Published on Sep 25, 2000
I am a man of dualities. I know that I should eat healthier and
exercise more, but I live on the rock journalist’s diet (that is,
Chee-tos and Mr. Pibb) and get exercise when I get up to switch the
CDs in the player. I love my dog and child at times, I hate my dog
and child at times. In the same vein, I love ’70s music (being a
child of the ’70s), and I can’t stand it.
So it shouldn’t surprise either you, gentle reader, or myself
that when I received the soundtrack for
Remember The Titans in the mail, I immediately booked time
on the calendar to listen to it, since the bulk of it is tracks
from the ’70s. It also shouldn’t surprise you that I absolutely
hated some of these tracks. Yet this is an engaging album which is
sure to trigger many memories in people who grew up at this time in
history. (The movie, which stars Denzel Washington, is set in 1971,
so the music fits the story perfectly.)
So far, it sounds like I’m going to rip this album to shreds,
huh? Not so – but let’s get the negatives out of the way, while
we’re on that vibe. If I never hear Norman Greenbaum’s “Spirit In
The Sky” again, it will be too soon. Sure, it’s a nugget of
history, but it’s so outdated that it’s almost funny. The same goes
for “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” by Marvin Gaye and Tammi
Terrell – cripes, I can’t listen to this song without thinking of
an “In Living Color” sketch which is almost as annoying. And while
I never have listened much to Leon Russell, I can’t say that
hearing his cover of Bob Dylan’s “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall” will
inspire me to start picking up his discography.
Yet there are wonderful performances on
Remember The Titans as well. Cat Stevens (oops, I mean Yusef
Islam) has been trying to correct his image in the press these
days, but you can’t help liking “Peace Train” even after all these
years. It’s always nice to hear “Spill The Wine” from Eric Burdon
& War again (though this is the single edit — AAAGGGHHH!!!
NONONONONO!!!), along with Credence Clearwater Revival (“Up Around
The Bend”) and Steam (“Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye” – looks like
we’re gonna be hearing THAT one a lot in Chicago real soon).
Editor’s note: Since I wrote this review, the White Sox have
indeed clinched the A.L. Central… meaning this song is required
playing around here.
The two gems in this soundtrack come near the end — one
expected, one surprising. Former Yes guitarist Trevor Rabin’s
seven-minute score “Titans Spirit” is a moving piece of music,
almost making me wish that more of the score had been included on
this disc. The other, more unexpected gem comes from Buck Owens and
his goofily-charming song “Act Naturally”. My father and I listen
to the oldies station in Chicago when we’re hanging around, and why
this song isn’t played often (if at all), I don’t understand. It’s
a great piece of music.
If
Remember The Titans the movie is half as engrossing as the
soundtrack, it should be an incredible film, and is one that I
truly want to see in the theatres. Until I can hie myself to the
multiplex, this soundtrack will do nicely.