New week, new recommendations #49 - Best outro songs in film
Recommendation list - Hanna C. Nes
Final frames and ending credits are the last opportunity a film has to leave an impression on the viewer, and boy, do these movies take that challenge and run with it. Enjoy!
“Waters of March” - Art Garfunkel / The Worst Person in the World
Art Garunkel’s cover of the popular bossa nova tune “Waters of March” closes out Joachim Trier’s fantastic The Worst Person in the World, striking a perfectly tender note in this wistful romantic dramedy. The lyrics forgo telling a straightforward narrative, instead painting a collage of muds, rivers and branches, tying into Julie’s meandering sense of purpose in this film told in 12 chapters. I’m also biased since I saw this film 5 times and intend to at least double that.
“Helden” by David Bowie / Jojo Rabbit
Taiki Waititi’s brilliantly funny and heartbreaking WWII dramedy Jojo Rabbit ends with the young Jojo and Elsa dancing in the street after their town has been liberated from the Nazis. Accompanying their little boogie? David Bowie’s German version of “Heroes”. As the iconic opening guitar riff swells, the two slowly begin dancing on the street outside their home. It’s a touching moment that allows us to see childhood joy, even after all the tragedy and strife. I’m not crying, you are!
“Les Fleurs” by Minnie Riperton / Us
Riperton’s stratospheric voice, enveloped by a wall-of-sound production style by (the now-disgraced) Phil Spector, is a powerful ending track as Jordan Peele’s sophomore horror comes to a disturbing finale. Do the lyrics make much sense? Debatable. But this soaring hippie anthem strikes a chilling note as the camera gives us a swooping vision of the tethers standing hand in hand across America.
“Visions of Gideon” by Sufjan Stevens / Call Me By Your Name
The ending of 2017’s smash success Call Me By Your Name is a melancholic and heartbreaking one, with Oliver telling Elio over the phone about his engagement. Sufjan Stevens’ gentle song, composed for the film along with other ballad “Mystery of Love”, was a major hit. The emotional impact of “Visions” hits even harder as we gaze upon Elio’s tear stained face flickering in the fire light. A beautiful, bittersweet ode to first love and identity.
“Dreams” by Faye Wong / Chungking Express
The Cranberries’ 90s anthem is re-invented in Wong Kar-wai’s romance as leading lady Faye Wong sings a cantonese rendition. Chungking Express is a music lover’s film, with Dinah Washington jazz standard “What a Difference a Day Makes” and the Mamas and the Papas’ “California Dreamin’” playing key roles in the plot. But it’s “Dreams” that takes the cake, ending the movie on the reminder that love is everywhere and when you’re young, you can do almost anything.