In Contention

Tag: Duffy

  • Listen to Duffy’s ‘Smoke Without Fire’ from ‘An Education’

    DuffyEarlier today we featured “You’ve Got Me Wrapped Around Your Little Finger,” Beth Rowley’s original song contender from “An Education.” Now we’d like to bring a second track from the film to your attention: “Smoke Without Fire” from Welsh sensation Duffy.

    This is a potent little ditty but it is the first cue on the opening credits, which, as we’ve mentioned many times, isn’t an immediate deal breaker, but it makes the climb a bit more difficult.  Not to mention Rowley’s track features so prominently within the context of the film that, if either is going to get in, that would be it.

    Still, we shouldn’t take too much away from Duffy’s song.  It’s a great button on the end of the film, seemingly belted from the weary soul of a youngster who got in too deep.  You know my feelings on this category.  I think a song’s placement at the end of a film can have as much impact on your interpretation of the film as a song placed within, so if I had a vote, I imagine I’d be taking this one a bit more seriously than most.

    Have a listen below and tell us what you think.

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  • TECH SUPPORT: Best Original Song

    Jeff Bridges in Crazy HeartOver the last five months, Gerard has diligently canvassed and re-canvassed the various crafts categories here at In Contention.  The one category we have held back on all this time, as contenders have slowly fallen into place, was Best Original Song.  Today, it’s time to dig into the field.

    This has turned into something of a banner year for original songs in feature films.  We’ve had the great pleasure of bringing a number of hopefuls to you via our “listen to” posts, and look forward to continuing that into the new year.  But inevitably, frontrunners are bound to show up, and I think we can successfully narrow the field now.

    Before diving in, it’s worth reiterating the voting process in this category.  I’ll simply let the Academy’s rule book speak for itself:

    “An original song consists of words and music, both of which are original and written specifically for the motion picture. There must be a clearly audible, intelligible, substantive rendition (not necessarily visually presented) of both lyric and melody, used in the body of the motion picture or as the first music cue in the end credits.

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  • ‘An Education’ for Best Original Song?

    Beth RowleyThis morning I highlighted a few areas where the “An Education” team might want to angle for nominations beyond the slam-dunk that is the Carey Mulligan Express. What I forgot to suggest is that the film could theoretically put itself in the hunt for Best Original Song.

    You could be forgiven for thinking that the lovely, woozy torch ballad “You’ve Got Me Wrapped Around Your Little Finger” — which features prominently in the trailer, as well as twice in the film itself — is a dusty archive find from the early 1960s.

    However, it’s actually a contemporary track co-written and performed especially for the film by 28 year-old British jazz-pop chanteuse Beth Rowley (who appears as a nightclub singer in the film).

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  • Do we finally have a Bond singer?

    The Independent says we do… and it’s Duffy.

    I wrote last week about the seemingly endless parade of names that had been tipped to sing the theme for “Quantum of Solace,” which had most recently stopped at Alicia Keys. Now a “reliable mole” at Pinewood Studios says the 22 year-old Welsh soul revivalist is “almost certain” to be handed the gig.

    There have been so many rumours about this over the months that I remain guarded, but the bookies are certainly believing this one – Ladbrokes have slashed Duffy’s odds to even money. (Yes, the Brits bet on everything.)

    If so, I have no complaints about the choice. “Mercy” is a pretty fantastic pop record, and I wouldn’t mind if the “Quantum of Solace” theme turned out sounding something like it, with a few added strings, perhaps. (I only hope they aren’t planning to work that godawful title into the song.)

    I’ve already said I’d have preferred Amy Winehouse, but that was clearly not happening. Meanwhile, Duffy, with her throwback Springfield-esque voice, button-cute blonde looks and squeaky clean personal image, is essentially the Winehouse you can take home to mom. She’s a hot property right now – her (rather good) album “Rockferry” is the biggest seller of 2008 in the UK so far, and it’s gone gold Stateside too. It’s not hard to see why she would appeal to the 007 producers.

    Not betting the house on this yet, though.