Song For Marion

The songs of this uplifting film, sung by a choir of senior citizens proudly named The OAP'z (old-age pensioners), include some well-loved, even iconic tracks that are not necessarily what an audience expects from a group of oldies. "You Are the Sunshine of My Life", a smash hit for Stevie Wonder back in 1973, may not be a surprising choice, but the choir’s spirited rendition of "Let's Talk About Sex" (1991, by the hip-hop trio Salt-n-Pepa) does raise a few eyebrows. Further highlights from past decades are "Ace of Spades" by the English band Motörhead, released in 1980 as a single and frequently covered by other artists; “Love Shack" from the rock band The B-52s’ album Cosmic Thing (1989), their biggest-ever hit; and "True Colors" (1986), the title track from Cyndi Lauper’s second album and also a successful single.

  The soundtrack is a skilful mixture of these songs and fine music by the British composer Laura Rossi, who has written extensively for film and television, and composed the scores for the features with which the director of Song of Marion, Paul Andrew Williams, made his name: London to Brighton and The Cottage. Laura Rossi has had long-term success with commissions from the British Film Institute, composing music for re-releases of great silent films from the past. Her orchestral score for The Battle of the Somme (1916) premiered at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London, and was recorded by the Philharmonia Orchestra to worldwide critical praise. Laura Rossi is a guest lecturer at the London Film Academy and has led many master classes in film music. Other compositions by Rossi have been performed by the London Musici Orchestra, the BBC Concert Orchestra and the Fourth Dimension String Quartet at major concert venues in London such as The Barbican and the Royal Festival Hall.