Under the Cherry Moon
A romantic odyssey of wealth, art, and love set against the timeless French Riviera.
Under the Cherry Moon serves as both a feature film and its accompanying soundtrack album, marking a pivotal shift in the artist's career from rock-infused funk to a lush, European pop aesthetic. Released in the mid-1980s, this project introduced the fictional persona Christopher Tracy, a wealthy heir navigating a romantic entanglement with a waitress named Virginia in the French Riviera. The work is celebrated for its striking black-and-white cinematography and its seamless blend of narrative storytelling with sophisticated musical composition.
- Format
- Feature Film & Soundtrack Album
- Setting
- French Riviera (Monte Carlo)
- Main Character
- Christopher Tracy
- Musical Style
- Pop, Soft Rock, Orchestral Pop
- Visual Aesthetic
- Black and White Cinematography
Lore & Background
Musically, the project represents a deliberate departure from the funk and rock roots that defined earlier works, embracing instead the grandeur of European orchestration and soft pop melodies. This sonic shift mirrors the film's visual language, which eschews color to focus on light, shadow, and texture, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of classic Hollywood melodramas while maintaining a modern edge.
In Their Own Story
The grey waves crash against the Monte Carlo cliffs as Christopher Tracy steps onto his yacht, the silk of his white suit fluttering in the salt air. Below, Virginia watches from the dock, her silhouette sharp against the monochrome backdrop. The distance between them feels vast, measured not just in feet but in worlds, yet a single note played on a distant piano bridges the gap, signaling that their fates are already intertwined.
Reader's Guide
The album features a cohesive suite of songs that drive the film's narrative forward, blending soft rock with orchestral arrangements. Key tracks include the title song, which establishes the dreamy atmosphere, and other ballads that highlight the emotional turmoil of the characters. Production was handled entirely by the artist himself, ensuring a unified vision across both audio and visual mediums. Critically, the project received mixed reviews upon release; some praised its artistic ambition and visual style, while others found the shift in musical direction jarring compared to previous hits. Despite this, it achieved significant commercial success on the charts, particularly in Europe, where the romantic storyline resonated deeply with audiences. Musically, the record is defined by its use of synthesizers layered over live strings, creating a soundscape that feels both timeless and distinctly 1980s. The lyrical themes focus heavily on romance, heartbreak, and the complexities of wealth, offering a more introspective look at the artist's songwriting capabilities.
Did You Know?
- The film was shot entirely in black and white to evoke the style of classic European cinema.
- This project marked the first time the artist starred as the lead character in a feature-length motion picture.
- The soundtrack album reached number one on the Billboard chart, driven by its romantic ballads.