prior celebrations honoring the movie. At the end of the day, Burkett did credit the music of Liyana for being the prime character of the movie.

Burkett and her drama led me to think about what Kanye-like bumrushes I would have liked to see happen during past awards shows held this year that did not recognize some of the dopest movie music and soundtracks of the year past. While 2009 had a weak showing of great films, there were some pretty decent soundtracks released. You'll see that while some of the movies themselves were maybe a bit lame, the soundtracks that they produced are worth a listen to.

1. A Good Day to Be Black and Sexy [Soundtrack]

The indie film, A Good Day to Be Black and Sexy, came out in 2008 and was a daring attempt to highlight the lives of multiple residents in Cali during a very hot day. Shot through vignettes, each scene seemed to be accompanied by some of the illest music that I had never heard before. The soundtrack, which garnered pretty hot attention in 2009 was a bonafide winner. My favorite was Allegra Doloros' "The Music OK" and I even enjoyed Sheena Player's "Tonite," which reminded me of early grooves by the late singer Aaliyah. This soundtrack is like that, very deserving of having a Kanye pulled on its behalf.

2. Notorious [Soundtrack]

The movie was not that good, but the soundtrack for the film Notorious was a great commemorative item for the life of arguably one of the best MCs of all times--the Notorious B.I.G aka Biggie Smalls. With only two tracks on the soundtrack from artists other than Biggie--one being Jay-Z's anthem to his neighborhood in "Brooklyn Go Hard" and Jadakiss' "Letter to B.I.G."--the soundtrack included some of Biggie's bigger hits ("One More Chance" and "Hypnotize") and some tracks that listeners outside of true fans may not be so hip to, including "What's Beef."

While I was not one of the biggest Biggie fans while he was living, I do have great respect for him as having that skill to kick some of the more complex rhymes straight off the dome. If a Kanye was done on behalf of this movie, it would have to be done to encourage folks to not sleep on the soundtrack even though the movie was pretty wack.

3. Obsessed [Soundtrack]

While the movie Obsessed, which featured It-girl Beyonce and the delectable Idris Elba, was panned for its rip-off of the movie Fatal Attraction, the movie's soundtrack is worth an honorable mention. Martina Topley-Bird's "Soul Food" is pure lovely while "Any Other Day" by Wyclef and Norah Jones is an unexpected delight.

What was weirdest about it all was that the producers of the film decided not to release the soundtrack as an lbum. Instead, while the songs are used in the film, they are on the records of the individual artists featured.

Looking at this short list, it goes without saying that we need more good soundtracks. Movies and music used to go hand in hand, but there's been a serious lack of the latter in the former in recent years. Are we the only ones who miss the movie soundtracks of old? Why do you think they're not being made anymore? Leave your thoughts in the comments and let us know if there are any under-the-radar soundtracks we should be checking for. 


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I think Elinor Burkett has a beef, she stated that Ross knew nothing of Zimbabwe and she lives there and begged him to check out their story. Come to find out Ross' mother tried to keep Burkett back from the stage with her cane. Not sure about the truthfulness of the last part, she definitely bullyfooted her way on the scene speech-wise. And subsequently came off looking like the pooper.

A Good Day to Be Black & Sexy was a great film & the sound track was mos def the icing on the cake. "Lover Like Me" & "I Remember You (Movie Version)" are my shit! I thought I was the only one caught up in it. YES!!!!! Supposedly, there will be a part 2 based in NYC.

I actually loved "A Good Day To Be Black And Sexy" apart from the music. As a matter of fact, the only song that I really remember is Patrice Rushen's "When I Found You."

I feel u on all goods. A Good Day to Be Black and Sexy was an "interesting" array of vignettes, but the soundtrack was so hot I had to go online and buy it. Nice to know I wasn't the only one.




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