The Music of Funny Face (1957)

It was another boring Monday at the camera shop, and my mind was going a million miles a minute. Then all of a sudden there I found myself singing, out loud I might add, 's wonderful... s marvelous!'. As usual my co workers looked at me like I was nuts. It was at that moment I realized I never purchased the soundtrack to one of my favorite films... the 1957 fashion inspired musical Funny Face.

How had I not added this to my collection? With the wonderful songwriting of Ira Gershwin, Roger Edens and Leonard Gershe sung by the amazing voices of Fred Astaire, Audrey Hepburn and Kay Thompson... it seemed silly that I hadn't been enjoying this is my music collection all this time. Well as soon as I got home I purchased it from iTunes and haven't stopped listening since!

It is so hard to pick favorites on this album because it is  s wonderful (too much?) from beginning to end, but if I had to they would be... 'Think Pink', 'Bonjour Paris', 'How To Be Lovely', and 'S Wonderful'. But! Above all the others, 'Clap Yo Hands', is by far my favorite. The beat, the lyrics, it is just too much! And don't even get me started when Kay Thompson starts belting at the end... I immediately throw up my hands and start flailing around the room like a possessed drag queen joining the jubilee!

Well as if you can't tell from what I have already said, if you haven't seen this movie... you are missing out! You need to see it, hear it, experience it! Take my word on it!

You can find it on iTunes here.

Flashback Post: Jane Russell Sings!

Back in September of 2011, I did a two part article about Jane Russell's singing career. Many people today don't know that Jane had a successful music career outside of her film career. She released a few albums, had a nightclub act, and even was part of Christian music group. Her albums (not in their original forms) are available on iTunes for purchase. If you like to relax to beautiful jazz tunes, you should check them out.

And here you are... 

a Flashback Post from September 2011: Jane Russell Sings!

Lana Del Rey "National Anthem"

This post isn't really about Old Hollywood, but is about something inspired by Old Hollywood. My current music obsession is the gorgeously talented Lana Del Rey. The self-proclaimed 'Gangsta Nancy Sinatra' has released a video to accompany the release of her latest single 'National Anthem.' In the video Lana can be seen paying tribute to the fabulous Marilyn Monroe by singing her breathy, sultry version of Happy Birthday. Lana looks stunning in a gown very much inspired by the one Monroe wore in 1962.

The rest of the video is Lana's take on the relationship between Jackie O and JFK. She and rapper A$AP Rocky spend the video giving their best impersonations of the Kennedy's and the video ends with a very subtle nod to the President's assassination.

Lana looks remarkable in this video. Her hair, make-up, and wardrobe are all very 1960's inspired. I need this woman's hair! I need this woman's lips!

Sorry if this post doesn't interest someone you guys, but I had to share it because I simply adore it! And if you haven't yet heard of Lana Del Rey, now is your chance to discover a wonder new artist on the rise.

 

And as a little something extra, here is a photo of Lana standing in front of a portrait of Marilyn Monroe from the 1959 film Some Like It Hot.