Wednesday, 15 October 2025

Celebrity Jukebox #56: Diane Keaton

Khayem wrote an excellent tribute to Diane Keaton earlier this week, most notably in his revelation that she directed the video to Belinda Carlisle’s Heaven Is A Place On Earth. That’s a class piece of musical trivia.

Khayem also provided a playlist of songs with titles that matched Diane’s most famous movies… so there’s even less for me to add via the Celebrity Jukebox… except a few songs that mention her by name.

We’ll start with this one, as it would have fit perfectly on Khayem’s compilation…

Next, a little offering from Portuguese singer-songwriter JTX, way back in 1982… especially for our Portuguese reader.

JTX – Diane Keaton

Over to Chile next, where we find indie duo Dënver (no longer a duo, it seems, since they split up)…

Dënver – Diane Keaton

From Dënver to Vietnam… or from Chile to Spain, take your pick…

Vietnam – Diane Keaton

Still in Spain, we find a band Montoto and their Spanish Eyes…

Montoto - Ojos de Diane Keaton

Over to Australia now for a Sydney guitar band who might have broken a few copyright laws when making their video… but it’s all in the name of art, so that’s all right.

Weak Boys - Unrequited Diane Keaton

Diane did pretty well in the song titles then… but what about lyrical nods?

Well, here’s one that might have been in contention for the Cancel Culture Club…

Hey yo, I kinda like the musical Rent (no homo)
Man, I can't decide who wore it best (no homo)
But I'm feeling Diane Keaton's vest (No homo)
I admit it I'm a fashionista (No homo)
And I know every line of Mystic Pizza

Lonely Island - No Homo

The interweb, however, tells me this is actually…

“…a critique on homophobia among young, often athletic and/or alpha-type males. It starts off by describing how the phrase “no homo” can be used as a social mechanism to quickly defuse any suspicion of homosexual attraction when giving a fellow male a complement. The examples of usage of the phrase quickly escalate to overtly sexual acts, which nullify any suggestion that they are merely comfortable in their heterosexuality, but are truly giving into their gay urges. This suggests that many homophobes are actually suppressing their closeted homosexual feelings through an exterior of hostility and intolerance.”

And if you’re wondering how that’s relevant today…

“One of Diane Keaton’s most famous roles was in Annie Hall where she dressed in men’s clothes, including vests. Although, Keaton likes to dress in vintage men’s clothes regardless.”

So now you know. No cancellation needed. Apparently.

As we’ve already established, Diane was very popular on the continent, as further evidenced here by this tune from French singer and writer Yves Simon…

Yves Simon - J't'imagine

J't'ai vue un soir sortir d'un music-hall
Comme Diane Keaton d'Annie Hall

Which, clumsily translates as…

I saw you one evening coming out of a music hall
Like Diane Keaton from Annie Hall

Never be afraid to rhyme hall with Hall.

Next, an American indie duo who remind me of The Mountain Goats (never a bad thing). Clearly they’re film buffs as they also have tunes called Peter Bogdanovich Can't Stop Talking About Orson Welles and I Wanna Meet Scarlett Johansson in a Coffeeshop at Three. And I realise I’ll probably be in a lonely minority here, but these guys just went straight on my Further Investigation Required list…

When you were stuck at 2 a.m. I wished you would have called
I would've been there in an instant, we could've rented Annie Hall
And I'd be your Woody Allen, with my witty, subtle quips
And you'd be my Diane Keaton, 'till you gave me the slip

Moe’s Haven – Dig In!

Meanwhile, Merseyside’s Laurie Shaw has appeared on this feature previously… and he’ll probably pop again soon. He’s extremely prolific… and rather interesting too.

Brigitte Bardot's toes
Turning the taps on the bubble bath
Carrie Fisher’s gold bikini
Diane Keaton’s laugh
Audrey Hepburn in her pyjamas
Anne in 'Day of Wrath’

Laurie Shaw – Comparative Essay

I saved this one for last though, because Allo Darlin’ are fabulous.

In the movie of our lives, would Woody Allen write the screenplay?
Not his best era, but certainly not his worst either
But I wouldn't like to be like Diane Keaton in Manhattan
So cerebral was she, runs away from any romance
But though you're neurotic, and a little paranoid
It doesn't make me Annie, it doesn't make you Alvy
Woody Allen couldn't play you
Woody Allen couldn't play you
I know you want him to, but he couldn't play you



2 comments:

  1. Very sad that we've lost Diane. She was still making new films last year and still seemed so fresh-faced and young. Just read Khayem's post and no, I hadn't known of her connection to Belinda Carlisle (who I will be going to see next year) either. RIP Diane. I am determined to write about her at my place.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks so much for your kind words, Rol.

    As ever, your post was a master class in how to write an excellent tribute, and a great introduction to music I’d never heard before.

    Diane was really something special.

    ReplyDelete

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