with a little bit of love and a little bit of yeah yeah
Last night I was watching the Oscars, eating homemade fajitas, and mercilessly critiquing everyone from our comfy couch perch (oh, and Trent Reznor? Winning an Oscar? ..add that to the list of things I never thought I’d see when I was 16 and rebelling by listening to Pretty Hate Machine loudly on cassette in my 1987 Nissan Sentra).
Suddenly, amidst the self-congratulating by Hollywood for itself and victorious weeping, my ears perked up from a song in a commercial that sang charmingly about a little bit of love and a little bit of yeah yeah. It sparkled with both of the rich, seeping warmth and rasp of M. Ward along with the sweet folksy songwriting of Simon & Garfunkel — who was the artist behind this little song? Because I loved him, immediately.
Turns out I did love him actually, already.
The song is one of six new ones penned by Sam Means, half of the now-defunct The Format, for the 2008 indie movie The Sinking of Santa Isabel, about a fellow who goes to live in a treehouse. Sam has always been an amazing songwriter who uses classical sunny pop structure with a refreshing and humble spark, so now that I’ve listened to it a good dozen times — of course it’s him. I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to find it.
Yeah Yeah – Sam Means
Soundtrack for The Sinking of Santa Isabel is available here.
Name: Heather Browne
That was my exact thought when I saw Mr. Clean Cut Reznor accepting the award – was this seriously the same guy that used to screech I Want To **** *** Like An Animal through my crappy little car speakers back in the day? I guess we all grew up without even realizing it?! Thanks for making me not feel like the only one scratching my nostalgic noggin at that moment. That being said – when they played the little segment of music from the movie, I did recall that the music was pretty interesting – moody and slightly dark electronic sounds that stay with you much longer than the movie itself did.
Charles — March 1, 2011 @ 8:00 am
What a great find! Thanks… As for Trent…Yeah, the first thing I thought was: “So, now my fifteen-year-old self hates Trent for “Selling Out?”" And then, naturally, a laugh. Such a bizarre, but awesome turn of events. Still feels a little strange, though…
Jon Martin — March 1, 2011 @ 12:13 pm
Hooray for musicians from Arizona doing big things!
Kevin — March 3, 2011 @ 3:02 pm
arizona is where it’s at!
and by “it” i partly am referring to the format, and partly to giants spring training.
browneheather — March 4, 2011 @ 5:26 pm
he absolutely did an amazing job with the music in that movie and i didn’t even know at all that it was him composing it. trent is wildly, deeply talented and his music (including what was in the social network) magnetically draws me. charles, you are right that it stayed with me, got under my skin. but yes, still weird to see him in that company – and i am sure he felt it too to some degree….
browneheather — March 4, 2011 @ 5:28 pm