This is a synch that I created for one of my Favorite Films, Brian DePalma's glam rock opera PHANTOM of the PARADISE (1974)...Tried to do a straight synch, starting Meatloaf's Bat Out of Hell (1978) LP with the beginning of the movie, but it didn't really do much...So manipulated it instead.
Ended up using most all of Bat Out of Hell (minus 2 songs.)
THE SONG LIST:
MEATLOAF "For Crying Out Loud"
MEATLOAF "Bat Out of Hell"
KISS "Do You Love Me?" (KISS, Double Platinum, 1978.)
ROSE ROYCE "Wishing on a Star" (54 motion picture soundtrack, 1998.)--Note: It's on the Car Wash s'trk. too.
MEATLOAF "You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth (Hot Summer Night)"
The ROLLING STONES "Sympathy for the Devil" (Beggars Banquet, 1968.)
MEATLOAF "Paradise by the Dashboard Light"
MEATLOAF "Heaven Can Wait"
***To begin: Fwd. 40 mins. into the movie***Paul Williams/'Swan' is alone, listening to the recording of The Winslow-Phantom Contract. On the tape he says "Now we're in business together...forever"--Start music now!
The Meatloaf song "For Crying Out Loud", a montage of clocks, piano keys, Phoenix in that black feather coat, and the Phantom writing his music...jeezus, this song is perfect! BEST PART!: Song ends when a piece of sheet music with The End on it appears.
"Bat Out of Hell" begins with the Phantom screaming and freaking out (nice!) Also, Beef in the shower: the music as the Phantom approaches is neat...Even the conversation on the staircase synchs well. NOTICE: The lyrics "Before the gates of Heaven" when the fans are outside the gates of the Paradise, opening of the curtain and the band taking the stage, audience reactions, song ending at just the right time...
*Needed shorter songs with other character voices here, chose KISS, "Do You Love Me?" for Beef's performance (a Kiss lookalike band, "7 inch leather heel" glamminess)...Rose Royce, "Wishing on a Star" for Phoenix (the tempo is right.)
NOTICE: In Phoenix's dressing room post-show, roses and a note from Swan, 'To my new star'...
Back to Meatloaf LP, "You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth" (that 'Wolf with the Red Rose' intro just fits), the Phantom spying on Swan and Phoenix making out(!)...
Scene that follows involves Soul Selling and the Devil and Contracts, chose the Stones' "Sympathy for the Devil"...The opening of the song set to Swan being stabbed is just cool as hell!
NOTICE: Rolling Stone magazine cover, "Man of Wealth and Taste" (Swan), those Paradise security guards who look just like Altamont Hell's Angels (!)--denim jackets w/ DEATH on the back...
Back to Meat, "Paradise by the Dashboard Light", the grand finale concert/wedding ("Will you make me your wife?") ceremony...NOTICE: How well the dancing girls synch up! When the 'Go All the Way section of the song kicks in, things become appropriately frantic...the Phantom running down the hallway, through the streets, Phoenix's odd dancing, Swan rising from the stage...the "Stop Right There!" part is amazing!!!
Wanted to include the song "Heaven Can Wait" ("I got a taste of Paradise") and it fits the end credits montage pretty darn well...I just LOVE this movie so much!!!
Synched by Mia Fudge, 11/11-12/2005.
UPDATE: Did some tweaking...Started music when Swan says "Now we're in business together..." Some improvements, esp. now how "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" ends right at the end, before the end credits montage. NOTE: Programmed the songs to play in that order on my 5 CD shuffle-play stereo, worked pretty well...Anyways, it's my favorite synch. The end.