July Spotify- BLOCKBUSTER hits!
First, no, we didn’t make an unannounced new hire. Our fifth rider is here only as living proof that if you harass us enough and one of us deems the monthly category as your area of expertise, you too can end up with a guest spot on the playlist. Welcome, Jordan. This is not permanent.
Team SJVCEO loves a lot of things, you may have noticed. Helping rural folk, saving energy, Harry Potter, Disneyland. We covered a lot of this already. We also love movies. Sitting together at this point in Endgame? Legendary.
In absence of the usual July blockbusters, or even ComicCon, we wanted to pay tribute to our favorites, because when the world gives you 2020 it helps to remember movies and music offer a really comforting escape.
Access our July Spotify playlist, BLOCKBUSTER, now!
Courtney’s Picks:
Let’s spoil things here: there will be Blockbusters Volume II. There are just too many choices. Certain songs are so perfectly picked to fit the time and the film that when you think of the movie you hear the song, you see the scene, you escape. At least that’s how it works for my brain.
I’m Shipping up to Boston, Dropkick Murphys, “The Departed” (2006)
I Walked In, Brougham, “Can’t Hardly Wait” (1998)
Come and Get Your Love, Redbone, “Guardians of the Galaxy” (2014)
New Slang, The Shins, “Garden State” (2004)
Sam’s Picks:
Many of my favorite movies seem to come along with a solid soundtrack or are musicals. Songs in my selection are ones that I will never get tired of and know every word to. I hope they bring you as much enjoyment as they do me.
Time of My Life, Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes “Dirty Dancing” (1987)
Grease Lightning, John Travolta “Grease” (1978)
Lose Yourself, Eminem “8 Mile” (2002)
Come What May, Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor “Moulin Rouge” (2001)
Kelsey’s Picks:
I say almost every month that it is always difficult for me to choose only four songs that fit into the given theme for each playlist. But let me tell you, this month was EXTRA difficult. I like to consider myself a movie enthusiast. I think the day of the Academy Awards is better than Christmas and am still an active movie-theater-goer (prior to their closure of course). This list was extensive before narrowing my choices, but hopefully you all can give these a listen and maybe give the movies a watch!
To Whom It May Concern- Sam I, CeeLo Green, Theophilius London, Alex Ebert, “Booksmart” (2019)
Why so Serious? Hans Zimmer, “The Dark Knight” (2008)
Land of the Living- Matthew Perryman Jones “Manchester by the Sea” (2016)
Jai Ho- A.R. Rahman and Nicole Scherzinger, “Slumdog Millionaire” (2008)
Rochelle’s Picks:
What can I say? These songs are from some of my all-time favorite movies. They move me and every time I listen to them, I am taken back to the moment I saw each of these movies in theatres.
All the Stars, Kendrick Lamar and Sza, “Black Panther” (2018)
Rapture, Alicia Keys, “Rapture, Sex and the City 2” (2010)
At Last Beyonce, “Cadillac Records” (2008)
Soul Sister (Remix), Raphael Saadiq, Bilal, “Queen & Slim” (2019)
Jordan’s Picks:
Who the heck is this Jordan person? Jordan is a dear friend (usually) to the SJVCEO, a trusted colleague (always), and we love him 99% of the time (numbers may be inflated). Jordan’s expertise goes beyond movies, check out all the great work he is doing with the Tri County Regional Energy Network (3C-REN)! https://www.3c-ren.org/about-3cren/
Thank you, SJVCEO, for inviting me to participate! And for recognizing true genius!!! This was not easy but I feel good with the selection as a reflection of my current mental and physical state. For many reasons, I decided to stay away from my natural inclination to select scores/soundtracks from various DC/DC Extended Universe movies and obvious timeless classics like Jaws, E.T. The Extraterrestrial, Star Wars, or the Godfather. So, I will explain my picks in autobiographical order.
The first is a contradiction to my first statement but could not be left out. Not only is the Superman: The Movie score iconic, it delivers a sense of hope and justice. While I did not select the “Superman” theme, this introduction (“The Planet Krypton”) to our favorite alien’s home planet (Krypton) still raises the hair on the back of my neck and inspires me.
Next we have Bill Conti’s famous training theme from Rocky II – “Going the Distance”. Here, our titular character finds the strength within to get up and ultimately defeat Apollo Creed after his wife Adrian (also my wife’s name) awakens from a coma from delivering their son. To me it symbolizes inner fortitude and finding the means to survive – much like the work we do in energy efficiency!
Next is an actual song. “When You’re Mind’s Made Up” is written and performed by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova for the film “Once”. This small independent film and soundtrack has been a bright spot for many dark days as well as introduced me to folk music. If you haven’t heard anything from this duet (also known as the Swell Season) I highly recommend you do so now. I said NOW!!!
Lastly, I personal one from the great Hans Zimmer. While Interstellar (as a film) may be polarizing, the score is bombastic and mesmerizing! The way Christopher Nolan and Hans Zimmer work in harmony to portray emotion in film is particularly incredible. “Stay” is brief and encapsulates a moment when the main character (Cooper) has a conversation with his daughter (Murph) before he leaves the planet to save humanity. The crescendo is coupled with Cooper in tears during his departure after the dialogue he had with his scared/confused daughter goes terribly wrong and she begs him to “stay” but when he doesn’t, she is angry and says nothing. Add to this, her running out after realizing her mistake while he drives off not noticing her, and the gut punch is complete. To this day, I can’t hear this without feeling sad in reflection of feeling the world on my shoulders and whether my kids will understand why I do what I do. Enjoy!
The Planet Krypton, John Williams , “Superman: The Movie” (1978)
Going the Distance, Bill Conti, “Rocky II” (1979)
When Your Mind’s Made Up, Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, “Once” (2007)
Stay, Hans Zimmer, “Interstellar” (2014)
BONUS TRACK
No surprises here. Pay attention folks!
Prologue, John Williams, “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” (2001)
