wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

On Demand

Julie Taymor & Elliot Goldenthal

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Tony-winning director Julie Taymor and Oscar-winning composer Elliot Goldenthal talk about the challenges of narrowing down the 200-plus songs in the Beatles catalogue for their movie musical, "Across the Universe." The film opens this Friday in New York.

Across the Universe Web site


Comments

  • [1] Susan Gempler from Bergen County NJ September 12, 2007 - 02:58PM

    That live piece was BEAUTIFUL. Thank you.


  • [2] Manuel T. Ortega from Bergen County, New Jersey September 12, 2007 - 03:23PM

    Excellent introduction to the film and score. I was blown away by the arrangements! Women singing lead to Beatle songs so strongly associated with either Paul or John! Ms. Traymor's points about The Beatles being in-tune with their inner '15 year old (girl)); and that today we are not likely to hear male performers caught dead singing (or writing)lyrics (and music)such as those written and composed by Paul and John.

    PS - I am a boomer - 58 yrs. young!


  • [3] Joe Bendik from NYC -East Village September 12, 2007 - 03:32PM

    I can't believe Paul liked this. It's horrible. Bad idea, even worse arrangements & performances (with the possible exception of Joe Cocker). What a cringe-worthy, lame idea. I don't know about this new trend of having women trade roles with men (Todd Haynes "I'm Not There" comes to mind). "I Want To Hold Your Hand" as a lesbian ballad made me want to throw down my radio. The director really should have checked out that Pepper movie first. And yes, they did take out the 'rock'.

    http://www.myspace.com/joebendik


  • [4] Greg Victor September 13, 2007 - 11:10PM

    Thanks for this.. now i don't have to waste my time or money at the theatre. Zzzzzzzzzzzzz.

    How lame can these baby-boomer nostalgia trips get? Maybe the high holy priestess should have actually viewed "Sgt. Peppers" to see what NOT to do. Sounds like a repeat fiasco.


  • [5] sebastian zee from New York October 01, 2007 - 06:16PM

    There have been literally thousands of Beatles covers done since they were literally still together. Doing a play or a movie with covers inside is only a larger kind of attempt. One may not like the actual result, but don't blast someone for trying.

    Subsequent generations cannot be kept from re-imagining and re-applying the music of the Beatles, flexible and ingenius as it is. (The soundtrack to Cirque du Soleil's "Love" is an example.) Great art will always be updated. I haven't seen this movie yet, but I can't believe it is only "by," let alone "for" baby boomers. Younger people will be appreciating it, too.


Leave a Comment

Please stay on topic, be civil, and be brief.
Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments. Names are displayed with all comments. WNYC reserves the right to edit any comments posted on this site. Please read the WNYC.org Comment Guidelines before posting.

Your comment


* required
The information entered into this form will not be used to send unsolicited email and will not be sold to a third party.
 
Back to Episode