My Thank You to Diane Keaton #MusicMonday
Source: Wikipedia
Over the weekend, we lost yet another entertainment legend Diane Keaton. This one is personally hard for me as I am a mega-fan and have enjoyed every single piece of her work. Right from the beginning of her film career to her latest “Summer Camp” that I recently saw on a plane.
Diane says that “Something’s Gotta Give” is one of her favorites, and I would agree. Simply great storytelling and acting. Really.
But I have a personal reason for owing a big thank you to Diane, for exposing me to someone who has brought great joy to me for decades.
My first recollection of Diane is her 1977 film “Looking for Mr. Goodbar,” even though it’s not her first film. She had already had roles in “The Godfather” series, and also in the same year starred in her Academy-Winning role in “Annie Hall.” Big year!
“Looking for Mr. Goodbar” was breakthrough in that it was an intense exploration of the1970’s sexual revolution through a single woman’s point of view, and a career woman’s point of view at that. Edgy. Raw. Sexual.
I was way too young to be allowed to watch it, but I snuck around and caught it on HBO one night and was hooked. Hooked by Diane and her character, hooked by her sexuality as I was just coming of age myself, hooked by her obsession with the character played by Richard Gere in his first significant screen role, and hooked by the club scenes because I too was yearning to get out there.
Plus the movie had the most infectious music! 1970’s club music at its finest. So alive!
I was just forming my own preferences for music and the movie soundtrack music was incredible. But there was one song on the soundtrack in particular that just got to me as it kept recurring throughout the film … “Try Me I Know We Can Make It” from Donna Summer. I had never heard of her before, but I was hooked at first listen.
This film with Diane Keaton was my first exposure to Donna, for whom I would become a life-long mega-fan (to say the least). Funny enough, right after I heard the song in the movie, I heard the song at a party a week later and just had to track down that album. And oh yes I did .. “A Love Trilogy” became my first Donna Summer album, even though it wasn’t her first album release (that would be “Love to Love You, Baby”).
Yes, the song clocks in at 18 minutes long because it’s the entire length of one side of an album although there’s also a radio-friendly short version. But the long version is in the movie and it’s so dance-worthy and club-worthy. It ranks amongst my favorites from Donna likely because it’s my first!
So sexual revolution worthy, right in the thick of it that’s for sure. Try me, I know we can make it; love the lyrics! Wow. And those vocals. After hearing this song in this movie, I bought every album Donna ever recorded.
Also featured on the same album and also in the movie is Donna’s remake of the Barry Manilow song “Could It Be Magic,” but done in Donna style! As only Donna could do.
So you see, it was Diane who introduced me to Donna, a gift that has kept on giving me for decades along with the many gifts of entertainment from Diane herself.
“Looking for Mr. Goodbar” remains one of my favorite movies of all time, largely I’m sure because it came as I was coming of age and shaped many of my views and tastes later as an adult. Including “meeting” Donna Summer.
Thank you for it all, Diane, of “Annie Hall” fame. “Baby Boom” is right up there with the many other films you’ve done as well.
You will be missed by millions, including me.
We love you! What’s your experience? JIM