I almost paid to see another movie at Landmark just to hear this again

May 31, 2006 7:57 AM

Name that tune: It serves as the soundtrack to the HBO Documentary Films commercial that currently plays before movies at Landmark Theaters. It's beautiful.

I can barely describe the song, except to say it's got swirling string instruments, a man's voice, singing pretty high. Sounds sort of like a cross between Radiohead and Rufus Wainwright. Maybe. I can't think of any of the lyrics.

The commercial itself shows snippets of documentaries sort of projected onto squares that fade in and out, with words like "real" and "inspiring" popping up randomly on the screen. Cheesy as it sounds, the effect is actually nice. But really it's just because the song is very pretty.

posted by grrarrgh00 to media & arts (7 comments total)

I can barely describe the song, except to say it's got swirling string instruments, a man's voice, singing pretty high. Sounds sort of like a cross between Radiohead and Rufus Wainwright. Maybe. I can't think of any of the lyrics.

Okay as much as I feel stupid saying this, you've basically described Sigur Ros. I've not seen the ad, but is the guy singing in English? If not - yes, I would place lots of money on the artist being Sigur Ros, Jonsi singing away in Icelandic/Hopelandic. presumably something from their newest album (Takk), released last year.
posted by Marquis at 8:37 AM on May 31, 2006

I wonder if it's the same song they used a few months ago for a commercial for regular HBO shows. I just looked this up the other day because I'd written part of the lyrics down months ago; but I don't have the info with me here at work, and I can't remember any of it! Curses.
posted by witchstone at 8:42 AM on May 31, 2006

According to this thread at Adtunes, it's a song called "Sparks Fly" by Daníel Ágúst.
posted by redfoxtail at 8:47 AM on May 31, 2006 [1 favorite]

you can listen to a sample of the song on Last.fm to verify. (requires Last.fm account, which is free)
posted by nitsuj at 8:54 AM on May 31, 2006

The whole song is here.

The person that guessed Sigur Ros was close. Daniel used to be in another Icelandic band, Gus Gus.
posted by Hubajube at 9:42 AM on May 31, 2006

You guys rock my socks off. I can die happy now.
posted by grrarrgh00 at 11:26 AM on May 31, 2006

The funny thing is, before I asked this question, my Google-fu had gotten me as far as this. Which led me to search iTunes for a song with the keyword "sparks fly." But I stupidly assumed that because none of the songs with that title on iTunes was it, that I was going down the wrong path. Boy am I happy I asked.
posted by grrarrgh00 at 11:35 AM on May 31, 2006