Soundtrack To War

[John Sayers]

Program summary

The Big Picture: Soundtrack To War

 

8:30pm Wednesday, 1 September

 

Recommend to a friend

 

"Let the bodies hit the floor...that was the motto for our tank."

 

Soundtrack to War is rock, rap and roll - music extracted from the madness of war. American soldiers in Iraq reveal the soundtrack in their heads as they ride into battle on the streets of Iraq. This is an insider's view of war like you've never seen before, narrated by Heavy Metal, Gore, Rap, R&B and Gospel. Soundtrack to War premieres Wednesday 1 September at 8.30pm on ABC TV.

 

American culture came into Iraq, wired into its tanks and helicopters - a live soundtrack to war, with lyrics such as 'Let the Bodies Hit the Floor', 'Round Out the Tank' and 'Bombs Over Baghdad' being memorised by every soldier and forever linked to the violent events they accompanied. George Gittoes' film takes us on the whole emotional roller coaster ride of the young and talented who have found themselves in the hell of war, and who want to stay alive.

 

To many soldiers, war is heavy metal - lyrics of 'Gore Metal' describe the hellfire ride; rap battles in 'the bullring' say it like it is. R&B speaks of lovers and longing, Country sings of letters home, ballads to flags and fallen friends, Gospel calls on the Almighty, and Baghdad's Bee Gees are digging underground.

 

As the war extended into its second year, many started writing and performing their own songs. Soldiers bloodied by conflict compose lyrics as they dodge bullets and mortar shells. Soundtrack to War showcases spontaneous music performances by a striking cast of the battle weary - performances made without rehearsal, under the blaring Iraqi sun, with the backdrop of a destroyed city, grit and dust, and the distraction of gunfire and bursting mortar shells.

 

Filmmaker George Gittoes travelled to Iraq four times between March 2003 and May 2004 to capture the footage for this documentary. There has been a lot of attention already given to Soundtrack to War due to clips from the Gittoes' film being included in Fahrenheit 9/11. The clips from 17 of Gittoes' scenes were licensed by Michael Moore's production company, and credited to Soundtrack to War.

 

Production Details

Shot, recorded, produced and directed by George Gittoes.

 

Subtitles

Rating: M C Warning: War violence. Frequent coarse language. Sexual references.

Subject: Documentary

 

web page

 

I do hope you guys get to see this excellent documentary - it is not anti-US - it's a very interesting doco and there are some excellent performances - like the Iraqi artist who sings and sounds like Maurice Gibb - claims he learnt English by listening to the BeeGees. There's also an Iraqi Gore Metal band and a US girl soldier who snag a great hiphop/rap aboiut eing at war.

 

Good stuff - hope you guys get to see it.

 

Cheers

john

[nursers]

I enjoyed it too - was about 30 mins too long but good stuff overall

 

Be aware though there's some graphic footage of bodies / body parts.

[a boy named sue]

I heard that this had already aired in the states. I saw it last night -- but most of the highlights had been aired on triple j. Some footage was also sold to F911. Apparently some of the featured artists are going to put out some music.

 

The saddest bit for me was the Iraqi trash metal band. They played OKish -- a bit loose on the tempo and no bottom end. They were then asked if they knew anyone who'd been killed. A bass player (whom they were careful not to call a musician, for some reason) they knew had been working as a translator and then killed by (and I quote) "the resit...um, the terrorists".

 

Buy the DVD!