REVIEW: Soundtrack, The Flintstones
- Bob Gajarsky
The soundtrack to the Flintstones movie resembles gifts at a wedding; something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.
Something old? Well, Was (Not Was) had a top 10 hit a few years back with "Walk The Dinosaur". All of the songs on the soundtrack are related to the Flintstones or dinosaurs, and this party song is no exception. Also included is Weird Al Yankovic's ode to Bedrock, "Bedrock Anthem", which medleys the Red Hot Chili Peppers "Under The Bridge"/"Give It Away" into a tribute to Fred and Barney. This song appeared last year on Yankovic's most recent release, Alapalooza.
Something new? Not totally new...but a new song...is US3's "Yabba Dabba Doo". Sampling Fred's infamous call with a combination of rap and jazz, rapper Def Jef teaches Fred and Barney how to rock in a true caveman style. Trumpeteer Gerard Presencer (who appeared on the group's smash "Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)") also appears on the track.
Something borrowed comes courtesy of Green Jelly and the Sex Pistols. The original song was the classic "Anarchy in the U.K." and the 1994 version is "Anarchy in Bedrock". Words and phrases are liberally replaced, including "I wanna destroy Mr. Slate" and the refrain, a snarling "I...wanna be...Fred Flintstone". Pure enjoyment and fun.
More enjoyment comes from the first singles the B 52's cover of the Flintstones theme song. This is the type of song that could have been played by the B 52's at a fraternity party, 15 years ago, in Athens, Georgia. Also included by the band (whose name was changed to the BC 52's for the film) is a cover of the song "Twitch", first included in a Flintstones cartoon more than 30 years ago.
The "something blue" comes in the form of the Screaming Blue Messiahs cult favorite "I Wanna Be A Flintstone". The rest of the tracks continue the party spirit...Stereo MC's, My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult and Crash Test Dummies maintain the quality of music that is associated with their names. You won't have to buy rice to attend this ceremony. And, if you get the Flintstones soundtrack, you'll have a gay old time...Wilma! Flintstones Theme - BC 52's; Human Beings - Stereo MC's; Hit & Run Holiday - My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult; Rock With The Caveman - Big Audio Dynamite; Yabba Dabba Doo - US3; Twitch - BC 52's; I Wanna Be A Flintstone - Screaming Blue Messiahs; In The Days of the Caveman - Crash Test Dummies; Anarchy in Bedrock - Green Jelly; Walk The Dinosaur - Was (Not Was); Bedrock Anthem - Weird Al Yankovic; Theme from the Flintstones Movie- David Newman
