We may no longer be living in the era of rock and roll, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have a pantheon of great films to help us relive the glory days. Not all the films on this list will cover rock music specifically, but each brings out excitement and attitude that’s at the heart of any genre. Some real, some fictional, you’re likely to enjoy all of these films, even if some of them are unfamiliar.
Music and comedy have gone together for ages, ever since the first little ditty with nonsense words, or a dirty limerick put to music, all the way up to the operettas of Gilbert and Sullivan, vaudeville and even “Weird Al” Yankovic. Comedies have used music to great effect in the past, whether it’s the crooning of Nick Rivers in “Top Secret,” the lip-synching to Queen in “Wayne’s World,” or the John Farnham sing-a-long turned riot in “Hot Rod,” and many others. But there is a subsection of comedy films that is particularly obsessed with music, parodying a specific brand of music and musician to great effect.
The obsession with pop culture fads is nothing new, with Hollywood chasing the music scene for laughs arguably beginning with The Monkees (see our interview with Michael Nesmith). The accompanying sitcom that poked fun at Beatlemania while aping the look and feel of “Help!” and “A Hard Day’s Night” was an early shot in the battle between comedy and music.
There have been many tributes to Prince since he passed away, but Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band playing “Purple Rain” is definitely my favorite.
We’re excited to feature this gallery of beautiful Thai singer and actress Plah Blah Blah, who recently released her latest single/video “Wild One,” which you can watch below. You won’t be the first, as it already has over 1.7 million views! We love the pink wig and sexy lingerie.
David Bowie was one of the most unique and innovative artists of the 20th century. It wasn’t just about his incredible music, but the man was a true showman who reinvented himself and his look over and over again.
Bowie passed at the age of 69 after a battle with cancer, yet the news was a shock to most people who had no idea he was ill. He had just released a new album and I was just thinking the other day if Bowie had yet another influential turn in his career that would have an impact on music, style and popular culture.
Ten years ago we published our David Bowie Deep Cuts list as part of our ongoing series of looking back on the music of great artists. Check it out and you might be introduced to some great music from Bowie that you haven’t heard before.
His list of hits is long of course, and I wanted to post a great video, but “Rebel, Rebel” is one of my favorite Bowie songs so that seemed appropriate, though the video here just includes one classic Bowie photographed. Bowie was a rebel who will truly be missed.