Very soon, the world will finally get to see Josh Safdie's new epic Marty Supreme, one of the year's most anticipated films. Timothée Chalamet, who is probably not UK rapper EsDeeKid, plays an ambitious 20th-century table tennis prospect, leading a cast that also includes Tyler, The Creator. Reviews have been rapturous. I can't wait to see it. Another exciting thing: The movie might lead to a renaissance for Peter Gabriel's extremely cool 1982 track "I Have The Touch," which apparently gets a prominent needledrop.
On his website, Peter Gabriel thanks Safdie for including "I Have The Touch" in Marty Supreme. Gabriel hasn't seen the movie yet, but he says that he has a longstanding love for ping-pong: "On tour we always have a table backstage for any of the crew or band to jump on." Here's Gabriel's message in full:
I was delighted that ‘I Have the Touch‘ was chosen for the soundtrack of Marty Supreme. The song is rarely asked out for a dance and I have always loved table tennis. Now there seems to be a real buzz about the film. Although I have it in my Academy pack we are waiting to see it on the big screen in the Christmas holiday.
On tour we always have a table backstage for any of the crew or band to jump on.
The other curious fact is that three of the songs chosen for the soundtrack were written and recorded around the city of Bath: The Korgis ‘Everybody’s Got To Learn Sometime’, Tears for Fears ‘Everybody Wants to Rule the World’ and ‘I Have the Touch’.
Thankyou to the director Josh Safdie!
Check it out.
x pg
Gabriel says that this particular song "rarely gets asked out for a dance," but "I Have The Touch" has made a few cinematic appearances over the years. It plays during 1988's The Chocolate War, and Gabriel remixed it for the soundtrack of the 1996 John Travolta joint Phenomenon. Also, Heather Nova covered it for The Craft in 1996.
The Marty Supreme score comes from Josh Safdie's longtime collaborator Daniel Lopatin, otherwise known as Oneohtrix Point Never. He previously scored the Safdie Brothers movies Good Time and Uncut Gems. Lopatin hasn't released anything from the score yet, but his soundtrack album is out 12/25 on A24 Music.
Marty Supreme also reportedly features needledrops of Tears For Fears' "Everybody Wants To Rule The World," Alphaville's "Forever Young," Public Image Ltd.'s "The Order Of Death," and the Korgis' "Everybody's Got To Learn Some Time." Does that count as a spoiler? Does this whole post count as a spoiler? Man, I hope not. If you feel spoiled, blame Scott. He's the one who assigned this post. Blame Peter Gabriel, too. He already mentioned a couple of those songs.
Marty Supreme arrives in theaters on Christmas. In other news, Josh Safdie's brother and (former?) collaborator Benny filmed last night's Cameron Winter show with Paul Thomas Anderson.
