Baz Luhrmann: From Strictly Ballroom to Elvis!
Acclaimed filmmaker Baz Luhrmann takes James King through the music of his films, from his 1992 debut Strictly Ballroom to Elvis, his biopic of The King of Rock and Roll.
Acclaimed filmmaker Baz Luhrmann takes Radio 2's resident movie critic James King through the music of his films, originally broadcast in 2022 to celebrate the release of the Elvis biopic, starring Austin Butler and Tom Hanks. Starting with his very first introductions to music and playing in a punk band with his brothers, Baz discusses the importance of music in his life, how Elton John helped him make Moulin Rouge, how he was told the soundtrack to Romeo + Juliet would flop (it was a global hit) and why he describes Elvis鈥� story as a 鈥渢ragic American opera鈥�.
The Oscar-nominated Australian director and writer made a huge impact with his first feature film in 1992, Strictly Ballroom. He followed that up with an effortlessly stylish adaptation of William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet with Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes. He then pioneered the jukebox musical with the lavish Moulin Rouge! - the final part of his red curtain trilogy. Baz then made an epic tribute to his home country with Australia in 2008, followed by adapting F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby in another wildly lavish picture which juxtaposed modern hip hop and R'n'B with the music of the roaring 20s. We then had to wait nine years for his next movie on the big screen - the highly anticipated biopic of Elvis Presley's life, showing the highs and lows of the life of The King Of Rock And Roll. Using his huge back catalogue combined with brand new covers recorded by a-list modern artists, the film stars Austin Butler in the title role alongside Tom Hanks as manager Colonel Tom Parker.
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Music Played
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Valeria
Rhythm of the Night
- WM Australia.
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The Cardigans
Lovefool
- Stockholm.
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John Paul Young
Love Is In The Air (Ballroom Mix)
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叠别测辞苍肠茅
Back To Black (feat. Andr茅 3000)
- Water Tower Music/Interscope.
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The Wannadies
You And Me Song
- Indolent Records.
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The Saints
(I'm) Stranded
- COLUMBIA.
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Etta James
I'll Fly Away
- Blaricum CD Company (B.C.D.) B.V..
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Ewan McGregor & Alessandro Safina
Your Song
- WM Australia.
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ABBA
Dancing Queen
- Abba Gold (40th Anniversary Edition).
- Polar.
- 001.
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Quindon Tarver
When Doves Cry
- Capitol Records.
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顿别蝉鈥檙别别
I'm Kissing You
- Capitol Records.
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Mark Williams & Tara Morice
Time After Time
- Albert Productions.
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David Bowie
Nature Boy
- WM Australia.
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Christina Aguilera, Lil鈥� Kim, 惭媒补 & P!nk
Lady Marmalade
- (CD Single).
- Interscope Records.
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Nicole Kidman, Ewan McGregor & Jamie Allen
Elephant Love Medley
- WM Australia.
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Fergie, GoonRock & 蚕鈥怲颈辫
A Little Party Never Killed Nobody (All We Got)
- Water Tower Music/Interscope.
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JAY-Z
Renegade (feat. Eminem)
- Roc-A-Fella Records.
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JAY-Z
100$ Bill
- Water Tower Music/Interscope.
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Big Mama Thornton
Hound Dog
- Universal-Island Records.
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Doja Cat
Vegas
- RCA.
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Austin Butler
Trouble
- RCA Records / Sony Music.
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Elvis Presley
Cotton Candy Land
- RCA/Legacy.
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Swae Lee & Diplo
Tupelo Shuffle
- House of Iona/RCA Records.
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Elvis Presley
Unchained Melody (Rapid City, 21 June 1977)
- RCA.
Broadcasts
- Sun 19 Jun 2022 21:00麻豆社 Radio 2
- Wed 9 Aug 2023 03:00麻豆社 Radio 2
- Sun 15 Feb 2026 03:00麻豆社 Radio 2
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