http://www.awesomiumproject.com

Last night I attended the premiere of Rock Of Ages in Mumbai. It was a movie I was looking forward to, especially after hearing the soundtrack to the broadway musical. The theatre was full of starlets and rock music fans, not unlike a real gig. As the movie trailers played the opening act, the growing excitement in audience was becoming more evident with every waiting moment. We were in for one helluva show.

In the words of Jack Kerouac, Rock Of Ages bursts onto the screen “like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars.” The movie is part tribute to 80s stadium rock, part re-imagination of the myth of the undying rockstar. The role of said rockstar is played by Tom Cruise with an abundance of cocky swagger and muted fierceness of a burned out legend. The real stars, Julianne Hough and Diego Boneta nail their dreamy-eyed characters with ease. Catherine Zeta-Jones delivers her stiletto dropkick performance as Mrs. Los Angeles City Mayor with an infectious enthusiasm. And the nervous comic timing between Alec Baldwin and Russell Brand is just precious.

Despite all the amazing performances, the real reason you should go watch the movie is for the music. I was fortunate to get my hands on the movie soundtrack earlier this week. A mashup of some of the greatest rock anthems of the 80’s, the album swells with electricity, power riffs and wanton vocals. Even though the film is a musical, you’re never taken away from the concert. Close your eyes, and you’re back at the Bourbon Room holding up a lighter between swigs of whatever is swirling in your glass.

The cast sing their parts and whaddyaknow, they really can hold a tight note. Cruise might not be the next Axel Rose but what he lacks in rasp he makes for in grace. Boneta and Hough show off their vocal chops with some stratospheric singing. Zeta-Jones, with her previous musical experience, pulls off her parts with ease. Mary J Blige brings a soulful RnB velvet-like texture to the raw feel of the entire album. As the soundtrack plays you can feel the tremendous passion of that genre, that era. The entire cast goes beyond the usual call of duty and recreates the sound of a generation that even the rock gods would be proud of.

I personally love every single song, and the perfect mix that they come distilled in. Executive Music Producer, Adam Anders, who earned his stripes with Glee, draws out some heavy arena-quaking music on this album. Aiming for a larger-than-life soundscape, it’ll make you want to dust off those old cassettes, burst out the walkman and hit the nearest karaoke bar. I had a hard time picking the song I wanted to feature, ‘cause they are all so powerful. So I chose the opening track, Sister Christian/Just Like Paradise/Nothin’ But A Good Time by Julianne Hough, Diego Boneta, Russell Brand and Alec Baldwin, simply for the way it sets the stage for the entire album, and the film.

Check out the rest of the Rock Of Ages OST.

Also, Chennai-based theatre company Stagefright Productions will be putting up the Rock Of Ages musical in the near future. If you’re from Chennai and are inclined towards theatre, give the auditions a shot.

Last but not the least, much love and gratitude to the Warner Bros. India crew for inviting me to the Rock Of Ages premiere. You guys rock! \m/

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