"To Live and Die in L.A." is one of the greatest action films ever made and also one of the most criminally underrated and overlooked films of all time - I'm
always intrigued why people aren't seeing it or why it has reach the level of being one of those 1980's flicks that gets heavy rotation on TV. Intense and thrilling
action sequences, brutal killings and one of the most elaborated car chase sequences ever conceived, there's another thing that brings quality to the movie: the energy charged score by the duo Wang Chung. From the title song to the closing song "Wait" and the exciting instrumental track "City of the Angels", those are some are the most
things you'll remember from the film besides William Petersen, John Pankow and Willem Dafoe as lead stars. William Friedkin's best film in that decade. Speaking of Friedkin,
he's the director of this music video for Wang Chung on a song that had everything to not be in the movie itself. The director's instructions were: I need a theme song for the
movie BUT without using its title". The duo made the song on their own terms, challenging the director who in the end loved the song and made the clip with them. A match made
in heave since it truly echoes the movie's scenario, feelings and rhythm.
In a land and time where the film is hardly known - because lots of us tend to mention whenever Billy Friedkin name appears that what we're about to see comes from the director of "The Exorcist" and "The French Connection" - this clip also has the same fate, except for Wang Chung fans or those who watch soundtrack channels with clips. A dark, somber song allied with Jack Hues great voice and the heavy use of synthesizers all capturing the film's mood, the era, the action and the dangers of living or dying in the wild sides of L.A. as exposed in Friedkin's film with his mysterious characters and devious acts. The clip presents the director making the clip along with the duo in between scenes that makes them look as if they were composing the song along with the video. Not truth since Friedkin had to be a really good improvisational of getting and film right away when the song was presented to him, but Friedkin makes it look such idea is happening before our eyes. And in between those moments there's tiny bits of sequences from the film - not enough to spoil the movie to non-viewers but interesting enough to make you curious about it.
In terms of soundtrack videos, this one is a pure and nice to look at it. The song is catchy, the melody is unforgettable and the lyrics are possibly the best the duo ever did (but they look too happy for such a strong theme). Colorful as the 1980's were but without looking too much dated, this music is a precious gem carefully made by Friedkin. 9/10
In a land and time where the film is hardly known - because lots of us tend to mention whenever Billy Friedkin name appears that what we're about to see comes from the director of "The Exorcist" and "The French Connection" - this clip also has the same fate, except for Wang Chung fans or those who watch soundtrack channels with clips. A dark, somber song allied with Jack Hues great voice and the heavy use of synthesizers all capturing the film's mood, the era, the action and the dangers of living or dying in the wild sides of L.A. as exposed in Friedkin's film with his mysterious characters and devious acts. The clip presents the director making the clip along with the duo in between scenes that makes them look as if they were composing the song along with the video. Not truth since Friedkin had to be a really good improvisational of getting and film right away when the song was presented to him, but Friedkin makes it look such idea is happening before our eyes. And in between those moments there's tiny bits of sequences from the film - not enough to spoil the movie to non-viewers but interesting enough to make you curious about it.
In terms of soundtrack videos, this one is a pure and nice to look at it. The song is catchy, the melody is unforgettable and the lyrics are possibly the best the duo ever did (but they look too happy for such a strong theme). Colorful as the 1980's were but without looking too much dated, this music is a precious gem carefully made by Friedkin. 9/10
