The Magic of the Music in 'A Star is Born'
If like me, you have friends who are obsessed with Lady Gaga, you may have been dragged to the cinema to see 'A Star is Born'. I don't really know what I thought I was expecting, but I wasn't expecting a masterpiece.
I went to see it pretty much as soon as it came out, so I didn't know it would go on to gather all these nominations – I didn't know Bradley Cooper would be so good as a musician, I didn't know Gaga would be so good as an actress, and I didn't know the ride I'd be taken on.
I don't really tear up over movies generally, and I didn't over this one either. I sobbed. I cried like a baby. I don't think I can ever watch this movie ever again, just because I don't know if I can withstand the emotional rollercoaster. The music is so good. The story is so good. It's exactly what a movie should be.
And then, presumably as a part of the award season, Cooper surprised Gaga's audience at a recent performance of hers, and it all just came back to me.
It's just unbelievable.
This video explains how Bradley Cooper just "learned to become a musician" for the sake of this film, like that is something one just does and how the music always had to be performed by 'real musicians' (as opposed to casting actors for the band) – and how the process of directing the movie and bringing the storyline of the film also begat the sound itself, including the opening track 'Black Eyes' which Cooper himself wrote.
Then Gaga goes on to explain how as she and Mark Ronson started writing 'Shallow' from "Ally's (her character in the movie) perspective" they didn't realise what a part of the narrative every sentence performed musically would become – and also how writing "as Ally" brought out this new style of songwriting and voice that was unlike any of her other work.
The level of talent and skill at play here is just of the highest possible level. It's truly magical how the music and the movie come together to tell a story that has been told and retold since 1937.
The video is from Lady Gaga's ENIGMA residency in Vegas which runs through 2019.
Not sure if Bradley Cooper will show up again though, based on how reluctant he was to get on stage.
No upcoming events
what else is on our Radar?
- Alt Music History in One Map Wired magazine told us to obsess over it, so we're doing it. Wed Oct 26 2016 16:57
- on this day in history 15 Years Since The First iPod Announcement We wonder if the people in the audience realize what was happening there. Mon Oct 24 2016 16:28
- Punk Meets Modernism #tbt Vintage Gig Posters So there's this New Yorker, Mike Joyce, who is a designer for rock stars. Thu Oct 20 2016 17:13
- Setlist 2016 Tears for Fears – A Setlist & A Playlist are more excited than others for tomorrow's Tears for Fears concert. Fri Sep 16 2016 18:49
- in Iceland Bieber Feeds the Fever We already told you all about how Iceland and Justin Bieber love each other very dearly (despite some haters). Dance videos are also clearly something he digs. Thu Sep 15 2016 10:22
- This pianist makes her own on her yacht holiday No Piano? No Problem A gorgeous rendition of Coldplay's Clocks – sans piano, believe it or not. Tue Sep 13 2016 11:41
- a love story JB <3 Iceland That time when 12.5% of Iceland's population went to see Justin Bieber's Purpose Tour. Fri Sep 09 2016 16:20
- and Ariana Grande #BackyardSessions with Miley Cyrus If we could have one wish come true, is that Miley Cyrus would go ahead and put her Backyard Sessions on Spotify already. Tue Sep 06 2016 16:36
- It's about music, apparently (we won't know for sure till December) Podcast Releases Vinyl Exclusive Episode The podcast Hello Internet, that has been number one on iTunes in five countries, including the US and UK, has announced (and sold out of) a vinyl exclusive episode. By doing so they follow in the footsteps of Stephen Fry, Bill Burr, and probably more people. Thu Sep 01 2016 17:55
- Alessia Cara & Troye Sivan "You're Driving Me (& Taylor Swift) Wild" We've been following Alessia Cara and Troye Sivan for a while (see here, here, here). Thu Sep 01 2016 10:31