composer Paul Grabowsky
The Bands & The Party Singer Fred Cheah Drummer John Perri Guitarists Ross Spinello Pasquale Monea Accordianist (sic) Amanda Testro
The Tropical Resort Singers Shelley Scown James Uluave Guitarist Doug DeVries
The Wedding Victorian Boys Choir
Original Music Performed by Victorian Philharmonic Orchestra
Leader Rudi Osadnik Conductor Paul Grabowsky Orchestrations Ric Formosa Paul Grabowsky
Soprano Amanda Colliver Solo Violin Susan Pierotti Tenor Xie Kun Bazoukie George Spiro
Music Score Co-Ordinator Michael Grabowsky Publishing Warner Bros. Music Australia Pty. Ltd. Music Consultant Diana Manson
"Love and Affection" performed by Joan Armatrading, Courtesy of A & M Records through PolyGram Pty Limited written by Joan Armatrading © Rondor Music (London) Ltd. used by permission of Rondor Music Australia Pty. Ltd.
"Sweet Dreams are Made of This" performed by the Eurythmics, courtesy of RCA Records written by Annie Lennox and David A. Stewart, published by BMG Music Publishing Limited
"Brazil" (Russell/Barrossa) published by Southern Music Publishing, performed by Fred Chia
"Absolutely" performed by the Eurogliders, courtesy of Sony Music Australia Limited, written by Bernie Lynch used by permission of Warner Bros. Music Australia Pty. Ltd. "Gloria" performed by the Australian Boys Choir written by Antonio Vivaldi, arranged by Paul Grabowsky
"We've Started a Fire" performed by Vika & Linda (Mushroom Records Pty. Ltd.) written by Paul Kelly (Mushroom Music Pty. Ltd.)
Digital Recording at Cinesound Music Recording at Allan Eaton Sound
Music in the film:
Music appears in the film in a number of sequences. There’s an opera in the mall element to the slapstick set piece when Sophie breaks her leg by falling from a great height amongst tenors, and on their holiday junkets and at parties, Sophie and Eddie are entertained by assorted performers. There’s also a boys’ choir at Eddie’s abortive wedding to Gloria.
Below are a few sample stills - see also this site’s photo gallery.
CD Release:
A CD of music from the film was released. Most of the tracks were pop songs, with elements of Paul Grabowsky’s score for the film appearing as track nine as a kind of suite. The titles below tend to indicate where the cues fall in the movie: CD BMG 743212238282 1994 (74321238282 1994 on the insert) Composed by Paul Grabowsky Performed by the Victorian Philharmonic Orchestra Leader - Rudi Osadnik Conductor - Paul Grabowsky Orchestrations - Ric Formosa, Paul Grabowsky Soprano - Amanda Colliver Solo violin - Susan Pierotti Bazoukie - George Spiro Published by Warner Bros Music Australia Pty. Ltd. Produced by Mike Grabowsky Engineer - Robin Gray Recorded at Allan Eaton Studios Digital editing - Cinesound Music consultant - Diana Manson Album compiled by Diana Manson Album co-ordinator - Anneke Baeten for BMG Australia Mastered by Bruce Sheldrick
1. Love And Affection (Remix) (Joan Armatrading) Vocals: Joan Armatrading, producer: Glyn Johns, remixed by Hugh Padgham © Rondor Music (London) Ltd, courtesy A&M Records through PolyGram Pty. Ltd. 2. Sweet Dreams Are Made Of This (Annie Lennox - David A. Stewart) Vocals: Eurythmics, produced by David A. Stewart, published by BMG Music Publishing Limited, courtesy of RCA Records 3. In The Name Of Love (Michael McDonald) Vocals: Rick Astley, produced by Greg Stevenson and Rick Astley, published by Warner Chappell Music, courtesy of RCA UK 4. This Is The Right Time (Stansfield - Devaney - Morris) Vocals: Lisa Stansfield, produced by Devaney and Morris, published by Mushroom Music Pty. Ltd., courtesy of Arista UK 5. Absolutely (Bernie Lynch) Vocals: The Eurogliders, producers: Bernie Lynch, Bill Scheniman, published by Warner Bros. Music Australia Pty. Ltd., courtesy Sony Music Australia Ltd. 6. Perfect (Mark E. Nevin) Vocals: Fairground Attraction, produced by Fairground Attraction and Kevin Moloney, published by MCA Music, courtesy of RCA UK 7. We’ve Started A Fire (Paul Kelly) Vocals: Vika And Linda, produced by Paul Kelly, published by Mushroom Music Pty. Ltd., courtesy of Mushroom Records Pty. Ltd. 8. I’m So Excited (A. Pointer - J. Pointer - R. Pointer - T. Lawrence) Vocals: The Pointer Sisters, produced by Richard Perry, published by SBK Songs/Rondor Music, courtesy of RCA USA 9. Lucky Break - The Score: Fantasy 1 (Parts 1 & 2): The Greek Island Eddie And Sophie Meet At The Library Eddie In His Shop Fantasy 2: The Artist “Brazil” (Performed by Fred Chia), written by Russell and Barrossa, published by Southern Music Publishing The Party The Tropical Resort Jewels In The Hotel Room The Restaurant Gloria And Eddie Make Up Sophie And Eddie In His Apartment Fantasy 4: The Cat Burglars The Cast Comes Off Sophie Reveals The Truth Gloria Reads The Book “Gloria” (Antonio Vivaldi, Arr: Paul Grabowsky), performed by The Australian Boys Choir Love Theme The Motel Room Fantasy 3: Gretchen
Lyrics:
The film offers a couple of conventional songs over the head and tail credits, together with some voice over narration evoking the world of paperback romance.
Lyrics for the song that runs over the head credits, a Joan Armatrading re-mix: I am not in love But I’m open to persuasion East or West Where's the best For romancing With a friend I can smile But with a lover I could hold my head back I could really laugh Really laugh Thank you You took me dancing 'Cross the floor Cheek to cheek But with a lover I could really move Really move I could really dance Really dance Really dance Really dance I could really move Really move Really move Really move Now if I can feel the sun In my eyes And the rain on my face Why can't I Feel …
(The song fades out at this point to the sound of surging waves crashing on a rocky headland …in published versions, the rest of the song continues with these lyrics …)
...love I can really love Really love Really love Really love Really love Love love love love Love love love love Now I got all The friends that I want I may need more But I shall just stick to those That I have got With friends I still feel So insecure Little darling I believe you could Help me a lot Just take my hand And lead me where you will No conversation No wave goodnight Just make love With affection Sing me another love song But this time With a little dedication Sing it, sing it You know that's what I like Once more with feeling Give me love Give me love Give me love Love
Instead of the later part of the song, the film embarks on a Greek island romantic fantasy with Sophie (Carides) speaking these lines:
Sophie (v/o, over images of a Greek island beach, Theo and the trio making love): We had not known each other long, Madelaine and I, before we travelled together to Greece … to the islands. There we met Theo …she took him, and I watched …(then whispered) … ‘make love to me’ …I heard her whisper to him. He led us into a small white hut. ‘Come with us,’ she said …’come inside’ … I was sure I didn’t want to … but I went (sexual groaning from Theo) …I gazed at my friend as she made love with her beautiful, smooth-skinned Greek god. I was hypnotised … then my eyes met Madeline’s (sexual groaning from the naked Madeline as she writhes under Theo) … they coaxed me, they mocked me …they invited me …
(At this point the camera turns to a pan across the reading room in the Victorian State Library in Melbourne … Sophie is at a reading desk, scribbling away with a fountain pen. She begins speaking aloud as she writes ,and is heard in the distance by Eddie - LaPaglia - as he looks at catalogues in the Jewellery book section) …
It was the first time …the first time for anything like this. Words came from Madeline that I couldn’t believe …(Eddie hears her and turns to see and listen) … she even knew. Her pleasure shocked me and made me hot …
(Eddie heads towards the reading desk) … she gave a long, sensuous groan, almost a sob, as he pulled away from her (Eddie sits down on the other side of the reading desk behind an obscuring dividing panel and listens to her words) … Then, he turned to me. I felt his breath on my skin … his lips …touching … Suddenly I felt it … just the tip of it …almost the size of a lemon (Eddie smiles as he listens) …lemon .. no no … (Sophie runs the nib through the line) …I ate, just to feel him swallowing … no, the other way round …filling, oh yuck … (Eddie also frowns) …devouring me (Eddie likes the line and waves a finger as music swells and we see the line ‘just to feel him devouring me’, then a CU on her eyes closing and then dissolve into Theo hoisting her into the air as he enters her) …
Yes … we rode each other (gasping and swelling music as they ride) …like wild animals …(the threesome in action) … like beasts on a moonlit beach …we whirled into the Trojan Horse position, flying on a trapeze of lust. Suddenly we were both quivering (window frame flaps, outside a full moon, candles, foaming waves pounding on the cliff) shivering, quaking (groans, cries) … I cried out, but even as I did, my voice seemed to fade away, until everything went silent … (CU on Eddie listening rapt) … There was a lonely echo in the distance, then … (back in the library to see both of them on either side of the divided reading desk) … it was over …
(She stops writing and caps her pen, Eddie leans back in his chair. He leans over and points his pen at the dividing panel)
Eddie: Excuse me miss …(using the pen to tap on the dividing panel) …I don’t think I could live with myself if I didn’t tell you that that was the most memorable experience of my life … Sophie (to the panel): How long have you been listening? Eddie: Since you and your friend went back to the hut with the Greek … Sophie: She’s not my friend, she’s just a fictional character … Eddie(leaning over to look around the panel): Oh, I’m sorry, I thought it was your diary …” Sophie (also looking around the panel to look at him): No, it’s just a story …a work of fiction … I’m sorry, I hadn’t expected to get involved in this kind of conversation today … Eddie (standing up to look and smile at her): No, me neither ... there you have it … the miracle of life …
The film ends with another one of Sophie’s romantic fantasies, this time beginning with the camera craning off a snow-covered roof, though a window into a lodge room with the nude ski chalet man puffing on a cigar, as Sophie lies in front of a log fire ...
Sophie (v/o): It was in the tiny picturesque alpine village of Gretchen (the camera moves past a sign, ‘Willkommen zum Alpenhaus Gretchen,’ to get to a window) that she felt first the hungry bite of winter love (the camera moves up to the window pane and through it). He was the finest ski instructor in the Alps, but he was also a brilliant cellist …
(Behind the naked cigar-puffing ski chalet man is a full moon) … and a great humanitarian. It seemed she would have no chance … (Reveal the ski chalet man with two golden cups on a tray, and under his right arm a crutch as he moves towards Sophie) but then the accident changed everything…(The ski chalet man clunks towards Sophie, and we see his right leg is covered to the thigh in plaster, while her left leg is also covered in plaster. He lies down beside her in front of the log fire and holds one of the cups to her lips. She takes the cup as he lies down even further beside her). They slid into each other’s arms (they embrace), and their plasters touched by the firelight glow (his hand caresses her plaster cast, and then with a clunk and a swell of music, he puts his cast on top of hers and slides it up and down on hers as the camera moves towards the log fire).
They drifted into the (truth? obscured), no no, and they sank into the … mmm …
The scene transforms into CU with Sophie and Eddie kissing, as she sighs …
Sophie: … They …
The screen freezes on the CU and fades to black, an animated handwritten The End comes up, and a tail song over end credits begins …
Tail song lyrics:
(Short wah wah guitar and organ intro)
Mornin’ is rising Suddenly I open my eyes Sundown... catch me Lyin’ here by your side We’re just like children Playing with matches Hidden from the world We’ve started a fire We’ve started a fire We’ve started a fire We can’t put out Kiss me Then let me Go before the sun is high One kiss, one spark Danger when the powder is dry We’re just like children Playing with matches Hidden from the world We’ve started a fire We’ve started a fire We’ve started a fire We can’t put out Na na na na nah nah nah Na na na na nah nah nah nah nah nah Na na na na nah nah nah nah nah nah (short wah wah guitar solo with organ) Mornin’ is rising I’m lying here by your side … (Credits end, remainder over black)
Daylight comes shining Burning right into my eyes … (fade out)
Composer Paul Grabowsky:
Grabowsky was something of a favourite of producer Bob Weis, having worked with him on the Melbourne based Judy Davis thriller Georgia, as well as on shows such as the 1987 mini-series The Petrov Affair.
Grabowsky has a wiki here, and this short biography at the Australian Music Centre here:
Paul Grabowsky is a pianist, composer, arranger, conductor, and one of Australia's most distinguished artists.
Born in Lae, Papua New Guinea in 1958, Paul Grabowsky was raised in Melbourne where he attended Wesley College. During the late 1970s he became prominent in the music scene in Melbourne, working in various jazz, theater and cabaret projects.
He lived and worked in Europe and the US in 1980-85, during which time he performed with many jazz luminaries, including Chet Baker, Art Farmer and Johnny Griffin. He returned to Australia in 1986 and established a reputation as one of Australia's leading jazz musicians with bands such as his own trio and sextet, the Wizards of Oz, and as musical director for singer Vince Jones. He was musical director of Tonight Live with Steve Vizard from 1990-1992.
A lot of Paul Grabowsky's time is spent composing and arranging for various projects. He has been commissioned by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Opera Australia, the Queensland Music Festival, the Australian National Academy of Music, and by various other organisations. His work for the concert stage includes orchestral and chamber music, a song cycle and works for the Australian Art Orchestra. He has written three major stage works, and is currently working on a fourth one. In his large-scale works, Grabowsky integrates influences from many different kinds of music and musical cultures.
Grabowsky has written the scores for over twenty feature films in Australia, the UK and US, including The Eye of the Storm and Last Orders (Fred Schepisi), Innocence (Paul Cox), and Shiner (John Irvin). Among the many other filmmakers he has worked with are Gillian Armstrong, Nadia Tass and Clara Law. His television credits include the series Phoenix and Janus and the Emmy-winningEmpire Falls. His works for the theatre include two operas and various multimedia works.
He is the founder and artistic director of the Australian Art Orchestra, with which he tours both nationally and internationally. Recent AAO projects have concentrated on collaborations with traditional and contemporary indigenous performers, something which Paul passionately advocates.
Grabowsky has his own website here. There is an extensive list of works as a film composer here.
(Below: Paul Grabowsky) (Below: Grabowsky with singer Kate Ceberano - they worked together on Georgia)