#ive had to research a movie that doesn't exist for this wtf

[wandererthreatening]

Goncharov (1973) set the standard for Scorsese soundtracks.

It's a given nowadays that any Martin Scorsese film has a great soundtrack, but Goncharov (1973) is where it became a part of Scorsese's signature style. Our titular character Goncharov is introduced to the audience via The Beatles classic 'Back in the U.S.S.R'. Some may see the use of this song as being a bit on the nose but it perfectly illustrates how Goncharov does not want to be back in the U.S.S.R. Because like The Beatles he knows how lucky we are. It may be a cliche that Scorsese uses at least one Rolling Stones song per movie but he has never done it as well as when Sympathy For The Devil fades in at the perfect moment. Mick Jagger sings about how the Devil 'killed the Czar and his ministers' just as Ice Pick Joe has blown away Bruno. The true Devil we sympathise with is Bruno himself. The Stones are used later on with ‘Dead Flowers’ being played over the credits, adding an emotional climax to Goncharov putting flowers on Katya’s grave. Flowers are a recurring theme. Goncharov laments how the beauty of his home country has been torn away by Stalinism, literally asking ‘Where have all the flowers gone’ in an earlier scene. The use of Pete Seeger's song of the same name after Katya’s death implies that the beautiful Katya being killed has taken the joy out of Goncharov’s life, just as Russia has had all traces of colour removed by oppressive communist governments. 

In contrast the scenes in Naples are much more upbeat and colourful, reflecting Italy becoming a popular tourist destination in the 1970′s. The soundtrack follows suit using old blues songs such as Muddy Waters ‘Mannish Boy’ and Bo Diddley’s I’m A Man. Which both seem to only highten the movies homoerotic overtones despite their own heterosexual themes. The inclusion of the now famously gay Little Richard’s ‘Freedom Blues’ may imply that Matrin Scorsese knew exactly what he was doing.