'El Tango De Roxanne'
Performed by Ewan
McGregor, Jose Feliciano and Jacek Koman
'Roxanne' - Written by Sting, ' Le Tango du Moulin Rouge' - Lyrics by Baz Luhrmann and
Craig Pearce, Music by Marianito Mores
Arranged by Craig Armstrong, Produced by BLAM, Josh G Abrahams, Craig Armstrong and Marius
DeVries
El Tango De Roxanne is a stunning song that sets the scene for the exhilerating tango dance sequence, which is most definitely a choreographic highlight of the film. Satine has gone to the Gothic Tower with the intention of sleeping with the Duke, and the cast and crew of the Moulin Rouge are sitting around nervously. There is little they can do now but await the outcome of this liason, but Christian is not content to join them. He clearly does not want Satine to sleep with the Duke. Nini succeeds in aggravating him with a snide remark which leads to the Argentinean telling Christian to never fall in love with a prostitute, as it always ends bad.
An amazingly well executed tango dance sequence begins as the Argentinean sings El Tango De Roxanne, with Nini role-playing the prostitute of his affection. Christian listens and watches for a little while, but then turns his back on the group and overlaps their song with his own tune lamenting over Satine. Christian's lyrics were written by Baz Luhrmann and Craig Pearce to add further intensity to this highly emotional sequence of events. These scenes succeed in creating a tense atmosphere of dismay as we see the tango dance become more and more physical, and watch as Satine turns down the Duke with violent consequences. The sequence ends with the Argentinean pretending to slit Nini's thoat as a sombre reminder of what jealousy can lead men to do. Simultaneously, Satine is rescued from the Duke by Le Chocolat, but somehow we know that her irreversible downfall has already begun...
Lyrics:
Argentinean - Will drive you... mad!
Roxanne
You don't have to put on that red light
Walk the streets for money
You don't care if it's wrong or if it is right
Roxanne
You don't have to wear that dress tonight
Roxanne
You don't have to sell your body to the night
Christian - His eyes upon your face
His hand upon your hand
His lips caress your skin
It's more than I can stand
(Argentinean - Roxanne)
Christian - Why does my heart cry?
(Argentinean - Roxanne)
Christian - Feelings I can't fight
You're free to leave me
But just don't deceive me
And please believe me when I say I love you
(Argentinean - Roxanne)
Christian - Why does my heart cry ?
(Argentinean - You don't have to put on that red light)
Christian - Feelings I can't fight
(Argentinean - Roxanne)
Christian - Why does my heart cry?
(Argentinean - You don't have to put on that red light)
Christian - Feelings I can't fight
Argentinean - Roxanne
You don't have to wear that dress tonight
Roxanne!
Roxanne, Roxanne