“Let’s Duet”
He’s great, obviously. And she’s great. And “you can always come in my back door” will never fail to make me laugh, because some jokes are evergreen. But once you get the song, you get it; the concept is never expanded upon.
That doesn’t make this a bad song, mind you. There are no bad songs in Walk Hard, only bad people watching it who don’t appreciate the genius of John C. Reilly, who is a friendly goblin prince temporarily taking refuge in human form.
“Let Me Hold You Little Man”
The closest thing this movie has to a weak link. I get it! Faux-sixties activism! It just…well, it feels like a song Will Ferrell would write. John C. Reilly can do better.
“Take My Hand”
Reilly is always at his best when he goes for MAXIMUM NAIF, and that’s what sells this song to me. His voice is gentler, plaintive almost. It’s very soothing.
“You’ve Got To Love Your Negro Man”
It’s such a deft, brutal reference to the profitable white co-opting of a black sound. Craig Robinson’s reaction shots in particular deserve their own spot on the list.
Whatever The Name Of The Brian Wilson’s “Smile” Sequence Ended Up Being
It’s not a song that actually ends up being performed, but the snippets we get to hear are good enough to make it onto the list.
Disco Version of “Billy Don’t Be A Hero”
I can’t even remember what the original version of this song sounds like. Frankly, I don’t want to.
It has been DASTARDLY removed from YouTube, so here’s the next best thing: Dewey Cox’s lounge-y version of “Starman.”
I Don’t Know The Name Of This One
Everyone has a Bob Dylan impression, but that doesn’t make this one any less sublime.
“Darling”
This, to me, felt like a look into the movie’s secret heart — it’s not jokey at all, and that belies the actual love Walk Hard bears for everything it mocks. It barely makes it into the theatrical version, but it’s also legitimately catchy.
“There’s A Change Happening (I Can Feel It)”
This feels like it could have actually been on the soundtrack of The Wonder Years. “The sixties are an exciting and turbulent time, Darlene. There’s something happening here. What it is, ain’t exactly…obvious.”
As a parody, this is spot-on. As a song, it’s very nearly as good as “Sister Golden Hair.” It makes me feel like walking near an abandoned train trestle and feeling sorry for myself.
“A Life Without You (Is No Life At All)”
Oh God, there is nothing like this song. Nothing. That big, schmaltzy, over-the-top devotional 1950s-era ballad is my absolute favorite, and Reilly absolutely nails it. That little side-to-side shuffle-dance. The haunting backup trio that just keeps sing-mumbling “oh my darling, oh my darling, yeah, yeah, yeah.” The BIG FINISH. I put it towards the end of my playlist at the gym and I swear to God it’s helped my deadlift.
“That’s Amore”
There is nothing, absolutely nothing, more perfect than this twangy version of “That’s Amore.” The extended harmony on “amore”! The way he sings “that IS amore” instead of “that’s amore”! The little hand motions he does to indicate the sound of a bell ringing!
“Walk Hard”
This is a song strong enough to build a movie around. Remember how good the song “That Thing You Do” was in That Thing You Do? Practically every song in Walk Hard is that good. He nails the generic tough-guy sound — life’s hard, keep walking, mountains and bad guys, never stop — in his gravelliest Cash voice.
“Guilty As Charged”
Oh God. Oh, God in heaven. The outfits. The trumpets. The sunglasses — Reilly’s hips — the spoken introduction — THIS SONG IS BETTER THAN “RING OF FIRE.” THERE. I SAID IT. IT’S TRUE.
“Beautiful Ride”
“Beautiful Ride” is the only song written expressly for the emotional climax of a musical that has ever done anything for me. I was stone-faced during Glen Campbell’s farewell tour, but I cannot make it through “Beautiful Ride” without weeping in gratitude for the mere fact of existence.
And then, and then — the list of things he has to be grateful for:
Flowers
Babies
Music
Sharing the good times
Traveling not just for business
Accepting your mortality
It’s so transcendently funny, specific, and true that I lose it, every time.
Tags: john c reilly looks like a friendly goblin and i love him, movies, music, walk hard
“I guess I’m…. guilty as charged”
“Don’t you dare write a song about this, Dewey!”
I LOVE this movie
That Thing You Do *IS* great!
(here I am, missing the point, looking at a completely different point over here ———> . )
I find that movie infinitely watchable.
STUFFED CABBAGE IS THE DARLING OF THE LAUNDROMAT
The Bob Dylan one is killing me right now, it hurts to stifle my laugh so as not to draw attention from coworkers. It physically hurts.
You guys are idiots! This song is very deep.
I am so happy to see this movie get the praise it deserves.
My husband makes us CD mixes to listen to while driving the children to and from school/activities and the last one included both Walk Hard and Guilty as Charged. My 6 year old asked the other day who George was in the song. She heard it Guilty as George.
Last of all, my favorite line is “I wrote a song about an octopus.” It is amazing how often I find I can quote that.
That line has basically become my personal creed.
“What do you think, George Harrison from the Beatles?”
The Bob Dylan parody is called “Royal Jelly” and the Brian Wilson parody is called “Black Sheep.” Many of the songs were written by the singer/songwriter(s) Dan Bern and Mike Viola. Here is a video of them performing Beautiful Ride at the Living Room in NY, along with Kelly Jones and Paul Kuhn—on the later’s self-invented instrument the electric “Cello-caster”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21dAlJXrJME
Full-circle trivia: Viola sang lead for “That Thing You Do!”
thank you for reminding me about this movie and that it is time to watch it again. it might be time for a john c reilothon
For your health.
mental AND physical
spiritual, too
probably, anyway.
That’s my quote from Check it Out! Check it out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESV3-MWkX8Y
my new go-to is going to be ‘let’s go get some preezuh with saaaawsuj’ and replace ‘shooshee food is a big rip off, it’s just cat-scraps’
HE NEVER ONCE PAID FOR DRUGS. NOT ONCE.
I mentioned on Twitter that I listen to this version of “Starman” at least once a week and it makes my life immeasurably better.
John C. Reilly is my favorite. I was so happy when he popped up in Guardians of the Galaxy! Even more than I was about the other fun cameos!
“Let’s Duet” is literally the only song I’ve seen from this film, because I walked in while my brother was watching, and I thought it was pretty hilarious. So if it’s at the bottom of this list, I look forward to revisiting this article in ten minutes when I’m back in my office and can actually play the videos.
because of a series of *very* fortunate events, i interviewed John C. Reilly while he was on tour as John Reilly and Friends. and he did an AMAZING TILDA SWINTON IMPRESSION of her deep love of “Beautiful Ride” and here is the audio:
http://katherinecoplen.tumblr.com/post/5313423100…
and I love you guys and I love John C. Reilly. he says, “as funny as that song tries to be, it also says some pretty true things.” dying, dead, still dying forever because of that interview.
I’m glad that I live in a world where Tilda Swinton enjoyed Walk Hard enough to buy the soundtrack.
because of a series of *very* fortunate events, i interviewed John C. Reilly while he was on tour as John Reilly and Friends. and he did an AMAZING TILDA SWINTON IMPRESSION of her deep love of “Beautiful Ride” and here is the audio:
http://katherinecoplen.tumblr.com/post/5313423100…
and i love you guys and I love John C Reilly. (and I may have posted this comment twice because of Internet Shenanigans. sorry if so!)
BTW, Mallory- if you haven’t yet heard John C. Reilly performing old sea shanties, you really must.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTj-8waBk7E
My boyfriend and I have been known to sing “Let’s Duet” to each other in public. “In my dreams you’re blowin’ me… some kisses.”
“Your performance has shaken my faith in the Jewish people” get’s trotted out weekly at the Dreadful residence.
I mean, Royal Jelly is my personal favourite, but perhaps I mean it’s just the funniest. It literally makes me laugh out loud and rewind it. Can we spare a thought here for Nashville’s For the Sake of the Children? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3TzXk5eong
As a long-term and very big fan of Bob Dylan, I worshiped that song. So brilliant. Always makes me cackle.
Since Mallory was tweeting about this movie recently I watched it again last weekend and I laughed so hard I couldn’t breathe.
I remember when I first started dating my partner and trying to wait for the exact right time to pull out the greatest movie ever…not only is he a composer but also a Brian Wilson/Van Dyke Parks superfan and an all around MUSIC IS SERIOUS BUSINESS person. Thank the heavens he loved it, otherwise we’d never have lasted long. As it is, it turns out the right time is as a party is winding down but before people start pulling up random YouTube clips of animals.
We’ve now been slowly indoctrinating various people in our circles into loving it, including one of his music composition professors and several local musicians. Soon this whole town will know the great works of Dewey Cox.
Footnote to the dylan clip, which ends with “what do YOUR parents think about my protest songs, mr time magazine?” – dylan gave a notoriously contentious interview to a time reporter, at one point claiming he sang as well as [famous opera singer! memory fails], and accused the media a few times
Loved that they parodied the Wife/Girlfriend Who Is Only In The Film To Stop The Hero From Doing Cool Things trope:
“Dewey, you have got to give up this dream! You’re never gonna make it!”
“What are you talking about? I got a number one hit on radio!”
“I believe in you, I just know you’re gonna fail!”
Favorite line: “that was early Dewey! This is middle Dewey!”
Annnnd I just watched all of these again whilst on my baby shift.
Annnnd I just watched all of these again whilst on my baby shift.
What? No “(Have you heard the news?) Dewey Cox died” ?!
GODDAMMIT, THIS IS A DARK FUCKING PERIOD!
GODDAMMIT, THIS IS A DARK FUCKING PERIOD!
I told you I can’t build you a candy house!
I told you I can't build you a candy house!
I need to see this. TONIGHT.
Just when I think you can’t get any better, Mallory, you go and pull some shit like this.
Walk Hard doesn’t get nearly enough attention. It’s the epitome of parody.
My husband makes us CD mixes to listen to while driving the children to and from school/activities and the last one included both Walk Hard and Guilty as Charged. My 6 year old asked the other day who George was in the song. She heard it Guilty as George.