Groundhog Day
George Fenton
" Thats right, woodchuck-chuckers - it's GROUNDHOG DAY, AGAIN "Written by Justin Boggan - Review of the regular release
Fenton's score for the now classic holiday film is a smaller ensemble sound, and is scored more to the emotional side of the film. There is no overlaying theme or orchestra structure, but that does not make the score a poor listen, because each cue offers something.
As a side track I'll talk about the film a small bit. Normally I would not talk about the series or film for which I am writing a review or because as far as I am concerned, a good score is a stand alone experience and you don't need to know anything about from where it comes to enjoy it (many of my personal favorite scores are to things I have never seen, for example).
The film, about Phil Connors (Bill Murray) -- an angry, self-centered weather man who goes to report, along with a camera man and his new boss, on the Groundhog Day celebration. After a day of generally being cross with everybody, bad weather moves in -- in spite of Phil's prediction to the contrary -- trapping them in town. Phil wakes up the next morning and find it's Groundhog's Day again. The same day repeats over & over again. Through this Phil learns lessons about life, people and ultimately himself.
The film came out at the tail end of a period where films still had a heart, an emotional core, and good acting and writing, not to mention Bill Murray was still funny. Partially written, and directed by Harold Ramis (Dr. Egon Spengler, from "Ghostbusters", who has a bit part in the film, and I think is also the morning radio co-host), the film has since become a holiday classic, much like "Planes, Trains & Automobiles" for the end of the year.
The film marked Fenton's first scoring effort for Ramis as a director. Fenton came back and scored one more film for Ramis, and supposedly had a score replaced on the remake "Bedazzled". He was also announced as composer for "Ghostbusters III" when, for a brief while years back, it was close to happening. G3 is actually happening now -- no word on whether Ramis will call upon Fenton again. Not even sure how they met in the first place.
Stand out tracks include: "Clouds", which is the main title piece for the film, which is a very upbeat and happy ... well, I lack the proper musical knowledge to describe it, so I will go with German pomp; "The Kidnap and the Quarry" with it's smaller action sound and semi serious sound, keeping in with the absurdity of it all before becoming more dramatic about 3/4ths in; the certain air of reflective sadness in "Sometimes People Just Die"; "The Ice Sculpture", which, after the awkward saxophone, transitions into some lovely strings and winds.
Of special note are some -- as shocking as it may be -- good songs and source music on the CD. Love it or hate it, "I Got You Babe" (Sonny & Cher) is memorable and considered a classic of the era. "Eighteenth Variation From Rapsodie on a Theme of Paganini" is still one of the most beautiful pieces of classical music ever. And dammit it all, if you're like me, you got that fucking "Pennsylvania Polka" bouncing in your head again & again after seeing the film; "Strike up the music and something something something", boom boom Boom! It just keeps repeating! Anyway, a nice addition to the CD.
Nice thing about the CD is that it is not rare (though I believe it is out of print), and you can find a used copy for under ten dollars if you look a little. If your local CD store has a copy for that, it's a nice addition to your collection. Groundhog Day one of Fenton's best? Can't say it is, especially considering what little I have heard of him, but it has it's merits and I'm sure the score will fall onto positive ears for a typical fan.
Tracklisting
1. Weatherman: Delbert McClinton (4.17)
2. Clouds * (1.10)
3. I Got You Babe: Sonny & Cher (3.11)
4. Quartet no. 1 in D - The Groundhog: B. Dukov, S. Sanov, P. Goldsmith, D. Karmayzn (2.07)
5. Take me Round Again: Susie Stevens (3.05)
6. Drunks * (2.17)
7. Pennsylvania Polka: Frankie Yankovic (2.23)
8. You Like Boats But Not the Ocean * (1.40)
9. Phil Getz the Girl * (3.30)
10. Phil Steals the Money * (1.20)
11. You Don`t Know Me: Otmar Liebert & Luna Negra (4.12)
12. The Kidnap and the Quarry * (2.50)
13. Sometimes People Just Die * (1.39)
14. Eighteenth Variaton From Rapsodie on a Theme of Paganini: Elizabeth Buccheri (3.33)
15. Phil`s Piano Solo / 18th Variation From Rapsodie on a Theme of Paganini: Terry Fryer (1.48)
16. The Ice Sculpture * (2.04)
17. A New Day * (1.26)
18. Almost Like Being in Love: Nat King Cole (1.52)
* Score composed by George Fenton
Total Length: 44.24
As a side track I'll talk about the film a small bit. Normally I would not talk about the series or film for which I am writing a review or because as far as I am concerned, a good score is a stand alone experience and you don't need to know anything about from where it comes to enjoy it (many of my personal favorite scores are to things I have never seen, for example).
The film, about Phil Connors (Bill Murray) -- an angry, self-centered weather man who goes to report, along with a camera man and his new boss, on the Groundhog Day celebration. After a day of generally being cross with everybody, bad weather moves in -- in spite of Phil's prediction to the contrary -- trapping them in town. Phil wakes up the next morning and find it's Groundhog's Day again. The same day repeats over & over again. Through this Phil learns lessons about life, people and ultimately himself.
The film came out at the tail end of a period where films still had a heart, an emotional core, and good acting and writing, not to mention Bill Murray was still funny. Partially written, and directed by Harold Ramis (Dr. Egon Spengler, from "Ghostbusters", who has a bit part in the film, and I think is also the morning radio co-host), the film has since become a holiday classic, much like "Planes, Trains & Automobiles" for the end of the year.
The film marked Fenton's first scoring effort for Ramis as a director. Fenton came back and scored one more film for Ramis, and supposedly had a score replaced on the remake "Bedazzled". He was also announced as composer for "Ghostbusters III" when, for a brief while years back, it was close to happening. G3 is actually happening now -- no word on whether Ramis will call upon Fenton again. Not even sure how they met in the first place.
Stand out tracks include: "Clouds", which is the main title piece for the film, which is a very upbeat and happy ... well, I lack the proper musical knowledge to describe it, so I will go with German pomp; "The Kidnap and the Quarry" with it's smaller action sound and semi serious sound, keeping in with the absurdity of it all before becoming more dramatic about 3/4ths in; the certain air of reflective sadness in "Sometimes People Just Die"; "The Ice Sculpture", which, after the awkward saxophone, transitions into some lovely strings and winds.
Of special note are some -- as shocking as it may be -- good songs and source music on the CD. Love it or hate it, "I Got You Babe" (Sonny & Cher) is memorable and considered a classic of the era. "Eighteenth Variation From Rapsodie on a Theme of Paganini" is still one of the most beautiful pieces of classical music ever. And dammit it all, if you're like me, you got that fucking "Pennsylvania Polka" bouncing in your head again & again after seeing the film; "Strike up the music and something something something", boom boom Boom! It just keeps repeating! Anyway, a nice addition to the CD.
Nice thing about the CD is that it is not rare (though I believe it is out of print), and you can find a used copy for under ten dollars if you look a little. If your local CD store has a copy for that, it's a nice addition to your collection. Groundhog Day one of Fenton's best? Can't say it is, especially considering what little I have heard of him, but it has it's merits and I'm sure the score will fall onto positive ears for a typical fan.
Tracklisting
1. Weatherman: Delbert McClinton (4.17)
2. Clouds * (1.10)
3. I Got You Babe: Sonny & Cher (3.11)
4. Quartet no. 1 in D - The Groundhog: B. Dukov, S. Sanov, P. Goldsmith, D. Karmayzn (2.07)
5. Take me Round Again: Susie Stevens (3.05)
6. Drunks * (2.17)
7. Pennsylvania Polka: Frankie Yankovic (2.23)
8. You Like Boats But Not the Ocean * (1.40)
9. Phil Getz the Girl * (3.30)
10. Phil Steals the Money * (1.20)
11. You Don`t Know Me: Otmar Liebert & Luna Negra (4.12)
12. The Kidnap and the Quarry * (2.50)
13. Sometimes People Just Die * (1.39)
14. Eighteenth Variaton From Rapsodie on a Theme of Paganini: Elizabeth Buccheri (3.33)
15. Phil`s Piano Solo / 18th Variation From Rapsodie on a Theme of Paganini: Terry Fryer (1.48)
16. The Ice Sculpture * (2.04)
17. A New Day * (1.26)
18. Almost Like Being in Love: Nat King Cole (1.52)
* Score composed by George Fenton
Total Length: 44.24