Parodied and remixed to all sauces, it is one of the most emblematic film music in the 90s. Very catchy, this piece entered the Pantheon of the most striking melodies of cinema.
In 1994, the whole world took a gigantic slap while discovering Pulp Fiction, the second film punch by Quentin Tarantino. Palme d'Or à Cannes, the feature film has become a true classic, whose influence is still as strong today.
This work shines in many aspects, from the scenario to the staging through its perfect cast. However, it is also distinguished for its soundtrack, made up of several songs and pieces of existing music.
An unforgettable melody
Among these melops, there is one that has particularly marked the spirits. It is “Misirlou”, a catchy and energetic melody that can be heard as an illustration of the credits at the start. She intervenes at the most favorable moment, just after the opening sequence presenting us Pumpkin and Yolanda, about to rob the coffee shop.
Tarantino freezes the image while the two lovers take out their revolvers and shout in the assembly not to move. The spectator remains taken aback and the credits begins, punctuated by the song “Misirlou”.
Thus, the tone of the work was immediately set and Tarantino imposed his style with a crash. The filmmaker gave us a sound boost, offering us an explosive and shattering introduction. It slams, and we remember it.
Known to relaunch the career of forgotten actors, like John Travolta in Pulp Fiction or Pam Grier in Jackie Brown, the native of Knoxville is also famous for highlighting music fallen into oblivion. This is the case with “Misirlou”, which is not at all a melopé composed for the needs of the film.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooobomvuynw
The origins of Misirlou
Indeed, this music has existed since 1927! It was recorded for the first time that year by composer Nicholas (Nikos) Roubanis and singer Tetos Demetriades (singer) at Columbia Records in New York. The title comes from the Turkish word “Mısırlı”, meaning “Egyptian”, and by extension in Greek “Misirlou” means “the daughter of Egypt”.
However, the real origins of the Misirlou melody remain relatively vague. She would come from an old oriental music, halfway between folklore and popular tradition. Several cultures are claimed, notably the Greeks, the Arabs, the Egyptians and the Sephardic Jews, all from the ancient Ottoman Empire.
The strength of this melled is due to its hypnotic simplicity, based on back and forth in typical oriental ranges (Hidjaz and Hidjazkiar modes), very widespread in the music of the Middle East.
The most famous version in the West is that of Dick Dale, a American guitarist of Lebanese origin. In 1962, he transformed “Misirlou” into a legendary surfing instrumental, using an electric guitar with ultra-fast picking techniques. This version propels the song to the pantheon of American pop culture.
The original song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lw6qgy3rtwy
An emblem of pop culture
Quentin Tarantino will give him a second breath in 1994 using it for the credits of Pulp Fiction. Since then, the song has become a standard of the electric guitar and a song frequently taken up in films, video games, and by many artists (The Beach Boys, Black Eyed Peas, Martin Denny, etc.)
Misirlou is a true musical symbol of cultural fusion between the East and the West. By choosing this piece, Tarantino reintroduces this vintage sound in a modern context, giving it a cool, hyper stylish, unexpected and immediately recognizable retro effect.
In Pulp Fiction, “Misirlou” becomes the sound signature of the film. She is associated with her jerky pace, her crazy characters, her black humor and her exploded narrative style. Result: it becomes cult by association. Remixed and parodied everywhere, she entered pubs, series, video games … All this allowed the piece to enter the collective memory of an entire generation.
