I can almost definitely assure you that this is the first ‘track of the week’ that can fall in the dreaded genre of country music. GASP. I know, I’m just as surprised as you are, but I would like to thank dear Wes Anderson for this Nerdist breakthrough. My newfound obsession, that’s right, OBSESSION with his new film, Moonrise Kingdom, has inspired my new love for Hank Williams and his song Kaw-Liga.
Though country today has been tainted with the likes of Taylor Swift and other poppy kid-sations, I will never grow old of some good ‘ol fashioned bluegrass. Beginning with heavy drums and his raspy man vocals, the song tells a story about a lonely wooden Indian who had his heart set on an Indian maiden who never knew about the toy Indian’s love. He still wishes he was a pine tree. It’s a very sad notion, but one that fits in perfectly with a theme of the movie. I will not reveal any spoilers, but this song captured my heart while watching Bill Murray fight with Bruce Willis.
This is just one of the many lovely pieces of music in the film. I have discovered a Spotify playlist with a few compiled, so I urge you all to listen!
DId I see a different cut of the movie? I don’t remember seeing a fight scene with Bruce Willis and Bill Murray. I was waiting for it after seeing this post, but the closest I saw was both of them talking in the police car and Bill Murray with two black eyes after chopping at a tree.
Unlike everyone else, whether you’ve been oblivious to Hank Sr.’s music all these years or knew of him and never gave him a chance, I’m happy you’re listening.
Hank is one of the greatest songwriters ever and you can’t find a better song to drown your sorrows to than something Hank wrote.
Seriously, “So Lonesome I Could Cry”? I could have just won the lottery and if I hear that song I turn into a mopey bastard.
I’m certainly not a country music guy. That said, I love Hank Williams’ music. But even if I’d never heard of Hank, I’d give him a try just because Wes Anderson put his music on a soundtrack.
I never knew that I’d LOVE Portuguese folk versions of David Bowie songs, but I do.
The author of this post is incredibly ignorant with regards to country music. That is all.
I’ve been lucky enough to play Hank Williams in several shows, and the response to “Kaw-Liga” is only surpassed by the response to “Lovesick Blues.” If you haven’t heard a lot of Hank, I’d strongly suggest giving more of his music a listen; his downers, like “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry,” and “Lost Highway” are about as mournful as you can get (in a beautiful way, in my opinion).
Also, there was a Hank Williams tribute album, “Timeless,” that has some amazing cuts. Keb Mo’s “I’m So Lonesome” is breathtaking (even if he did soften up the sadness a little by changing “Like me, he’s lost the will to live” to “That means he’s lost the will to live”).
Hank Williams is hardly bluegrass. And have you never heard hank Williams before? He’s a legend for a reason.