Every so often a scene gets paired with a song that, for better or worse, ends up making it that much more memorable, and this Tunes-day we’re back to another skinsational moment that’s remembered for all the wrong reasons.
In 2006, Martin Scorsese finally ended his decades-long streak of Oscar losses when he nabbed Best Director for his crime drama The Departed. Also the year’s Best Picture, it opens in typical Scorsese fashion, with the Rolling Stones “Gimme Shelter” , which he’d previously used in both Goodfellas and Casino. And why not? It’s a great song and it works, definitely setting the stage, letting you know you’re about to watch a violent Martin Scorsese film, in case there was any confusion.
That’s probably why an hour and twenty-two minutes in, audiences get thrown for a loop when a sex scene between the beautiful Vera Farmiga and Leonardo DiCaprio is set to the live - (LIVE????) - version of Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb” by band member Roger Waters with Van Morrison at a concert in Berlin. It’s a move so baffling, Flood Magazine published an entire hilarious article about it.
Is there anything sexier than a performer visiting a doctor so he can get injected with a muscle relaxant before going on stage? Yes! Many things, in fact! But that’s what the song is about, and despite its beautiful harmonies, and the throwback to Vera’s character prescribing Leo anxiety meds earlier, Van Morrison yelling into a microphone about it doesn’t scream skintimacy.
The camera tries its best to salvage the situation by panning across Vera’s exposed bra and panties, all the way down to her toes, but the damage is done. Maybe her going nude could have saved it, but that probably would’ve meant listening to more. Luckily, the very hot Vera’s got a whole herstory of nudity ready to be tapped into here on Mr. Skin that’s more comfortable to one’s ears.
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Catch Up With Previous Editions of Songs in the Key of Nudity
—When American Psycho Made Phil Collins Sexy
—Watchmen's Weird Superhero Sex
—9 1/2 Weeks' Rooftop Striptease
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