Llewyn Davis’ Odyssey

Desert island tracks; Pick five tracks you cannot live without.

Why is that such an important question? I mean, it is. It’s incredibly important. Do you have five tracks, or even five artists, which you’d be lost without?

I don’t know about tracks but I’ve always said my top five artists are The Rolling Stones, Queen, David Bowie, The Who and Bob Dylan. Music I cannot make do without. They’re the soundtrack to my life so far.

And... as cheesy as that sounds, and frankly feels, it’s true. Sound tracking parts of our lives is an old tradition that dates back way before we could even record music. In some parts of Britain there would be Celtic Folk music, people singing about valleys or mountains that they long to see. In Middle America and the Deep South there would be Country Folk songs about heartache and loss. In the same place, toiling in the hot sun, the black slaves where singing what would one day become soul and blues. These songs are passed down from generation to generation and represent the raw emotions of the people who sing them.

They’re Folk songs.

Inside Llewyn Davis is about a singer of these folk songs, around the time that Bob Dylan was about to be discovered. Fortunately for many of us the film isn’t just about Folk songs. It’s not a Folkumentary... not that that’s real thing of course!

Inside Llewyn Davis is about the artist. It’s about Llewyn Davis and his relationship with music. As Davis says music is his “lifeblood”, it’s his profession. But it’s not just that. His music is also the thing that can break him. It’s his dream and his tragedy and he’ll alienate everybody around him before he gives it up. Like so many good Folk songs it’s about loneliness and about begging for help without a hope of getting it.

It’s not all sad, I promise, it’s filled with stifled laughter and silent chuckles. But it’s a realistic story. The Coen Brothers, who wrote and directed it, have made a film that’s got pain, humour and above all gritty realism. It’s about real people, despite being largely fictional.

But despite the great story which comes from its BAFTA award winning screenplay the thing that really got me was, unsurprisingly, the music. Firstly because I know that none of the songs where pre-recorded and dubbed over, like with most songs in film. They where sung by the actors at the time of the filming. There’s something incredible about that, something earnest and true which you don't get with most films. Grant it, as an audience we may not notice it especially but that doesn’t matter. It’s one of those things that just make it more organic.

Secondly because the film is about music as a person’s blood and voice. Llewyn Davis is trying to sell his music, yes, but he’s chosen Folk because it says what he wants to say. It’s his voice speaking through the voices of so many other musicians before him. 

On top of that it makes for a great soundtrack!

The soundtrack is totally unique and speaks with the films voice perfectly, in a way that only a soundtrack from a film that’s about a musician can really do.

In fact the only other film soundtrack that I’ve considered this good was for the Jeff Bridges Country film Crazy Heart. About a whiskey drinking, washed up country star whose protégé is now a sensation whilst he plays a bowling alleys for a few drinks. The soundtrack was a mix of original songs and incredibly old country classics (and one Mexican country song). It feels like it was put together by someone who understands what it’s like to grow old waiting for a Heart of Gold.

And Inside Llewyn Davis is to beatnik Folk music what Crazy Heart was to Country; a heartfelt but honest ballad to the people who made the music we now consider a staple part of who we are.

Folk is about how the oldest things- love, loneliness and loss- will never really get old. Lines like "Life 'ain't worth living without the one you love" just seem to stick with us. We’ll always know them and they’ll always feel new to someone.

Bob Dylan Changed the world with Folk Music, he made it a part of popular culture. 

The Rolling Stones, Queen, David Bowie, The Who and, of course, Bob Dylan all have Folk in their blood. Some of it is Soul and Blues Folk some is Country Folk and some is Celtic Folk... But it’s all Folk.

For those of you who don’t know, “If it was never new and it never gets old it’s a Folk song”. At least that’s what Llewyn Davis says.

So It’s Fare Thee Well, My Darlings True.

At least for now.

P.S. The above song is the first in the soundtrack to Inside Llewyn Davis, "Hang me, Oh Hang Me", a traditional Folk song sung by Oscar Isaac (Llewyn Davis)... Enjoy!