Role: Writer
Illustration by Raphaelle Macaron
Soundtrack review for F/I/M2/P magazine’s issue “Where are all the superheroes?”.
Merriam Webster’s definition of epic is: “ /’ep-ik/; extending beyond the usual or ordinary”. Take this “epicness”, and mix it in a batter of epic extravaganza, bake for 112 minutes and you’ll get “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World”, the tale of a video game hero, overcoming the obstacles of a new relationship.
In matters of love, we all wish we could start fresh with that new someone and leave the baggage at the door. Unfortunately, we all know that it’s BS. A person’s baggage is here to stay, and when you’re dating them, you’re dating all of their past lovers… unless you can defeat them in battle. Scott Pilgrim, the hero of our video game. Has to defeat all seven of Ramona’s, the girl with hot pink hair, evil exes.
Scott is part of a band called the Sex Bob-omb, who introduces the movie soundtrack, screaming, “We are Sex Bob-omb!!! 1, 2, 3, 4!” The alleged band of our video game hero comprises of songs composed and written by Beck, with hits such as “Garbage truck”, “Threshold” and “Summertime”.
The first of Ramona’s evil exes Scott has to defeat attacks him during a battle of the bands with Crash and the Boys. During the mash-off, Crash’s music, who was written by Brendan Canning and Kevin Drew, of Broken Social Scene, revealed a selection of songs that were quick, punk and fast, such as “I’m sad, so very very sad”, a 13-second song whose entire lyrics are included in the title of the song, followed by “We hate you, please die”(pretty self explanatory).
Skipping to Ramona’s third ex, is the evil bass player for “Clash at the Demonhead”, Todd Ingram, a vegan psychic who got his superpowers by going to the Vegan Academy. His band Clash plays “Blacksheep”, a song contributed by Metric (Oh yeah!). Scott defeats Todd by giving him coffee with real milk, making it pass as soy milk, and Todd get arrested by the Vegan Police Academy for not honoring his diet.
On to the T-Rex, a band that survived the extinction of dinosaurs, and sings “Teenage dream”. Whatever happened to it? Meeting someone, falling in love, living happily ever after until one of you cheats, leaves the country or just simply disappears?
Another song standing out is “Scott Pilgrim” by Plumtree whose single inspired the character of Scott Pilgrim and the storyline of the movie. The tone of the song carries the same tone as the movie: bittersweet, yet with a positive and funny twist.
The remainder of the soundtrack is an ad-libbed script added to the plot of the film. “Sleazy Bed Track” by the Bluetones is, as its name suggests, a sleazy track I would advise all of you to play when you’re trying to get someone into bed. No words necessary, the lyrics of the song says it all. You’re welcome!
Fast-forwarding through the rest of the soundtrack, one can find tracks by The Rolling Stones. Broken Social Scene (who also wrote the songs of Crash and the Boys), Franck Black and Blood Red shoes. As if the movie wasn’t enough, the soundtrack makes you feel as if you were playing a video games, getting intense and fast paced when you get in a fight against one of your lover’s exes, getting back to a softer, more dreamy pace when you and your lover are traveling in subspace.
Helene Abi Assi 