That Song From The Movie "If...." - 1968 45rpm

The haunting African song that Mick Travis (Malcolm McDowell) and his whipped-arsed chums played tirelessly in their public school dorm. From Lindsay Andersons' classic Brit movie of teenage anarchy.
This was recorded in 1958 by "Les Troubadours du Roi Baudouin", a choir of Congolese children from Kamina. The Missa Luba is a version of the Latin Mass based on traditional Congolese songs

Category:

Music

Tags:

• 60's
• Movie
• Soundtrack
• If
• If....
• Malcolm
• McDowell
• Lindsay
• Anderson
• 1968
• Mick
• Travis
• Brit
• Film
• African
• Music
• Sanctus
• Missa
• Luba
• Les
• Troubadours
• Du
• Roi
• Baudouin
• 45rpm

[goback3spaces]

I heard somewhere that this is the national anthem of Uganda. Is that right, anyone?

[Sids60sSounds]

Just googled it and alas it's not. 'Oh Uganda Land of Beauty' is the one they stand and sing to

[goback3spaces]

@Sids60sSounds Thank you for that. I'm sure they have a lovely anthem. As for this tune, can you tell me what it is, what's its origin, what it means? It's beautiful. I can't think of the movie IF without thinking of this song.

[Sids60sSounds]

All I know I've written in my blurb with the video

[20redroyals]

Have not heard this since I first saw the film. Thank you.

[MightyQuinn2021]

Oh bliss, bliss and heaven... Oh, it was gorgeousness and gorgeousity made flesh... And then, a bird of rarest-spun heaven metal, or like silvery wine flowing in a spaceship, gravity all nonsense now... I knew such lovely pictures

[TheEmpress666]

Thanks for putting this up, I love the film (I first watched it before I went to boarding school for the first time to get ideas) and have been looking for this song for a while now :)

[AlcuinHimself]

The tune is a Congolese "song of farewell", the words are the Sanctus from the Latin Mass. The album contains the entire mass, all done using African songs as the tune.

[MoveOnSoulClub]

Why is it African? They are singing in Latin.

[skipfromyahoo]

This was a landmark film for me. Very surreal, brutal and vengeful yet with undertones of passion and love.

The theme tune I will never forget, it was on the jukebox in the 'Mirrorbar Cafe', Dudley.

It was the first record I used to put on as when I walked through the door, quite often met with jeering protests....lol.

Funnily I never knew the words to it and it always reminded me of someone singing 'Cow Moo, Cow Moo' Something that is a a standing joke now with my wife.

Ace film and record.

[Setebos]

Still sends a chill up my spine whenever I hear this.

[CocaCola5678]

I have to say that 'If....' is one of my favourite films. And this I feel is one of the most beautiful pieces of music I have ever heard. It is so raw and moving: the harmonies are perfect but then transform into this primal explosion of voice and percussion. I can't listen to this, however, without thinking of the scene in the cafe when Travis and The Girl fight in that outrageously sexy and bestial way (is this where the film changes from reality to Mick's fantasy?).

[OpheliaAtropos]

I saw the movie this morning. Love it, and love this song.

[holmsatlarge]

Always loved this beautiful song! Glad to have found it again!

[babycapone92]

For 1 minute and 38 seconds I get to close my eyes, tilt my head back and feel like Mick Travis... Bliss