Recently I attended a Paul Simon concert.  What I’ve appreciated about his music are the many styles he’s brought to the table, especially in his Graceland album.  After going to his concert, I started researching some of the bands that inspired him.  In learning about the Boyoyo Boys, I stumbled across a great track called “Baby are Yeng” by Nancy Jacobs and Her Sisters.  The song glorifies the youthful lifestyle in Prohibition era Chicago.  Nancy Jacob’s voice seems to echo a bit of The Andrews Sisters singing “Rum And Coca Cola” or  Millie Smalls singing “My Boy Lollipop” the first Ska song that ever saw any popularity in the US.

Saving Private Ryan – This one is particularly moving.  During a rest in a battle, the troops discuss the lyrics of Edith Piaf and reveal their understanding of emotions and memories of beautiful women.  Their comments echo the lyrics translated from french, as the music echos through the ruins.

La Haine – There is something about DJ Cut Killer’s blending Edith Piaf with KRS-One’s “Sound Of The Police” that fits perfectly in a french ghetto.  The shot is made especially wonderful by the slowly increasing echo of the music through the tenemant buildings.  What a great shot paired with an excellent blend of music.

Inception – An interesting take on the usage of “Non Je Ne Regrette Rien” as source for sound design in the recently released movie Inception.  Very clever stuff!