A long time ago in a galaxy not so far away, this blog was devoted to music and concerts. Since I started travel writing, I’ve neglected my passion for the auditory arts. I’m combining the two today in this post.
When I walk around town, I always have a song playing in my head. It’s like having a personal soundtrack. Here are some of my favorite travel-related songs/compositions. I’d love to hear what yours are in the comments.
Gustavo Santaolalla | MySpace | IMDB
I recently revisited one of my favorite films of all time, The Motorcycle Diaries, before returning home on an impromptu trip to Hawaii. It inspired me to finally pick up what might possibly be one of the most haunting and emotive soundtracks I’ve ever heard, a collaborative experience composed by several great artists, notably the Argentinean musician Gustavo Santaolalla. The introspective melodies were quite apt for my journey home, in where I’ve been delving into memories from my past via the otherwise mundane task of cleaning my room.
“Let the world change you and you can change the world,” said Ernesto “Che” Guevara, a controversial figure who, whether or not you agreed with his doings, has done great or terrible things for many Latin Americans. Regardless, it’s an inspiring quote that reminds us to open our eyes and our minds, and to connect with the intricacies of the world around us.
This post is dedicated to a friend who found my last post too scary. Hello from Hawaii!
Kingdom of Heaven | It’s visually lush and enchanting with a remarkable score by Harry Gregson-Williams. Jeremy Irons is fantastic and Edward Norton really delivers as the “leper king.” Still culturally relevant since its release, the film has more to do with the good and evil within people than that which exists between faiths. Also, Eva Green is in it.
Sunshine | Danny Boyle may very well be my favorite director. Sunshine hits the heart of the sci-fi genre: behind all the technology, it’s ultimately about humanity. Also, Rose Byrne is in it.
Pan’s Labyrinth | “A fairy tale for grown ups,” the film contrasts fantasy with the brutal reality of human violence.
The Motorcycle Diaries | A flat-out beautiful film with one of the best taglines ever, a quote from Che Guevara: “Let the world change you and you can change the world.”
Braveheart | Probably my favorite film of all time with one of the most moving scores ever by James Horner (Glory, Titanic). If anything can be both uplifting and heartbreaking at the same time, this is it. By the way, movie trailers in 1995 totally blew.
