This month, the Mental Jukebox revisits the movie soundtracks of the nineties. The music I’m highlighting are some of my personal favorites. In many cases, the movies themselves were huge for me as well. But the focus will still be on the music – as always. Let’s bring on the throwback classics, the grunge, the gangsta rap, and the indie gems. #31DaysOf90sMovieSongs
Movie: Empire Records
It goes without saying that a movie about music should have really great music. And the Empire Records soundtrack is truly a great album. Stacked top to bottom. Made to listen from beginning to end. But “Bright as Yellow” is the one song that I’ll listen to solo, detached from its soundtrack counterparts. It’s a song easily overlooked by the mid-tempo contributions from The Cranberries and Gin Blossoms as well as the louder, brasher tracks from Edwyn Collins, Cracker and Ape Hangers, among others. But it must not be overlooked. “Bright As Yellow” is a quiet beauty.
It’s a song that creates an immediate warmth and a mood that extends far beyond the reaches of the movie scenes. The kind of song that feels right at home on a warm summer evening or a cold winter night. “Bright As Yellow” can move you with its quiet, understated power whether it’s blasting from your speakers or you’re playing it quietly on your ear buds. Karen Peris’ vocals are inviting and unusual, yet eerily similar to The Sundays’ Harriet Wheeler. Next to her, her husband Don Peris wields his guitar to merge moody with melodic.
“And you live your life with your arms stretched out. Eye to eye when speaking. Enter rooms with great joy shouts. Happy to be meeting.”