Oh La La
The Faces
The use of pop music in filmmaking is exciting and a fun rabbit hole to go down for a few days. The best examples — like in Goodfellas — seem to redefine the song and enhance the filmmaking and storytelling in a sort of mind-blowing way.
It’s no secret Scorsese loves Wes Anderson’s movies and I think it’s partly because Wes has done this so well since the beginning — when he first used the great Proclaimers song OVER AND DONE WITH in his debut BOTTLE ROCKET. 🎬
But it was in RUSHMORE when this skill was unleashed in a kind of ridiculous way. He managed to use and spotlight songs from The Rolling Stones, The Who, John Lennon, The Kinks, The Creation and Cat Stevens — I’m serious — and in each instance it never feels misguided or “too much”. It just feels right — needle drop used beautifully, cinematically.
But it was THIS song by The Faces — OH LA LA — that might be the best use of music in RUSHMORE. While Max plays DJ at his after-party, he somehow finagles a final dance with his teacher Mrs. Cross. When she removes his glasses, she reconizes her late husband Edward Appleby and remembers why she fell in love with him. The same boldness and reckless enthusiasm is also in Max Fisher. Max gets the record spinning at just the right moment — a moment he choregraphed.
OH LA LA is the kind of track you could play all day back in ‘73. That addictive acoustic guitar picking. Great lyrics and vocals from Ronnie Wood and an unforgettable chorus. But now I can’t hear it without thinking of this final dance playing out at Grover Cleveland High School.
Poor old Granddad, I laughed at all his words
I thought he was a bitter man
He spoke of women's ways
They'll trap you when they use you
Before you even know
For love is blind and you're far to kind
Don't ever let it show
I wish that I knew what I know now
When I was younger
I wish that I knew what I know now
When I was stronger
The can-can such a pretty show
Will steal your heart away
But backstage back on earth again
The dressing rooms are grey
They come on strong and it ain't too long
For they make you feel a man
But love is blind and you soon will find
You're just a boy again
When you want her lips, you get her cheek
Makes you wonder where you are
If you want some more then she's fast asleep
Leaves you twinkling with the stars
Poor young grandson there's nothing I can say
You'll have to learn, just like me
And that's the hardest way
Ooh la la
Ooh la la, la la, yeah
I wish that I knew what I know now
When I was younger
I wish that I knew what I know now
When I was stronger
