MovieChat Forums > Radio Days (1987) Discussion > September Song

September Song

posted 14 years ago by moviebuf-11
5 replies | jump to latest

For some reason when I was a kid I hated "September Song." I'm not sure why, but I think I found Walter Huston's version depressing or something. But I just watched "Radio Days" again last night, and what a lovely, melancholy feeling the instrumental evoked. The lonely, wet street scene of the old neighborhood. And the ending, on the empty rooftop as the revelers headed downstairs to ring in a new year with a mixture of sadness, uncertainty and hope. Two examples that illustrate how adding the right music can turn a good scene into sheer magic.

[–] lynda618 13 years ago

I cannot agree more, moviebuf--it was the perfect complement to the scenes you mentioned.

[–] KMPINTJ 8 years ago

Rarely do I remember the underscoring for a film, but this theme (whose name I did not know, so thanks for starting this thread!) is in fact the most nostalgic tune that could have been picked, and I don't care how many times they reprise it during the film because it is basically the "back to the nostalgia world" cue just as much as DUN-duh DUN-duh is the cue for "Shark!" in JAWS.

[–] thbryn (231) 3 years ago

I heard the Sinatra version recently. Pretty intense feelings when he says 'i'll be with you.'

[–] John Kyle (682) 3 years ago

I always liked Willie Nelson's version

[–] tspnyc (1) 3 months ago

I agree it is the most haunting version of September Song but it was not credited or included in the soundtrack album. I spent years wondering who did it, and I just found an obscure site that credits it to pianist Dick Hyman, who did incidental composition for various Woody Allen films. That makes total sense. He did record a solo piano version, but it is not as evocative as the version used in the film, with the rhythm musicians playing in support of the sparse piano. It is a shame it was never made available commercially.