Paradise / Can't Buy me Love

David Newman and Robert Folk

 
" Newman and Folk on 1 CD "

Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release

David Newman and Robert Folk on 1 CD, that's the charm of the duo CD Paradise / Can't Buy me Love which was released by Intrada this year. The Paradise score was a slightly sought after album, basically because Newman didn't do drama enough, and the many many comedic promos weren't the answer to all the Newman fans out there. The Robert Folk comedy is considered to be a rarity, mostly because Folk wasn't the comedic composer to go to, and his inclusion here is then also slightly placed behind the much better David Newman score, namely Paradise.

Opening with "Going Home", it's astounding how much emotion David Newman can pour in just 40 seconds. The warm strings, the soft flute, the playful piano. It's Newman at his best when he has the chance to write something serious and heartfelt. And Paradise is that answer to our prayers. "The Bus Trip (Main Title)" has the same magical moments of Mathilda if we ever want to hear subtle but beautiful emotional music, "Lily's Sadness" and "The Graveyard" is heartfelt and very tender music, while "Fishing" goes for a much bolder main theme statement and a wonderful sense of playfulness (as only David Newman can do it).

There's a sense of urgency and determination in "Looking for Willard', keeping a fine line between the playfulness of Willard and the seriousness of the people that try to find them. And in "Billie and Lily / End Credits" the main title cue is repeated, only with stronger attention to the horn motif. Meaning Paradise is lovely, beautiful and so easy to like. It does tend to build too much on its own main theme, but the creative way Newman presents it makes for a lovely time nonetheless. 30 Minutes is enough, considering it can only work for a period of time. But in that time, David Newman remains as endearing as can be, showing he ought to do more pictures like this. Just lovely.

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Can't buy me Love was one of the many teen films of the 80's that was trying to find a balance between romance and comedy. Ultimately it worked to a degree, but it did ignite the career of Patrick Dempsey (who later went on to become Dr. Derek Shepherd (aka McDreamy) on the hit series Grey's Anatomy. And while the movie featured the typical use of 80's pop songs (with of course The Beatles hit song as necessary inclusion), Robert Folk was asked to write the music. Folk, the known Police Academy composer is not known as romantic comedy composer, and Can't Buy me Love remains somewhat of a rarity in his list of assignments.

And this short selection proves he is . The bouncy "Rent Me" is full of the joyful synthesizer tones of the 80's, occasionally supported by electric guitar, beats and a rare but totally appropriate saxophone ("Geek Grove"). The time for romance and puppy love follows soon in "Thinking of You" and "Anything you Want", resulting in the charming delights of real romance in "Broken Moon", brake-up sadness in "You, Me", determination in "The Target" and the best track including the lovely feeling of a harmonica in "Siberia" and the return of the bouncy melodies in "Rent Me (Finale)" which was cut off by the Beatles song during the end credits.

Can't Buy me Love is functional, approachable and enjoyable 80's teen music. There's nothing remotely special about it, but it has a charm and a heart and it suffices for the duration of its 28 minutes running time. Folk is not the known romantic composer, and the music didn't really make an impression in the film. But somehow on disc it makes a slightly better impression, because it picks up the noble intentions easier away from the film. Again, nothing remotely special, but combined with David Newman's Paradise, it makes for a serviceable and lovely hour of music.

Paradise: ***
Can't Buy me Love: ***

Track Listing

Paradise

1. Going Home (0.40)
2. The Bus Trip (Main Title) (4.14)
3. Lily's Sadness (3.45)
4. Billie and Willard (0.53)
5. The Graveyard (2.06)
6. Willard Helps Lily (0.39)
7. Fishing (2.27)
8. Lily and Willard (1.16)
9. Quiet Fishing (1.18)
10. You're My Best Friend (0.41)
11. Best Friends (0.36)
12. Looking for Willard (5.11)
13. Willard is Found (2.01)
14. Goodbye (2.15)
15. Billie and Lily / End Credits (3.57) Excellent track

Can't Buy Me Love

16. Rent Me (1.38)
17. Geek Groove (2.31)
18. Thinking of You (0.53)
19. Anything You Want (2.43)
20. Broken Moon (3.31)
21. You, Me! (2.52)
22. The Target (2.10)
23. For You (1.06)
24. Don't Forget (1.24)
25. Siberia (1.51)
26. Dark Vid Game Fight (1.01)
27. Have to Talk (0.44)
28. The Real Me (1.30)
29. Rent Me (Finale) (3.04)

Total Length: 58.57
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Released by

Intrada Special Collection Volume 251 (regular release 2013)

Paradise

Conducted & Orchestrated by

David Newman ------------------------------

Can't Buy me Love

Conducted & Orchestrated by

Robert Folk