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Bond lyricist Don Black talks about the demise of song writing for film
Oscar-winning song writer Don Black, who penned five James Bond songs, talked to <a href="http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/arizonaliving/articles/2012/02/14/20120214don-black-songwriter-interview-sedona-film-fest.html"; target="_blank">AZ Central</a> this week about his career and the state of the industry,
As the writer of such great film songs as "To Sir, With Love," "Born Free" and "Ben," Don Black knows something about music in the movies. That's why he's sad to see that only two songs are nominated for Oscars at this year's Academy Awards.
"The song category has been diminished, there's no question," Black says from his home in London. "You probably have to go to back to 'My Heart Will Go On' from 'Titanic' to find the last winner that most of the public could hum."
Black, who will appear at the Sedona Film Festival, says it's partially due to the way producers now approach using songs in movies.
"The song used to have to be integral," he says. "I think nowadays, that criteria is not there. We used to ask: 'Is the song pertinent to the movie?' I don't think they do that anymore."
As the writer of such great film songs as "To Sir, With Love," "Born Free" and "Ben," Don Black knows something about music in the movies. That's why he's sad to see that only two songs are nominated for Oscars at this year's Academy Awards.
"The song category has been diminished, there's no question," Black says from his home in London. "You probably have to go to back to 'My Heart Will Go On' from 'Titanic' to find the last winner that most of the public could hum."
Black, who will appear at the Sedona Film Festival, says it's partially due to the way producers now approach using songs in movies.
"The song used to have to be integral," he says. "I think nowadays, that criteria is not there. We used to ask: 'Is the song pertinent to the movie?' I don't think they do that anymore."
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Comments
Song choices are more often these days, chosen by the studios, and have nothing to do with the director or writers, and the results are more often than not dissapointing.
One of the most awful examples of this was Madonnas "them song" in DAD.
I really hated the "analyse this" sample that was repeated....it is a title of another film entirely, and I felt it was probably submitted for that film originaly, but having not worked out, she crowbarred "Die another day/way" into it, and hey presto, "we can use it for Bond now..."
The lyrics are nonsensical.
Jack White and Alecia Keys? Please, don`t remind me ever again of this total train wreck,
Studio exec..."I got a great idea, how about a duet? How about Ozzy Osbourne and Diana Ross?"
Other exec..."That`s cool, but maybe we can capture the youth market? How about White and Keys?"
"Yeah, great idea, we will capture the rock and black markets in one hit!"
"When do you need the song by?"
"Tomorrow..."
"Oh cool, I`ll call White tonight and ask him to knock one out..."