Music Review: "Calling You" mesmerises

"Calling You" is the OST of the film Bagdad Cafe.

I had no intention to write a film review for Bagdad Cafe! When I started off the music review of "Calling You", I thought of writing a word or two on the film which would aid the readers to get the clearer picture on the lyrics and theme of the song better, but it eventually became many paragraphs, :P  so I decided to post both as separate posts. You may read the film review here.

Jevetta Steele
This Academy Award nominated song was originally sung by Jevetta Steele as a film soundtrack; written and composed by Bob Telson.

Softly beginning, Jevetta eloquently reaches crescendo and seamlessly to decrescendo throughout the song without breaking the prevailing solitude. The little known Black singer perfectly brings out the-lonely-seedy-motel-somewhere-in-the-desert atmosphere through her voice.

Numerous covers have been released by many artists. Of those, here is a notable few.

Céline Dion
Being a star, she brought much more international attention to the song by performing it in the Paris live concert. With her wonderful falsetto singing ability, she actually over-dramatises the song, so it seems a bit inapt contrasting the simple lyrics. One may prefer this version if it's heard irrespective of the lyrics or the film.

Jeff Buckley
Unlike others, Jeff Buckley presents us the guitar version. He is famed for his skill in singing falsetto and he utilizes it well here.

George Michael
He could be stated as the best male rendition of the song. He has that amazing raw masculine voice matching female voice of Jevetta Steele. He employs a female singer to sing high notes, differing from the usual solo singing norm others' does for "Calling You". The female singer who performs the high notes sounds like a distant voice.

Barbra Streisand
Her rendition is stylishly elegant but misses out the pulse of the film.

No matter whoever sang it, it sounds good because of the song's mesmerising rhythm. Thanks to Bob Telson! And only Jevetta soulful voice brings out the memoirs of 'Bagdad Cafe' when we hear it.

Film Review: 'Bagdad Cafe' is a Little Gem

Bagdad Café also known as Out of Rosenheim is a 1987 German film in English language.

Bagdad Cafe

The oddball film begins with a German tourist couple fighting in the middle of nowhere in an American  barren desert. The big lady walks away from him - alone to a motel she sees in sight. The grubby ill-maintained motel is owned by short-tempered Brenda who just then had an argument with her husband which resulted in him leaving the motel.

The big lady who was suspiciously ill-treated by Brenda, later befriends her and brings on colorful changes into the lives of Brenda and other characters such as her son, daughter and people residing in the motel. When the motel is being transformed from grimy to an exuberant one, the sheriff makes her to leave the country because her tourist visa got expired. The motel deteriorates back to square one. Will the saviour return?

The film ends with a hypnotising song - "Calling You" sung by Jevetta Steele and leaves us feeling good for the rest of the day.

Though the plot is simple, it is not the plot that makes this film special but the mood it invokes throughout the film and prevails even after hours we finish watching.

Director Percy Adlon has chosen perfect cast for the apt characters. Despite being a plump woman, the German Marianne Sägebrecht throws a beautiful aura around her. CCH Pounder as an irritable motel owner performs well.

The colours of the film literally changes from heat of the summer in the course of bleak atmosphere to vibrant colors when the motel is in better transformation. This subtle cinematography adapts us to the changing mood of the film.

The film plays ancient narrative plot -- an unknown hero arrives in the troubled land, saves the people in turbulence and disappears to nowhere. It is also said that there are allegories in the film referencing to Greek mythology.

This simple poetic film may not be everyone's cup of tea but it could haunt you for days if you let yourself go and relish the nuances of the film.

Location

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

The film was shot in a Sidewinder Cafe, Newberry Springs. Few miles away, in a Californian ghost town, the original abandoned Bagdad Cafe is situated. The Sidewinder Cafe took advantage of the film's popularity and changed it's name to Bagdad Cafe - which has now became a tourist attraction.

It is said that German Director Percy Adlon's trip with his wife Elenore Adlon through this desert inspired him to make the film.

Outer view

Interior of present motel

Enjoy visiting these links:

• Present Bagdad Cafe pics
• Bagdad Cafe in Trip Advisor
• Bagdad Cafe's site
• In Wikipedia
• Interesting pics

Analysing Minimalist Design Effect in the Consumer Market

Advertisements are a necessity in this technology driven world. Mostly people buy an item in the market after they are aware of that product through the advertisements in the mass media than buy an unknown item.

Here is a link to a design consultancy's opinion article I stumbled upon which asks us to prefer one of the three design variations of familiar products in the market. Three pictures of a product are posted in the site - original variation, simple variation and more simple variation. I have posted here some of those pictures.

I prefer more simpler variation of Nutella and the original design of Corn Flakes

From the about us section of that website I get to know that this is a minimalism preferring company. Before we blindly decide the designs just by the looks, there are certain aspects that must be analysed.

For example, the market reach of the product plays a vital role in inspiring the design. If a new brand is to be launched in the market, it is best to have a maximalist design so that people get to know what product it is and other information about that product like the ingredients, manufacturer info, etc - this information lets the consumers aware of that new brand.

Whereas, if the brand is familiar it is not apt to design a product glossy and with more details because people are already aware of that brand and it's products. So a simple, succinct and effective package design and brand logo is enough for the people to trust in that brand. If it's designed glossy, it would appear as if the company overdoes itself to impress consumers to it's product.

Minimalist design represent class too. Minimalist design would suit better if the products are expensive for example automobile brands, watches, electronics (though the glossy designs won't be apt item specifications are necessary to be added in the item covers.) and all other luxury brands. Consider for example the logo design evolution of Apple, Benz and many other internationally familiar companies. Their logos have evolved in years from being elaborate towards simpler and ingenious designs.

Evolution of brand logos

If the target consumers are children, the case is different. Obviously children prefer nutritional drinks (Boost, Bournvita, Milo, etc.), chocolates, so and so items which have to be designed extensively and attractively. Class has nothing to do with children's products.

So factors such as target consumer, product type, elegance, cost of the item, etc., also should be analysed for designing the product packages and the brand logos.

Humorous take on Starbucks logo ;)