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Best Use of a Song in a Movie
#8 – Ooh La La by Faces – Rushmore
The Song
Rod Stewart is best known for his long solo career spanning four decades. But before that he was the lead singer of a band called Faces, filling in after their original lead singer called it quits. Rod Stewart lent his husky, distinct voice to several songs but not this one. At the same time as fronting this band, Stewart’s solo career was taking off, and it got so big he had to leave the band and never looked back. But in his time there, the band released “Ooh La La”. The song is about a conversation between a boy and his grandfather, where the older man warns his grandson on the struggles and confusions of relationships with women. It’s a catchy tune, with a nostalgic sound.
The Movie
Rushmore is one of my favourite films of all time. After
seeing it the first time, I was instantly hooked; the plot, the style and the
central character of Max Fischer were all so original, I had to re-watch it
over and over. Max attends the prestigious high
school of Rushmore,
where he excels in countless extra curricular activities but flunks most
subjects. He meets and falls for a primary school teacher on campus called Miss
Cross, and things get complicated when a local rich guy (and dad to Max’s class
mates) also falls in love with Miss Cross. It’s a one of a kind film you should
watch at least once in your life.
When the song and movie meet…
Rushmore is also another entry on this list that boast a
great soundtrack. Since Max is clearly not you’re your average teenager of the
late 90’s, it’s quite appropriate the music of the film comes from another era
– as Max could only be described as an old soul in a young body. The soundtrack
is a unique, eclectic collection of songs which will make more sense once
you’ve seen the film, as they all suit the story instead of distracting from
it. And in the case of Ooh La La, it plays right at the end of the film and over
the closing credits, summing up the story of Max and Miss Cross perfectly. Just
listen to the lyrics and it all makes sense…
What the movie did for the song
I’m not sure if this song find new life as a result of
Rushmore, because that film wasn’t a huge hit in it’s day. But at least in my case,
it helped me discover a generation of music I would have otherwise never known,
and from a filmmaking perspective, it educated me on how a song can be paired
with a scene in the best of ways. Instead of more commercial movies featuring
songs to either promote a pop star or get their soundtrack on the charts,
Rushmore used it’s carefully chosen tunes to amplify it’s story. The songs are
as much a part of the film as it’s story, and I urge you to watch the film,
then listen to the soundtrack, which takes you back to the film in fond remembrance of all it’s best moments; the
dramatic, the funny and the odd.
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