Hello degenerates,
heathens, weirdos, and deviants. I am the Rock Otaku, and I’m here to
show you worlds such as hard rock, metal, punk, alternative rock, movies, TV,
anime, video games, and anything that makes us scream, shout, and let it all
out.
As some of you may
have noticed, I tend to have that opening slogan in my blogs when I do
something big or based on a series, but I seem to only discuss the first two
(and three after that when the opportunity arises) in my blog overall. As for the others, they end up serving as
times to make references or jokes in my main series. And this is the main reason why I am now
going to try to fit in more anime reviews, news, and countdowns into my blog.
You know what, I’ll
use the extra week I’ve added to my time to make my LET THEM EAT METAL series
bi-weekly to create a series of countdowns.
And they don’t have to be just about anime. I can use this to mention movies, TV shows,
episodes of shows, news, games, and even other musical artists I want to talk
about but aren’t able to usually thanks to my current load. But I’ve set my mind to Guardians of the Galaxy this week.
And no, this shouldn’t
take too long. All I am doing is
counting down my favorite songs from the first film based on the song alone as
well as how it’s used in the main story.
And for this list, it had to have appeared in the theatrical cut of the
film, so “Spirit in the Sky,” which was only in the trailers, is merely an honorable
mention. And I’m going top 11 from
least-effectively used to best used for this countdown. And before we go into this, let me state
this: I do not hate pop music. In fact,
certain eras and variations of it, based on sound and even country, are appealing
to me and are the basis for somñe of my favorite songs of all time. And I think that this soundtrack did a great
job of channeling the best of 60s and 70s pop, soul, rock, and funk into a
wild, rebellious, and crazy track list for what is arguably one of Marvel’s
best films. So in honor of the sequel
coming out today, with some word on if I liked it at the end if this is
released after I see it, I will be discussing these tracks, sans “Spirit in the
Sky” because it HAD to be in the movie for it to count. Anyway, let’s rock:
11. "Escape (The Piña Colada Song)" by Rupert
Holmes
For this, let me get
this out of the way. This is a good tune
to relax, kick back, and think of getting away from a crappy relationship, only
to learn that your soul mate had a fun side you didn’t think of. For anything else, this song is kind of a
joke, being about an a-hole that’s practically cheating on his own wife if favor
of the flavor of the month, with interests similar to his. And it turns out, cue the punchline, that
this great gal for him is his own wife.
As for the instrumentation, it’s very mellow outside of some alright
guitar licks that I’m sure constitute mini solos before a very chill one
towards the end. The rest of the
instrumentation is basis yacht rock, so there’s nothing too special about it.
So how is this used in
the movie? During the end of the escape
scene. And after Star Lord takes back
his cassette player and tape from the guards.
Simply because of the title.
While I can praise this song’s use for not doing so when a girl Star
Lord likes reveals she likes Piña Colodas, I’m with Drax on this one.
10. "Go All The Way" by The Raspberries
If this was a quality
contest, this song would be higher since it rocks. It’s a raucous track with pummeling guitar
chords, rock star strutting, a catchy beat, and an ear-wormy chorus that, as
Eddie Trunk revealed somewhere, is the kind of song that gets people into hard
rock and heavy metal despite being power pop.
The tone is great, the singing is great, and while there isn’t any
flashy guitar lines, the guitar playing is top notch, and it’s a blessing that
this made it into Rocksmith last Tuesday.
As for the song’s
usage in the movie, this is more of a breather track to let our protagonist,
Peter Quill aka. Star Lord, chill on the Milano with another random girl before
being chewed out by Yondu. After a very
intense action scene where Quill reveals his skills as an action hero against
forces employed by Ronan The Accusor.
And until you learn this, this makes this song’s use surprisingly more
entertaining as it’s practically a reminder of this movie’s tone, being a mix
of sci-fi action and an embrace of the sillier aspects of genre films. If the last two tracks did not perfectly
convey what this movie’s about and it’s themes, then this tune confirms the
movie’s reason to exist: to be a big, dumb, loud story with a lot of heart,
confidence, and tongue-in-cheek swagger.
And if this movie’s your introduction to this song, then more power to
you.
9. "I Want You Back" by The Jackson 5
Before Michael Jackson
was the King of Pop, he was arguably the Child Prince of Motown. And with this catchy, upbeat track, it’s not
hard to explain why. It’s catchy and
upbeat, and that’s probably the song’s strength, despite it being like the
Motown equivalent of a banging hair metal song about wanting a girl back. And, well, since this is technically
bubblegum, it works here. But this is
the best kind of bubblegum pop, the one’s where you feel like the musicians
behind the track, including the teens and tweens, put a lot of effort into every
single aspect, and it can still last.
Also, that bassline.
 |
| I'm with Groot on this one. |
For the movie, it’s
only…
…at the end of the
movie. Like, at the direct end of the
movie. I’m not joking here, this song is
used as the ultimate symbolic statement of “We are getting a sequel to this”
using pop music. And that’s just my
opinion. But if that were the case, this
would have been at the bottom of the list if this movie bombed. Instead, this fact docks points for this song
due to it being effectively sequel-bait, but that doesn’t explain why it’s
ultimately as high as it is. The
reason? Baby Groot dancing to this after
seeing “THE GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY WILL RETURN!” in a pot with Drax in the
distance sharpening his knife. And it
also makes sense considering the character’s age as well as the possible fact
that a character in the later stories will have grown up with Star Lord’s taste
in music, making it less alien to this section of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Good on you, Michael, hopefully Peter’s
return to earth gets songs from Thriller
in future installments.
8. "I’m Not In Love" by 10CC
Thinking about this,
it’s a depressing song. It’s a
declaration about how the singer is not in love and that it’ll hurt him if he
were. And with the melancholic tone, it
becomes more obvious that this track is from the point of view of him being
hurt by the last time he cared about someone.
Or even losing them.
And it’s appropriate
that this song is what we hear when we see Peter’s flashback to his
childhood. Which, because of the
framing, makes this the first song we hear in the movie, and its accompanying
scene the first thing we see. And it’s
rather depressing, capturing the sense of shock, sadness, and brokenness that
Peter’s dealing with, since his mother is…
…dying from cancer
around what is probably his birthday. In
a way, this arguably makes this one of the saddest scenes in the MCU to date,
in stiff competition with most likely a later moment in the film I may reference
as well as the entirety of Captain
America: Civil War. And during this
time, he gets a present from his mother (which I’ll reveal later like the
film), but due to fear and something else, Quill doesn’t hold her mother’s hand
when she dies, instead running off in tears before being abducted by the
Ravagers (to be taken, in the words of Yondu, to a jackass). And this is before the Marvel logo comes
up. As a way to start the movie with
Peter’s origin and character motivations (or most of his baggage), this song is
arguably the best way to do so, in both tone and theme. But due to the outright amount of manly tears
likely shed at the beginning, I don’t think I can put this higher since it
doesn’t fit with the rest of the film.
7. "Fooled Around And Feel In Love" by Elvin
Bishop
This might be one of
my favorite tunes from the soundtrack in concept alone as well as
execution. This bluesy pop rock tune is
from the point of view of someone who would rather just go wild, live life to
the fullest, and has no time to relax and settle down. However, something happened during his
free-spirited days that caused him to suddenly fall in love with one person. And the music is appropriately sleazy as it
is romantic, capturing the raw lust for life before he fell in love and the
lovey-dovey feelings that came after.
Along with that, there is a great guitar solo that showcases the concept
of melodic blues to the fullest. Plus
you also have many other great moments here, such as the instrumentation, the
production, and the singer’s delivery.
If there is a song that I would use when I meet a really attractive
girl, it’s this one.
Speaking of getting
hooked up with attractive girls, this is played when Peter and Gamora hang out
while the other members are gambling and getting wasted before meeting with The
Collector. And in this scene, Peter
explains the purpose and reason for him having the mixtape, which is the last
thing that connects him to Terra (or Earth, as we know it) as it’s a collection
of songs he and his mother enjoyed. And
while they’re talking about this, Peter decided to let Gamora, who was
interested in knowing why he would go back after it in the Kyln before leaving
it, take a listen, and it’s this track playing on it, with it playing in the
background for us as well. She, of
course, complements him for it, then they dance, but, this being an action
comedy in space, she tries to kill him when she gets caught in his “pelvic
sorcery.” And if you’re wondering, based
on the trailers to the new one, this is the song that will, to me, be the tune
that marks the moment where Star Lord and Gamora start to have feelings for
each other, especially the former for the latter. I wonder what would happen if someone
in-universe figured that out?
6. "Moonage Daydream" by David Bowie
This is a song by
David Bowie, and I’m sure that if I discussed this song in depth I’d get
something off. But all I can say is that
this is a great song and among is best.
And the mix of the spacey tone and the rock swagger that we associate
with Bowie makes this even better and more memorable. Also, it’s better to experience it yourself
than for me to explain it. Plus it’s
been added to Rocksmith last Tuesday.
So how is it used in
the movie? As a way to set the stage for
what kind of locale Knowhere is in the movie.
First off, the location is one where The Collector is, and it’s arguably
the closest equivalent in the movie to Mos Eisley in the Star Wars series. And as a result, having a classic rock song
that sets a sleazy, mysterious, and bizarre tone is necessary if you’re going a
route like this; and the flamboyant moments of the song really work to set up
this bizarre section of the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a living, breathing
aspect of it. As for the song chosen,
it’s almost perfect in setting the tone, and while it’s not directly tied to
the story and the moments, it’s more about atmosphere and feelings. And this gets that perfectly. So yeah, this is good, but not enough to
reach the top 5.
5. "Cherry Bomb" by The Runaways
So let’s talk about
this tune piece by piece. The guitars by
Joan Jett and Lita Ford are punchy, aggressive, and loaded with both bite and
melody, and the solo by the latter is a starting sign of her talents. Sandy Fox also manages to provide a strong
drum beat that allows for the fury and catchiness to coexist. The bassist here is fine (and to be honest,
it’s difficult to keep up with the band’s bassists), though her lines are
likely easily done by Joan or Lita. And
now for Cherrie Curie, who’s arguably the unsung hero of this track, showcasing
a rock-star performance and charisma right out of the gate, and while her
youthful side shows up in the chorus, she has enough confidence and presence to
prove just how crucial she was to this band (I associate Joan Jett singing with
her own material or covers of The Arrows).
And that chorus, dear god that chorus is awesome; catchy as hell while
also being furious. Easily the most
anarchic song on the soundtrack, even if the band is as authentic as BABYMETAL,
and proof that both The Runaways and BABYMETAL shouldn’t be discounted for
being the result of producers and managers looking for the next big thing.
So predictably this
song is done for a suit-up montage.
How? After Quill’s speech about
taking the opportunity to save the galaxy that they have, even if they die, the
song kicks in to showcase preparations for Star Lord’s plan to take on Ronan
the Accuser and his forces. All complete
with getting their Ravager attire, mentioning each aspect of Ronan’s ship as
well as how to destroy it, picking out their weapons, and finally ending with
the titular team walking down a hallway before many Ravager ships fly from the
main ship in Xandar’s atmosphere to take down Ronan. It’s simple, straightforward, meant to pump
you up, give both the characters a fighting and confident spirit like the girls
in the song about themselves, and matches with the visuals on display. A great track for a great scene. But not the best use of music in the movie.
4. "Come And Get Your Love" by Redbone
So this song is a lot
of fun to listen to. With its funky beat
and happy tone, this Redbone classic is a great example of the better funk that
came out in the 70s. The chorus is
great, the guitar use is great, with the use of fuzz and syncopation, the bass
is ridiculously catchy, and the drums are used effectively here. Plus those vocals are awesome. If there was a tune where it would be a great
idea to dance to, this would be it. That
and learn the guitar parts in Rocksmith
to get a cute girl dancing.
 |
| The ultimate showcase of not giving a crap about your safety, and justifiably so. |
Let’s face it, this
had to be up high thanks to that opening credits scene. It communicates so much of what’s going on
and about to unfold in such a way that you can forgive just how silly it is in
concept. Overall, it’s just Peter
Quill/Star Lord exploring the ruins of an ancient civilization, one that guards
an Infinity Stone, and being his goofy self.
What I mean is that he’s dancing around and having a big goofy grin on
his face, even when grabbing weird alien rats that look dangerous and singing
into their faces like a microphone during parts of the song. And it’s such a catchy little tune that
contrasts with the imagery outside of Peter’s antics. It’s so out there, weird, goofy, off-kilter,
and, well, different that you realize that this movie is not trying to be a
typical superhero movie. It’s also not a
typical ensemble movie. It’s not a
typical space opera. And it’s not a
typical action comedy. It’s all of
those, and it embraces that idea wholeheartedly. And it’s a testament to James Gunn’s talents
that he can make this work. Now for DC
to try this without making another Suicide
Squad-level failure.
3. "O-o-h Child" by The Five Stairsteps
So for this track, we
have a fun little track that deals with trying to chin up and remain optimistic
in the face of adversity. With the song
being from the perspective of someone telling this “child” that thing will get
better, this manages to be a great song for moments where things went
absolutely wrong and that you need a little breather. It’s also very funky, the instrumentation is
great, the beat is steady, and the vocals are really well done here. If there’s a song I need if I just went
through a bad day at work, school, or even crashing a ship with my favorite
fellow crewmember sacrificing him/herself to save us all. That and telling off a homicidal maniac while
challenging him to a dance-off.
 |
| No declaration of battle has ever been this cool. |
To explain why this
song works where it does requires explaining Ronan the Accuser as a
villain. He’s kind of a goober when you
get down to it. Not in that sense you’re
thinking, but in the whole kind of goober that seems to dominate DC fanboys for
some reason. He’s a devoted, angry,
antisocial, and contradictory piece of crap that will defend the “honor” of
something that he feels is right but may not be, slaughtering everything in his
path to do so. And unlike DCEU defenders
on the internet who only exist on the internet (not flesh and blood ones or
casual moviegoers), he has the power to do so.
And that’s where we get to his flaw, and the reason why he’s not as
threatening overall: his ultimate immaturity.
Yes, I think Ronan is an overgrown teenager who grew up with an
antisocial, holier-than-thou mentality that reeks of obnoxious if he was frail,
but with his size and muscle, he can back it up. But ultimately he’s practically a boy rather
than a man, as Thanos would taunt him when they talk (and even then, Thanos is
still a monster). It all comes ahead
when his ship is destroyed, his plans nearly halted (to wipe out Xandar in the
name of Kree “pride”), and now Peter is singing and grooving to this upbeat,
optimistic song while singing it as well.
In short, Star Lord is calling Ronan a brat! While distracting him from losing the Power
Stone! And it’s really, really funny to
see who is ultimately a symptom of Marvel’s “villain problem” being reduced to
a complete joke while also trying to retain his character traits as this over-the-top
evil monster. Bravo Quill. Bravo.
2. "Hooked On A Feeling" by Blue Suede
For those who probably
know, the Blue Suede classic is a cover of a 60s love song that is more of a
romance tale than a sexy jam. For the
Blue Suede version, this song is definitely cheesy, but it’s cheesy in that
sleazy way that we associate everything from adult videos, girly magazines,
sleaze metal, and even ecchi anime and manga.
What I mean is that do you really think a family friendly song would
start with “Ooga chaka, ooga ooga”?
Repeated for the first verse before returning after the guitar
solo? But here’s the thing, and why we
remember this version: that chant is memorable.
So memorable and earwormy that it’s hard to not get it out of your
head. And in my experience, the only
competition for that is a Japanese tune, and even then this one is so
distinctive and iconic that it’s hard to replace it unless you cover it. As for the song beyond that, it’s a standard
yacht-friendly sexy pop rock tune with the guitar parts, horn sections,
basslines, and drum beats that you associate with that style, alongside the
husky vocals. And the best part, it’s
now in Rocksmith (alongside a few
other tracks on this countdown), so while learning it on a real guitar, you’d
also have the possibility of trying to match your version of the chant with the
song’s. And you also don’t expect it to
appear in action movies, yet it’s now associated with one of the weirder ones
in the genre.
 |
| You’re Welcome. |
If I didn’t put this
song in the top three, I’m sure this would be most people’s reaction to this:
As for this song’s
usage, it’s when they are now within the Kyln prison (Star Lord, Gamora,
Rocket, and Groot). You learn more about
some of them, you see a guard trying to get an understanding of Peter’s musical
tastes while tasing him. And you also
get them practically being forced into prison life, tortured, and undergoing
the initial steps to prison hell while this bouncy pop rock cover of a nice
little pop song, one that’s arguably more iconic than the original, is playing
in the background. And then there’s the
use of this song in the teaser trailer, first remixing the famous “Ooga Chaka,
Ooga Ooga” chant at the beginning into a war cry alongside pounding drums as
the characters are kicking ass, then playing it straight alongside a shot of
all 5 members lined up and annoyed with it playing still, even when the title
shows up, screaming just how weird and unexpected this is, even from Marvel. Plus the scene where it’s ultimately in is
very, very funny as well. Despite that,
and the great subversion of the song’s meaning versus the scene it’s in, it’s
not enough to have this at number 1.
What I’m looking for is how it ties with the overall story.
1. "Ain’t No Mountain High Enough" by Marvin
Gaye & Tammi Terrell
Motown glory. That’s all I have to say on this one. Anything else, including the great
instrumentation, from its lushness to its beat, the fantastic vocal interplay
between Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, and the amazing lyrics, which is
arguably one of the greatest showcases of love, is already noticeable and
discussed. This is a fantastic song, and
I should stick with that. Even better,
you can learn the guitar and bass parts in Rocksmith
now.
Based on the rule of
elimination, this song ultimately made number 1 for reasons I’ve been
specifying. First, the song has
something to do with the story, such as having the same themes. Second, its usage has to make sense in
regards to the story, like how it relates to a character when it plays. Third, it adds to the atmosphere, such as
having the melodies and lyrics mesh with the shots going on. In this case, the song’s theme of how
distance won’t stop the love two people feel fits with, and is a part of the
ending of Peter’s character arc in the first movie. What I mean is that, before this song plays,
he survived the power of the Infinity Stone through not just his bond with his
teammates, but seeing an image of his mother holding her hand out during her
final moments, and him finally overcoming what was eating at him because of
that by giving his hand to her (which is actually Gamora asking for HIS hand at
the time to share the power). This plays
after that, and after he learn’s he’s half-ancient cosmic power from Nova Corps
after saving Xandar from Ronan, with him playing it as the first track on Vol.
2 of his and his mother’s Awesome Mix tapes.
Said tape was the present he received before she died (cue the
tears). Finally, it also matches with
the tone, with Peter remembering the good times with his mother and putting his
familial bonds and trust in his new family, the other Guardians, as well as
shots of Yondu, the Nova Corps, and Rhoman Dey in heartwarming scenarios like
showing love to others who ultimately survived the ordeal that went down. For Peter, and for everyone else in that moment,
there ain’t no mountain high enough, ain’t no valley low enough, and ain’t no
river wide enough to keep them from getting to those that they care for, love,
and support, but now and in their memories.
It just fits here, and that’s all I can really say.
So that was my
countdown for Guardians of the Galaxy’s first Awesome Mix. If you have any suggestions, feel free to
leave them in the comments below. If you
feel like I missed out on discussing Volume 2, feel free to leave your opinions
in the comments below.
Oh, and I did see the
sequel, so my thoughts will be here: I thought it was great, not as fresh or
exciting as the first, but a lot deeper and more emotional than the first, with
some fantastic action and very funny comedy.
It’s definitely a great continuation of the story as well as a great
continuation and conclusion of a few character arcs from the first.
More thoughts and a
numerical score? It’ll be here: http://rockotaku92.blogspot.com/2017/05/rockotaku-reviews-guardians-of-galaxy.html.
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