The Roeg Song

This song, E=MC² by Big Audio Dynamite, was for some time, to the best of my knowledge, the only pop song about a film director. The director in this case is Nic Roeg, and clips from his films decorate the promo, while audio samples from PERFORMANCE pop up in the song. Singer Mick Jones (glimpsed in Scorsese’s KING OF COMEDY to cement his movie credentials) is a big Roeg nut, who compares watching a classic Roeg to the way Bowie watches twenty TVs at once in THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH, and said “I wish I could edit my music the way he edits his films.”

But then I discovered THIS, a song about Ernst Lubitsch, entitled Super Special Picture of the Year, which predates the BAD song by some considerable time. And it’s… quite nice. And Ernst certainly merits a song, having practically invented the operetta-film.

Since we’ve added to the songbook with several Fritz Lang-themed ditties, you guys seem like the right people to ask: have any other film directors been immortalized in song?

“Somebody I never met,
But in a way I know,
Didn’t think that you could get
So much from a picture show.
Man dies first reel,
People ask, ‘What’s the deal?
This ain’t how it’s supposed to be,
Don’t like no aborigine.’

“Ritual ideas relativity,
Only buildings, no people prophecy.
Time-slide, place to hide, nudge reality,
Foresight minds wide magic imagery.

“Took a trip in Powis Square,
Pop star dyed his hair.
No fans to scream and shout,
When mobsters came to flush him out.
Gangland slaying underground,
New identity must be found.
On the left bank for a while,
Insanity Bohemian style.

“Ritual ideas relativity,
Only buildings, no people prophecy.
Time-slide, place to hide, nudge reality,
Foresight minds, wide magic imagery.

“Met a dwarf that was no good,
Dressed like little Red Riding Hood.
Bad habit taking life,
Calling card a six inch knife.
Ran off really fast,
Mumbled something ’bout the past.
Best sex I’ve ever seen,
As if each moment was the last.
Drops of blood, colour slide,
Funeral for his bride,
But it’s him who’s really dead,
Gets to take the funeral ride.

“Ritual ideas relativity
Only buildings, no people prophecy
Time-slide, place to hide, nudge reality
Foresight minds wide magic imagery.

“Space guy, fell from the sky,
Scratched my head and wondered why.
Time slide into time,
Across international dateline.
Scientist eats bubblegum,
Hall of fame baseball,
Senators a Hoodlum,
Big chiefs in the hall.

“Ritual ideas relativity,
Only buildings, no people prophecy.
Time-slide, place to hide, nudge reality,
Foresight minds wide magic imagery.

“Stray thoughts, fear to tread,
Placed upon the screen instead.
She’s my flame too hot to hold,
Had to settle for her cold.

“Bloodlust – Greek God – Gold discovery,
Gone bust – Tight wad – Slow recovery.
Axe job – Flame thrower – Ironbar and gun,
Betting shop – New owner – A walk in the sun.

“Ritual ideas relativity
Only buildings, no people, prophecy.
Time-slide, place to hide, nudge reality,
Foresight minds wide magic imagery.

“Spread the news — the Maestro’s back,
With a beatbox soundtrack
The King of brains – Queen of the sack,
Executives have heart attack.
It’s assault course celluloid,
The money makers would avoid,
Sometimes notions get reversed,
Centre of the universe.

“Ritual ideas relativity
Only buildings, no people prophecy.
Time-slide, place to hide, nudge reality
Foresight minds wide magic imagery…”

No lyrics about BAD TIMING, Mick?