SAVE THE EMPIRE!

Let's discuss soundtracks for a moment, shall we?

My list of favorites is short. Very short. But Empire tops it.

There was a period when music and film were so perfectly in sync with the teen market. I'm talking about the era when Molly Ringwald was queen of the universe. My generation however, got kinda cheated in the "awesome movies with awesome soundtracks" department. That's not to say that there weren't great movies that featured maybe one or two great songs. (Terminator 2 for example). I'm talking about a soundtrack. A film that had so many killer songs either a.) not all of them made it on the record, which was a major bummer or b.) you lucked out with a 2 disc set.

If you happened to grow up where I did, you would probably agree with me when I say that pop culture was and still is about 5 years behind. In my town, alternative was not a word in anyones vocaulary. If you were luck enough to be "in the know," it was because of someone's infinitely cooler older brother/sister. At least, this was the case with me. I won't go into the details of where, when and how I saw Empire, but when I did, it completely blew my mind. Not only did I long for the day when I too would be that cool (hopefully), but the soundtrack! Holy shit! The Gin Blossoms, Toad The Wet Sprocket, Cranberries, Sponge, The The??? Do you remember the first time you heard these bands or AC/DC and Dire Straits?! Yeah well, I do.

Unfortunately for me, not all of the songs made it on to the soundtrack, so to get the full effect you have to watch the movie. It's in your best interest to do so. Need I remind you of the awesomeness that is Rex Manning?

Say no more, mon amor.