Goodfellas.....why the Layla coda over the murder montage? (3 Viewers)

[Dome Vongvises]

Don't forget about Wes Anderson...his use of music in Rusmore, Tenenbaums, and Bottle Rocket (to a lesser extent) was spot on.

That's a great assessment. I can't think of any other song that could have ended Rushmore than "Ooh La La" by the Faces.

 

[Shana]

Forgive my ignorance, but what does coda mean?

 

[Seymour Uranowitz]

coda (Italian: literally, tail; from Latin cauda):

a. a concluding musical section that is formally distinct from the main structure
b. a concluding part of a literary or dramatic work
c. something that serves to round out, conclude, or summarize yet has its own interest

 

[BryanBounds]

I love Goodfellas, and I'm looking foward to the rumoured special edition. But one thing has puzzled me and are dare I say it, even bugs me sometimes.
Why is the coda to the song "Layla" played over a murder montage? I mean, what does a song about unrequited love have to do with Jimmy Conway disposing of his acquaintances? I know Martin is something of a fan of Eric Clapton. Just curious.

He LOVES HIS JOB! We’re only assuming being a gangster wasn’t enjoyable but let’s go back to the opening line (“As far back as I can remember…”). Granted there is some Brechtian irony going on while we watch the scene but because Layla is such a groovy infectious tune, it works perfectly.

 

[David Norman]

19 years later, but unlike most of these resurrections it's on topic and makes a point.