Clint Eastwood selects his three finest musical compositions
Clint Eastwood may be a Hollywood giant both in front of and behind the camera, but there are more strings to his bow than just creating movie magic. Over the course of a six-decade career, the 94-year-old knows what it takes to make something special in the entertainment industry, cementing himself as a filmic icon but also a man of refined sonic tastes.
Music may seem in a whole different realm to the cameras he is used to commanding, but in many senses the two are linked in a way that each couldn’t exist without, and it’s a fact not lost on Eastwood. There’s no denying that a film can be infinitely improved by the strength of its soundtrack, and as such, you can be sure that in all of his efforts, Eastwood’s say on the songbook would be as important as the scenes themselves.
To that end, among his own lengthy list of favourite songs, Eastwood picked out no less than three tunes he has turned his hand to within his own films. As an actor, director, and now songwriter, there seems to be nothing that he can’t master, reflected also in his compliments of his own work.
Eastwood began by citing a special song in a movie that he exclusively provided the score to; the 2007 drama Grace is Gone. Within that, the track of the same name, performed by jazz musician Jamie Cullum, makes the cut as one of his biggest favourites.
Furthermore, keeping the film score collaboration with Cullum on track, the song ‘Gran Torino’ from the eponymous 2008 film is also considered by Eastwood to be among one of his musical greats. As part of this, the actor directed, produced, and starred in the movie while his son Kyle composed the soundtrack. In character as the main man Walt Kowalski, Eastwood and Cullum lent their vocals to the title track, all in all making the film a very tight circle affair.
His final pick of a top tune comes in the form of a film that preceded Gran Torino the following year, Invictus from 2009. The critically acclaimed film saw Eastwood assume the director’s chair as Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon depicted the unlikely story of the South African team during the 1995 Rugby World Cup, following the dismantling of apartheid in the country.
From that movie, the song ‘9000 Days’, penned by Eastwood but performed by Overtone and Yollandi Nortjie holds a special place in the filmmaker’s heart, speaking to a life and career which knows no bounds when it comes to bringing music to the silver screen.
For such a Hollywood giant as Eastwood, it’s really no surprise that he laps up his own work – ultimately, he wouldn’t have got so far without the belief that he was crafting something visionary. It is rare, however, that one person can stretch their talent so far across different mediums and be as seismically successful in them all. Whether acting, directing, or writing the songs, it’s clear that Clint Eastwood has a movie Midas touch like no other.
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