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Sunday, March 1, 2009

Song / Classic The Unparalleled Pathos of the "Midnight Cowboy Theme"

Posted by Dave Segal on Sun, Mar 1, 2009 at 2:42 PM

Midnight Cowboy is showing at the Northwest Film Forum Feb. 27-March 5. In addition to ranking in my all-time top 10 films (and being revered by people who know way more about cinema than I do), Midnight Cowboy boasts the most heartbreaking piece of music ever composed, John Barry’s “Midnight Cowboy Theme.” (I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, repeatedly, until everyone agrees. I’m a total zealot/fascist on this point.)

The plot about a naïve Texas “stud” moving to NYC and befriending a bum-legged, gay con artist and trying to survive against steep odds in New York City is poignant enough; but coupled with Barry’s odd-couple-against-the-cold-urban-reality score, the effect opens wide the tear ducts.

See the film, even if you’ve already done so. It stands up to repeat viewings. And luxuriate in the sublime melancholy of Barry’s pathos-heavy theme.

Comments (5) RSS

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Hey! I know that tune ... I've heard it covered before.

Who was that ... (time for Internet research)

Ah yes, Faith No More, on the "Songs To Make Love To" EP.

Posted by frank on March 1, 2009 at 4:25 PM

I never tire of that song. One of John Barry's finest.

Posted by Lord Summerisle on March 1, 2009 at 5:58 PM

Always reminds me of Man With a Harmonica
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6BQKFs3-…
Haunting

Posted by ennio ftw on March 1, 2009 at 11:06 PM

I actually only saw "Midnight Cowboy" for the first time about three years ago, and was chilled by the soundtrack. Thanks for some astute cross music-film criticism, Dave.

Posted by Chris Estey on March 2, 2009 at 9:04 AM

I have a dollar store record from the 70s entitled "Exotic Moog" that does a bunch of old tunes on moog modulars. This song is one of them, good song.

Posted by Basic on March 2, 2009 at 1:14 PM