By Maggie Peknic
With each Halloween season, it’s only right that one revisits (or is introduced to) The Rocky Horror Picture Show Original Soundtrack. Despite being released 47 years ago, the album’s glam rock and pop sounds still garner the utmost praise from both music lovers and movie-goers. Its empowering lyrical content connects with each generation and has shaped The Rocky Horror Picture Show into a cult classic that continues to inspire others to embrace themselves for who they are.
The album’s most empowering lyric, “Don’t dream it, be it,” is sung by Tim Curry, whose vocals are the central focus of this 1975 album. The lyric is delivered in the track “Rose Tint My World.” This track is a medley of three songs: “Rose Tint My World,” “Don’t Dream It, Be It,” and “Wild and Untamed Thing” (please note that “Don’t Dream It, Be It” is both a song and is also a lyric within the song). By combining the three songs into one track, the film’s soundtrack allows for a flowing mesh of various rhythms and medleys that reminds one of “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “The Black Parade.”
Returning to the vocals, Curry is joined on the album by Susan Sarandon, who plays Janet. Sarandon’s vocals are nasally and not exactly peak performance. She even stated when the directors asked her to read Janet’s lines, “Oh my God, I can’t sing.” But upon receiving the role, she stated, “They’ll give me alcohol or drugs or something, and that’ll help get me through.” Sarandon didn’t need any ailments though. While her singing isn’t amazing, it works for the show. Sarandon states, “[Janet] is kinda sweet on the outside, but a bitch underneath.” That bitchiness comes through in the singing. It’s peak camp and is the reason her voice fits perfectly in “Dammit Janet” and “Touch-A, Touch-A, Touch Me.”
The spotlight also shines on Meatloaf, who barges into the soundtrack on “Hot Patootie – Bless My Soul.” The song is sandwiched between “I Can Make You a Man” and “I Can Make You a Man (Reprise).” As those songs possess a slow-paced tempo with drawn-out lyrics and with a focus on the piano, Meatloft’s rock-n-roll entrance provides a contrast and helps with the overall pacing of the album. The fast-paced tempo combined with a burning saxophone solo creates a bouncing track.
Richard O’Brien’s haunting vocals also stand out, especially within the opening track, “Science Fiction / Double Feature” and also in the fun dance-along track, “Time Warp.” His haunting vocals are enough to make anyone shiver with anticipation. Overall, the album not only makes one shiver and dance but its lyrics also empower and continue to empower audience members. The Rocky Horror Picture Show’s soundtrack has cemented the film into a cult classic that will continue to inspire generations to come.
